Take A Look At: THE GROWTH

With the advent of cheaper video technology, such as phones, iPods, and digital camcorders, more people are making movies despite a limited budget. While the bad probably outweighs the good when it comes to this advancement in cheap filmmaking, sometimes you get an interesting feature out of it. In this case, it's THE GROWTH, distributed by Ghostwork Films.

Directed by Ezekiel Zabrowski and Frank Ippolito, THE GROWTH is a cool way to fill 8 minutes of your time. Starring Dean Cameron from SUMMER SCHOOL, the film deals with a date gone violently wrong that leads to some weird after effects. If this film isn't warning about the dangers of STD's, then I must be on some 'shrooms.

The film looks professional and the SFX (The Chiodo Brothers are involved here) look good in a cheesy B-movie low-budget sort of way. If you want to support indie horror, definitely check out THE GROWTH.

The Exorcist (1973)

DIRECTED BY
William Friedkin

STARRING
Ellen Burstyn - Chris MacNeil
Linda Blair - Regan MacNeil
Max Von Sydow - Father Lankester Merrin
Jason Miller - Father Damien Karras
Lee J. Cobb - Lt. Kinderman

Genre - Horror/Demon/Supernatural

Running Time - 122 Minutes (original)/133 Minutes (The Version You've Never Seen)

Score - 4 Howls Outta 4


The scariest film of all time. An abomination. A religious porn film. Grotesque schlock.

These are some of the many descriptions of William Friedkin's 1973 horror classic, THE EXORCIST. Based on 1949 case in Maryland where a 14-year-old boy was exorcised of his demons [which was later disproven] that led to a best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty in 1971, THE EXORCIST shocked audiences and gained a ton of critical acclaim for its filmmaking back in 1973 and 1974.

The stories are legendary of movie-goers filling up an entire block or two just to get a glimpse of this "evil" film, just to pass out from fright, or to run out of the theater and go straight to church to clean the filth they've just witnessed. Even crew members passed away during the filming, as unexplained occurences hovered over the troubled set. Surrounded by all this hype, THE EXORCIST was a massive worldwide success and considered by many [even to this very day] to be the scariest movie ever. The proof is in the VHS/DVD sales, as well as the success of THE VERSION YOU'VE NEVER SEEN re-release in 2000, which added 11 more minutes [including the creepy spider-walk scene].

I first watched THE EXORCIST in 1988, when I was seven-years-old. My uncle, being the nice guy that he is, pretty much locked me in a dark room with this film playing with loud volume. I was tormented by the images of this little girl masturbating with a crucifix and having horrible seizures on a bed. The voice of the demon haunted me. And anytime "Tubular Bells" played anywhere, chills ran up my spine. I was so afraid of this film, that it took me over 20 years to watch it again with a new perspective. Sadly, the fear I once had for this movie faded away during the rewatch, as I actually laughed at certain things. Still, THE EXORCIST is a classic piece of horror history and regardless of whether it still scares you or makes you see it as camp, there's no denying that the film is extremely well-made and well-told.

PLOT
An actress in Georgetown, Maryland named Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) is having issues with her daughter Regan's (Linda Blair) behavior. Regan has been playing with Ouija boards, talking to imaginary people named Captain Howdy, having seizures on her bed, cussing like a sailor, and even fornicating with a crucifix with much delight. Regan is even believed to be connected to a murder of one of Chris' friends. Doctors and psychologists, after many tests and X-rays, have no logical explanation for Regan's sinful behavior. They're so stumped that they actually tell Chris to go find a priest for an exorcism. She gets the help of Father Damian Karras (Jason Miller), a Jesuit priest who has been doubting his faith, especially after the death of his mother. Noticing Regan's demonic appearance and behavior, Karras recommends to the church that an exorcism must take place. With the assistance of the experienced Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow), Karras starts to regain his faith in order to drive the demon out of Regan.

REVIEW
Even to this day, THE EXORCIST remains a highly memorable piece of horror cinema. It's still very effective for what it tries to do and is definitely a standout amongst films of its ilk, such as ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE OMEN. It feels authentic [Blatty was a Jesuit priest at one time] and still manages to maintain its creep factor after all these years.

THE EXORCIST may be remembered for certain scary moments that I'll get into later, but they wouldn't matter all that much if the narrative wasn't strong enough to build them up. THE EXORCIST works because it's a character-driven story. The first hour is fairly slow, probably more so now for modern audiences, but it allows for the viewer to learn about the main players of the film and care about these people. That way when these horrible events do happen, we feel for these characters and want good to triumph. It also brings about ideas and themes about religion and good vs. evil in such a way that it provokes thinking as you watch. A horror film that allows one to use their intellect - how rare! I know many now complain about the slow build, but if it's written well, why complain? The build up to the climax is worth it.

