Scream (2022)

Our second flick of this year's annual horror countdown was the new Scream (2022), which Mark and I watched with my bro Jesse. I generally find slashers boring, but I really love the original Scream (1996). The new iteration had some clever moments -- lots of meta humor, like moments you "know" will be jump scares, but then aren't -- but was a bust overall. For me, the original works because the pacing is perfect -- the stalking builds the suspense and makes the kills much more terrifying. In the new one, the willy-nilly killing destroys the sense of being uniquely preyed upon, being hunted, which triggers our primal terror.

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who also did the much better. Ready or Not (2019).

Ready or Not (2019)

Eric came over for a backyard showing of Ready or Not (2019), which was awesome! A lively comedic horror film starring hottie Samara Weaving (from The Babysitter). Great satire with some hilarious characters, including an Otho-like brother-in-law. Some annoying horror no-nos*, but no dealbreakers. All in all, a fun, playful movie.

* I just can't stand it in modern films when people do any of these stupid horror no-nos:

- assume the killer is dead. SHOOT HIM AGAIN DAMNIT!!! like 6 more times! 

- leave the weapon on the ground. So you knocked the gun out of his hand... NOW PICK IT UP, YOU NINNY!

- stop to comfort each other, inspect wounds, cry, or provide exposition. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT LATER, IF YOU SURVIVE!

- or any of the classics (split up, go toward the scary sound, etc.)

Haven't any of these people seen a horror movie?? 🤣