A Month of Terror

Testing my Sanity... One.... Two... Scream !!!!

I'm going to be doing a new updating feature inspired by Patrick Klepeck over at Giantbomb.com. In honor of this months holiday, I'm going to subject myself to a horror movie every night. Each night my tolerance will be tested until the mounting weight of that signature shadow just outside of view and the noises from unknown sources finally break me. For the sake of my own sanity I'll be mixing in some horror/comedies as well as nontraditional horror movies, but for the most part this feature will be a growing list of hauntings, killers, and the possessed. So pull the blanket up to your face and follow along if you can stand the tension.
*this will be a loooonnnggg feature, so get ready to scroll for updates*

Oct 5th - Gravity (5 out of 5)

Starting with an unconventional horror movie, Gravity. A breathtaking and nerve-raking experience that transports you into this painstakingly detailed environment that will fool you in its validity for its duration. Gravity stars an understated yet powerful Sandra Bullock in a deftly told allegorical story of rebirth. A simple premise propelled by staggering visuals and a compelling performance. Gravity needs not but seconds to thrust its way into your brain and refuse to let go, it's a powerhouse science-fiction film in a genre that has all but given up reveling in the realities of science. This film feels like a sincere fist-pump in the name of scientific progress that not only shows the ingenuity of our race but celebrates our limitations and flaws. This is a movie that shan't be seen in any other way than IMAX 3D it is a legitimately awe-inspiring experience that is easy to lose yourself in. Movie so rarely surprise lately, regurgitating known quantities, content with easy guaranteed hits but Gravity is an astonishing breath of fresh air. A harrowing and beautifully told story that encapsulates everything that makes the cinematic movie-going experience so precious.

Oct 7th - The Conjuring (5 out of 5)

The Conjuring is a measured and precisely executed horror film with a old school feel. The Conjuring made a bad impression on me when it was rated R by the MPAA for simply being too terrifying, the film has very little blood or violence and it has no nudity, language or particularly unsavory material. When I first heard this I rolled my eyes, "What a cheap publicity stunt," I thought, but boy was I wrong. The Conjuring has easily jumped up to one of my all time favorite horror films. Mixing elements from different horror films it avoids repetition by changing up the threats. It's a horror movie made with such love for the genre it's impossible not to appreciate the restrained nature of the proceedings inspired by the classics and drowned out by the recent flood of cheap frantic shock horror that while effective is devoid of any lasting impression. This film takes its time building suspense and raising the stakes so that when terror strikes it is truly frightening in a way that really gets under your skin and makes you think twice about ignoring that feeling of somebody watching you. Unnerving for its entirety, The Conjuring manages to scare like the best of them without succumbing to cheap tricks and excessive violence. An absolute treat for those who like their horror movies more like "Smarties" and less like "Butterfingers".

Oct 8th - The House of the Devil (2 out of 5)

This film felt like a giant trick with no treat payoff. The House of the Devil revels in the longest of build-ups but then delivers a predictable and unsatisfying revelation too far into the film that you'll struggle to care about by the time it finally comes around. The 70's horror film inspired aesthetic is pulled off really well, going so far as to mimicking old cinematography in a way that any movie buffs are sure to get a kick out of. But other than the general look and feel of the film, The House of the Devil is a letdown that contains zero scares, and even less memorable moments. Aficionados may be slightly entertained but casual viewers should stay well clear of this cheap plodding film.

Oct 9th - American Horror Story: Coven S03E01 (3 out of 5)

American Horror Story continues its unique anthology premise with a new time period, characters and mysteries. Coven centers around witches in New Orleans and is a return to form after a zanier inconsistent second season. Strong performances from a supremely talented cast and a fantastic setting mark an exciting direction for the series. An overly stylized look with fish eyed lenses and camera shots that look like their filmed by a drunken operator as well as cringe-worthy pop-culture references and sometimes clunky blunt dialogue hold back an otherwise fantastic production. As the first episode of a renowned plot twist heavy series it's impossible to tell where the show will be in say, 5 episodes, but this introduction sets the stage up wonderfully. The show continues to sidestep the "horror" portion of its title serving up more craziness than scares, as the scariest moment of this episode was a date rape scenario that while unquestionably scary was uncomfortably realistic. This series has always given off a strangely hypnotic hyper-sexualized and violent kooky nature that I can see really benefiting from this particular setting and theme.

