October fun: 31 days of Horror, Blood, Guts and Gore! (and zombies, too....) - Page 99

I consider the opening scene to be a horror lovers cinematic masterpiece

It is fantastic, and the set and overall atmosphere/theme had a great feel to it, kinda reminded me of the House on Haunted Hill remake with Geoffrey Rush and Famke Janssen... great atmosphere and some brilliant scary scenes but an absolute failure with the last 20 minutes of stupid CGI ghosts.

1). "Mutant" (1984) Thought I'd start out with something high on the cheese chart so I went with this one directed by John Cardos. Funny that Dick Clark himself got an uncredited producer mention. My God, what a minefield of cliches and stereotypes. Two northern city boys get waylaid in a redneck Georgia town where all the townsfolk are coming down with a mysterious malady that turns them into... One of those films that was so bad, it was funny. Stars Wings Hauser and Bo Hopkins. Let's give this one a half Zombie.

Thanks for the Ghost Ship review, I like a good ghost ship movie and was wondering about that one!

If you haven't seen that or the remake of House on Haunted Hill, I definitely recommend both of them. I even enjoyed the House of Wax remake by this company. However there most highly acclaimed film 13 Ghosts was a major letdown in my opinion, I do believe they have since went out of business.

Apartment 143 is now available on Netflix WI. It's another one of these "paranormal investigation" films with much of the footage from the "installed cameras". However done with professional actors and does have it's moments of chills.

It's not bad, worth a watch.

+1

Ribbons of flesh were strung up with care, in hopes that Halloween soon would be there...



The work has started, beginning with putting a couple coats of high gloss on the flesh strips to give them that wet look. I'm surprised I hadn't done this before as the mate look always felt off to me.

last night I did Area 407. About what happens when a plane goes down in a secret government testing area on cetain creatures. Did a pretty good job establishing the characters on the plane. Some might say too long, but I like it when you really know the players and there is a sense of normalcy before things go to crap. Unfortunately too many times I was left wondering why the players did, or did not do, more approprate things and their low budget really came out after the plane crash as the "creatures" were totally lame and the found footage camera work and focus was exceptionally annoying on my large projector screen. Pretty good cast for this budget but too many fundamental issues and missed opportunites. One star in my book.

1- Jeepers Creepers 3 1/2 *
2 - Area 407 1*

Tonight will be my first full viewing of Halloween since I saw it on it's original theatrical release many years ago.

You, sir, continue to amaze.

Why thank you, you are too kind!

1. Jaws- 100th Anniversary Edition (1975)- {4.5/5} Blu-ray I've seen this movie many times, but with the new picture and sound upgrades; it was a completely different experience this time around. Some of the shots were still a little soft and we thought the surrounds could have been used a tad more, but the addition of some well-timed LFE and the new 7.1 presentation along with the HD picture made this an extremely fun watch. The shots of the water as you wait for the shark to attack are still amazingly creepy and the score in this movie is top-notch all the way. Despite some minor gripes with the supporting actors, we loved the overall suspense and the unforgettable performances by Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss. This one is definitely a horror genre classic and it was a great way to kick off Horrorfest 2012!

2. Martyrs (2008)- {4.25/5} DVD (First-time viewing) I've seen this movie on the shelf at Blockbuster countless times in the past, but for some reason declined to rent it in favor of something else. Well, I finally decided to make it happen so I made it a part of my kick-off double feature. Wow, talk about a brutal movie! Right from the opening scene, Pascal Laugier lets you know what you're in store for with some great violent imagery. From that point forward, the brutality rarely lets up and we are treated to some fantastic (and amazingly convincing) acting by the main characters. Some of the torture scenes were a little tough to watch, but Laugier's brilliant direction commands your attention throughout the movie nonetheless. This one is highly recommended and will surely be added onto future Horrorfest lists.

