Recently Seen, Part 9 (October 2017)

Continued from prior post.

Recommended

The Void (2016) (Canadian Horror) – Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures. This movie has some fantastic monster effects, the vast majority of which appear to be practical. There is also some moody, atmospheric lighting. The one location premise is helpful for the production budget, but in this case it creates a few pacing problems during the middle section. In terms of content, this is wafer thin stuff, but it barely matters because the horrific content is more than enough to compensate.

Cold Fish (2010) (Japanese Thriller/Horror) (repeat viewing) – A timid, repressed family man becomes unwillingly involved with a murderous businessman. This is one of Sion Sono’s weaker films, but has enough to sustain interest. This has a slow buildup, only one adequately developed character, and a basic plot, which means that the 144-minute runtime feels too long and repetitive. There is bloody violence throughout, but the ending is quite frankly ridiculous in how it unintentionally exposes its own superficialities, which demotes this film to a level below some of this director’s best works (and their fascinating, complex characters). If a critic called this film “garbage” I would have difficulty arguing a counterpoint. However, Sono’s talent for blending perverted elements with traditional filmmaking qualities is at least partially intact here, with good direction and performances by the cast. The actresses are all insanely hot, by the way, but Asuka Kurosawa (“A Snake of June”) plays the psychotic, bi-sexual, horny, sadist wife to perfection. She’s so much fun to watch; this film is worth seeking out for her alone. Also, this director takes his time to develop all of the scenes slowly and meticulously, which is definitely a positive. In the end, it’s the violence, perversions, craziness, and Asuka that make this entertaining.

Baskin (2015) (Turkish Horror) (repeat viewing) – Serving out a quiet night patrol, a group of cops get a request for assistance at a remote location. When the squad arrives, they soon realize that they’ve been lured into a concealed and hellishly surreal situation. The final 50+ minutes take place inside an abandoned, decrepit building. Set designs and lighting are moody, with a focus on creepy atmosphere mixed with demonic, bloody imagery. The actor they cast for the villain is a freaky looking dude, and was a nice choice. Things get sufficiently disgusting during the final half hour, which could turn off viewers who dislike stomach-churning gore. With that said, I like every section of the film, but feel like it’s more dynamic and interesting before the gore is introduced, after which it gets a bit static and repetitive.

Kidan (aka Inferno) (2005) (Japanese Horror) – The story centers on the strange case of a graduate student who went missing for a time, only to return with a case of amnesia. She travels to a secluded Christian village with an unorthodox archaeologist (Hiroshi Abe) to find out the truth. This is a theatrical horror film with good production values that somehow never got a release outside of its home country, despite being produced by the prolific horror producer Takashige Ichise. Much of the atmosphere is earned thru the forest/rural environments, which are captured beautifully by the filmmakers. There are a few creepy moments and no jump scares at all. There’s also quite a bit of religious content and discussion, mostly involving Japanese adaptations of Biblical scripture. That alone gives this movie a nuance that feels different from other Japanese horror films. Pretty good stuff.

Illusion of Blood (aka Yotsuya Kaidan) (1965) (Japanese Horror) – This is another adaptation of one of the most popular Japanese ghost stories. It involves an overly ambitious samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) and the hauntings he experiences. This is nicely shot, with some solid set designs. The corpse shots are cool, but I found the make-up effects to be underwhelming. The fake rats are also unintentionally funny. This is not as impressive as the 1959 adaptation, but it is watchable.

Not Recommended

Sinister 2 (2015) (American Horror) – A young mother and her twin sons move into a rural house that's marked for death. There are a lot of problems with this movie. The script is a complete mess because it painfully muddles a very simplistic premise. Yes, the 8mm tapes are creepy as usual, but the reasoning that is given for their existence and how they fit into the prior film is confusing and feels like a tacked on element. The mystery of this evil spirit was already solved in the last film, so the writers tried to add in other stuff to create a new mystery. The problem is that almost no time is spent on it and it’s not properly developed. I had serious problems making sense of how the newly revealed 8mm family killings and the possessed radio fit into the “linear killing pattern” from the prior film. To add insult to injury, this film focuses a lot more on the kids, which creates all kinds of problems. First, the human kids are either uninteresting or downright obnoxious. Second, the ghost kids are completely humanized in their interaction with the human kids, which eliminates much of the evil spirit’s influence. I do like the deputy character but most of the other characters are completely one-dimensional. I can usually handle weak scriptwriting in horror flicks, but this was an extremely frustrating film to watch.

