Red State Review by Samantha Mauney

Ummm.. wow.

Those were my main thoughts while watching the movie Red State. Directed and written by Kevin Smith, this film is a whirlwind of surprises. The biggest surprise came for me when I found out that this was a horror movie, which happened about twenty minutes into the film.  I started watching this movie because I saw that it was available for instant streaming on Netflix. I knew that it was directed by Kevin Smith, and that, therefore, I was bound to like it. Clerks, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back are among my favorite films, and Smith's Q&A sessions are the stuff of legend (seriously, look them up). Because Netflix labeled Red State under the primary genre of action and adventure, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started to watch this film. Call me crazy, but I was expecting an action comedy in the vein of Hot Fuzz. That is NOT what I got.
Though he mainly writes dialogue-driven comedies, this film is not Smith's first attempt at action. He also directed the 2010 action comedy Cop Out starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. However, this is his first foray into horror, and all I can say is that I wish he had attempted the genre sooner.


I hate to delve too much into the plot for fear of giving too much away. The movie is about a fringe protestant, ultra-conservative protestant church that makes a habit of enacting God's wrath by killing "sinners." In addition to this hobby, members of the church are avid gun enthusiasts. So much so that they attract the attention of the ATF. Chaos and unbridled bloodshed ensues (think Westboro Baptist Church meets The Wicker Man meets Waco, TX). The plot of the story makes it unconventional for a horror story. While the villains are easy to spot, determining just who is a protagonist is a bit trickier. Talking in this film is minimal, excluding a sermon by the pastor of the church, so there isn't much of a chance to determine who the potential protagonists might be, until all other candidates are dead.

Again, though the dialogue is minimal, the acting in this film is very authentic. You can almost understand the charismatic appeal of the pastor (played by Michael Parks) of the hate-filled "Five Points Trinity Church," and, unsettlingly enough, I even found myself wanting to sing along to a gospel song or two during their sacrificial worship service. Kyle Gallner, the current "it" boy of horror, is also in this film. And last but not least, the unforgettable John Goodman steals the show, playing an ATF agent confronted with having to choose between what is right and what is easy.


The film is relatively fast paced, at only 88 minutes long. So if you like action, then this is the movie for you. Interestingly, what makes this film sing is the dialogue (despite the fact that there isn't very much of it), which, as I previously mentioned, is Smith's specialty. There is a poignant soliloquy towards the end of the film that is nothing short of perfection, followed quickly by the awkward lightheartedness that made Kevin Smith famous. Nevertheless, the film ends with a definite message that is very real and, if you follow his personal opinions, very personal to the director.
It's a shame that this film went straight to DVD because Smith's controversial decision to self-distribute. Perhaps if Red State had been shown in theatres instead of simply shopped around at film festivals, more people would have the opportunity to appreciate it. Though many critics have published poor reviews of the film, it has also been lauded by Tarantino and others. Who knows, maybe this film will reach cult status in ten years, or maybe DVD sales will start to pick up on Smith's website. Either way, sooner or later, I think that people will have to see this film for what it truly is: an experimental piece of art that deserves its day in the sun.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Review By Corbin Bond

         “The feel bad movie of Christmas” was the caption for one of the most highly anticipated films of 2011. David Fincher, who has created such classics as Seven, Fight Club, and the recently acclaimed The Social Network, now returns to his darker storytelling roots in his film adaptation of the worldwide bestselling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In fact, such a tale of murder, brutality, mystery, and dread seems to be the perfect place for Fincher to show his true visceral style. I just left the advance showing of the film this evening, and it was definitely another Fincher masterpiece. Not to be confused with the Swedish films based on the same book, Fincher’s adaptation is more respectful to its source material by providing a gruesome yet beautiful and intriguing story at a crisp and rapid pace. However, what really makes this film shine over the previous version was in its cast. This is especially the case for the leads played by Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace) and Rooney Mara (A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Social Network).  Overall, Fincher provides both fans and newcomers to the story a grim, brutal, yet powerful film that is sure to be a major success.

                First of all, I do want add that this film is not entirely for the faint of heart. There are especially shocking moments throughout that are very difficult to watch. However, despite the brutality, we are given a story that explores the depiction of evil and how far it can go to fully manifest in the world. For those new to the story, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo centers on the characters of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. Mikael is a journalist whom has been recently accused and charged with libel. The story involves Mikael trying gain back his credibility in the world of journalism by helping solve a 40 year old mystery of a 16 year old girl who disappeared and was murdered on a lonely island in Northern Sweden. Meanwhile, Mikael finds a connection between the disappearance and a string of unsolved murders spanning throughout the country. During his investigation, Mikael calls for the assistance of Lisbeth Salander who we come to know along with Mikael. Lisbeth is an expert hacker who has lived an incredibly hard life. She had been conducting background checks on Mikael accessing his private materials. The two characters’ stories come together as they work to solve the mystery and find the murderer.

                As I mentioned earlier, the major strongpoint this film possesses is its cast. Without such brilliant acting, this film would not have been nearly as impressive. The best acting definitely came from Rooney Mara in her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander. Mara gives an Oscar worthy and all too real view into the life of a troubled, horrifically wronged, and misunderstood young woman who endures her torments but fights back with an incredible vengeance. You can sense an incredible passion and commitment to the role with every single one of her lines, gestures, and even glances. Throughout the film, the audience bears witness to the horrors she must endure such as harassment, brutal sexual molestation, and heart break. However, after witnessing such brutal evils audiences can witness how she fights back against evil in a way that is even more terrifying yet incredibly captivating. Meanwhile, Daniel Craig delivers his best performance to date as Mikael. He provides audiences with an intriguing portrayal of a man at his lowest trying to build himself back up in an almost Sherlock Holmes like method.  However, though Mara and Craig were amazing, in terms of supporting cast, Stellan Skarsgard (Melancholia, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) stands out the most. He provides a very chilling persona as an enigmatic character who adds an eerie atmosphere to the mystery.  With such a brilliant cast, this film truly delivers a powerful punch.

                The next powerful factor about the film has to be in its score written and composed the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor, and co-written and composed by Atticus Ross. Reznor and Ross, who already have Oscar acclaim with their musical work on The Social Network, have once again given a very beautiful musical composition to the film. Each musical piece is incredibly dark and unsettling and is able to delicately and perfectly capture the dread and melancholy in each and every scene. Probably the most appreciated musical work in the film has to be seen in Reznor’s cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” sung by Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The song played during the opening credits provides the perfect ear catcher while the images in the opening play out as what have to be the most artistic and intriguing opening credits in film history. The score to follow plays out to create a very unsettling and tense atmosphere and builds suspense throughout the film before letting it explode.

                Fincher also shows an excellent cinematographic talent as each shot in the film is smooth, artistic, ominous, and beautiful. The cold and colorless winter atmosphere mixed with some minor colorful images creates the perfect uncanny contrast. Fincher’s imagery also allows for a more interesting look into the inner psyches of the characters. His shots allow for implicit understandings into what might be going on in each of the characters’ heads. Each scene is intricately filmed to follow actions and conversations following such delicate details as simple gestures and body language. Not only that, but there is also a definite and incredibly heightened sense of foreboding especially with the scenes involving Lisbeth and the film’s climax. The film proves how Fincher is a master of story telling through just mere images.      

