Horror Movie Challenge Day 19 to 21

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 19-21

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row)

DAY 19

Bride of Chucky

This is such a cheat and I'll admit. I did this movie last year for my challenge. And I watch it like four times a year regardless. BUT this year I got the opportunity to watch it with two people who had never seen it before and it was almost like watching it for the first time again. Such a great, fun, violent, cheesy, hilarious film starring our favorite possessed doll: Chucky. Also there's doll sex....soooo.....I mean, I don't know why you're not watching it right now tbh. And if anyone is stuck on what to get me for Christmas, it's a Chucky doll. It's always a Chucky doll. (Someone please get me a Chucky doll.)
9/10

DAY 20

See No Evil 2

This perfect and wonderful movie was directed by two of my role models; The Soska Twins, the writers and directors of American Mary (if you haven't seen this movie yet, you are so missing out). It stars scream queens Katherine Isabelle and Danielle Harris and wrestler Kane, along with a wonderful cast of delightful people. The movie is a sequel (obviously) and picks up right where the last left off. This movie is literally set like two hours after the last movie ended. All the kills were creative, violent, gross enough to enjoy but not too gross to feel uncomfortable. Katherine Isabelle is addictive to watch and actually kind of drowns out Danielle which sucks for Danielle. But I loved the ending a lot, which I obviously won't go into here.
Overall it had a very comforting 80's slasher flick vibe to it and I'm extremely proud of those incredibly smart and clever women who keep inspiring me with every film they make.
9/10

DAY 21

American Horror Story: Freak Show

Episode 3: Edward Mordrake Part 1

It's getting close to Halloween which can only mean American Horror Story two parter Halloween episode tiiiiimmeeeee. This is the first part and introduces us to a whole bunch of exciting new characters. We're also introduced to our central theme for these two episodes; Edward Mordrake who is an evil spirit that comes to a freak show every time they perform on Halloween, which is apparently not allowed. This episode overall has been the weakest of the three. It was slow and dramatic and emotionally heavy and not what we usually see for these two part Halloween episodes. Not saying I didn't enjoy it, a bad AHS episode is still better than 99% of TV, but it definitely felt lacking of a certain something. I'm sure part 2 will come in like an atom bomb and blow us all away though.
7/10

Horror Movie Challenge Day 16 to 18

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 16-18 

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row)

DAY 16

The Walking Dead Season 5 Premier

No Sanctuary

Confession: I never watched last season of The Walking Dead. I was so angry that the Governor escaped and Merle got killed, that I basically just pretended the show ended there. Then on a whim I decided to watch the premier and I was actually hella impressed. Super action packed, gory, bad ass etc etc. I was super confused but still enjoyed it immensely. So now I'm slowly watching last season to catch myself up. But I've heard that this season will follow along with the comic books a lot more so I am SO here for this and I am hooked once more. Time to break out the action figures!!

9/10

DAY 17

The Raven

This movie has so much potential. John Cusack playing Edgar Allan Poe, creepy murders, dark gloomy scenery. But it just falls so flat. Even the references to Poe's great stories and poems feel completely forced. The movie is just boring and it feels like something is missing.

3/10

DAY 18

Twixt

This was a completely random choice based purely on the fact Elle Fanning is in it. I was pleasantly surprised and when the film ended I looked up reviews only to find that I may be the only person in the world that liked this movie? It was gothic and dark and dreamy and confusing and mystical. Starring Elle Fanning and Val Kilmer and written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It tells the story of a washed up writer finding a bizarre cursed town and getting caught up in a murder mystery.

8/10

Horror Movie Challenge Day 13 to 15

Wow I've fallen behind. I need to binge watch like three movies tonight just to catch back up. In my defense I have been knocked on my ass by the flu this week and barely remember the start of the week. But I also have a Halloween convention this weekend which will throw off my usual weekend horror movie binge. Ah well. I'm determined to finish this year though.

