Welcome To Our Nightmare: A Terror and Wooley Horror Show

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I saw this movie three or four years ago when it had some buzz on another forum. The print, and now this has to be the most recurring theme of this entire thread, was very fuzzy and dim. And I really liked it.
We have talked about how a good, clear print has effected my viewing of Vampyr and Lemora, how would Messiah Of Evil fare?

Arletty has been estranged from her father, an artist, for some time now and has decided to travel to Point Dume (a real place!) when she loses contact with him altogether. The weekend that ensues will not go awesomely for her as this town is not full of friendly neighbors but rather disciples of the Blood Moon, The Dark Stranger, and Old Gods. Along the way she'll befriend an odd trio comprising an aristocrat and his two hangers-on who only make the proceedings feel more surreal but also add meaningful bodies to add to potentially add to the count. Will Arletty find her father? Will she give in to the sexual flirtations of the aristocrat? Will they all end up dead? Or worse?
One thing I can tell you is that if you go to see a movie in a haunted-ass town like this and the marquee just tells you your fate... listen to it.


How could I love this more?
Once again, this was a movie that I thought felt totally haunted and nightmare-like when I saw it on a bad print and it turns out to be much more straightforward when I see a good one. I wonder if this movie, like Lemora, didn’t make sense when I was expecting it to (my first watch) and then made sense when I wasn’t (this time).

So, what feelings did I come away with on this pristine re-watch.
Well, for one thing, it’s even more of a Lovecraft movie than I remembered.
Is this really just The Shadow Over Innsmouth? 13 minutes in that’s what I found myself wondering. It's a really good version of Shadow Over Innsmouth, if it is, but that sure seems like what this is.
So, ultimately, like Lemora, this is another movie that is so much better than it should be. Or, it almost makes one wonder, when people can make movies like this for nothing and we get unbelievable **** for $100M. Maybe it’s actually simpler than they’re making it.
But this is really good. Better than Let’s Scare Jessica To Death, for example. I think they sorta belong in the same category, with Lemora and some of the other rare low-budget 70s flicks. I mean, these people are really trying and this film looks and feels wonderful for the genre.


Is this really an Art Movie masquerading as a Horror Movie?
It pains me to say this, as I’ve been championing Lemora for over a decade, but I think MoE has actually surpassed Lemora to me. Now it may have been that I saw the new print of Lemora first and it padded the blow of seeing the new print of this one. It may be that my expectations were much lower for this. It may be that I am in a better mood tonight. It may be that I smoked better weed. But it is what it is.
This movie was phenomenal. This is (sigh) probably taking Lemora’s place as my “Best Horror Movie You’ve Never Seen Even If You Think You Like Horror Movies”.
I expect I will watch this one every year from now forward.

I am amused reading about the critical response to Messiah Of Evil.

The Los Angeles Times called it, "a thoroughly dismal horror picture that is sleep-inducing rather than hair-raising".
Yet Woody Allen had it up on a marquee in Annie Hall (given that Allen's film was four years after MoE, I don't think that was coincidence).
Critic Kim Newman felt it was a neglected, surreal horror.
Beyond Hollywood actually picked up, as I did, on the spiritual connection between this film and Vampyr.
British Sci-Fi mag, Starburst, actually gave it a perfect 10/10, praising the soundtrack and visuals.
Personally, I thought the music, specifically, was better in Lemora. (Yes those two films are going to be linked forever in my brain.)

As a long time fan of the Horrorthon, allow me to express my humble gratitude for being allowed to contribute this year.
I feel like that guy from the Judas Priest cover band that was asked to join the actual Judas Priest.

ps--Sorry about all the Mummy stuff.

**** man, I think of you more like Lennon to McCartney.

I don't know, that sounds a bit pretentious. Let's go with Simmons and Stanley.

Fair.

My final movie of the month is one I've been in love with since I first saw it about 14 years ago and decided it was a perfect Halloween movie for me.
Growing up in New Orleans, Voodoo and the old-fashioned version of the Zombi were always a danger. You never knew when someone might put a hoodoo on you. There were Voodoo witch-queens out in the swamps outside of town, to be sure, and if you didn't watch out they might get you or send one of their zombis to take you away forever.
White Zombie is a lot closer to that than any "Living Dead" film ever wanted to be.

Here is the story of an innocent couple, soon to be wed, in Haiti on their way to stay at the home of a rich plantation owner. But along the road, they happen across the mysterious Murder Legendre (Bela Lugosi, obviously)...


...who takes a bit of a shine to the young lady, Madeleine. As does the plantation owner. When he comes to Murder for help (gotta love it), he is assured that the Voodoo master can help him possess the fair Madeleine. But at what cost? What cost, indeed.


Before anyone can do much about it, Legendre has bewitched Madeleine and taken her captive. And his Zombie slaves do his every bidding from grinding the cane to sugar to taking care of anyone who might interfere with his plans.


And it all ends, as it should, in some dark and foggy dream on the ledge of a spooky old building.


Just a fun, fun film for a Horror lover and especially a Bela Lugosi lover not to mention a Voodoo lover from Old New Orleans.
I really do love this crazy old thing. And I felt like I was done. And I was perfectly happy.
But I'd forgotten one important thing...

White Zombie is great. I would suggest avoiding the sequel, Revolt of the Zombies. No Bela, few memorable images, and unimaginably boring in every respect.

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And finally, to wrap up the month, there was essential viewing...


I've been watching this since I was probably 4-going-on-5 years old (my birthday is November 1 so Halloween was always kinda my pre-birthday) back in 1977.
I consider this essential viewing for the season as it has jack-o-lanterns and trick 'r treating and kids dressed up as ghosts and witches and such and it does still have a little bit of a spooky vibe to it.


... but it's also wholesome and fun and reminds me what it was like to be a kid on Halloween.


This is completely necessary for me to feel like Halloween has occurred. And now it has.
It's been a wonderful pleasure and it's been great to do this and I appreciate everybody who came by.

And now we can all put this silly "Holiday" nobody makes enough money off of to care about aside and do our Commercialist States Of America duty and launch the official Capitalist Holiday Season.


Happy Holidays, y'all!

As someone who does not celebrate, I officially declare war on Christmas.

But yes, nicely done.

The nightmare is over. We got through it.





Thanks guys, the reviews, pictures and videos made it an enjoyable October indeed.

We thank you.

Nice thread, Wooley and CT

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Nicely done. I didn't have one for Bird Day.