                Meanwhile, the film’s story is told at a very rapid pace unlike Fincher’s earlier work in Zodiac, which seemed rather slow at times. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo does the exact opposite. Although it is a long movie (around 2 hours and 40 minutes to be exact), the story seems very fluid very smooth and very fast paced. There is no dull moment throughout the entire film as the mystery keeps you guessing the entire time with twists and turns at every corner. When the film reaches its ending, there is definitely a sense of closure making this a very good stand alone film. However, it is the first part of a trilogy meaning the ending also provided a sense of being a slight to be continued. Even though I do wish we could have seen more, such a minor issue can be easily forgotten when compared to vast majority of pros the film possesses. Furthermore, the film is definitely powerful in how it affected people after the ending credits came up. While leaving the crowded theater and going into the parking lot I could overhear people conversing about the film’s themes, dialogue, atmosphere, acting, etc. This is a film that gets into your head and stays with you for a while.

                David Fincher has once again returned to create another incredible work of film making. Through excellent and respectful depictions based from the source material, he has shown how even an English language adaptation can be made into a very amazing film. His imagery and storytelling provide an exceptional and grim look into evil, torment, madness, heart break, and endurance.  Meanwhile, with an absolutely outstanding performance by the committed Rooney Mara we are given an incredibly strong and powerful female character, in the form of Lisbeth Salander. The film definitely seems to be a very good Oscar contender this year, and it is definitely a film that should not be missed.  Therefore, this “feel bad movie of Christmas,” which crosses multiple boundaries and goes far beyond normal limitations to provide the most realistically brutal, beautiful and captivating story, is easily the best film of 2011.

*I understand that this film isn't exactly a Horror film. However, it is an amazing psychological thriller/ murder mystery that has some especially horrific elements.

                

New Promo video for Brown Hauntings

Last weekend VHS helped make this promo for the Hauntings at Brown College. It was a ton of fun!

Dead Alive (Braindead) Review by Samantha Mauney

Standing outside a Richmond Jersey Mike's after having just seen the newest X-men movie, my friend recommends the movie Dead Alive to me. The film, long-touted as being one of the goriest ever made, is a blood-covered gem of a flick.

After I expressed my interest, my friend then procceeded to tell me about some of the films most disturbing scenes, as if determined to convince me that it deserved the title (trust me, it does). So, a few days later I found Dead Alive on Netflix and managed to sit through it. Now, I'm not really squeemish when it comes to gore (this is the girl who sat through Hostel while eating a steak), but I will say that the film definitely delivers in the blood and guts department.

Made in the '90's but set in '50's New Zealand, Dead Alive is a splatstick horror flick that has the feel of a late Ozploitation film (for more on Ozploitation, I eagerly suggest watching the documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation). The movie is the story of Lionel Cosgrove, a thirty-something year old man who lives with his mother and is used to doing everything she says... Even after she becomes a mindless zombie. Soon mum is turning half the town into zombies, all of whom Lionel takes care of in his huge house. Hilarity ensues as, under a vast amount of supressants, he has all of them sitting around the family dinner table feeding them some kind of porridge (who feeds zombies, anyway?) and arranges play dates for them all in the basement.

Love also blooms-- albeit in a very disturbing way-- between two of the zombies (one of which is a former priest), and an adorably disgusting zombie baby is born. That same baby is later put into a blender.

Some of the gore can feel quite cartoonish at times, but overall it is very real. The zombies themselves are an interesting mix of slow-moving, moaning ones remniscent of early movies like in Night of the Living Dead, running at 40 miles an hour Dawn of the Dead-esque ones, and Godzilla.

The film has all of the loveability of a low budget, independent, zombie flick, (despite the fact that it cost about $3,000,000 to make) which is due to most of the over-the-top humor scattered throughout. You can't come to be called "one of the goriest films of all time" without either making  people laugh or have a heart-attack. This film really delivers on the former. Apparently, the full length NZ version of the movie is even more violent than the one available in the US. I can't really fathom how anyone could make this film any more of a bloodbath than it already is.

Concerning plot, the entire story line of the film is very simple and recognizable, so as not to impose on any of the action. There is an original incubator for the disease, in the form of a Sumatran rat-monkey. There is a Zombie number one, a catalyst for a wide-spread outbreak, and the film ends with an ever-so-climactic full-on zombie massacre. In the end, the movie attempts to be academic with a reference to Freud. I'm no student of psycology, so I cannot comment on how well placed the allusion was.The acting is so-so (not that it takes away from the story. After all, this is a splatstick), but the comedic timing is spot-on. Cinematically speaking, the directors do a decent job of making this feel like the movie was shot decades earlier than it actually was, giving it a more authentic Ozploitation feel.

Historically and economically, this film was considered a flop. It only made back two thirds of its original three million dollar budget at the box office (which, for a film that underwent an unbelievable amount of censorship, is still not terrible). But thus is the way for most films that become cult classics. I seriously encourage you to see this movie. If you think your stomach is strong enough.

Wake Wood Review by Corbin Bond

As a break from the stress of summer school work, I decided to take a trip to my local Best Buy to purchase some new Horror films. Earlier I had received a recommendation from a friend on this new film straight from Ireland called Wake Wood. The film is one of the many new films to be released by the now revitalized Hammer studio that brought the amazing Let Me In back in 2010. I don't plan on spoiling the film, but I will say that it definitely has me attracted to watching more Horror films from across the pond.
The film has a plot that is very reminiscent of classics such as The Wicker Man, Don't Look Now, and Pet Sematary. All is blended together to create an excellent example of modern Gothic Horror. The story is of Patrick and Louise, a husband and wife, who have just recently suffered the tragic and violent death of their daughter, Alice. In their despair, they move from their city home to the countryside village of Wake Wood. There, while trying to recuperate their lives and move on, they come to find a very dark feature of the town that leads them down a path of the occult and ultimately a nightmare beyond their initial intentions. Thus we are given a film with an extremely dark atmosphere and chilling imagery to provide the town with a major sense of foreboding.
Overall, the film displays beautiful cinematic work, as each shot seems to be intricately set to appear perfect in terms of building a sense of discomfort. The setting is very reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's descriptions that reflect feudal Europe. Meanwhile, the depiction of the forest reflects on the idea of the untamed wilderness where all forms of dark occurrences can develop. The film, in its connection to The Wicker Man, is also a definite presentation of the occult, especially necromancy. Each shot of the townspeople gathering around for rituals is chilling while also very much sublime.
Furthermore, Wake Wood, is an especially effective Horror film in is presentation of realistic violence. The film does not become overly gruesome like the Saw franchise, but there are definitely scenes of extreme pain and violence that can lead to major cringes. The sounds of the deaths are probably the most effective in their ability to make the audience very shocked. However, the film does not rely on gore to be horrific, which is a very good thing compared to most Horror films of this generation. Instead it focuses on the usage of disturbing images paired with emotional terror to produce a film that is very much like something one would hear from a campfire ghost story. In a way, it would be best to refer to this film as "folk" Gothic Horror.
The usage of the pastoral landscape, with the odd suspicious villagers and the dark imagery, makes the film very unsettling especially as the central story continues. Not only that, but the film also builds tension with some clever scares paired with acting of the awesome cast. The best of the cast has to be Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew - for all Harry Potter fans) who portrays the character of Arthur as very gentlemanly while also very suspicious and disturbing. When I saw the film, I instantly thought he would be the major villain when in reality, I was quite wrong. The story has some very good twists and turns to the point where you can't help but wonder what will happen next. By the end, I was blown away.
Overall, I definitely recommend Wake Wood. It has just the right amount of scares with the right build up of tension leading to the film's finale. This is definitely a new folk horror classic that provides a modern Gothic twist. It is definitely a good film in the return of Hammer as well. However, be warned. "What goes on in Wake Wood is not for everyone."

