Celebrating My 50th with 50 Favorites

 So in just a few days, I'm turning 50.  While it sounds monumental and scary, I'm really okay with it.  It's better than the alternative, right? It's also important to mention that this blog is now ten years old.  In March of this year, it turned a decade old and it's still going, despite going bursts of time with no updates. 
 
In correspondence of these two "historic" events, I've decided to do a little countdown, because everyone loves lists and because it's been many years since I've done a favorites list.  Back in October of 2011, I did a list of 31 favorite films, in which I essentially just did a review of each of those films to celebrate the Halloween season.  
I have noticed that while many of my favorites still made the cut this time, I have replaced several of them with other films I have grown to love. 

So without further ado, here are numbers 50 - 41.

50. The Resurrected (1991)

This adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story is directed by Dan O'Bannon and stars Chris Sarandon as as Charles Dexter Ward, a man dedicated to the science of bringing the dead back to life. While some of the acting is campy, the special effects are very good and the story compelling enough to look past the hokey parts.  Ward's wife (played by Jane Tibbett) hires a private investigator (John March) to look into Charles's unusual behavior.  Unusual is quite the understatement, as you'll find out. What's so great about The Resurrected is the mood it sets and the unnerving feeling you get as you watch events unfold.

49. Pet Sematary (1989)

I couldn't leave this Stephen King adaption off my list.  It was one of the first King novels that I read so it holds a special place in my heart. When the movie came out, there's no denying it was downright scary.  From Victor Pascow's nightly jaunts to good ol' Jud introducing Louis Creed to the power of the "real" pet graveyard to Gage's accident and subsequent trip to the Micmac burial grounds to Rachel's sister Zelda, there is a whole lot to be frightened of.  And we can't forget Church. What a cat!

48. Subspecies (1991)

It's all about the atmosphere for this vampire tale set in Romania. Filmed on location in Bucharest, the ambience of rotting castles and vampire-fearing locals only adds to the film's appeal.  While the acting is actually pretty bad, it's a truly dark and moody journey into the heart of a (formerly) communist country.  Radu (Anders Hove) has killed his father, the vampire king (horror royalty Angus Scrimm), in order to be able to utilize the "bloodstone", an ancient relic that drips the life-sustaining blood of the saints.  Three beautiful college friends travel to Castle Vladislas to do research on the ruins and run smack into a power struggle between Radu and his extremely attractive half-brother, Stefan.  Chaos ensues.  Hilarity also becomes unavoidable once the stop-motion sub-species creatures come into play.  But I can overlook silliness for pure atmosphere....and a great soundtrack.

47.  The Shining (1980)

 This is a film I have watched countless times and would consider one of my go-to "comfort horror" favorites.  I know Stephen King isn't crazy about this version of his best selling novel, but there's no doubt it's a juggernaut of terror.  Jack Nicholson is over the top as Jack Torrance, a man with just enough inner crazy to be sent over the edge when holed up in a haunted hotel for the winter with his passive wife Wendy (Shelly Duvall) and young, psychically-enabled son Danny (Danny Lloyd).  So much shockingly ghastly goodness to love here but I'll say the blood-drenched elevators, the wacky ballroom party, the rotting woman in the bathtub and the last scenes of the chase in the maze all say horror to me, and in a big way.

 46. Rogue (2007)

It's kind of hard to find a good crocodile horror flick that isn't a comedy. But I have found it, and it's glorious.  Michael Vartan stars as a travel writer who hops on a touristy cruise down an Australian National Park river.  The always great Radha Mitchell is the guide for a group of folks that even includes the lovable Aussie John Jarratt (Wolf Creek).  Long story short, the gang runs smack dab into a giant crocodile's territory and getting out is one big pain in the ass (and a lot of other places).  Run aground and stuck on the edge of a small island about to be submerged by the tide, the group slowly stops placing blame and begins to work together to devise a plan for survival.  Great effects, stellar casting and a lovely yet fierce score make this one to admire.  If you haven't seen it, do get on that, stat.