3. The Hills Run Red (2009)- {3.5/5} DVD (First-time viewing) This movie is about a group of friends who go on a search for a movie that disappeared many years ago. Their interest in this movie in particular was because it was supposed to be the most horrifying movie ever made. Apparently, the director also disappeared but was now presumed dead; however, his daughter worked as a stripper near the town where the main characters lived. They quickly enlist her help to find the movie and, of course, the mayhem begins. Overall, I enjoyed this movie. Performances by the actors were solid and the storyline was refreshing and unique. There were a few twists that were semi-predictable (but still cool) and the movie suffered from being way too short (81 mins) to tell the story cohesively, but in the end, this was a solid watch. There was even an extra scene added in during the credits that added a little to the experience. I think I would give this one a recommendation as a rental, for sure.

4. The Devil's Rock (2011)- {3.25/5} DVD (First-time viewing) This one is a B horror flick that tells the tale about a couple of New Zealand soldiers who embark on a mission to destroy German gun emplacements in hopes of distracting the Nazi forces away from Normandy on the eve of D-Day. During their mission they are drawn to some screams coming from a strange looking fortification. Upon investigating the screams, they stumble upon a German occult plot to unleash demonic forces to help win the war. Although this is undoubtedly a low-budget flick; the unique storyline, good sound effects and solid acting make this movie a pretty good watch. This one is a slow-burner though, so you gotta hang with it for awhile before the story unfolds. I felt slightly disconnected from the movie when the demon is revealed because we went from a snail's pace to the story feeling a little rushed. But even so, the demon was interesting and pretty seductive (its a female) and overall, it was a fun movie to watch. It was a blind buy for me, but I would recommend it to others as a rental.

5. Silent House (2011)- {3.5/5} Blu-ray The "one continuous shot" concept of this film made it an interesting watch. In reality, it's actually done in 10-13 minute blocks but it's edited well enouth to at least appear to be one long take. This is my second time with this American remake and I must say that it was more enjoyable this time around simply because the pieces fit together more coherently. There are some good scares accompanied by solid sound effects and I enjoyed the interesting camerawork. Although this movie does suffer from some questionable acting by the supporting cast and the way the story played out could have used some polishing, it's the oustanding performance by Elizabeth Olson that really stands out and bumps my overall rating up a few notches. We left the movie playing through the credits and unfortunately, there is no additional footage like the original version apparently has.

6. Jenifer (2005)- {3.25/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) Part of the Masters of Horror series, this one is a Dario Argento project about a detective (Steven Weber) and his twisted relationship with a horribly disfigured young woman (the ravishing Carrie Anne Fleming). Of course, she is not a "normal" woman as she is better described as a ravenous creature who has an amazing talent for seducing men. We enjoyed the movie for its gore and distorted sexiness but it still suffers from some familiar drawbacks. All in all, I would suspect that most horror fans would appreciate this installment of the Masters of Horror series.

7. V/H/S (2012)- {3.75/5} Amazon VOD (First-time viewing) This one was very creative on several levels. 5 separate sub-stories told by way of a main story, each of which done by a different director. A few of them were done better than others, but overall we enjoyed this movie. They all used "found footage" in different and creative ways and there was some really cool gruesomeness going on. My rating was adjusted down though, because I found myself a little lost at times and I feel that the entire movie as a whole could have been executed a little better. Either way, I'm am very likely to re-visit this again in the future and I would certainly recommend it to others.

8. Intruders (2011)- {2.5/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) I'm not exactly sure why I didn't really feel this one. The initial sequence sparked some interest but like many others in the genre, it was unable to sustain that energy throughout. There were a few creepy images and I guess the acting was okay, but the concept of "Hollowface" and the way his story is told was shaky. I suppose others may find more value in this one, but for me, this fairly original story just didn't deliver.

9. The Children (2008)- {3.25/5} IFC (First-time viewing) This one is a story about a holiday family get-together that results in the children becoming 'infected" with some sort of virus and subsequently turning on their parents. One of the most annoying opening sequences in history actually turns into a fairly solid movie when it was all said and done. There is just something about children killing people and also being killed themselves that is unsettling and scary to watch. For the most part, the acting by the young cast was convincing and there were some really crazy scenes. The pacing was definitely off though and for some reason, the entire movie sounded like it was recorded in a cathedral (likely an IFC issue). Overall, this was still good enough to warrant a weak recommendation for those hurting for options.

10. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)- {3.5/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) A teen slasher flick that actually surprised me with it's overall execution. The script was well-written and the cast did a good job in their respective roles. It resembled Dazed and Confused in the first act with some witty, party-driven humor (which is a compliment). Of course, the mayhem eventually begins and we get treated to some really impressive kills. The way the whole story plays out is fairly predictable, but that didn't necessarily ruin things for me. I enjoyed the awesome soundtrack and there was certainly an abundance of eye candy. I may be in the minority here, but this blind buy is gonna fit nicely into my collection.

11. Lovely Molly (2011)- {4.5/5} DVD (First-time viewing) Loved it! Gretchen Lodge brings her A-game as she plays the part of a young woman slowly being driven to madness as convincingly as one could imagine. Eduardo Sanchez from the Blair Witch Project is at the wheel and he spins a story that is extremely unnerving and effectively atmospheric. I was absolutely fixated throughout this entire movie as the dark and depressing story of Molly is slowly revealed. The ending leaves you hanging a little as there are certain things that are left intentionally unexplained and the driving force behind Molly's insanity has been used by other movies in the genre, but this movie is a slow-burning mind screw that absolutely begs for repeat viewings. It appears that there are mixed reviews on this and obviously you can see which camp I belong to. Put it this way, I watched the rental last night and it's already on it's way to my house via Amazon Prime.

12. The Ward (2010)- {2.5/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) This one was a fairly disappointing effort considering that it’s a John Carpenter film. The story was slightly interesting but poorly executed as he tended to use jump scares instead of creating real tension and suspense. Amber Heard is the star and she does an okay job with what she had to work with. Aside from AH though, we found it strange that all of the other patients in the psych ward were quite attractive as well. Not very realistic. There were also fade-to-black moments when transitioning scenes which gave it a made-for-tv feel. Aside from some creepy visuals that flashed across the screen, this movie was just not very scary. I would give this one a weak recommendation if you’re an Amber Heard fan (which is very possible) but All the Boys Love Mandy Lane was significantly better in every way.

13. Inkubus (2011)- {2.75/5} DVD (First-time viewing) Inkubus is about a demon who shows up at a police station with a severed head in his hand as part of a plan to bait an old adversary (William Forsythe as a retired detective) down to the station to settle a score. Inkubus is played by a quick-witted Robert Englund and he does a great job of playing a diabolical being. The opening scene is pretty gruesome and there are a few other kills that were fairly entertaining, but the movie as a whole left much to be desired. The editing was poor and choppy and the timeline of events seemed to be screwed up. There were elements of Fallen in this movie as Inkubus had the ability to transfer from person to person and use them to do his evil bidding. Unfortunately, it wasn’t done nearly as well (truthfully, they shouldn’t even be compared to one another). This one is obviously low-budget so one can’t expect too much going in; however, it’s tough to forgive the poor acting by the supporting cast and a weakly-told story.

14. The Night of the Hunter (1955)- {3/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) It’s so difficult for me to rate movies that were made in a time that I can’t relate to. The reason for watching it in the first place is because it’s supposedly one of the top horror movies of all time. Well, after finally seeing it, I would have to disagree. Although for its time it certainly may have been an absolutely chilling experience to watch this movie, but in this day and age it’s really not that effective. Robert Mitchum plays an insane preacher who marries and murders widows for their money. His part is done well and he certainly gives you the creeps from time to time with his unflinching cruelty, but this movie is entertaining due to the comical performances from many of the supporting cast. I was laughing so hard at the dialog in certain scenes that I had to rewind several different times to hear the parts I missed. The girl that plays Pearl is especially entertaining as she is constantly making off the wall comments. Honestly, I’m not sure if this movie shouldn’t be considered a dark musical with all of the different songs the actors perform (there’s several of them, even during moments when there is supposed to be tension building). The picture quality was very good as the numerous outdoor scenes with various animals in the foreground were nice (and hilarious) to look at. I certainly had a good time watching this movie, but probably not for the right reasons. A classic in the horror genre?? I’m not so sure.