Black Death Review by Samantha Mauney

Searching through a list of horror movies coming out this year (specifically this summer) to ward off studying for the LSAT, I came across this film listed as a 2010 favorite. So you can imagine how happy I was to find that Netflix offers to stream instantly for all of its customers.

Black Death is a supernatural, story-driven, period-piece horror flick about the effects of the bubonic plague in fourteenth century England. A local bishop's envoy and his entourage arrive at a monastery with tales of a place that the plague cannot reach. When they leave they take with them a young monk from the monastery as a guide, as he was raised in the marsh they are headed to. What the soldiers do not know is that the monk has a hidden agenda. He has sent his young lover to the marshes for her safety, with the promise to meet her there. However, it is revealed that the other men have a few secrets of their own. While they are looking for a village where there is no pestilence, that same village is a godless one that is said to be lead by a necromancer. The men seek to find it and "turn it's people back to God." With that goal in place, the story begins to move and breathe at a very comfortable pace as the search for the young monk's true love, as well as this mysterious village and its pagan sorcerer starts.

Most true horror fans will think that the film starts off WAY slow, with virtually nothing in the way of scare or suspence for the first thirty minutes. In fact, despite the fact that I was completely engrossed in the story, for a while I was wondering why both movie-moron.com and Netflix classified Black Death as a horror film to begin with. Roughly an hour into the movie, however, you'll think you're watching torture porn. While that aspect of the film doesn't last very long at all, from that point on the film is remarkably fast-paced, and amazingly compelling.

I cannot begin to state how remarkable the acting was in this movie. Eddie Redmayne (Pillars of the Earth, Elizabeth I, Glorious 39), one of my favorite young British actors, shines as a young man of the cloth who's having a hard time keeping to his vows. By far the character with the most growth, you see both innocence and cold-hearted malice in his performance, two qualities that Eddie Redmayne is a master at conveying, garnering him praise in Pillars of the Earth and Glorious 39.

However, most of you will probably recognize the great Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, GoldenEye) more easily. It's no argument that Bean is a wonderful and highly-seasoned actor, and his performance here does not dissapoint. Unfortunately, his character, while it certainly has depth, has no real arc to it, so we see Bean once again playing the unchanging, honorable soldier. It would have been nice to see him in a role with more development. Other characters in the film are just as honorable, but are not given enough screen time to be as likable.

The cinematography in this film is fairly one-note, though quite captivating. The bleak color present throughout the movie helps to convey the atmosphere in England int he 1300's. The harshness of the landscape will never let you forget that there is death all around, as inescapable and as fast as the fog hovering above the marsh. Exactly what you'd expect from a Medieval action movie, but presented in a nice way nonetheless.

I try to be a fiercely anti-spoiler reviewer, but I don't think that I'm giving away too much by saying that religion is a huge theme in this film (but that doesn't by any means mean that it's preachy or any other negative connotation you associate with religion). With that come love, temptation, betrayl, lust, vengeance, and duty: all of which make a for great story, and that's truly what this film is. I disagree with Netflix calling it primarily a supernatural horror, but there are definitely parts of the story that are horrific. Unfortunately, the true scares only account for about 10% of the movie. I will say that the lack of jump-off-the-couch-scares and on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense is due to the complete devotion to realism of Christopher Smith and Dario Poloni, the director and screenwriter. I really like and respect that there is no suspension of disbelief necessary for any part of the story, and that fact, more than any torturous scene, is the most horrific aspect of this film. Watch Black Death if you like original, extremely well-written, action films in addition to horror. Don't watch if you're looking for something to keep you awake when things go bump in the night.

Super 8 Review by Corbin Bond

Today, I had the amazing opportunity to go see Super 8 with my dad and older brother, and let me tell you one thing. This movie was an awesome experience! Before I get into an in depth review I do want to mention that there may be some minor spoilers but nothing too bad. Anyways, the film is about a group of kids that are just getting out of school for the summer in the late 70s/ early 80s. They plan to spend their summer filming a super 8 zombie horror film to be submitted to a Ohio Film Festival. Meanwhile the main character, Joe, who works with makeup and effects, is currently trying to move on following the death of his mother 4 months earlier and dealing with an especially distant father, who is a deputy in the local police force.
One night after, sneaking out to film a scene for their movie at a train station on the edge of town, they are witness to, and almost killed by, a massive train crash that later leads into many unusual and otherworldly occurrences in the small town. The military comes in and soon, these children are about to learn that their small little town is about to become victim to a dangerous government secret that could lead to the destruction of their town while a mysterious "thing" lurks in the shadows. It's a race against time as the characters must stand together against both the military and this unknown force that could easily destroy them if time runs out.
Okay, that was just the gist of what this Hollywood spectacle has to offer. Let me first start by saying that if you love the classic Steven Spielberg films, such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., The Goonies, Jaws, and even Jurassic Park, then you will undoubtedly love this movie as it is clearly J.J. Abrams (director of Cloverfield and Star Trek) love letter to the classic Spielberg films that made going to the movies fun. What Abrams does that makes this film so successful is he makes it very character driven. The characters can either make or break a movie, but Abrams cast amazing young actors and non-A-listed celebs to portray the roles in the film with realistic emotions and depth. Meanwhile, this film is also outstanding in how it keeps to the nostalgia. From beginning to the end, you literally feel immersed in 1970's/1980's culture all the way down to the most infinitesimal detail.
Speaking of Spielberg, who also worked together with Abrams on the film, Super 8 has many moments that look and feel very much like a classic Spielberg moment. There are moments that are shocking, touching, terrifying, violent, and powerful. The film succeeds very well in being an amazing Sci-Fi monster movie. Though it doesn't have the touching connection of child and alien like in E.T., there are those moments that feel like you are watching Elliot on his bike when it is really Joe or his friends. Furthermore, this film has some rather frightening and suspenseful moments that can easily make you jump. There is a lot of atmosphere in the night scenes of this film to easily consider it as Sci-Fi Horror. This idea may also relate to how Spielberg used to delve into multiple genres in his films. For example, though Jaws was a fantastic Horror film, it also had touching moments of a drama. This film is no different, there are some clever chills and thrills, and even some bloody moments to make any fan of classic Spielberg happy.
As for the actors, I was very impressed with the cast, especially with how they were not very well known actors. They were all very believable in their portrayal of 1970s/1980s life. The child actors are especially note worthy in that they are the ones that hold the movie together. The best ones in my opinion were the actor who played Joe and Elle Fanning (Dakota Fanning's younger sister), who played the role of Alice. Fanning really delivers a wonderful performance as a young and somewhat troubled girl and at times she literally had me on the verge of tears. As for the adult actors, Kyle Chandler was awesome as Joe's father and the deputy. There were moments where his character made me angry yet he had a way of subtly provoking pity due to his situation. Overall, the casting was impressive.
The most impressive part of this film though has to be in the cinematography and effects. One stand out scene has to be the catastrophic train crash at the beginning of the film. Abrams utilized the combination of CGI with actual sets to produce an amazing piece of eye candy in how this train crash was both extremely intense and frightening while also mesmerizing. Meanwhile, the night scenes and sound provided allowed for a lot of tension to be built up at a very good pace leading to some of the frightening moments of the film. Finally, the ending, which I will not get into too much detail with, is truly a spectacle that brings everything together and ultimately left me extremely satisfied.
Overall, I must recommend this movie to everyone. It is an amazing summer movie that will definitely gather following over the years and it should definitely be recognized as a revitalization of classic Spielberg with the right amount of scares, drama, and steady pacing to make this a movie that would be great to see in a theater. It is an awesome viewing experience, and it is also one that I shall definitely add to my movie collection when it arrives on DVD!