45. Pumpkinhead (1998)

Now this is a film that wins me over every...single...time.  With superb creature effects by Stan Winston (who also directed) and the talents of the stupendous icon, Lance Henriksen, Pumpkinhead is a delight to be savored at each viewing.  What is thought of as B-grade horror is near the top of any discerning horror fan's monster flick list.  Henriksen plays Ed Harley, a backwoods proprietor of goods and the loving father to Billy, who sadly becomes the victim of the antics of a group of snot-nosed twenty-somethings out for a good time.  Ed, overcome with relentless grief, has the local witch conjure up a terrifying revenge.  And its name is Pumpkinhead.  Suspense and atmosphere are key here, with the monster effects certainly worthy of the great Winston name. 

44.  The Wolfman (1941)

Universal monsters have a special place in my heart, as they do for many a horror fan.  I love all the classics, but a few of them I hold a little dearer, this werewolf story being one of them.  Lon Chaney Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, a man heading home to the family estate after the mysterious death of his brother. When the friend of his love interest Gwen (Evelyn Ankers) finds herself attacked in the dense fog, it's up to Larry to attempt a rescue.  Instead, he gets bitten by a wolf, at least that's what he thought...  With gypsies and silver bullets and transformations, The Wolfman has it all, topped off by the sheer charisma of Chaney.  And do keep in mind: 
Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night;
May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

43. The Birds (1963)

When Hitchcock finished Psycho, I'm sure he was wondering what he could possibly do to surpass the popularity and critical acclaim of that film.  Did he accomplish it here?  No.  But The Birds is a damn fine film in its own right, and I still love popping it in and singing a rousing round of "Risselty-Rosselty."  Ahhhh! Total ear-worm.  I digress.  I love The Birds. I love Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren, I love Jessica Tandy.  Hell, I even love Veronica Cartwright.  But what I love most is those birds. EVERYWHERE.  On the power lines, at the school, the monkey bars, the roof, the cars, the restaurants, the gas station....even in the attic.  Such a powerful statement these birds make, for just one bird is nothing...not scary in the least.  But put hundreds together and it's just totally unsettling.  In the best possible way!

 42. Misery (1990)

Misery, by Stephen King, is a fantastic read. And the film is just as extraordinary.  With two knock-it-out-of-the-park performances by James Caan and most especially Kathy Bates.  Centered on a writer who always finishes his novels in the same way, Misery introduces us to Paul Sheldon, a best-selling author who wrecks his Mustang in a snowstorm and is rescued from near death by one Annie Wilkes, who just happens to be his number one fan.  After treating his multiple injuries (because she is a nurse, you know) she neglects to notify his family and friends and proceeds to hole him up in her cabin and force him to re-write one of his novels after he had the audacity to kill off the main character that Annie lived and breathed.  Bates won a well-deserved Oscar for her performance and Caan is equally as stellar in his role.  The title is perfect for this one.  The film is equally as perfect.

41.  The Legend of Hell House (1973)

Based on a book by the genre favorite prolific horror writer Richard Matheson, Hell House is a British film that tells the tale of the Belasco house, supposedly the "Mount Everest of haunted houses".  Dr Lionel Barrett is tasked to prove one way or the other, and takes his wife and two psychics with him over Christmas holiday to debunk the mansion and all its ghosts.  Now, there's nothing I like better than a good haunted house flick, and this was one of my first experiences with one, I vividly remember watching this one on television with my mom on a rainy Saturday afternoon, so it holds very dear memories for me.  Through electromagnetic experiments, seances and other manners of ghost-hunting, they find the source of the hauntings, at least they think they do.  But all is not as it seems.  And Belasco is not finished with our ghost-busters.  Not by a long shot.  There's something very eerie and unsettling about this film, and I think it is just the tremendous bones the story itself has, and we have Matheson to thank for that.


Next up, numbers 40-31...

Octoberfest Five: Marie's 5 "Comfort Horror" Favorites

~by Marie Robinson

One of my problems with horror is that it has a shelf-life. Meaning the more you watch a horror film, the less scary it gets and to me, loses its potency. I’ve watched The Shining so many times that I now hate it, so I try to avoid watching movies frequently so that this doesn’t happen.

Nostalgia is like a drug to me. I love the feeling I get when I am taken back to specific memories and times in my life. Movies can be great for this, so there are a few that I turn to when I want that warm and fuzzy feeling.

I may not bring out my “comfort horror” movies too often, but these are the ones I keep on hand for when I need them.