15. Livide (2011)- {4.25/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) Now this is what I needed to get back in the October spirit. A special thanks goes out to Kenobi for allowing me to borrow it (and Wizzack for sending it to me). What an awesomely bizarre movie! The overall atmosphere was remarkable and the imagination of the story itself was great to experience. There were also some great kills to go along with everything else. We really enjoyed this movie in every area, except for the ending. There’s obviously a reason for the way they chose to end the film, but I must have missed it the first time through. Good thing is that there will definitely be a repeat viewing at some point in the future. Highly recommended!

16. I Saw the Devil (2010)- {4.5/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) This movie begins with a powerful opening sequence and absolutely refuses to let up. Equal parts horror/thriller/action; this is definitely one of the best movies I’ve seen in awhile. All the acting was spot on, but the man who played Kyung-chul plays the part of a psychopathic killer to perfection. This movie comes in at nearly 2 ½ hours, but it certainly did not seem that long. There wasn’t a moment that I wasn’t completely engrossed in what was going on. The violence and brutality are top notch and I thought the picture quality was outstanding. I think the only aspect of the story that I didn’t like was the number of innocent victims that were allowed to meet their fate as our hero takes his time in tormenting the killer. Overall though, this is an absolute must see!!

17. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)- {4.25/5} Blu-ray This is my second time with this movie. Although it was slightly less enjoyable this time around, I still consider it to be a perfectly refreshing addition to the horror genre. The filmmakers deserve a ton of credit for making such a gutsy move with this film. There was some well-placed humor, good scares and an amazingly interesting storyline. Because I knew the twists and turns, it didn’t have the “wow” factor that it did when I saw it in the theater, but I would still consider this to be one of the most fun and imaginative offerings to hit the horror movie shelves in quite some time. Very highly recommended for those who haven’t seen it.

18. Excision (2012)- {3.75/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) This was a blind buy for me and I purposely went in without watching any trailers. I have to say that it wasn’t what I was expecting. It was certainly very twisted and bizarre but lacked the mayhem that I was anticipating. That is not to say that it was disappointing though, because I think that this movie is very well done. The acting was excellent and the storyline was quite interesting to say the least. There are also some extremely bloody moments that are guaranteed to make you cringe and I particularly enjoyed the dream sequences. Definitely worthy of a strong recommendation.

19. The Strangers (2008)- {4.25/5} Blu-ray This one is becoming a favorite of mine. I had plans to show something different to my guests this weekend; however, after watching The Cabin in the Woods and Excision; I thought it would be a good idea to scare the sh$@ out of them in our finale. Rating stands from the last time it was watched in my home as this one is simply terrifying, bottom line. Also, I’m not sure if I failed to notice this or not before, but the sound effects are absolutely punishing.

20. The Woman (2011)- {4.5/5} DVD (First-time viewing) This movie is one helluva experience, folks! There were times when I questioned the direction that things were going, but in the end, it all (well, almost all) comes together nicely in one sick and twisted package. This was a well done film in nearly all areas with extra special attention to the details and the performances by the characters. The soundtrack was very prominent and I remember thinking that they used music in place of dialog in maybe a few too many places. Either way though, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and the finale is worth the price of admission all by itself. A wonderfully gruesome addition to my horror movie collection. Check it out!!

21. The Loved Ones (2012)- {4.5/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) This one is fantastic from top to bottom. It goes in a completely different direction than your typical teen slasher flick and actually crafts a story that draws you into the characters in the way that a compelling drama would do. The acting is fantastic all around, but Robin McLeavy definitely steals the show with her charming and psychopathic performance (she has tons of unforgettable lines). I also loved the way the storyline was layered as there was clearly some thought put into pulling this thing off in just 84 minutes. This is the second movie in a row for me (The Woman) where the director chooses to use music in place of dialog in several scenes. It was a tad strange at times, but not necessarily in a bad way. Just a different kind of experience. Thankfully, both the soundtrack and cinematography were top notch. Thanks to Kenobi for providing his Region B copy so that I could watch the blu-ray version in all its high-def glory. This one is yet another absolute must see, folks!!

