Bird Box (2018)

Finally got around to watching Bird Box (2018). This hit me right in the parent feels, so for me at least, this was more teary-anxiety-about-children-in-the-apocalypse than actual horror. It was pretty good though. I'm assuming everyone has already seen it, but sort of a Walking Dead meets A Quiet Place (2018). I did predict a major plot element from the beginning though, so that's no fun. And I will say, these folks neglected an obvious (though drastic) coping mechanism that I would have adopted.

Uzumaki / Spiral (2000)

Uzumaki / Spiral (2000) was pretty bad. Some of the scenes were neat, and it's a cool premise - a town driven mad by spirals - but weak acting, bad effects, and really bad editing doom this film. The way it's cut now, it ends up just feeling silly, but I think a clever editor could actually take this existing film and re-cut it to be more effective and actually frightening... or maybe it just needs a remake.

The Endless (2018)

Jesse and I watched The Endless (2018). It was good! Sci-fi horror about two brothers who are drawn back to the UFO death cult they left 10 years ago. Atmospheric, innovative, some good creepy scares, and punchy dialogue. Good fun.

Candyman (1992)

In Candyman (1992), a lynched Black man turned hook-handed-murderer is pursued by a very pushy and problematic white grad student. Does this uncomfortable film say something meaningful about the horrors of racism? Or does it just exploit those same racist stereotypes, by using a Black man and grimy shots of the "ghetto" (their word) to inspire fear? If it were a less mediocre film, I'd spend more time musing on this...

Prom Night II (1987)

Nicole and Michael joined us for Prom Night II (1987), a campy supernatural slasher. The 80s is easily my favorite decade for horror, and although this movie was pretty goofy at times, there were some very neat effects, including a totally awesome classroom scene (who knew chalkboards could be so frightening?).

Phenomena (1985)

Megan and I plunged into the abyss with Dario Argento's insane giallo Phenomena (1985). My all-time favorite horror film, Suspiria (1977), is by Argento, and this film stars the exquisite Jennifer Connelly one year before her appearance in Labyrinth, so I was pretty psyched for this movie. The narrative has been called "muddled," but that's a dramatic understatement. It starts out as a rational and linear (if fantastic) story, but abruptly devolves into visual and narrative chaos and depravity. The aesthetics of the film are great and characteristic of the genre, with intense colors, crazy zooms, and wild music (Iron Maiden, anyone?). I LOVED the movie until its utterly strange denouement... now need to sit with it a bit. Still, I'd recommend! //  Oh also, there was some weirdness with the release of this film (they cut out 20 min and re-released in English as the widely-panned Creepers). We watched the so-called "hybrid" version, with ~6 min of footage where no English audio exists, so there were random Italian scenes. 🙄 These were supposed to appear with subtitles, but did not on Amazon prime, so brush up on your Italian!

From Beyond (1986)

Put a little Lovecraft in your life, with From Beyond (1986)! This Cronenberg-esque body horror thriller was just what the doctor ordered. 👍👍👍 gnarly practical effects ftw!!

Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Autopsy of Jane Doe had a reasonably creative premise, and definitely had me on the edge of my seat, but in the end, cursed to be just another #jumpscarefail.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

The Conjuring 2 was pretty terrible. Better than the first one, but that's not saying much. Thanks Mark for sticking it out with me!

Cronos (1993)

Cronos (1993) was soooo good!! Really inventive and visually arresting. Another gem from Guillermo del Toro, with Ron Perlman convincingly portraying a brutal thug. Surprising moments of comedy and poignant emotion, too. Fabulous!

Poltergeist (1982)

Mark and I starting things off right this morning with Poltergeist!

Carrie (1976)

Still just as powerful 40 years later!!

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Paranormal Activity was scary!!! 😱😱😱 #thingsthatgobumpinthenight

The Descent (2005)

Horror movie 3 - The Descent. Ahhhhh!!!