Horror films

[Moribunderast]

Brain Damage 1988.

Good?  Hmmmm, not good but good isn't really the aim of these films.  It is a very watchable farce if only for the Stewie Griffin voiced brain eating leech.



Its on YT at the moment also.

Oh man, that was a key film in my childhood, having once found it in my Dad's video collection and him being too tired/lazy to stop me from excitedly watching it at about age 8. Still adore that movie and it can be very funny.

[Artie Fufkin]

In terms of films from the last few years, my pick for a great horror is The Endless (2017) (though watch Resolution (2012) first! Your enjoyment of the later film will be greatly increased by your having watched the earlier film), an incredible blend of time loops and (for lack of a better word) Lovecraftian awe.

Watched Resolution last night. I really enjoyed it. Really good idea. Annoyingly, I had to have the sound right down and subtitles on as she was sleeping in the next room, so possibly lost some of the atmosphere. Might watch it again properly before watching Endless.

[SteveDave]

Watched Resolution last night. I really enjoyed it. Really good idea. Annoyingly, I had to have the sound right down and subtitles on as she was sleeping in the next room, so possibly lost some of the atmosphere. Might watch it again properly before watching Endless.

I can highly recommend "Spring" from 2014 by the same duo. It's described as a romantic body horror film on wikipedia.

[phosphoresce]

Spoorloos - I finally saw this after hearing so many good things. In its sober, understated way it's the most chilling and plausible portrayal of a sociopath I've seen. Sluizer's inclusion of mundane details like radio commentary of the Tour de France, and stopping at the petrol station make it uncomfortably real too.

And yes, the ending. Christ.

Raymond is also the spit of a (lovely) former colleague, right down to the blank eyes.

[zomgmouse]

I watched the original Candyman and it's very good. Extremely interesting ideas explored, very cool imagery and feel. Seems like it doesn't all fit together and I wasn't too keen on the middle section but it's tremendous nonetheless.

[AsparagusTrevor]

I watched the original Candyman and it's very good. Extremely interesting ideas explored, very cool imagery and feel. Seems like it doesn't all fit together and I wasn't too keen on the middle section but it's tremendous nonetheless.

It's a really well put together film where the style and atmosphere lets it get away with its flaws. The Candyman himself is a creepy mofo, and you gotta love the fact that real bees were used in the necessary scenes whereas nowadays they'd just CGI them.

The sequels are poor, especially the third film.

[Sex Festival Organizer]

It's a really well put together film where the style and atmosphere lets it get away with its flaws. The Candyman himself is a creepy mofo, and you gotta love the fact that real bees were used in the necessary scenes whereas nowadays they'd just CGI them.

The sequels are poor, especially the third film.

Speaking of Candyman, and the first film is indeed very good, I just read this on Wikipedia:

The slasher crossover film Freddy vs. Jason (2003) also inspired Miramax to want to create a Candyman vs. Hellraiser crossover, but Clive Barker, originator of both franchises, had recommended against it. A crossover with the Leprechaun film series was also considered, but Tony Todd immediately flat out refused to participate in such a project, saying he had too much respect for his character to see him used for such a purpose.

The highlighted bit in particular is mind-boggling, and sounds like the worst idea in horror movie history. I mean, what would even be the concept there? Would they team up for hilarious Where's Me Gold? related hijinks, or what?

[BlodwynPig]

Spoorloos - I finally saw this after hearing so many good things. In its sober, understated way it's the most chilling and plausible portrayal of a sociopath I've seen. Sluizer's inclusion of mundane details like radio commentary of the Tour de France, and stopping at the petrol station make it uncomfortably real too.

And yes, the ending. Christ.

Raymond is also the spit of a (lovely) former colleague, right down to the blank eyes.

Only watching the opening credits and loving that fretless bass. Serious Peak Bergerac vibes with that score.

[JimminyJillikers]

I can highly recommend "Spring" from 2014 by the same duo. It's described as a romantic body horror film on wikipedia.

Watched this last night, really enjoyed it. Have you seen Synchronic, their latest film?

[BlodwynPig]

Spoorloos - I finally saw this after hearing so many good things. In its sober, understated way it's the most chilling and plausible portrayal of a sociopath I've seen. Sluizer's inclusion of mundane details like radio commentary of the Tour de France, and stopping at the petrol station make it uncomfortably real too.

And yes, the ending. Christ.

Raymond is also the spit of a (lovely) former colleague, right down to the blank eyes.

Finished now, first rate and yep...that ending!

[SteveDave]

Watched this last night, really enjoyed it. Have you seen Synchronic, their latest film?

Is it "available"?