22. Chernobyl Diaries (2012)- {2.75/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) So, a group of tourists hire an “extreme” tour guide to bring them to an abandoned city just outside of Chernobyl. Of course, they find out they’re not alone and from that point; everything that could go wrong…does. At first, I was intrigued with the story and how things were going to play out. There were some good scares and tense moments that appear to be setting you up for better things to come. Unfortunately though, it failed to deliver after a fairly promising start. I’ve been watching horror movies long enough to know that if the victims did all the right things and made the proper decisions, it would be difficult to craft a story that had them all still meet their demise. In this one though, I couldn’t understand what the hell they were thinking. One minute we’re running back into the building because we refuse to leave our friends behind and then, once we get in, we’re screaming about how we need to get the eff out of there. There was certainly some promise with the storyline and the atmosphere was pretty creepy, but I was just unable to get into this movie. I would suppose it would still be worth checking out for those who haven’t seen it as there is some value here, but for me I’m pretty sure that I won’t be re-watching this one in the future.

23. Mother's Day (2010)- {4/5} Blu-ray (First-time viewing) This is apparently a remake of a 1980 flick but from what I understand, they’re quite different from each other. This one is maybe a little more of a thriller than a horror movie, but considering the graphic nature of the film; I think it fits in well with the theme of the month. It’s a home invasion/survival movie, but with a very interesting back story that makes this one stand out from the crowd. Personally, I loved this movie. The intensity is off the charts and the acting by the entire cast is remarkable. Rebecca De Mornay plays the deranged and sadistic mother and she absolutely nails it. The various kills and the shots of the many serious wounds were extremely entertaining. Even though it dragged on a little and it had some wtf moments when the victims make ridiculous choices, it was still a great watch despite its flaws. I grabbed it off the shelf at BB simply because I needed a quick replacement for my by-mail movie. After 4 days of it sitting on the coffee table, we were planning on returning it without even watching it. Needless to say, I am so glad we made the last minute decision to give it a shot! Although certainly not a perfect movie, this one still might make it into my collection in the future and at the moment; it holds the most surprising movie award of my 2012 list.

24. Jeepers Creepers (2001)- {3.25/5} AMC What I remember about this movie when I saw it in the theater was that I enjoyed the story and loved the events that took place prior to us getting to actually see the creature. My recent experience with this movie brought the same results. When we didn’t know what we’re dealing with, there was an automatic fear built into that. Crappy dialog and extremely poor decision making aside, this movie starts out with a bang. Now although the introduction of the creature was pretty cool and definitely not a deal-breaker, I found myself wishing that they would have saved that until the end. When it was all said and done, I really enjoyed the unique story and background of the creature (as well as the solid ending) but there were definitely some flaws in the execution and writing in this movie that prevented me from rating it higher.

25. Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)- {4/5} Blu-ray I belong to the camp that thoroughly enjoys the Paranormal series. They just continue to find ways to scare the sh#t out of you while at the same time tying the story together in an interesting way. You won’t find any gore here simply because the uncomfortable anticipation and the fear of the unknown are the driving forces in creating the horror. For me, the placement of sound effects and how they create tension and anxiety are absolutely key. I would imagine that having a capable sound system helps significantly with achieving the desired results. The acting was solid all around (especially the little girls) and there are many moments that stick with you once the movie is finished. I’m definitely looking forward to the release of the 4th installment on blu-ray!

26. The Descent (2005)- {4.75/5} Blu-ray This is such a fine movie all around. The ultimate survival/horror flick with awesome effects, solid PQ/SQ and superb acting all around. My guests were thoroughly disturbed with the claustrophobia aspect of it and the extent of the gore but they really enjoyed all parts of this movie except for maybe the ending. There are subtle visual and auditory moments as the movie progresses that give you an idea of what’s to come; but when we finally get a chance to see one of the “inhabitants” up close………we get one of the best (and most memorable) scares in modern horror movie history as far as I’m concerned. This is the third or fourth time I’ve seen this movie and honestly, it hasn’t lost any of its effectiveness. The picture of all the girls just as they are about to leave for the caves is still one of my favorite moments. Awesome addition to this year’s Horrorfest!!