Eskalofrío (Shiver) Review by Samantha Mauney

This Guillermo Del Toro-produced Spanish horror/thriller packs a punch!

The film follows the story of Santiago, a photophobic/ photosensitive teenager whose condition gets so bad that his doctor recommends to his mother that they should move to the countryside, where there is less sun because of the high mountains and because the days are shorter.

At first Santiago and his mother think that their lives will finally have some sense of normalcy. Soon after the two arrive, however, strange things start to happen in the woods surrounding the small town. A farmer's sheep are found gutted on three seperate occasions, and later two people are murdered in the woods when Santi is near by. Fingers start pointing in the young boy's direction, and it is up to him to find out just what, or who, is causing all of this destruction. Is it a monster? A ghost? Someone in the town? Furthermore, why are they suddenly doing it? Finding the answer to such questions (refreshingly) takes the entire length of the film as you, the viewer, and Santi, the story's hero and underdog play detective in this 2008 horror/thriller.

A great amount of the cinematography will remind you of Twilight. A large number of sublime shots of the local landscapes are filtered through bleak but beautiful color correction to convey the perpetually overcast weather of the otherwise perfectly picturesque small town. The set designer of this film also did work for Pan's Labyrinth (Toro really does like to keep it in the family), and you will see touches of her handiwork on the many sylvian portions of the film.

The movie is definitely written with a set formula concerning characterizations and twists, but still manages to be unpredictable where it really counts. There are stock characters, but they are presented in a subtle (some others may say underdeveloped) manner. The symbolism of a troubled teen living in the shadows having to fight for what's right is also very striking, and is an important theme throughout the film. All things considered, Eskalofrío the perfect film for a lazy Saturday morning/afternoon/night.

New Promo Video and Blog Updates

Below is the Fall 2011 promo for the Virginia Horror Society called "Withheld!"

Check it out (in HD)! Rate it! Comment on it! Share it!

Also, for those of you readers who didn't know, the comment problem has been (finally) fixed! It is now possible to comment on the posts and reviews on the site.

Happy Hauntings,

Samantha M.

Blue Velvet Review by Corbin Bond

        After reading about it and hearing about how it is one of David Lynch's best movies, I figured that I had to somehow see Blue Velvet. I rented it from the library here at school, and after seeing it I was completely mesmerized. David Lynch is definitely one of the most macabre minds when it comes to adding horror to the most calm and peaceful areas. In this case, he targets suburbia. With gorgeous imagery mixed in with some of the most emotionally and physically horrific images shown on film, Blue Velvet proves itself to be a dark, realistic, beautiful, heartfelt, and horrific American masterpiece.
         The story of Blue Velvet introduces us to the character of Jeffrey Beaumont, played by Kyle Maclachlan. Jeffrey has come home to the quaint and peaceful town of Lumberton that looks like a area of suburbia straight out of an episode of Leave It To Beaver. Everyone is happy and knows each other in a place we may all perceive as a perfect place to live and raise a family. However, as with most of Lynch's films, there is always a dark side to everything. This is made apparent as soon as Jeffrey discovers a severed human ear in a field near his neighborhood. Soon we are given a lead thanks to help from Sandy, the sheriff's daughter, played by Laura Dern. Through clues we come to discover a disturbing underworld to this quaint town as we find a club singer held against her will by a psychopathic and drug addicted sadist. From then on, Jeffrey becomes intertwined in a mystery that is so shocking and terrifying that it could very much lead to him giving up his life to solve it.
         First of all, the most amazing part about this film is how gorgeously it is filmed. The imagery of Blue Velvet is absolutely mesmerizing as each shot seems to have some soft glow added to it. This is especially seen in the shots of the neighborhood. The opening scene of this film portrays a suburban town that seems absolutely timeless. Speaking of which, though this film was made in the 1980's, it is very ambiguous as to what period the film is based. There is 80's music as well as music heard in the 50's and 60's. Meanwhile, the town itself, and the people in it seem to be from another time. This is apparent from the buildings to the clothes and makeup. In fact, one might simply call this film a glossy dream that changes straight into a pitch black and horror-infested nightmare. When we get into the truly dark and disturbing moments of the film, Lynch does not hold back in showing the beauty of shots. The coloring, dim lights, and shadows all seem to add to this gruesome portrait of the uncanny.
         However, despite this beauty, it is important to know that moments of Blue Velvet are extremely hard to watch at times. There is moments of very intense atrocities that each character is sadly forced to suffer. The film is very much a film of emotional suffering. In addition, there are scenes that make viewers uncomfortable and uneasy. Although, these disturbing qualities easily add to the film's overall strength. By invoking emotional responses from its audience, this film is very capable of showing itself as powerful in its psychological horror as well as the beauty. There are moments that are realistically frightening to the point where you can literally taste the fear.
         Meanwhile, the cast in the film is brilliant. Kyle Maclachlan is very believable as the curious neighbor who gets caught in something he never thought he would. His portrayal of Jeffrey as a normal curious person with flaws makes him very similar to the tragic Faustian man. Jeffrey's curiosity literally drags him into a Hell he never knew existed. When you hear the phrase, "It's a strange world." you can easily see why from what he suffers to see. Next there is the character of Dorothy Vallens played flawlessly by Isabella Rosselini. She is extremely believable as a suffering woman under the rule of a complete tyrant. She is very much like the tragic Gothic female figure who is forced to suffer enormous atrocities constantly. Meanwhile, she is also a disturbing character in how she is very mentally disturbed. In addition, these characters develop a very interesting relationship - one that is driven by both fascination, friendship, and lust. However, despite these characters, they are no where near the level of the character that acts solely as Lynch's brush in painting this gruesome portrait - Frank Booth.
         The late Dennis Hopper is absolutely terrifying as the sadistic psycho, Frank Booth. His obsession with Dorothy and making her life Hell is absolutely horrifying. Meanwhile, we are never given a full explanation as to what his motives are making him much more frightening. Frank is much more terrifying; however, when he becomes a true monster by sucking on Amyl Nitrate gas from a mask. With each deep breath he degenerates further into an inhuman and unforgivable animal. In fact, the scenes with Frank are by far the darkest and most terrifying moments of the film making this film much more like a Horror film at times. Each line is like a knife coming closer to you as you want him to go away because he is so frightening. What's so ironic though is how Hopper was in rehab at the time he was working on the movie. With that knowledge we can see his sadism and drug addiction as much more horrifying and believable.
         Overall, Blue Velvet is the most artistic mixture of Psychological Horror, Romance, and Drama. It beautifully portrays a quaint suburban town that has a Hellish underworld hidden and waiting for victims. The actors are brilliant in their roles, and each moment reflects a large amount of thought on Lynch's part as each scene has an enormous power over human emotion an thought. It is a film that is on its own level and should not be missed.