[Puce Moment]

Is it "available"?

Very good question - it appears to have been out for a while but I can't find it at all. Might be one for the Small Man Big Horse Media Detective Agency.

[phosphoresce]

Finished now, first rate and yep...that ending!

It is superb. The ending's truly horrible!

[BlodwynPig]

It is superb. The ending's truly horrible!

Although extremely

Spoiler alert

claustrophobic

[close]

, I don't mind those sort of

Spoiler alert

scenes

[close]

. The emotion I received was not terror, but something more visceral. A deep deep sadness that persisted all night leaving me spent this morning.

[zomgmouse]

It's a really well put together film where the style and atmosphere lets it get away with its flaws. The Candyman himself is a creepy mofo, and you gotta love the fact that real bees were used in the necessary scenes whereas nowadays they'd just CGI them.

The sequels are poor, especially the third film.

Those bees were amazing.

And I'm about to watch the sequels, for worse or for worse, ahead of the new one coming out. No idea if they will have any relevance to it but oh well.

Speaking of Candyman, and the first film is indeed very good, I just read this on Wikipedia:

The slasher crossover film Freddy vs. Jason (2003) also inspired Miramax to want to create a Candyman vs. Hellraiser crossover, but Clive Barker, originator of both franchises, had recommended against it. A crossover with the Leprechaun film series was also considered, but Tony Todd immediately flat out refused to participate in such a project, saying he had too much respect for his character to see him used for such a purpose.

The highlighted bit in particular is mind-boggling, and sounds like the worst idea in horror movie history. I mean, what would even be the concept there? Would they team up for hilarious Where's Me Gold? related hijinks, or what?

This reminds me of a silly bit my partner and I have where we come up with ridiculous "vs" films. These would certainly qualify. It's almost like they've been drawn out of a hat. Who does this and why. Jesus Christ (vs Scooby Doo).

Very good question - it appears to have been out for a while but I can't find it at all. Might be one for the Small Man Big Horse Media Detective Agency.

I think it's been out for ages in the sense that it premiered at a festival a while ago and has still only been doing the festival circuit. I don't think it's actually been out out as in out on the internet. But I could be wrong. I'm very much looking forward to it.

[Artie Fufkin]

I can highly recommend "Spring" from 2014 by the same duo. It's described as a romantic body horror film on wikipedia.

Thanks! I noticed this after watching The Endless, which I thought was great.

Spoiler alert

I loved how it tied in to Resolution. Really really cool.

[close]

. Will definitely check out Spring and Synchronic.

[Custard]

The Endless ties into those films too. It's like their own little MCU!

Edit - Oh wait, that's what you were saying!

[Small Man Big Horse]

I think it's been out for ages in the sense that it premiered at a festival a while ago and has still only been doing the festival circuit. I don't think it's actually been out out as in out on the internet. But I could be wrong. I'm very much looking forward to it.

I can't find it anywhere either which is a shame as I love their other films, but hopefully it might get a release at some point soon.

[basterfeldt]

Very good question - it appears to have been out for a while but I can't find it at all. Might be one for the Small Man Big Horse Media Detective Agency.

Not out yet unfortunately, I did an online film festival thing and they said it's up in the air at the moment but might get a digital release.

"Relic" is a much hyped horror that came out on Friday which I'm looking forward to, and I saw "Sea Fever" the other day and would recommend that too. God I saw "Possession" (the 1981 one with Sam Neil) and that is BRILLIANT! Everything that director has made is brilliant too and I'd never even heard of him before.

[phosphoresce]

Although extremely

Spoiler alert

claustrophobic

[close]

, I don't mind those sort of

Spoiler alert

scenes

[close]

. The emotion I received was not terror, but something more visceral. A deep deep sadness that persisted all night leaving me spent this morning.

I know what you mean, I hesitated about posting Spoorloos in the Horror thread, it doesn't hit the usual emotional beats. Yes, it's a haunting ending.

Spoiler alert

There's this desperately sad resignation to the protagonist going along with Raymond. He knows on some level it won't end well for him in the slightest, but the prospect of a life being tortured by not knowing is worse.

[close]

The Endless is also a good 'un.

[zomgmouse]

God I saw "Possession" (the 1981 one with Sam Neil) and that is BRILLIANT! Everything that director has made is brilliant too and I'd never even heard of him before.

Ooh, Żuławski is fantastic. Try Devil (Diabeł) next!

[zomgmouse]

Not out yet unfortunately, I did an online film festival thing and they said it's up in the air at the moment but might get a digital release.