27. Hellraiser (1987)- {3/5} Blu-ray After all these years I finally made it a point to sit down and watch this movie in its entirety. Clive Barker’s introduction to the horror film industry, this one was undoubtedly quite disturbing when it was released. Although certain aspects of it have stood the test of time, others have not. The story itself is actually pretty cool as Barker lets his imagination take us into the depths of hell where demons (Cenobites) inflict torture and punishment upon those who call upon them via a magical “Rubik’s Cube” of sorts. On the downside, the acting is incredibly weak and the special effects are nearly impossible to overlook. Of course, that’s not all Barker’s fault as he made the most of the technology at the time; however, there is no excuse for the ridiculous Jabba the Hut-like monster that was interjected into the film. I enjoyed Frank (as the human-turned-monster who escaped the wrath of the Cenobites) and of course Pinhead (the only truly scary member of the Cenobites) but overall this movie was not what I was hoping for. Clive Barker’s imagination itself gets this a 3/5 rating despite my issues with it. “We have such sights to show you”.

28. Christine (1983)- {4.25/5} AMC I’m sure you all know the background behind the Stephen King story turned John Carpenter film, so no need to go into all of that. I caught this one in the morning before work the other day on AMC and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I have seen it before, but this was like a first-time viewing since I didn’t really recall how the story goes down. Keith Gordon as “Arnie” does an excellent job in his role as he transitions from a nerd to an egocentric rebel who slowly becomes obsessed with his Plymouth Fury. I thought the overall pacing was solid and all of the acting was very good (especially compared to other movies in the same period). The different ways the car was able to kill people were entertaining to say the least. With regard to the special effects, they definitely appeared to be ahead of their time as the car transformations were quite impressive. The final sequence was especially fun. Great movie!

29. The Shining (1980)- {5/5} HD DVD From the opening scene to the closing credits, this movie was an absolute pleasure to watch. Since I started participating in this thread, this has been the only movie that has received a perfect 5 in my rating system. It just doesn’t get any better folks! I love everything about it and in my opinion; this is the single best horror movie in history. To add onto that, I think that Jack Torrance is one of the most memorable characters in the history of film in general. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job of playing him than Nicholson did. Beautiful cinematography, fantastic writing, great acting and a bone-chilling story all combine to make this the perfect horror movie.

30. The House of the Devil (2009)- {4.75/5} Blu-ray My comments and rating from previous years will stand as this year’s viewing was just as enjoyable as all the others. This one has now made my “favorites” list and will likely be watched every October. This is the first time watching it on my 106” screen though and it made the purposeful graininess really stand out. Very nice touch by my man Ti West! This is how slow-cooked horror is supposed to be executed. There are a number of scenes that I love, but when she wakes up on the “offering” table and the foundation-destroying-bass thumps kick in………its got to be one of the coolest moments I can ever remember in a horror movie.

31. Trick 'r Treat (2007)- {4/5} Blu-ray This movie just keeps getting better. Perfect for Halloween Night. Previous impressions stand, but the old rating had to get bumped up to a 4.

32. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)- {4.75/5} Blu-ray Nothing new to report on this one. One of my favorite movies of all-time and a standard part of October Horrorfest. I should add that the blu-ray picture quality is absolutely stunning! Easily among the best that I've seen.
Edited by ApolloCreed - 3/26/13 at 4:49pm

I kinda liked that one, watched it a couple years back.

Great...now I'm hankerin' for some beef jerky.

I found the perfect red wine for the bloodbath tonight...

Kenobi, your meat looks like bra's hanging on a line. Perhaps they are for Lady Gaga!!!!!!

Movie #5.Night of the Living Dead 3d: Reanimation. 1 Zombie

I was excited when I noticed thia added today on Cox 3d on demand. Looked up a trailer and review and decided what the hell. This was awful and its sad that Jeffrey Combs was even in this thing. I cannot recommend this movie unless you just want to see a really bad zombie movie.

*fixed

Watched The Loved Ones tonite.

Holy Moly, what a TERRIFIC movie this is!
Superb, in every way.

The acting of the Queen Bitch is fantastic...what a performance.

No doubt about it, I have not seen a better horror movie all year.

And the cherry on top is the AV of the DVD is as good as it gets.

Cool, I hadn't seen that one.

Watched "Devil's Playground" last night. I didn't know that I had seen it before until I started watching it. I kept watching, decent movie. 2.5-3 zombies, er ah, infected.

Kenobi, great fix!!!!