Psycho Review By Erik Haley

        If you were going to ask 100 people what the first slasher film was, a lot of people would say Psycho. However, while Psycho definitely influenced the genre itself and has many of the same elements, it misrepresents the film to just label it as a slasher. In truth, the film does not play as a slasher or even completely as a horror film, but rather as a psychological suspense film. While the scenes when they came out were indeed intense, nowadays they have been overshadowed, for better or worse, by special effects that have dulled modern audiences response to gore and violence. Yet still, Psycho is still considered one of the best films of all times and as one of the most frightening. This distinction is rightfully deserved because Psycho scares us the old fashioned way: by making us fear for the safety of characters in a new situation.
        The story of Psycho is not obvious on first glance. We start off with a woman, Marion, in a hotel, having just had sex with her lover, Sam, whose divorce has not been finalized. As she wants to leave to start a new life with Sam, she gets the opportunity when someone gives her $40,000 to put into the bank through her job. She steals the money and leaves to meet her lover. However, paranoia about being followed makes her feel guilty, so she stops at a motel for the night planning to return the money. She meets Norman Bates, the hotel manager, who lives with his home-bound yet controlling mother. He seems nice and acts friendly to Marion, but he blows up when she makes the suggestion that he place his mother in a home. He apologizes afterwards, though, and Marion decides to return to her room to shower. During the shower, however, she is brutally attacked by Norman's mother in the film's famous scene. Norman finds the body and disposes of it. When other people, including a detective, Sam and Marion's sister also turn up at the hotel to unravel the mystery, there lives are also in jeopardy.
       The true strength of the film comes from two things: the suspense and the shower scene. The film does not focus on violence but rather makes us worry for when the violence will come. While the Bates motel may seem like a safe place, we the audience have this suspicion that it is not as safe as at first glance. This suspicion is confirmed as we witness Norman lift up the eye holes of a picture to spy on Marion getting undressed, clearly sexually obsessed with her. This seems to be her downfall, as it causes Norman's mother to savagely attack her in the shower. However, aside from that one scene, more on that later, the film is remarkably free of violence that would identify it as a horror film. Rather, we are afraid more about what will happen to the characters as they explore the house Mrs. Bates occupies, not of the scenes that occur when she does find her victims. The final scene of the film also leaves us with a sense of dread. Even though we have an explanation for the film's events, the killer still is more than willing to kill and is slowly biding their time until they are released.
        Of course, any one who sees Psycho will talk about the shower scene, and for good reason. That scene alone has made the actress, Vera Miles, scared to take a shower, and she is not the only person to make that claim. It may then surprise people when they look back and realize that the knife never enters Marion's skin. A quick series of cuts makes us believe that we see her being impaled, while in reality neither Marion nor her stunt double was in that scene. However, besides this, we all are frightened because we see Marion scream, a knife coming down and Marion fall in the tub with blood swirling around the drain. It also works well because it shows something we all fear: we are very vulnerable in the shower. If any of us were to be attacked in there, it is doubtful that we would end up any different than Marion. HItchcock's genius was preying on this fear as well as our fear of the violence that hides behind innocent faces.
        While the film owes a lot to Hitchcock, it also owes a lot to Anthony Perkins, the man who played Norman Bates. Anthony had previously played only nice boys down the street. Thus, people did not expect his character to be so timid around his mother, while also being so violent towards any one who even accidentally offends her. He is very convincing at shifting from weak and obedient to forceful and scary. While the other actors do a great job of playing their roles, in truth, it is Anthony Perkins who steals the show.
        Psycho was a film that revolutionized the industry when it first came out, making horror films a more respectable genre than it had been in many years. It influenced John Carpenter, who arguably made the first true slasher film of Halloween. It was condemned as being too violent and obscene on release; now people say they are disappointed in how little violence and sex is shown. But that diminishes what Psycho is actually about. It is Hitchcock doing what he does best; making the audience uncomfortable and nervous about what will happen. In that respect, Hitchcock succeeds admirably. Psycho, while neither a true slasher film or true horror film, is a masterpiece of a thriller.

Insidious Review by Samantha Mauney

The makers of Saw are returning to their low-budget roots with this supernatural horror flick that centers around a young couple trying to keep their family together after tragedy strikes.

At the start of the film, the Lambert family, composed of husband and wife Josh and Renai, two boys and a baby girl, has just moved into a new house. Soon thereafter, they begin to settle into their daily routines. One day, having realized that she has lost some sheet music, Renai journeys into the attic. Using a ladder to turn on the light, she breaks one of the wooden steps, and leaves without finding what she's looking for. Later, their son Dalton is exploring the attic and falls on the same ladder hitting his head on the floor. His parents, having evaluated him, think that everything is fine until the next morning when he is unresponsive. Doctors are baffled as Dalton remains in the same comatose state for three months.

Shortly after moving him home, strange events begin to occur around the house. Family members are besieged by visions of people and other things that go "bump" in the night. Tensions mount throughout, leading to a climax 

Overall, the film is a little too predictable for my taste, which is due in large part to the overbearing score that doesn't build suspense so much as it provides a warning of when the next big scare is coming. The music also does a great job of killing any subtlety that the filmmakers might have been trying to inject into the movie regarding certain Easter egg-type features.

This film takes the traditionally harmless, however supernatural, concept of the out-of-body experience and makes it, well, insidious. Whether or not this twist is a hit or miss is debatable. In general, if you're looking for a horror flick with a great story, then Insidious might not be for you. However, if you enjoy new twists and ideas inserted into conventional concepts, it's definitely worth a watch. I give it about 7 out of 10 stars.