Keep the horror posts coming @ebossert! I've added tons to my watchlist already.

Oh, I will.

Highly Recommended

Inside (2007) (French Horror) (repeat viewing) – A pregnant woman must elude a killer inside her home. The violence in this movie is very realistic, the body count is impressive, and the sheer quantity of blood is enormous. While most explicitly graphic films are hampered by poor acting and storytelling, this entry has solid performances and a scenario that keeps the viewer engaged from beginning to end. Survival logic is a mixed bag, which does include some stupid decision-making at times. The antagonist is one tough, nasty, merciless bitch who is also wraithlike in her ability to lurk in the shadows. Atmosphere and ominous scoring are also very strong. This is an incredibly brutal slasher that goes down as one of the best ever made. Not for the weak-hearted.

Dream Home (2010) (Chinese Horror) (repeat viewing) – Ho-Cheung Pang ventures into horror territory with this very violent flick that depicts a late night murder spree in a high end apartment complex. The murderer (played by Josie Ho) is a protagonist/ antagonist blend that is humanized through flashbacks and properly developed. One would be wise to avoid reading plot summaries because they will likely spoil the logic and reasoning behind the murders, which is revealed later in the film. The violence is brutal, graphic, and reminiscent of recent European efforts; due to its visceral nature. Pang uses his art-house style to capture some great shots and Ho’s performance is very good. This grabs you from the very first minute.

Horror Stories 3 (2016) (Korean Horror Anthology) (repeat viewing) – This is an anthology of four short films (with a total runtime of 94 minutes). This is proficiently directed and acted from start to finish. Some creative stuff here too, with an emphasis on futuristic visuals during two of the segments. “A Girl from Mars” is the wrap-around segment. Set in 2416 A.D., a little girl from Mars seeks asylum at a space station run by robots. This has some very cool visuals involving space and water. “Fox Valley” is set in ancient Korea. Two men visit a desolate area where the villagers believe that the nearby mountain is alive and must be tended to, which causes problems for the visitors. Good stuff, with some very nice lighting; some of the night time shots use an otherworldly dark red that is striking. “Road Rage” is set in the present day. A bickering couple are driving on a highway, but get into some serious trouble when they anger a truck driver. This is probably the most relatable segment, if only because there are many bad and angry drivers on the road in real life. There are a few very good moments of suspense in this. I really liked the ending too. “Ghost in the Machine” (aka “Robot Spirit”) is set in the not-too-distant future. A child robot temporarily malfunctions while babysitting a human boy. The mother finds out and makes the decision to discard it for a newer version, but this thing may not go quietly. Probably the creepiest story of the bunch, with enough horrific robotic imagery to satisfy.

Once Upon A Time In Shanghai (2014) (Chinese Action) (repeat viewing) – Set in 1930, a laborer moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich, but ends up using his kung fu skills to survive. The action is well-staged, with tons of wide camera angles and even good use of slow motion. Choreography is impressive and there are some hard hits to enjoy. The lead actor (Philip Ng) is a relative unknown but he’s surprisingly good at fighting. Andy On is always a welcome fighting presence, and he shows his goods here as well. Some cool period architecture too. The script is weak, but the story is moderately successful at establishing a dramatic base during the final half hour. One nice surprise is that On’s character is not as one-dimensional as some of his other roles; in fact, he’s rather nuanced and charismatic.

Greatful Dead (2013) (Japanese Horror/Drama/Comedy) (repeat viewing) – A young woman from a broken family becomes a stalker of other lonely people and eventually becomes obsessed with an elderly man. This is a nicely crafted genre-bender which becomes darker and more depraved as it progresses. Very interesting characters and interaction between them. The story flows freely and is not easy to predict, based on the opening setup. There’s quite a bit of jet black humor, but it’s more of the low-key variety. Newcomer Kumi Takiuchi is impressive in the lead role. Kkob-bi Kim has a supporting role.