TALES FROM THE CRYPT

My first memory of watching Tales from the Crypt was in a funeral home, of all places. When my cousin and I were young we had to attend the funeral of some old relative we didn’t know. Rather than having us mingling with the mourners, they stuck us downstairs in what had to be a lounge or a break room or something, that had a big TV in it; and what, of all things, did my mother, or whoever (I can’t remember), put on the television? Well, you know
Not only is it not necessarily appropriate for children, but also we were also scared shitless sitting in the basement of a fucking mortuary! Of course, I fell in love that day, and made a friend for life in the ole Cryptkeeper.
I have every season of Tales and I watch it pretty frequently, preferably on dark, stormy nights, but also anytime I just want to relax. The Cryptkeeper’s shrill, dry cackle is my lullaby.

JEEPERS CREEPERS

I feel like this one comes up a lot on our lists, but it’s just so damn good! Sorry, not sorry. I did have it last year on my “guilty pleasures” list, but I’ve gained a lot of confidence in that past year, and I’m not ashamed anymore! I want to shout it to the world! I LOVE JEEPERS CREEPERS!

PET SEMATARY

I find myself coming back to this one pretty often; it’s just a great film to me! There are characters I love, and characters I HATE (but that’s a different list), and probably the scariest character of all time, Zelda!! Aaahhh!!!

SALEM'S LOT

Yes, another Stephen King, but he’s just so darn good! If it isn’t obvious to you I’m talking about the 1979 version. I put this movie on in the background sometimes when I need something suitably spooky. I love the imagery in this film; they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

 (ANY Nightmare on Elm Street film)
I’m being pretty general here, but Nightmare is my favorite horror franchise. The “quality” films in the series, in my opinion, are 1, 3, and 7 (New Nightmare), and the rest are cheesy 80’s schlock, but I love ‘em, and you don’t need any brainpower to watch them. They’re great for zoning out, and I genuinely enjoy them—okay, maybe not Freddy’s Revenge…

31 days, 31 faves: Pet Sematary

I'm a big fan of several of the Stephen King adaptations, with The Shining, Misery, Carrie, and this film being my favorites. It was really hard to choose between this one and Misery, truth be told - but to be honest, this book gave me long-lasting nightmares the first time I read it. And they did a very respectable job with the film version of Pet Sematary (1989). And extra kudos to both Mary Lambert for directing and the Ramones for that extra amazing end titles song!

Louis Creed (the quite attractive Dale Midkiff) is the new physician at the nearby college and has moved his family into a gorgeous house that just happens to be right beside a major highway that is used by truckers (who tend to drive way to fast) 24/7. While unpacking they met elderly neighbor Judd Crandall (Fred Gwynne), who hoists young Gage Creed (Miko Hughes) off the road just in the nick of time as a truck flies by top speed. When they ask about a path they've noticed at the edge of the property, Judd tells them it's a good story for another day.

When that day does arrive, Judd and the family head off down the path, with Judd telling them it's a pet cemetery. The sign (with the name spelled wrong) and the graveyard were basically created by children so they could bury their beloved pets. The road was the cause of many an animal death. However, when Judd tells this to Ellie (Blaze Berdahl), Rachel cops a serious attitude and doesn't want to hear a thing about it. She hates any talk of death, and lets it be known she doesn't think kids should have to learn about it either.

On Dr. Creed's first day at the college, a young man is brought in with a massive head injury after being hit by a truck. The man is basically dead on arrival, but they call EMS anyway to come get him and take him to the hospital. While waiting, Louis is alone with the patient, Victor Pascow (Brad Greenquist). Without warning, Pascow gurgles awake and tells Louis "the soil of a man's heart is stonier" and that he'll come for him.
More concerned with how Victor knew his name, Louis tries to put the incident out of his head.

However, Victor does indeed come, that night while Louis is asleep. He wakes him, and takes him for a little stroll. Louis, compelled to follow, ends up in the pet cemetery. Victor warns Louis to steer clear of the burial ground beyond, a tangled mess of dead trees, brush and briars that was an ancient Micmac Indian graveyard. Victor tells him it is where the dead walk, and Louis - utterly terrified at this point - tries to wake up. In the morning he thinks it was all a nasty dream, until he discovers muddy sheets.

For some reason, Rachel Creed's father dislikes Louis (um, what guy wouldn't want his daughter to marry a doctor?!), so everyone but him is headed for Rachel's parents for Thanksgiving.

Soon, Louis gets a phone call from Judd - Ellie's cat is dead on the side of the road.

