Pandemic Movie Grades

My pandemic movie grades:

Outbreak (1995) -- A. The original and the best. Everything you'd want from a pandemic movie -- corrupt government, vigilante scientists, a helicopter chase, and a monkey named Betsy. / 6.6 IMDb / 60% Rotten Tomatoes

It Comes at Night (2017) -- B+. A visually intense and claustrophobic look at paranoia and isolation during a plague. I have some objections to the storytelling but don't want to give spoilers, hmu if you've watched and wanna discuss. / 6.2 IMDb / 88% Rotten Tomatoes

World War Z (2013) -- B. It has Brad Pitt. / 7.0 IMDb / 66% Rotten Tomatoes

Contagion (2011) -- B-. An all-star cast and an interesting plot, with lots of sciencey content for those who are so inclined. Definitely scratches the pandemic "itch," but the meandering storytelling strangles the suspense. A more aggressive editor could have made this movie a lot tauter and more thrilling. Would be interested to watch a fan re-cut. / 6.7 IMDb / 85% Rotten Tomatoes

Flu (2013) -- C. Cliched Korean disaster melodrama. Exciting in the moment but not too memorable. / 6.7 IMDb / 36% Rotten Tomatoes

The Wailing (2016)

A visceral, dizzying, and visually powerful Korean ghost/demon possession story. 👍👍 A great start to the season!

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Very cool conceit, a Western horror movie... EDIT: After a couple days reflection, I think this was an amusing novelty, but ultimately fluff.

Train to Busan (2016)

Watched Train to Busan (2016) with Sarah and Mark. A fresh take on the zombie story, focusing more on the relational elements and the horror of man's treatment of man, rather than the (still awesomely scary) fast zombies. In this way, it was reminiscent of (but much less horrific and cruel than) Sabu's revelatory Miss Zombie (2013).

Phantasm (1979)

Wow, can't believe I'd never seen Phantasm (1979)! 🤣 There was a lot going on in this movie, to say the least. Lots of jump scares, which I normally find very tacky, but this was old school and effective. Loved the 70s aesthetic, and the fact that the 13-year-old kid is driving around town and using a shotgun. Some fun practical effects too. Awesome. Also, the soundtrack was crazy good! I thought it was Goblin (sounded so much like Suspiria), but it was apparently Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave.

The Loved Ones (2009)

The Loved Ones (2009) was viscerally disturbing. Felt like the psychological heir to House of a Thousand Corpses (2003), but need to sit with it to see if it has staying power. Do not recommend for the faint of heart... may not recommend at all, haha.

The Babysitter (2017)

The Babysitter (2017) was enjoyable fluff nonsense, but I'm not sure this can really be called "horror." It was more Scary Movie than scary movie. If you like tall leggy blondes and satanic murder cults with ludicrous dialogue and over-the-top sfx, this one's for you!