Continued from prior post.

Recommended

Museum (2016) (Japanese Thriller) – A rash of murders is being committed by a man who is “punishing” certain individuals for their misdeeds, but a cop is trying to stop him. The premise, tone, and character arcs of this gritty film are similar to American and Korean efforts, but it’s not something we see that often in Japanese cinema. They pull it off well here. It does have a generic feel overall, but there are some neat nuances and it gets surprisingly dark and mean-spirited. Some good suspense and chases too. I liked the staging of the corpses, as well as the “museum” element. Performances are solid, with Shun Oguri as the lead protagonist. The villain is played by a popular actor, but I barely noticed him because he really commits to the role.

Memoir of a Murderer (2017) (Korean Thriller) – A murderer develops dementia but runs into a small town cop who could possibly be a serial killer. This movie does a good job of keeping the viewer off balance in terms of deciding on whether or not the cop is a killer. The added element of memory loss definitely helps this film to separate itself a bit from other Korean serial killer movies. Solid lead performance too.

Hana-Dama: The Origins (2014) (Japanese Horror/Drama) (repeat viewing) – A schoolgirl is relentlessly bullied in this film by Hisayasu Sato. The protagonist here is mentally tough, but decides to endure the bullying until she graduates. The first hour is a teen drama with some uncomfortable moments and nudity, but there is also a nice friendship dynamic between three bullied students. It does get pretty nasty though. The antagonists (which consist of students and teachers) are repugnant scumbags who will make the viewer’s blood boil at times. The horror elements ramp up during the final half hour, and they are bizarre, bloody, and blackly humorous. Fans of oddball, demented, perverted, low budget stuff might want to check this out. It’s definitely a bit different from the norm. (FYI, we get multiple shots of non-pixelated full frontal female nudity, which is rather uncommon in Japanese cinema.)

Hana-Dama: Phantom (2016) (Japanese Horror) – It’s nice to know that Hisayasu Sato still has it in him to make a film this weird and depraved. This makes the first Hana-Dama film look classy by comparison. The plot is about a cinema projectionist who meets a strange young woman who roams the nearby area, but it’s actually quite difficult to explain the lunacy of this film. There are moments of dense atmosphere and there are also some interesting concepts that keep things engaging (e.g., filmmaking is a theme that is explored), but there’s also some weird sex-based humor, over-the-top acting, and a finale that is completely gratuitous, depraved, and shocking. Fans of perverted, disgusting, violent, low budget stuff with a distinct exploitative edge might want to check this out. It’s definitely very different, but most “normal” people will want to stay the hell away. Personally, I found it oddly compelling. (FYI, we get multiple shots of non-pixelated full frontal female nudity, which is rather uncommon in Japanese cinema.)

Livide (aka Livid) (2011) (French Horror) (repeat viewing) – A young care-giver and two young men break into a large mansion in search of valuables, but become victims of a mysterious terror. After 30 minutes of “set up” time, the characters begin their exploration. Consequently, this film cranks up the horror elements and becomes more entertaining. There are a few bloody death scenes and some creepy moments. In terms of style and atmosphere, this film is impressive. Story and characters are shallow (with an unnecessarily confusing ending), but the plentiful horror content and visual style make up for some of that. From the directors of “Inside” (2007).

The Eyes of My Mother (2016) (American Horror) – A young, lonely woman is consumed by her deepest and darkest desires after tragedy strikes her quiet country life. This is a good flick that’s a bit different from the usual stuff. I like how the main character has a warped sense of normalcy, which makes this an interesting watch. There’s also some quiet intensity. With that said, it does feel static and a bit dull in spots. I enjoyed it though.