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 13-15 

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row)

DAY THIRTEEN

Torment

I'm a complete sucker for anything Katherine Isabelle does. I am so in love with her. So Torment was next on the list of her movies I hadn't seen and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. Nothing to write home about for sure, but it was entertaining and enjoyable. A father and his new wife and his son visit the old family cabin for the first time since the death of the mother. Unfortunately someone's been crashing in the upstairs bedroom and yeyyy it's a dysfunctional psycho killing family!!
The only thing I couldn't stand about this movie? The little boy. Oh my god I could've slapped him. He was actually so irritating to the point where I was like, you know what, just murder him, it's fine.
The best part was that the psycho killer family tore the heads off of giant stuffed animals and made them into masks which was hella creepy and I lovvvvedddd it.
7/10

DAY FOURTEEN

American Horror Story: Freakshow 

Episode 2: Massacres and Matinees

Could this flawless show get any better? The answer is yes. Yes it can. In this episode we are introduced to newcomers to the freakshow; Desiree Dupree the hermaphrodite and Dell Toledo the strong man. We got a really perfect and horrifying discovery of a severed head in a toy shop which was so perfectly pulled off I almost cried. We learnt more about Dandy and his psychopathic tendencies, we watched Twisty fuck shit up for everyone once again and we saw as the town of Jupiter became more and more terrified and paranoid of the "freaks". For AHS I feel like this season is pretty slow moving, it feels like Ryan Murphy is really taking his time this season to tease everything out and it's super refreshing.
9/10

DAY FIFTEEN

Ghost Ship

This movie is just terribly great. I remember watching it as a kid and being terrified but have watched it a few times as an adult and been like oh okay. But for some reason I keep coming back to it? Maybe it's Karl Urban looking like a pirate? Maybe it's the secret dream of mine to explore an abandoned ghost ship? idk. But I do secretly love this film. And you have to admit....that opening scene...*muffled groaning* IT'S SO GOOD. SO DAMN GOOD.
Premise of this movie? Basically what the title tells you. A group of boat-salvagers are given a tip about a mysterious ship in the middle of the ocean with no one aboard. They head out to claim it for their own but while boarding the ship they start to encounter mean ghostly spirits who don't want anyone to leave alive.
The movie is pretty exciting, more adventure and cheap thrills than anything else. And a very young Emily Browning completely steals the film.
7/10

Now watch the opening massacre and bow down to this flawless scene:

Horror Movie Challenge Day 10 to 12

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 10-12 

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row)

DAY TEN

The Purge

This was a re-watch. I rented it awhile ago on my ipad and couldn't figure out how to get it on my laptop and so watched the whole thing on an ipad screen. But I loved it. And re-watching it on my laptop screen where everything was bigger and more stabby, I loved it even more. Seriously this concept is super cool and I hope it never happens in real life because I cannot afford a super expensive home protection system. 

This film is set in 2022 when America has made all crime illegal except for one night a year where everyone goes balls to the wall and can do whatever they want with no repercussions. The film centers around a family who are very wealthy and the husband actually sells the home protection systems. During the annual Purge their son who is old enough now to question everything (why don't you guys...like...kill people?) lets in a man in distress and in turn invites a whole shit load of rich white kids to attack their house. They just wanted to murder the homeless guy, bud, it's the Purge, chill out. 

Just kidding.

This whole concept is super terrifying to me but the movie is really great. Not many scares, bit of gore, and mostly just a "trapped in a house being terrorized by strangers" movie BUT enjoyable and a cool concept.

9/10

DAY ELEVEN

House on Haunted Hill remake (1999)

This movie scared the crap out of me as a young innocent pre-teen and although it didn't do the same job as an adult, I could still appreciate it for it was; a 90's over the top gory horror film.  They take the original concept and make it more insane, as in, literally putting it in an insane asylum and upping the money to a million dollars. It's gory, it's jumpy, there's creepy dead nurses and doctors, and the ending is so over the top cheesy you can't help but smile.

6/10

DAY TWELVE

Psycho remake (1998)

Oh my god whyyyyyy is this a thing. If there was ever a time for 'don't fuck with the original'...this is it. And for a movie that claims it goes frame by frame of the original, it should expect some fucking ciritcism. What was with those artsy shots of naked chicks and storm clouds between each stab? What was with Vince Vaughn being cast? What was with this movie ever being made?