Scream 4 Review by Corbin Bond

         Ten years have officially passed since the world saw Ghostface last in Scream 3; however, the terror is far from over. Today, I went with the Virginia Horror Society to see the fourth installment of the franchise that reinvented the horror genre in the 1990's, and I must say right now that I may give minor spoilers on the film but nothing major. I will wait until after many have seen it before I add on to this review. However, I will start my review by giving my verdict on Ghostface's return to slice up Woodsboro. I absolutely LOVED THIS MOVIE! I have always loved every Scream film and hold the series very dear to me. This was absolutely no exception. In fact, I would have to place this film at the same level as the second film.
            However, before I start sounding like a hyper fan, I want to give a bit of a synopsis of the film. Ten years have passed since Sidney's final encounter with Ghostface, and now things have changed. Sidney is now a very popular author publicizing her newest book on her life, Out of Darkness. Her last stop on her book tour is back in her home town we have not seen in 15 years. However, with her return comes a ghost from the past. Not only does the new generation take the bloody history of Woodsboro as a sick but entertaining gimmick, but Ghostface has also returned to kill on the anniversary of the original Woodsboro murders. Meanwhile, Dewey is the chief of police and Gale, his wife, is retired and finding it incredibly difficult to write her next book. Furthermore, Sidney can't just protect Gale, Dewey, and herself, she also must fight to protect a group of new teenagers that very much resemble the original cast of Scream. Meanwhile, Ghostface holds nothing back and produces a trail of carnage forcing Sidney to suffer and watch as people around her die brutally.
              First of all, this is by far the goriest film in the entire Scream franchise. For example, there are rooms drenched in blood and even disembowelment. It is very horrifying and brutal to watch because it shows that after 15 years, Ghostface has evolved his tactics to fit the newest rule of this new decade - the kills are much more elaborate and ten times more brutal and horrifying. Furthermore, the body count in this film is higher than any Scream film, with a grand total of 15 deaths in the entire film. Meanwhile, speaking of the new rules, this film does exactly what the first one did with the presentation that this decade, the Horror genre has developed new rules and regulations. Now anyone can die, happy endings are very unlikely, and to quote one hilarious line, "to survive a modern horror film, you basically have to be gay." What is even more perfect about the film, is its criticism on the remake, as there is clear parody of not only the original Scream but also the Hollywood trend of remaking films for clear money grabs leaving no room for original ideals.
            Meanwhile, another factor to point out is the film's clever combination of bloody horror and excellent sarcasm and comedy. Three characters do this excellently. First, Gale Weathers Riley has shown herself as the absolute best at delivering one liners as she gave lines that were so hilarious the theater was nearly in stitches from laughing so hard. Next, there is Kirby Reed, played by Hayden Panettiere, who is the smarter and funnier version of Tatum from Scream. She knows all about Horror films and loves them, and she even has a collection of amazing classic Horror films. Meanwhile, she is the perfect portrayal of an awesome sarcastic teenage girls. She was amazing at delivering one-liners while even being scared out of her wits. Finally, there is Sidney's publicist, Rebecca, played by Alison Brie, who is the modern equivalent to Gale in the original Scream. She starts off sympathetic, but soon becomes a bitch that you absolutely love to hate and love to laugh at.
           The next major feature of importance is the opening scene. The Scream films are known for very impressive and clever openings, and this opening has to be the second best opening after the superb and infamous opening with Drew Barrymore. It meshes the first Scream opening with the opening in Scream 2 and does it so cleverly and shockingly, that by the end of it I was in complete awe. It was absolutely beautiful and had one of my favorite lines in the movie. The usage of current day celebs in the opening made it absolutely brilliant and frightening and twisted. Moreover, the ending has to be one of the best endings to a Scream film ever. The reveal was an amazing twist, and the explanation was probably one of the most disturbing and truthful outlooks on this generation. However, this film is also extremely heartbreaking in that one moment literally had me and some others I saw close to tears due to shock. Meanwhile, the ending to this film is also extremely satisfying in that it has a possibility of producing a sequel, but Scream 4's ending can easily also be seen as very worthy ending to the franchise.
          There is a clear full reference to the original Scream and then some throughout the entirety of the film. This film is a very worthy sequel for Scream and it is the best sequel since Scream 2. In fact, it is equal and also much better than Scream 2. Meanwhile, though it is a clear sequel, this film also shows itself as being a reboot as well. However, this is not a bad thing. Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson knew exactly what they were doing when they were making this, and it works 100%. The presentation of the film as a sequel/reboot of the franchise was brilliantly done. Furthermore, this clearly reflects the criticism on the Hollywood remake fetish. However, this film shows that sequels can do much better when adding originality as we can see with the amazingly clever writing of Kevin Williamson. As for the master of suspense, Wes Craven, he has completely outdone himself this time, as this is his best film to date since the original Scream films. Meanwhile, this film is also one of the most original sequels to a horror franchise that I have seen. Craven has proved himself as the master of suspense in producing a film with terrific scares, clever kill shots, and plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of blood shed.
          The characters - old and new - were all amazing and meshed well in the film. I very much liked these new characters because they are relatable to modern society. Meanwhile, the old actors, especially Neve Campbell, make this film even more impressive. Neve Campbell carries this film throughout and shows Sidney as a strong and much more powerful heroin. She is not afraid anymore and will fight back no matter what the cost. I have my complete respect towards her as an amazing actress. Courtney Cox and David Arquette were the perfect team of keeping the comic relief available when needed. They were amazing at keeping the film's Horror and comedy balanced. Finally, there is the amazing voice of Ghostface, which is done exquisitely by Roger Jackson. He is absolutely chilling in his voice as he is very crisp, clear, and insane. He gives Ghostface, while unknown, the perfect horrifying identity and really makes the part shine as not only does he deliver frightening lines but he is not afraid to get clever and present funny and scary lines together.
          The last thing to point out is the music of the film. Scream 4 has my absolute favorite soundtrack as not only are songs that have a 90's nostalgia feel, but the scores from the original Scream films is also used and taken to an even further and darker level. Thus, we see another way in which this film can be seen as a sequel and a remake. The soundtrack has some amazing songs - my favorite being the one during the beginning of the ending credits.
            In conclusion, Scream 4 is absolutely the best sequel in the franchise in that it ties and simultaneously outdoes Scream 2. The acting is superb, and the characters were hilarious and likable. The deaths were brutal and horrifying, while the black comedy was sharp and clever making Scream 4 a surefire success. The twists and turns in this film were insane making it into a complete roller coaster ride. Scream 4 is the sequel that people have been waiting for and it exceeds those expectations tenfold. Finally, with all of its brutality and disturbing content, this film has the best message of any Scream film - "First rule of remakes - don't f**k with the original!"