On the Fence

Leatherface (2017) (American Horror) – Everyone seems to have forgotten that the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film had very little gore on screen, and instead chose to rely on suspense, atmosphere, dread, and off-screen violence. In any case, “Leatherface” is an uneven film, regardless of whether you accept it as a prequel to this franchise or a spin-off/stand-alone gorefest. The “origin story” premise feels pointless because there’s no psychological exploration of the character at all. Yes, the violence is sufficiently nasty, but some of the situations in which it is implemented are incomprehensibly stupid (e.g., the pig scene, the animal carcass scene, the sex scene, etc.) and there’s not enough suspense or dread to elevate it. This is from the directors of “Inside” (2007), who are very familiar with excessive violence, but that film had an efficient rhythm to it, with a stifling sense of terror and a cool villain. Comparatively, “Leatherface” has a certain juvenility to it that rubbed me the wrong way.

Not Recommended

Among the Living (2014) (French Horror) – Three trouble-making kids skip school in order to explore an abandoned film studio lot where they catch site of a woman being dragged across the lot by a masked man. There are some incompehensibly stupid decisions made by the characters. That usually something I can overlook, but it happens so often that it becomes absolutely infuriating. I kid you not, this movie has some of the most maddeningly stupid characters of the last 20 years. Even more disappointing . . . there’s only a little gore! How is that possible, from the directors of “Inside” (2007)? It wouldn’t be a problem if there was suspense, creepiness, or something else to make up for it . . . but there isn’t. This is a wafer thin, stupid slasher film with almost no good death scenes or ominous atmosphere. Given the pedigree of these directors, I cannot believe that this was a problem with this film, but it most certainly is. After the third “cut-away” kill, you’ll want to throw a brick thru your television screen. This is Hollywoodized, spineless crap . . . that was made in France.

Highly Recommended

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) (Korean Horror) (repeat viewing) – Still my favorite movie.

Gakko No Kaidan 4 (aka Haunted School 4) (1999) (Japanese Horror) (repeat viewing) – This film veers completely away from its predecessors by scrapping the “chased by ghosts in a haunted school” premise and opting instead to use a slow-paced spookiness with more classical themes and very little humor. However, the use of grammar school kids as the main characters is preserved, which is one of the refreshing aspects of this series of films (even the ghosts are mischievous children). The scare tactics here are well executed and very creative (no jump scares to be found, thankfully). There is a lot of spooky atmosphere too. Acting by the youths is good, the opening sequence is stunning, and the set designs near the end are excellent. This is considered to be a newer classic by the few who have seen it, and it’s easy to see why.

Reincarnation (2005) (Japanese Horror) (repeat viewing) – Takashi Shimizu directs this surprisingly well-written horror film. There are a lot of horror elements used in this film that have been seen previously, but they are used in a completely different manner. Perhaps the most impressive thing is that the concept of reincarnation itself is used to bridge and interconnect all of these elements in a new and satisfying way. The pacing is a bit slow for the first 65 minutes, but the final half hour contributes a complex, truly great climax. This is the third installment of the “J-Horror Theater” film series.

Recommended

The Sleep Curse (2017) (Chinese Horror) (repeat viewing) – Anthony Wong and Herman Yau reunite for this new CAT III entry. A neurologist performs intense research on the science behind sleep. One of his former lovers arrives and requests his help in finding a cure for her older brother’s extreme case of insomnia. This film is more nuanced than you might expect, with a multi-layered and well-developed backstory that explains the origin of this “curse” that is rooted in real-life history. There’s also an interesting lecture related to sleep early on. Some good horror imagery is peppered in, but the highlight is the finale – a moderately lengthy feat of graphic violence.

Gakko No Kaidan (aka Haunted School) (1995) (Japanese Horror) (repeat viewing) – A group of grammar school kids get trapped in a haunted section of their school. There are a number of fun scenes here (the roaming soccer ball, the giant schoolgirl, the foggy floor with grabbing hands, the saluting statue, and the upside down room with falling desks, etc.). The special effects are also surprisingly good in places (with some very cool monster designs). A young Aya Okamoto is the girl lead. Definitely entertaining and a reliable option in terms of family friendly horror.