"Relic" is a much hyped horror that came out on Friday which I'm looking forward to

Just watched Relic. The opening credits are an off-white serif font on a dark background, if you're wondering what kind of horror film you're getting into. One or two beautiful ideas and images obscured by an attempt to "be a horror film" - as usual if these modern horror filmmakers will just let their ideas breathe and speak for themselves instead of trying to blood-from-a-stone them, they'd have a much better result on their hands. In essence this is about growing old and losing your mind and memory - very ripe themes for a horror film, for sure, so why is none of this scary? It's just vaguely sad. Feels like someone had an idea for a drama and then thought, "oh I know how this will sell, let's call it a horror film and add some unnecessary screaming". This was so frustrating. I wanted to like much more of this than I did. It's a nup from me.

[basterfeldt]

Just watched Relic. The opening credits are an off-white serif font on a dark background, if you're wondering what kind of horror film you're getting into. This was so frustrating. I wanted to like much more of this than I did. It's a nup from me.

Yeah, we watched it last night and I can't disagree with anything you've said. The sad bits were sad, the scary bits weren't much of anything, and by the end there felt like a total disconnect between everything the film had set out as its narrative.

Also,

Spoiler alert

the 'climactic' scenes towards the end in the ever evolving house just felt like someone was a big fan of the book House of Leaves and took the creepy overt parts from that without having to really deal with any of the metaphysics.

[close]

Huge disappointment! Is there anything else promising coming out anytime soon?

Re: Zulawski , I've got Cosmos, The Devil and Szmanka ready to watch. I can't believe I'd never encountered him before!

[Puce Moment]

I think I am unhealthily obsessed with Possession - it's such a fucking great film, and arguably isn't even Zulawski's best film!

You might be familiar with the ubiquitous medusa poster for the film, but recently I picked up this modern fan-poster. Usually I hate that sort of thing, but seeing this on my wall makes me happy everyday:

[Custard]

Dunno if this counts as a horror really, but

VFW (2019)

"A group of war veterans must defend their local VFW post and an innocent teen against a deranged drug dealer and his relentless army of punk mutants".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9894470/

An outright 80s homage, and good fun. I like most films that involve a group of people barricaded in somewhere and something outside is trying to get them

[Small Man Big Horse]

The Lodge - Some bland and annoying bloke is dating someone new so

Spoiler alert

his ex-wife Alicia Silverstone shoots herself dead, then the rest of the film is the kids hating the father's new woman, who turns out to be the only survivor of a cult who all committed suicide years ago

[close]

. Relentlessly miserable from start to finish, around the hour point I couldn't be arsed with it any more so skipped forward to see how it played out, and amazing it was even bleaker than I'd predicted. I like my horror either weird and strange or ridiculously over the top, and so this just isn't the type I enjoy at all, it's just fucking depressing stuff and even though I only half watched it I'm still filled with anger at the filmmakers for creating something so abjectly wretched. 0.1/10

[BlodwynPig]

Thought you meant Hitchcock's The Lodger

[zomgmouse]

Yeah, we watched it last night and I can't disagree with anything you've said. The sad bits were sad, the scary bits weren't much of anything, and by the end there felt like a total disconnect between everything the film had set out as its narrative.

Also,

Spoiler alert

the 'climactic' scenes towards the end in the ever evolving house just felt like someone was a big fan of the book House of Leaves and took the creepy overt parts from that without having to really deal with any of the metaphysics.

[close]

Totally agree! These films need to stop.

Huge disappointment! Is there anything else promising coming out anytime soon?

In terms of horror films in particular, I'm looking forward to Brandon Cronenberg's Possessor - a screener has leaked but I'd prefer to watch the proper rip when that's out. Also upcoming at some point, Sion Sono's Prisoners of the Ghostland and Christopher Smith's The Banishing. It'll likely be terrible but I'll probably still watch Lamberto Bava's Twins. From scouring festival programmes, keen for Bad Hair (though maybe this will be more of a comedy) and The Toll.

[ImmaculateClump]

I watched The Beach House the other night.
The lass in it looked uncannily like Lacey Turner at times, at certain angles. Lacey is a much better actress though, and fitter. Probably busy with eastenders.
I wouldn't bother with it.

Yeah, possession is great! Love how hammy Sam Neill is, it can totally make or break a film, always great fun either way.

[ImmaculateClump]

Brandon Cronenberg's Possessor

Oh, I've seen that! Must have been the screener, I'd have remembered the Canapés. Didn't seem unfinished in any way, if that's any help. Great fun!
I think that's the heaviest twinge I've had in a long time, watching Caleb Landry Jones in antiviral.
Ill, vulnerable, pale, sweaty, ginger. Must be my type.