The Scream Trilogy Review by Corbin Bond

         In celebration of Scream 4 being released tomorrow, I felt it would be very important that I review each one of the previous films in their entirety. I will review the fourth installment in the franchise after I see it this weekend with the Horror Society. Let me just say that this review may contain some spoilers, so please take that as a proper warning, especially if you haven't seen the films. I strongly insist that you see the films before reading this review so that nothing gets ruined.
         With that let's begin with what is clearly one of the greatest Horror franchises in history, and it has, now, only 4 films! Unlike Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers, and Jason Voorhees, the infamous Ghostface has only appeared in currently 4 films, and in a way, it places him on a pedestal compared to other slashers because this series has been created and set very smartly. However, the most important factor about these famous films is that they are known not just as amazing Horror films, but they are also very smart, clever, and suspenseful murder mysteries that ingeniously blend comedy with gruesome terror and kills. Overall, this series holds a very special place in my heart as it is the only franchise besides A Nightmare on Elm Street, that I have ever watched every installment. Meanwhile, the film also stands above many other Horror films because of its sharp, and funny, criticism on the genre it takes part in. The Scream franchise has shown itself as not just a smart Horror series but also as a brilliant form of modern satire.
        It all began in 1996 with a single phone call, the events to follow would lead to not only the first brutal killing of a major star in Horror since Janet Leigh's death in Psycho, but it would also bring about the beginning of a phenomena that would rock the latter half of the 1990's. With the brutal killing of Drew Barrymore at the opener to Scream, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson showed themselves as Horror film masters. Thus we begin with the one that started it all - Scream. The film would utilize an all-star cast of huge 90's stars, and with a smart blend of laughs and scares, made a killing at the box office. The film tells the story of our heroin, Sidney Prescott, who is tormented by the rape and murder of her mother and trying to cope with the loss. Neve Campbell, I must say, has my complete respect in that she makes Sidney a character that one could easily meet in the real world. She is a suffering teenager, but she is also smart in that she knows Horror films. She knows their flaws, and she knows how to fight back. She is by far the best Horror movie heroin since Nancy Thompson in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Meanwhile, her character has flaws like all normal people, she is still vulnerable to attack but not afraid to fight back if necessary.
        Next, we are given a group of teenage friends. What is most fascinating about these people is that they know about film. They mention a huge amount of films in the movies in terms of reference. The best example of this can be seen with Randy, who perfectly reflects the Horror movie nerd. He knows all about the genre and the rules that we have constantly noticed but never fully recognized. The presentation of rules of survival in Horror films, I found to be another interesting part of this film. It is an amazing formula to utilize when watching old Horror films and is quite fun. Meanwhile, we have the typical wild girl friend, Tatum, who gives some very interesting one-liners. However, the most satirical character in this film, has to be Gale Weathers, who is portrayed to perfection by Courtney Cox. She is the perfect bitch that you love to hate, but you cannot  help but laugh at her phrases. We are also given the character of Deputy Dewey Riley, who is not only Tatum's brother, but he is also another extremely quirky and comedic character that holds the film together. Finally, it is important to discuss the characters of Billy Loomis and Stu Macher. Stu is probably the next best comedic character in the movie, but he is also quite known for have an enormous "creep" vibe. Meanwhile, Billy, the brooding and suspicious boyfriend of the heroine, is an interesting character both psychologically and in terms of mystery.
           The one major factor that Scream is known for though is the emergence of Ghostface, the masked slasher who is bent on killing everyone close to Sidney before killing her. He is definitely one of the more terrifying serial killers in a Horror film in how he mentally tortures innocent people through disturbing phone calls. The opening with Drew Barrymore, is just one piece of evidence to show how Scream proved to be one of the most terrifying films of the 1990's. The kills are intense in this film, especially the opening scene involving multiple disembowelments. Furthermore, after its release, the amount of caller ID users increased dramatically. What I found to be even more frightening about these phone calls wasn't the insanity as much as how seductive the voice of the killer sounds on the phone. Roger Jackson does superb voice work in leading people on before scaring them half to death turning brutal murders into twisted games. However, the more fascinating factor has to do with the mystery of who is behind the mask.
           Another smart part of Scream is that it leaves you guessing about who the killer is. At times it does leave hints for us to follow, but then we are given a twist to second guess ourselves until finally realizing we were all right to begin with. SPOILER ALERT!!!! The reveal of Billy as the killer was believed and then refuted until finally the ending when he coldly and disturbingly shoots Randy. To add to the twist the reveal of Stu as the accomplice was not seen at all. This reveal delved into further twists when we find out Billy's true motive of revenge against Sidney's family. He's the one who killed her mother because of her affair with his father cause his mother to abandon him. Talk about issues! Either way, the ending of Scream shows Sidney's fighting back as she makes Randy and Stu scream in agony as she gets her ultimate revenge on them leading to the death of the killers and an intense, yet very happy, ending to Scream.
            Then by 1997, the sequel, Scream 2, reached theaters. This is, in my personal opinion, an example of a brilliant sequel. It stays true to the storyline and continues right where the original left off. However, it also brilliantly shows itself as an individual movie and not just a Horror sequel. The opening of Scream 2 would ultimately see not the death of one major star but two, Omar Epps and Jada Pinkett. The opening murders take place fascinatingly in a movie theater playing the film based off of the events of the original Scream, cleverly titled Stab. This clearly is a smart way of showing a movie not only acknowledging itself but also cleverly parodying itself with a movie within a movie. The more frightening aspect of Jada Pinkett's death is how she is killed by Ghostface in a crowded movie theater filled with people wearing similar costumes so no one can see who is killing her. Meanwhile, when she does scream in front of the screen they all stare at her like she is an act for the movie making a critical view on society's psychological inability to help people when surrounded by others.
              Thus, we return to Woodsbor- SIKE! We find Sidney now in college as a much smarter survivor from the Woodsboro murders. Now a theater major at Windsor College, Sidney has developed many defense mechanisms to protect herself from anymore psychos chasing her. She has caller ID which she utilizes  impressively to her advantage in the beginning against a prank phone caller. However, what makes matters more worrisome is not only does Sidney have to deal with the fact that the man she wrongly accused for murdering her mother, Cotton Weary, who Billy and Stu framed, but she also has to deal with the restarting of the murders. Moreover, Gale has returned with even more clever lines and even more bitchiness to bring to the table, but thankfully Sidney is able to beat her out of her senses, AGAIN! Dewey returns as well as the awesome and funny protective big brother as Sidney, Randy, and their new college friends deal with the return of Ghostface. Furthermore, we are given the rules of the sequel in that there is much more of body count and so on.
            Sidney has moved on with a new boyfriend, Derek, and her roommate/best friend, Hallie; however, unfortunately history must repeat itself as Sidney is haunted by murders that constantly mirror the Woodsboro murders as we are given the signs of a copy cat killer. What Scream 2 does ingeniously is presents a huge amount of possible suspects. By the time we are revealed the identity it is shocking as we never expect it. As always, Ghostface does a very brutal job at killing his victims. Sarah Michelle Gellar's cameo appearance and death really felt most reminiscent to Drew Barrymore's death. Meanwhile, this time Ghostface does not hold back, he is willing to kill everyone close to Sidney and make her suffer. This we can see clearly when Randy dies brutally in the news van. This sad death really brings the remaining characters together more. Gale and Dewey come much closer and finally become more romantic in their relationship they started briefly in Scream.
            Neve Campbell also shows herself as a much more respectable actress as she develops Sidney even further into the fighter she was meant to be. She never gives up and truly wants to end this nightmare once and for all. By the film's conclusion, she is the one to carry the film. However, another actor to take into account is Liev Schreiber as Cotton Weary. He definitely makes himself to be a complete asshole as well a prime suspect, but as much as he makes us hate him, he is also quite interesting to learn about. It was definitely smart of Kevin Williamson to add him to the sequel. However, what really makes this film awesome is that it has probably the best current twist ending in the series.
          SPOILER ALERT!!! The reveal of Mickey, "the creepy Tarantino film student," is extremely clever in that his reasonings are clear criticisms towards the criticisms of Horror. By wanting to get caught, so he can claim insanity by blaming the movies, Mickey is parodying how many in the 1990's blamed the media for violence. My opinion on the matter is that the media really has nothing to do with it. These acts of violence in the real world are chosen by the person not solely from media influence but from the individual's poor mental reasoning and rationality. This is proven when Mickey is killed by the true killer, Mrs. Loomis (aka. Billy's mother, aka. Debbie Salt). By killing Mickey, Mrs. Loomis even criticizes Mickey's plan by saying that blaming the movies made absolutely no sense. She shows herself as the biggest and meanest bitch in this entire series, and you want to see her die. Let's just say that SIDNEY LET'S HER HAVE IT!!! The final showdown between Sidney, Mrs. Loomis, and Cotton, though very tense also makes for a very suspenseful and awesome ending to the sequel.
            Three years later, we see the return of the Scream franchise, in the form of the very underrated Scream 3. Admittedly, this film does have it's flaws, especially since Kevin Williamson was not able to write the film. Instead the film was written by Ehren Kruger based off of what Williamson had outlined for Scream 3. True the film has it's issues compared to the other two, it does provide us with an interesting finality to the series, which shall start again very soon with the fourth installment. The third film, takes the major Scream characters to Hollywood. We are still given the major actor opening death as Cotton and his Hollywood actress bite the dust in the very beginning. Then we move to the studio of Stab 3: Return to Woodsboro.
           Neve Campbell reprises her role as Sidney, who is now in the California countryside and has many added precautions such as alarm systems and locked gates and guns! However, as a recluse from the world, we unfortunately do not see much of Sidney in the film. Instead the film is significantly carried by Gale and Dewey. The other actors, who are spoiled and very unlikeable Hollywood celebrities are clear victims who you know will ultimately bit the big one. However, they are hilarious characters. The best one has to be the character of Jennifer Julie (aka. Judy Jergenstern), played by Parker Posey. She is a hilarious and dumb character who tries to be a copycat of Gale. However, Ghostface cuts the comedy short by slicing through the actors in the order they die in the actual movie.
            Meanwhile, in the country, Sidney is haunted by phone calls from someone who claims to be "mother." She also suffers from disturbing dreams about her mother. The best part of this movie is the added mystery of Sidney's mother. Not only did she sleep around with a lot of people in her infidelity. Sidney's mother was also an actress for a few years but the controversy in the 1970's Hollywood setting was too much for her, so she left to return and settle down in Woodsboro. Ghostface has also shown himself to be smart again as he uses a voice changer to trick the main characters with the voices of other characters they all know.   Randy also returns in a video to describe to possibility of a trilogy. He gives the horrifying possibility of Sidney's death.
             Scream 3 redeems itself to me in its reveal of the killer. SPOILER ALERT!!! When we finally learn who the killer is, we never see it coming. The killer is the director of Stab 3, Roman (aka. Sidney's brother). While in Hollywood, Sidney's mother was raped and had a son who she disowned, and this drove Roman insane and willing to ruin Sidney's life once and for all. The most fascinating part is that Roman motivated Billy to kill in the first film thus bringing about a filling of all the holes. He is the reason for everything that happened to Sidney, and as all the Scream films go leads to an ultimate final showdown between sister and brother. Sidney holds nothing back in that she is absolutely tired of this torment in her life and is willing to sacrifice it all to end everything once and for all. Though she is shot and, at first, presumed dead, she is much smarter than Roman ever could be and the final act ends with Roman's turn to scream for his life. Finally, though Scream 4 is coming out, before there was knowledge of another, Scream 3 provided a definite sense of finality in how Dewey and Gale finally get engaged and Sidney no longer fears leaving her doors open to the outside. She is no longer afraid and is no longer weak. Thus, we see an ending to the series. That is until now.
              Overall, the Scream franchise has shown itself to be a fascinating part of Horror history as it was one of the first of its kind to parody and criticize the very genre it supported while also scaring people to death in the 1990's. It's got the scares, laughs, and satire to provide us with a clever look at modern society and the Horror genre that ultimately revitalized the genre entirely for new generations of Horror fans. However, now we have seen a new decade and many new rules to take the place of the old ones. Thus, allowing Ghostface to return again to criticize and frighten a new audience and old audience with the new rules. The Scream franchise is a fascinating series that should not be missed.

