Halloween Watch-A-Thon

I've had at least a couple of instances so far this month where I go in expecting a horror movie and realise that it's only got some horror elements like Vampires or Brotherhood of the Wolf. Kinda makes you wonder where exactly you're supposed to draw the line.

I've had at least a couple of instances so far this month where I go in expecting a horror movie and realise that it's only got some horror elements like Vampires or Brotherhood of the Wolf. Kinda makes you wonder where exactly you're supposed to draw the line.

The Omen (1976) https://letterboxd.com/smudgeefc1985/film/the-omen/


Here's another one that has eluded me for years, though I know why with this one. I remember sharing a room with my older brother on a family holiday once and this was on tv late at night. I was scared and didn't want to watch it, but he didn't give a toss. I lasted until the infamous tricycle scene and spent the rest of the film curled up under the covers with my fingers in my ears desperately trying to ward off the inevitable nightmares...yeah, I was about 8. Oh, and horror films about kids are the creepiest of all.

So here I am, 25 years later and as nervous about a horror film as I ever have been probably! Even though I knew it wouldn't possibly be as terrifying as I remembered it being. That of course is true, but it doesn't take away what a powerful, masterfully made film this is. It creates a sense of dread that is only heightened by the serene everyday bliss of the early scenes in between the morning Damien is born, to his 5th birthday. From then on, it is a slow burning horrifying descent into hell. And that score...wow.

I don't like religion in everyday life, so I think it always lends itself very well to the horror genre. That sense of placing trust in a higher power based on no evidence except faith, prophecies and their interpretations, the ending is the chilling icing on the cake. A masterpiece.

In 18th-century France, a French naturalist and his Native American companion travel into a province that is being terrorised by a dangerous creature.

In trying to cover nothing but horror movies for the whole of this October, I do have to wonder whether or not the ones I choose end up resulting in some serious stretching of the genre's parameters. This was my rationale for watching Brotherhood of the Wolf - not only is its title suggestive of the presence of werewolves (or even just regular wolves), but so is the logline involving a pair of adventurers ending up in a part of the countryside where the local population is ostensibly being attacked by said (were)wolves. Sounds like it's going to be a horror movie, right? Well, not quite. One of the opening scenes does involve a hapless maiden being run down by whatever creature will serve as the movie's main monster, but for a large chunk of the running time Brotherhood of the Wolf plays as a peculiar combination of hyper-stylised action movie and the kind of costume drama that seesaws between stuffy and saucy at the drop of a tri-corner hat. It's at the point where I could focus a synopsis more around the personal drama that unfolds between the various human characters (often on a romantic nature as protagonist Grégoire shacking up with Italian courtesan Sylvia but actually showing true affection in his flirtatious dalliance with local noblewoman Marianne and thus making her brother Jean-François jealous...and so on and so forth) than about whether or not there's actually a wolf (or similar such beast) roaming the area and attacking people.

Even after adjusting expectations away from the idea that this is primarily a horror movie, Brotherhood of the Wolf does little to actually prove an entertaining watch as even an action movie or as a drama or any combination of the three. Scenes involving the creature tend to be blunt and dull even without noting the rough-looking CGI used to bring it to life, which is why it makes sense that the film emphasises its many scenes of hand-to-hand combat between human characters instead. Even those feel like perfunctory attempts to keep an audience awake through the non-action parts as there's nothing terribly exciting about what happens or how it's captured. It's a staggeringly boring affair (not helped in the least by how much downtime there is across its considerably lengthy running time) and nothing - not the reasonably lavish production design nor the elaborate displays of martial arts nor the occasional moment of overt sensuality - ever truly manages to compensate for that. In playing like a fairytale for grown-ups (complete with narrator), it only manages to show off its shallowness and render its rather serious presentation (and attempts at wringing genuine emotion out of its overwrought drama) even more absurd to watch.

I really just want you all angry and confused the whole time.

In fairness, Jason X is pretty funny and probably the worst of the Friday movies to use if you want to actually scare someone.

I watched Freddy vs Jason when I was running through the Friday movies earlier this year and, while I ultimately gave it a , I did have at least some fun with it. "TILT!"

Jason Goes to Hell is the worst one, in my opinion.

From my memory Final Chapter & Jason Lives were my favourites.

I also did not mind the remake.

Jason Goes Manhattan (The most underrated entry)

Split (2016) https://letterboxd.com/smudgeefc1985/film/split-2016/


First off, this isnt a horror film, despite being listed under horror on Sky. Second, while there are some good bits and good ideas on show here, I dont think its a great film really. Confusingly interesting enough to keep me involved for the duration, but ultimately disappointing once all has been revealed.

It's biggest strength is James McAvoy's performance (or performances?) as Kevin and his multiple personalities, not simply a job of changing his voice for the multiple roles, but his entire personality, with his mannerisms, facial expressions, even just his aura, being able to show with just a look which personalities were warm, and which ones we should be fearing.

An interesting enough film to give it a go, and definitely not a bad film, but that in between kind of level. And definitely not horror.