I don't know.

But all I got from this movie was some minor enjoyment as I watched it and remembered fondly the original, and when it ended, an overwhelming urge to just simply watch the original.

So....lesson learned here? Go watch the original. Forget this ever happened.

 2/10

Horror Movie Challenge Day 7 to 9

So here's what happened; I changed the list. Just like last year. I clearly cannot commit to a set list of 31 movies. Maybe I have commitment issues? Idek. Either way, my next three movies are not what they're supposed to be. But since I made the list. Fuckkkk it.

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 7-9

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row)

DAY SEVEN:

Kantemir 

I will confess....I did not finish this movie. It was awful. I hated everything about it except Robert Englund. And not because it was low budget and badly acted but because this story could've been so great but it wasn't. It was like someone half assed the script and these poor actors and actresses had to go along with it. I won't tell you not to watch it, but I would say....don't rush off to find out for yourself I guess.

Premise is a bunch of actors go off to a creepy old mansion to rehearse for a mysterious play and things happen. Let's just say fantasy blended in with reality, and not in a good way at all. Robert Englund was on point though, but when he wasn't on screen I was just waiting for him to show up tbh.

0/10

DAY EIGHT:

American Horror Story: Freakshow premier

Yep. I'm counting this as my day eight because it was almost the same length as a movie and I love AHS more than anything so fack you. And what a fucking flawless premier this was. Everyone was at their best including the writers, the score, the costume, the pacing etc etc. Every detail was perfect. Set in 1950's Jupiter, Florida, a group of traveling "Freaks" find themselves in a town not willing to welcome them, and a whole wack of murders that they may or may not be responsible for. Also a terrifying clown named Twisty. Also Jessica Lange singing a David Bowie song. Also Jessica Lange in a powder blue suit. Also Jessica Lange. 

The opening credits were absolutely beautiful and creepy in a sort of subtle, magical and childish way. There was a certain amount of gore that we haven't really seen from past seasons that I could appreciate. And I am so ready for this season. SO READY FOR IT.

10000/10

 DAY NINE:

House on Haunted Hill

An "eccentric" millionaire invite fives strangers to a supposedly haunted house where he will offer them $10, 000 each as long as they stay the entire night. But when his sassy and beautiful wife starts warning the others of her husbands' psychotic behaviors and ghostly things start to happen, it doesn't seem so easy for all the guests to spend the night.     

This is the original 1959 version with my main squeeze Vincent Prince. I remember catching this late one night on my TV when I was probably 12 or 13 and being terrified by it and I just noticed it was on netflix so I changed my list to incorporate it RIGHT NOW. (I'm literally watching it as I type) Because that is the beauty of this film; as cheesey as the effects are....they still get you every single time. By relying on darkened sets, a perfect score, and a theatrical style of acting, you can still jump out of your skin watching this old film. Which I suppose is what makes the horror classics...classics. 

10/10

  

Horror Movie Challenge Day 4 to 6

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 4 - 6

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row) 

DAY FOUR:

Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors

Oh yeah, another Elm Street film. Fair warning; I got a little intense on Robert Englund's imdb page and added like half his movies to my list. I was feeling all warm and fuzzy and supportive after seeing him in person for my birthday. Anyway, never seen this one before but always hear great things. Everyone was right. This was completely enjoyable and one hell of a fun ride. You don't need me to tell you to watch an Elm Street fim....just do it.
9/10

 DAY FIVE:

Hello Herman

Before you jump down my throat, I am fully aware this isn't a horror film in any way shape or form. But it's my list, and I've been meaning to watch this film for months and months, and technically a school shooting is a form of horror in itself. I really wanted to deeply love this film but it really came up short. Basically a kid shoots up a school and then an online interviewer with a confusing and shady past interviews him trying to figure out why he did it. I finished this film with a lot of unanswered questions and a longing to feel something deeper emotionally.
6/10

DAY SIX:

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

 A typical film about a bunch of drunken, sex crazed, drug induced teenagers heading off to a non cell-phone reception ranch to party the night away except jk they get murdered off one by one. I was about ready to give up on this film three quarters of the way through as I couldn't see a bright future but the twist thrown in at the end kept me awake for a little bit longer. I'm not saying the twist was ground breaking and holy shit worthy, but I didn't see it coming....probably because I was half asleep...but still interesting enough to take me to the end. The homicidal maniac is easy to figure out after about ten minutes and although the deaths are extremely violent, all in all this film did nothing for me. I thought it was an interesting commentary about the female body and power in high school but when reading various reviews online about this film, I seem to be the only one that thinks that? So maybe I'm reaching. Either way, I wouldn't recommend, and I may watch it again in the very distance future if only because I've forgotten I even watched it in the first place.

6/10 (for the ending and my delusions on the deeper meaning of the film)

Up Next:
Day 7: Kantemir (2014)
Day 8: Sanitarium (2013)
Day 9: Saw (2004)

Horror Movie Challenge Day 1 to 3

Horror Movie Challenge DAY 1 - 3

(Where I am challenged to watch a horror movie 31 days in a row) 

I began my second annual horror movie challenge in Edmonton this year, which is a horror on its own. I was there for a work conference and in between all the traveling stress and anxiety, I would retreat to the hotel room at night to relax and watch my horror movies. I am now safely and happily back in Vancouver and ready for Day 4.

I created the list myself this year, completely catered to my tastes and preferences and basically filled with horror movies I've wanted to see but never gotten around to, a few random choices, and some of my personal favorites. So night one I ran a bath in my hotel room, got cozy and watched Wes Craven's New Nightmare.

DAY ONE:

Wes Craven's New Nightmare

I've never seen this before, and to be completely honest have only seen the first two Elm Street films and Freddy Vs. Jason (which I watched ten times last year in honor of it's tenth anniversary).  I've also watched the reboot which I just realized I actually own on blu ray for some reason? I don't even remember buying it? I am so completely in love with the original that I've never really felt the need to go much further. But boy was I wrong. New Nightmare was absolutely wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable. It was everything I expected and more. It's about the actress, Heather, who plays Nancy in the original film, and her husband and son. After awaking one night from a Freddy nightmare she finds herself in the middle of a very real earthquake and things only get worse from there. With some of the original cast returning and Wes playing himself, it's a great fan film. And the Freddy in this film is apparently much closer to the original Freddy that Wes himself created based on nightmares he had, articles he read about people dying in their sleep, and a terrifying experience with a strange man outside his apartment. Robert Englund plays himself in the film which is all you really need to know to watch this movie.
I wouldn't suggest it for someone who's never seen an Elm Street film but I'm sure anyone who's a fan of Freddy has already seen New Nightmare. I'll definitely be re-watching in the future.
8/10

 

DAY TWO:

The Ward

A John Carpenter film, aka a man who gave me two of my favorite horror films; Halloween and The Thing. The Ward feels like a dumbed down version of what John Carpenter is good at.
It revolves around Kristen who burns down a farm house and ends up in a psych ward with four other girls. As the other girls go missing and Kristen starts to see a terrifying ghostly woman she begins to delve deeper into the ward to figure out exactly what's going on there.
The scares themselves were enjoyable and silly, and the twist was not so much predictable as "done before". All the girls in the film were absolutely gorgeous and the setting was a perfect mix of creepy but dreamy. I found my mind wandering every now and then and this film felt more like something I would put on for background noise.
5/10

DAY THREE:

Silent House

I went into this film with no knowledge whatsoever except that it was filmed using "real time" footage and the appearance of one continuous shot. And I won't lie, the first half of the film I hated. I was bored, I rolled my eyes at the jumps, and I got annoyed at the darkness and slight confusion of what was even going on. And then the second half of the film began and slapped me in the face. I won't say anything about the ending whatsoever because I would hope most people will watch this film with no previous knowledge.
But this film went from meh to I NEED TO WATCH THAT AGAIN in about 5 minutes.
Just watch it. This will be one I aggressively recommend. 
9/10

Up Next:
Day 4:  - Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors (1987)
Day 5: - Hello Herman (2012)
Day 6: - All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)