I'm not an Eli Roth fan -- gory shock horror is not my style. But Cabin Fever (2002) was alright -- funny and disgusting. I do think it's interesting that Roth's fantasies revolve around entitled assholes getting their comeuppance. That's a motif I can get behind. And this particular film, about contagion, was especially skin-crawly during a pandemic year.
Nicole and I watched Byzantium (2012), which was great. A thrilling, atmospheric, moody, relationship-driven vampire drama. Strong vibes of Let the Right One In (2008), though not quite as good as its brilliant predecessor. Interesting dynamics due to the more limited interpretation of vampire powers, and a cool mythos. Another wonderful film from Neil Jordan, creator of Interview with the Vampire (1994) and The Company of Wolves (1984).
Jacob's Ladder (1990) was a tense psychological thriller, though I'd term it a drama rather than a horror film. I don't watch war movies so this was out of my normal comfort zone. It was a smart, sad, movie, though I wish the limited horror elements had figured more prominently... those parts were my favorites.
The Boneyard (1991) was quite awful. 🤣 It starts off incredibly slow and takes forever to pick up, and the dialogue (filled with gratuitous confessional-style oversharing) is ridiculous. Notttt quality cinema. Despite all that, the sfx makeup was awesome. Well, in some scenes it was crap, but the zombie children were really freaky and awesome looking!! In many horror movies, the creatures sort of lurk in the shadows, so you are always more afraid of your imagination than of whatever's on the screen. Not so here, the undead kiddos hold up to scrutiny in full view. (Perhaps unsurprising, considering James Cummins started his career in special effects and only later dabbled in directing.) This movie maybe gets some points for pure absurdity, but this is surely one to drunkenly heckle with your mates.
I was excited by the prospect of a Christmas horror movie. Gremlins (1984) is one of my favs after all, Black Christmas (1974) is gold, and (while not a horror movie per se), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) has such an awesome aesthetic. Even with such classics, I really think the Christmas/horror genre is underexplored. Alas, Better Watch Out (2016) is not the movie to solve this problem, because it fa-la-la-la-failed. A torture porn version of Home Alone (1990) tis no reason to be jolly.
Also, I have seen some people try to tout this as a feminist film. This is definitively not a feminist film. *** SPOILERS AHEAD***
Watching the female protagonist get tormented by a tween incel was really uncomfortable. The mere fact that she survives, and is teed up to rat out the sadistic twerp, does not redeem this film. Surving misogyny is not feminism. Sigh.
Nicole and I watched Vampires (1998). We had reasonably high hopes bc John Carpenter, but this vampire western was hot garbage. Misogynistic thug vampire-hunters James Woods and Daniel "Budget" Baldwin hunt "The Master" with lots of inane tough talk and gratuitous violence. (I've now filled my lifetime quota for hearing "you fucking bitch." 🙄) Also, there is a strange homophobic/repressed homoerotic thing going on with Woods' character... no idea what that's about. The vampires themselves were also pretty uninspiring, brain-dead cannon fodder. All the effects were super OTT too. There were a couple cool scenes, but honestly this one was kind of a slog. ~~ If you wanna watch dusty tough guys kicking vampire butt, watch From Dusk til Dawn (1996) instead. ~~ Thanks for hanging in there with me, Nicole!
Dellamorte Dellamore (lit. "of the death of love," English title Cemetery Man) was amazing!! Creative plot, very funny dark humor, smart dialogue, great practical effects, and plenty of sex appeal (starring hotties Rupert Everett and Anna Falchi) -- the whole package.
Also, I was struck while watching this film by the similarities to my boy Dario Argento... come to find out, Michele Soavi was his protégé! Definitely worth a watch.