Instead of burying Church (short for Winston Churchill) in the pet cemetery, they drag the poor dead kitty beyond - up to the Micmac grounds. Judd doesn't give much of a reason why, and once there tells Louis he has to "bury his own".

When they're done and back at Louis's, Judd mentions the very same phrase about the 'soil of a man's heart being stonier', and tells him not to tell anyone what they just did. So now, Louis is justifiably wigged out.

The next day while Louis is puttering around the house, Church appears out of nowhere, hissing and scratching Louis. Mystified beyond belief, Louis asks Judd the next day just what in the hell is going on. After all, the cat was stuck to the ground like glue - most certainly dead.

He explains that when he was young, someone had told him about the place and he buried Judd's pet dog in the pet cemetery. The next day, Spot came back but he had a less than acceptable attitude and died peacefully the next night. Judd helped Louis with Church so Ellie wouldn't have to deal with her cat dying. Naturally, Louis asks the first thing anyone else would: 'Has anyone ever buried a person up there?' Judd basically says absolutely not.

A few days after the rest of the family is home, their cleaning lady Missy hangs herself. Unwilling to attend the funeral (which incidentally has a great cameo by Stephen King himself as the minister), Rachel explains why she's such a nut job about death and dying.

She had an older sister, Zelda, who suffered from spinal meningitis. Her parents used to leave her alone with her to tend to and look after her. In simply the most frightening moments of the film (the scenes affect me to this day!), we see Zelda contorting into horrific positions and rasping out "Raaaachel". It is utterly horrifying, and the first few times I saw this film I would close my eyes and see Zelda. And I think a whole lot of people are in the same boat.

One beautiful day, the family and Judd are having a picnic in the yard and the unthinkable happens. Gage is flying a kite with a little help from his dad, and in a moment of supreme stupidity they let him walk off on his own, laughing about how damn cute he is. He gets away from them, until Judd screams about going to get him off the road before.....

Yep. The little two year old and the truck go one on one and it ends very VERY poorly. The vision of the tiny bloody shoe hopping along the road is truly one of the most memorable moments in horror.

At the funeral, chaos ensues when Rachel's father accuses Louis of killing his own child by not watching him. A literal fight springs up, with Rachel's father punching Louis and knocking over Gage's casket, the poor little tyke's arm popping out of the coffin. Not a good scene at all.

Louis and Judd have a heart to heart later on, with Judd worried about Louis burying his son in the Micmac cemetery. So he breaks down and tells him that someone actually DID bury a human up there. Timmy Baterman. His father buried him after he was killed coming home from the second World War. "Sometimes, dead is better."
When Timmy came back, he wasn't a normal person - not himself at all. The townsfolk decided Timmy had to go, that he was so effed up that he couldn't be allowed to live (again).
They set fire to the house and unfortunately Timmy's father couldn't get out in time and he perished as well. He explains that the cemetery is evil.

Louis sends Rachel and Ellie off to stay with her parents for awhile. Naturally, we all know what Louis is planning. And sure enough, the next scene is Louis heading out to the cemetery where Gage is buried. He waits for darkness and digs the little kid up, with Victor Pascow as a ghost standing nearby, warning the hell out of him. Alas, he's cuckoo for cocoa puffs and still goes through with it.

Meanwhile in Chicago, Ellie is having some bad-ass dreams about Daddy. Seems she's a bit of a psychic and she seems to be able to channel Victor Pascow. She tells her mom about Victor's warning, and something triggers in Rachel and when she tries to call Louis she can't get him.
She calls Judd next, trying to find out where he is. Judd obviously hasn't seen him but has a feeling where he might be. But Judd's old bones don't let him stay awake, and he misses Louis coming home.

Rachel, obsessed with getting home, has another freaky dream about Zelda while on the plane. God DAMN that bitch freaks me out. She is assisted by Pascow (who hangs around without her knowledge) on her way, going from plane to plane to car to hitching a ride with a trucker. She is continually thwarted in her attempts to get home, but she keeps on going and eventually gets there.

However, Gage has gotten there first, and in some truly disturbing scenes, little reanimated Gage takes his revenge. Every damn time that achilles tendon is sliced, I cringe.

Even though most people have probably seen this film, I won't completely spoil the ending here. Suffice it to say Stephen King has a certain knack for things not ending well. This is no exception.
But what it is is a whole lot of fun, and some truly unnerving scenes.