4- Jeepers Creepers. I enjoy how this one wraps up and the beasty is very intriguing in action and design. It's underrated in my opinion.
5- Paranormal Activity 3. I saw the first in the theater due to hype and was disappointed. Watched part 2 on my couch with the wife and got several jumps. Same with part 3. I dare say I'm a fan of the series. I do think part of their draw is a lot of low sounds to get you to crank the volume and then BOOM! Part 3 got into the witchcraft side and some back story which I enjoyed and thought it made the ending lean toward jawdropping.

It's tied with Paranormal 3 for me I enjoyed both although I hear V/H/S is epic.

Sounds like a movie im gonna have to track down.

2. Santa Sangre (first-time viewing)
Having seen earlier Alejandro Jodorowsky films, I had some idea of what I would be in for: blood, nudity, violence, shocking imagery, deformity, corruption, filth, insanity, religious and sexual themes, all against the backdrop of Mexico. Santa Sangre easily fills all of these bills, but despite this, it's hard to call this one a true horror film (even though Netflix categorized it as such). We are shown these images with a non-judgmental, almost documentarian eye, and there is no real fear factor coming into play here. Rather, this is done almost artistically--although I would hesitate to label this as an "art-film", which calls to mind pretentious art for art's sake. Everything here serves a role and a function in the story, although it may not always be apparent until later. Plot-wise, what we have here is something like "Psycho" told from Norman Bates point of view from childhood to adulthood--assuming that Norman Bates was raised in a traveling Mexican circus, and his mother throws acid on her husband's genitals when she catches him cheating with another woman. Part of the reason to watch a Jodorowsky film is to see a succession of incredible images, but this isn't just surface, there is a subtext and logic of its own that is surprisingly cohesive, if not always coherent. Do you want to see a dying elephant shooting blood out of its trunk, placed in a giant coffin and thrown off a cliff, only so the locals can crack open the coffin and feast on its dead body? Do you want to see a group of boys with Down syndrome shopping for whores? Do you want to see a woman's arms cut off and eaten by chickens? You get to see all that in Santa Sangre, but by the end you'll be most surprised that you actually saw something that kinda made sense.

Bob's October 2012 Horror Movie List
FTV denotes first time viewing
1. The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) (FTV)
2. Santa Sangre (FTV)
Edited by Bob McLaughlin - 10/3/12 at 8:20am

Day Two

6. Metamorphosis - In the Seventeenth Century, while Hungary is fighting the Turks, the population of a small village in the Carpathian Mountains faces the evil Countess Elizabeth Bathory, accused of drinking and bathing in blood of virgin women. Count Thurzo imprisons the Countess in the tower of a monastery and brings her daughter to live with him. In the present days, Keith is writing a book about Countess Elizabeth Bathory and traveling through Hungary with his friends J.J. and Kim researching her life. While trying to find the monastery, he meets the gorgeous and seductive Elizabeth, who guides the trio to the place. Keith and Elizabeth fall in love for each other, and after a car accident, they have a supernatural journey with revelations and fatalities.

This was on cable yesterday so I though I'd go ahead and watch it.... all I can say is I'm embarrassed to admit I did not change the channel but stupidly watched the whole movie. What a waste of time!

1 Zombie

7. Sennentuntschi: Curse of the Alps - High in the Swiss Alps, a thirty-year-old murder mystery unfolds. While picking mushrooms, a little girl sees a strange boy, shining a mirror for her to uncover a skeleton under the fungi. When the police determine the boy went missing in 1975, the sordid tale of Sennentuntschi unfolds.

Sennentuntschi is an Alpine legend about three lonely herdsmen who were so starved of female companionship they built the girl of their dreams from a broom, some straw and a few rags. Then the Devil took pity and made Sennentuntschi live and breathe so she could cook, clean and look after them. But when they started treating her like a common whore, the revenge she took was so horrific the locals still shudder to this very day.

This was an interesting movie, a bit confusing at times, very limited blood, gore, etc and not really scary at all, similar to Jack Ketchum's "The Woman" but with a twist.

3 1/2 Zombies

8. The Possession - A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child.

This has a pretty good rating on IMDB but for me it was pretty lame.

2 1/4 Zombies