Krueger vs. Krueger - A Comparison of the Original and Remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street by Mary Lasher

The first horror movie I ever saw in theaters was A Nightmare on Elm Street.  The first question you may ask when reading this is probably: Exactly how old are you?  Followed by: And why are you still in college?  So let me rephrase the first sentence – the first horror movie I ever saw in theaters was the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, starring Jackie Earle Haley as the diabolical and homicidal Freddy Krueger.  And, to be honest, the only reason I went to see it was because Haley was in it – I had enjoyed his performance in Watchmen, and I figured I therefore would enjoy his performance in A Nightmare on Elm Street.  However, my initial excitement about seeing the movie turned pretty rapidly to dread as I sat there in the theater, watching the credits roll, waiting for the killing to begin…

At the time I was not a horror movie enthusiast.  I could count the scary movies I’d seen on one hand.  I also had the reputation for being a bit of a wimp.  So, needless to say, the movie scared me pretty badly.  I spent the ride home repeatedly checking the back seat to make sure Freddy wasn’t going to pop up from behind and kill me.  I also stayed up until two in the morning, trying to avoid falling asleep for fear that Freddy was waiting for me in my subconscious.  I attributed these emotions of extreme fear to the fact that I was a scaredy-cat, a thought solidified by the reviews I read of the movie.  Critics were saying it was predictable and essentially a well-attempted but still failed homage to the original movie, which I had not seen at the time.

When I finally did see the original later that year, I was, to be honest, disappointed.  I was expecting something much better than the one I’d seen that past April.  Instead, I got cheesy fright attempts, bad dialogue (this includes Freddy’s infamous one-liners), and ridiculously gory death scenes.  I thought the remake had a much more cohesive story line, and I thought that Jackie Earle Haley made a much better Freddy.  His character was much more consistent, rather than the inconstant and remarkably not frightening Freddy that showed up in the 1984 film.  His lines were much better (granted, they had lines from all the previous Freddy films to work with, but I still laughed a lot harder at their delivery in the remake.)  I also thought the minute change in Freddy’s background story was an excellent addition.  To me, a trusted member of the community who worked with kids that turned out to be a child molester of the worst sort is much more horrifying than a random child murderer who stalked the streets, or at least is much less cliché in the horror genre.  Because people like that exist in real life (and the number is growing every day), it made it seem all the more believable.

I also thought the fright sequences were much scarier.  Yes, a few were predictable, but instead of thinking, oh, great, they’re in a dream again, how boring, I found myself repeating the thought process of –they’re in a dream.  This has to be a dream.  Wait, is it a dream?  It’s got to be a dream.  At this point Freddy would appear, and I’d jump three feet into the air and shout (mentally), “HOLY SHIT IT’S A DREAM!”  I also thought the death scenes were much improved.  While I thought infamous death scene where a character gets dragged around a room in the original was wonderfully done, especially for the time, I thought the first death scene of the remake was much more shocking than even the infamously gory death scene towards the end in the original (which I thought was ridiculous to the point of laughter).  The end of the film, too, was better and more shocking than the ending of the original.  Although I had sort of guessed what would happen, I still jumped out of my seat, unlike in the original, which reminded me of something out of Beetlejuice.

That being said, the original was a groundbreaking film.  Nothing like it had been seen at the time, and for the 1980s the special effects were amazing.  Robert Englund really created new rules for horror movie villains, one reason why his performance as Krueger ranks as #40 in the American Film Institution’s Top 100 list of 100 Heroes and Villains.  For 1984, this movie must have been terrifying.

As a classic horror movie, the original A Nightmare on Elm Street is a definite must-see.  It has helped to form an important part of American cinematic culture and therefore must be given credit where credit is due.  However, the remake was superbly done, and if you’re looking for a good scary movie that will keep you up at night, the remake is the way to go.