Oct 9th - The Innkeepers (4 out of 5)

The Innkeepers has a subdued tone that masks an existential look at the true fears of life that unfortunately uses too many conventional horror tropes as its crutch. With two compelling dorky leads the film eschews a few formulaic elements and plants the seeds for broader human fears of abandonment, isolation and lack of ambition. The film knows that the truly unsettling things are shrouded in ambiguity, a mysterious noise with seemingly no source which could have just as easily been in your head. This is where The Innkeepers excels, when it plays with your preconceptions on what is scary. It's easy to fear a chainsaw wielding maniac but when you can't even figure out what you're scared of it opens up so many new and terrifying avenues. An ambiguous ending caps the entire film off perfectly leaving you, just like the characters, wondering what, if anything, was real.

Oct 10th - Halloween (2 out of 5)

Imagine my surprise when one of the most revered horror films of all time fell completely flat. I suspect that all the imitators that came after lessened the impact of what at the time must have been genre defining moments. Unfortunately I've been sullied by the times and felt the film was tedious and predictable. Michael Myers makes a formidable boogeyman but other than his inexplicable invincibility there is really nothing here beyond a simple slasher film. I was supremely disappointed by Halloween, as I was expecting some revelatory experience, instead I was surprised it was ever considered frightening at all.

Oct 11th - Sinister (1 out of 5)

Sinister is painfully boring and convoluted. A horrendous script that seems to think spending 15 minutes on a martial dispute is time well spent in a horror film and cliche ridden clunky dialogue that will attempt to force you to slit your wrists. The film is staggeringly un-frightening and at times unintentionally hilarious, which all makes for a tedious experience. The film also bogs down in details of an ancient Babylonian deity while never explaining the plot holes riddled elsewhere. Sinister is a film so pretentious in its execution it makes for a great target to point at laugh at. Attempting to subvert genre conventions in the last few minutes of the movie do nothing to elevate what is otherwise a soulless carcass of modern horror tropes.

Oct 12th - The Orphanage (4 out of 5)

The Orphanage has a palpable atmosphere that while never truly terrifying is always unsettling. The film was enjoyably throughout, with a story and characters first mentality the scares come naturally as the reality of the situation reveals itself along with the true nature of the horrors. Strong performances propel a nontraditional horror film that prays on real parental fears. One of the most refreshing aspects of the movie was the non-antagonistic apparitions. The "monsters" in this movie exist but they aren't forcefully trying to eject the new tenants, this is a great change of pace for the normally evil-for-no-reason ghosts that plague other movies of this ilk. It's unfortunately predictable but The Orphanage is moody and thoughtful, slowly unraveling its mysteries and horrors in an emotionally grounded way that helps sell the final revelations.

Oct 13th - Trick 'r Treat (3 out of 5)

Trick 'r Treat is a breezy exploration of the multifaceted Halloween mythology that is just as heavy on laughs as on scares. Touching on just about every classic horror baddie as well as couching each story in a traditional moral lesson. It makes the film feel rather childish, but in a good way, like a playful scary feature. If this film had been around when I was younger it would have scared me to death, but I imagine I would have looked back fondly on the film. The film is an interconnected anthology in which several characters have their own journeys on this particular Halloween night, but all vaguely intersect at least once throughout this faithful night. It allows the filmmakers to dabble in all the classic stories and myths while even changing up the tone to suit a particular story thread. Trick 'r Treat is a fun, albeit unsurprising horror anthology in a genre that can sometimes use a shake-up and while this movie doesn't deliver any tectonic shifts it does provide enough fun moments to entertain on a spooky night in.