Gakko No Kaidan 2 (aka Haunted School 2) (1996) (Japanese Horror) (repeat viewing) – Some little kids attend a retreat in a rural Buddhist temple and experience supernatural phenomena while exploring a local school. This is a fun film that has a variety of poltergeists and monsters. CGI is used effectively and stop motion is evident in one sequence, but the highlight is the awesome clock tower monster who is made entirely of physical effects. The uber-cute Aki Maeda and Naomi Nishida have supporting roles. There’s something special about watching little kids in creepy horror movies, and this has to be one of the better ones. (Viewed without subtitles.)
Gakko No Kaidan 3 (aka Haunted School 3) (1997) (Japanese Horror) (repeat viewing) – Aki Maeda and Naomi Nishida return in this unrelated third installment, and this time they get leading roles. Some grammar school students (and their spunky teacher) walk between two paranormal mirrors and get transported to an alternate, horrific dimension. This film by Shusuke Kaneko expands on the huge variety of horror elements that its predecessors established. A mix of CGI and physical effects is used to craft some creative moments. (At one point there’s a demonic copying machine that creates a monster made of sheets of paper.) Unlike its predecessors, there’s a bit more time spent outside of the school, in a horrific alternate dimension of course (the people with blank faces were creepy). This is fast-paced, spooky, and focuses a lot on the theme of friendship. The finale isn’t as thrilling as the second installment, but there is a cool scene involving a large skeleton. (Viewed without subtitles.)

Pumpkinhead (1988) (American Horror) – After a tragic accident, a man conjures up a towering, vengeful demon called Pumpkinhead to destroy a group of unsuspecting teenagers. Lots of atmosphere during the opening horror scene, then it reverts to a grungy hillbilly setting for a while before infusing more dense atmosphere and some cool physical monster effects. I also like how the story unfolds, with the protagonist (Lance Henriksen) having to journey and achieve certain tasks in order to resurrect the demon.

Blood Glacier (2013) (Austrian Horror) – Scientists working in the Austrian Alps discover that a glacier is leaking a liquid that appears to be affecting local wildlife. Some fantastic natural environments on display, which adds a lot of eye candy. The monsters have some cool designs, and their biological characteristics are interesting and sufficiently deadly. The finale is an anticlimax, but this is good.

Zomvideo (2011) (Japanese Horror/Comedy) – After a zombie outbreak, a group of office workers find a video tape that gives advice on how to survive a zombie outbreak using office supplies. Some legitimately funny moments in this. The lead actress is hot and likeable. The zombies have eyes with a white iris and a hairdo with a single spike stretching upward. Two of the zombie girls can speak and choose to eat beef jerky instead of human flesh. At one point, this film shows the inside of a VHS player and how it plays a tape, which I’ve oddly never seen before. There are sufficient amounts of blood and gore. Features the deadliest desk fan you’ll ever see, and one of the funniest zombie faces in recent memory. Make no mistake, this movie is cheap and stupid, but it’s also watchable. (Viewed without subtitles.)

Not Recommended

The Invitation (2015) (American Horror) – While attending a dinner party at his former home, a man thinks his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister intentions for their guests. This movie is sleep-inducing. It relies heavily on slow-burn unease, but the dialogue and character development are tedious and portrayed in the most uninteresting ways possible. The viewer will be waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen, which makes this film incredibly difficult to sit through. When something does happen, late in the film, it’s exactly what you would have predicted. If the filmmakers set out to make one of the most boring horror films of the last decade, they definitely succeeded.

Pod (2015) (American Horror) – A family intervention goes horrifically awry within the snowy confines of an isolated lake house. Sound design is very clumsy, with excessively loud segments of score and ambient sounds that will blow your eardrums off. Performances are amateurish. The constant screaming and bickering between the characters gets tiring very quickly, and that’s basically that happens in the film – a few characters yelling at each other in a house. It’s boring, especially considering that the script is very by-the-book and lacking in creativity. Yeah, a monster shows up for a few minutes, but it’s badly filmed with excessive shaky cam and strobe lighting.

The Adventurers (2017) (Chinese Action) – The world's top thieves join forces to pull off the heist of a lifetime in this film by director Stephen Fung. This has a loaded cast of big time actors. Unfortunately, it’s a run-of-the-mill, lethargic, dull-as-dirt flick that is seriously lacking in memorable, exciting moments. There was obviously no thought or creativity put into the heist sequences . . . or anything, for that matter. A total waste of acting talent. Can someone please cast Jingchu Zhang in a good movie again!? Go watch “The Thieves” instead.