The acting is fairly decent, but to be honest I would have killed off Ellie Creed if given the chance. The little girl who plays her just got on my last nerve. She is soooo sub par, even as child actresses go - even the wee one who played Gage was superior to her. In fact, I don't know how they got that kid to do some of that stuff. And it's hard to believe his parents would let him act in a horror movie. Yikes.

As far as creepiness goes, to me this film has some of the most terrifying images, ones that stick with you long afterward. When that truck hits that kid - whoa! And Zelda - hot DAMN I'll never get over that one.

Picking on Pet Sematary

Just watched Pet Sematary again last night and I got to thinking how stupid some of the things were, and I just kept on truckin' through the whole thing...dissecting this, swearing at that...

So I thought I might share a few thoughts.
If you haven't seen it, you might not really "get" this. But who the hell hasn't seen it?

*When Dr. Louis Creed and his family arrive at the new house, it is obvious from the dialogue that his wife Rachel has never seen the house. Huh? You'd let your husband just go and purchase a house without you ever seeing it? No way would a woman do that. She'd want to make sure the kitchen was big enough. Does it have a dishwasher? A laundry room on the first floor? A decent backyard? Etc, etc... Believe me, she'd want to see it.

*His first day at the college, when Victor Pascow is struck by a truck and the students are bringing him in, they're muttering amongst themselves and someone says: "Get him to Dr. Creed!" As if they know who he is. I'm sorry... first day and all, I'm thinking nobody knows (or even cares) that there is a new doc, let alone what his name is.



*Church is one ugly f**king cat. And why didn't they just keep the damn cat inside?



*Speaking of fugly - Rachel's sister Zelda - the most god-awful looking person evah! Does Spinal Meningitis really do that? When I was a teenager and saw this flick, I was absolutely haunted by the scenes Zelda was in. "Never get up again...never get up again....never get up again!!!" Wow.


That had to be a man in that role. Pretty sure it was.

*Why on earth didn't Rachel's parents like Louis? I mean, their daughter married a doctor for Christ's sake. Most parents would be thrilled. Maybe it's just me, but he didn't seem like a dickhead to me. (Well, until he dug up his dead son...)

*As fast as those Orinco trucks go past the house, wouldn't you have put up a fence blocking the yard in, so your damn kid wouldn't go wandering out onto the road?




*More on that... Seriously, you'd just let your two year old take off in the yard with a kite? They're all laughing and carrying on while the kid chases the kite, not even paying attention.

*Speaking of Dead Gage, a few things trouble me. First of all, when they are at the funeral home and Louis's father-in-law starts the fight that dumps the casket, Gage's body is partially shown. Okay, now correct me if I'm wrong. I realize it was a closed casket, but would any part of him at all be still intact? He got creamed by a semi-truck for heaven's sake. He'd have to be mopped off the highway!

*At the cemetery later, when Louis is digging him up (nice.) - he's holding him in his arms. Yet again I say - this kid would be mush.

*Then, the cops drive right by and even shine the light on the dug up grave, a shovel propped against the stone and dirt heaped all around. Yeah, nothing wrong there.

*Something else that grinds my gears about the cemetery scene. How is it that Gage already has a tombstone? You have to order those. They take months. You can't get one in a day.
Aaarrrrggghhh!

*Oh yeah- when Gage comes back from the dead, he seems to be getting around pretty good. I didn't realize the Micmac Magic can put Humpty Dumpty all together again. And he still looked pretty good - face had a bit of a scar on the forehead, but if he looked that good you could've shown him at the funeral home/church, right?
Didn't he lose a foot at the very least? Or are we supposed to believe only his shoe came off and bounced on the road? Yikes.



*And why is his hair now nearly red? It was blonde. If he got that much blood in it wouldn't the funeral home have washed it or something?

*How did Gage know where his dad kept his medical bag, let alone that there was a scalpel inside. Why would a two year old even know what a scalpel is?

*That whole 'slicing the Achilles tendon' thing? Still gets me to this day. Nasty!

*If Rachel cuts off Louis's head (is that what we're to believe?) how is it that he screams? Wouldn't you be gurgling or whatever? Okay, maybe she just stabs him in the back?

"Daaahrling...."

Okay, I'm done.

I feel considerably better getting all that off my chest.