There's also an issue about the narrative making the film anti-religion, which I believe is crap. Yes, there's a demon possessing a young, innocent girl. Yes, she masturbates with a crucifix and says the most disgusting [or funniest] things to priests. But what saves Regan at the end? It isn't medicine. It isn't psychiatry. It's the power of faith, hope, and religion. The film isn't about the Devil. It's about regain one's faith and realizing that good will always triumph over evil, no matter what the cost. Or maybe the underlying message is that only morality could tame the rebellious teen. After all, the possessed Regan could represent that teenager who will say and do the most horrible things to fight against authority in order to get attention. The power of morality and faith brought Regan back in the grace of God. In that case, I believe THE EXORCIST is pro-religion. I've never understood why the religious community was so upset about this film to begin with.

The only issue I have with the narrative is the subplot with Lt. Kinderman. While the characters does reappear in THE EXORCIST III as the main character, his role here is barebones and doesn't have much use. Do I really need to know his perspective of the horrible situation? It's not like he does anything for or against it. As a matter of fact, he could have been left out and nothing much would have been different. I think he was the least developed character in the entire two hours. In a sea full of really developed ones, it becomes a flaw when he sticks out for the wrong reasons.

THE VERSION YOU'VE NEVER SEEN, which was released back in 2000, adds more footage. There's a more upbeat ending [which I don't mind, but don't have a problem with the original one], subliminal visuals of demon faces [which aren't needed], more demonic sounds [again, not needed], scenes that expand the Regan diagnosis scenes, and of course the infamous spider-walk. It's nice to have two different versions of the film, even though I feel the original is strong enough that it doesn't needed an expanded edition. Still, that spider-walk is freaky as hell and definitely deserves the hype it has gotten and still gets.

The special effects and make up are exceptional for 1973. Hell, they still look pretty damn good now. From the convincing levitation scene, to the demonic make-up and altered voice, to the projectile pea soup, and to the infamous 360-degree head spin - they all hold up and are still effective visuals. I like how they were all done pre-CGI and for the fact that they hold up better than most CGI-infested films. And watching the documentary, THE FEAR OF GOD [that comes with the Special Edition DVD], the stories of torturing the actors in freezing cold temperatures and roughly pulling on their straps whenever they needed to move in a certain way really show the extreme lengths Friedkin and his fellow crew went to in order to make their vision come to life.

The direction by William Friedkin is very good. He goes for a realistic feel, using minimal soundtrack and just focusing on the situation presented to us. At times, it even feels like a documentary. There's a nice level of tension and suspense that build up the creep factor and the scares. I do think the editing is a bit choppy at times, as we get really short clips in between big moments that slightly disrupt the flow. But the set up is well done, the cinematography is beautiful, and the pacing is nice. It's interesting to know that Friedkin really tortured his actors to get the visuals that he wanted, but the visuals are great. Friedkin should be commended for creating a horror film that has stood the test of time, even if his methods were questionable in making that happen.

The acting is phenomenal in THE EXORCIST. Ellen Burstyn is great as Chris MacNeil. At times, I don't even believe that she's acting. She comes off as real and natural. Linda Blair plays Regan and the Pazuzu-possessed Regan to perfection. For a 12-year-old girl at the time, Blair gives a mature and extremely convincing performance of a child possessed. It's a shame her career hit its peak here, as she had to flounder in a horrible sequel and B-movies. Blair is a revelation here. Jason Miller as Father Karras is fantastic as the faithless Jesuit. I believed in his struggle and his evolution as a priest who finally found his faith when it mattered most. Miller should have gotten a bigger profile because he was a damn fine actor. Max Von Sydow brought class to the film. He's not in the film as much as people who haven't seen this film may believe, but when he is on screen, his every action and expression carry a lot of weight.


THE FINAL HOWL
While it's not as scary as I remember it and somewhat hokey and laughable at times, THE EXORCIST is still a classic piece of cinema, not just in horror, but in general. It's subtle, powerful, and a horror film that relies on as much character depth as it does it visually stunning special effects. I'm not sure how a modern audience would perceive this film, but either way, THE EXORCIST is not for the faint of heart.

Saw VI (2009)

DIRECTED BY
Kevin Greutert

STARRING
Tobin Bell - John Kramer/Jigsaw
Costas Mandylor - Detective Mark Hoffman
Betsy Russell - Jill Tuck
Peter Outerbridge - William Easton
Mark Rolston - Agent Dan Erickson
Athena Karkanis - Agent Lindsay Perez
Shawnee Smith - Amanda
Tanedra Howard - Simone

Genre - Horror/Torture Porn

Running Time - 93 Minutes

Score - 3 Howls Outta 4


Continuing a modern Halloween tradition, SAW VI was met with not much fanfare when it was released in theaters back in October 2009. The box office soured on it, mainly because it's another SAW sequel [many of us have been tired of this franchise like two movies ago], and because of the overhyped phenomenon known as PARANORMAL ACTIVITY taking away all the attention SAW VI was after. Even though two more SAW films were announced before the release, many wondered whether Lionsgate should even bother.

Unlike the other SAW films, I didn't see SAW VI in a theater. I wasn't a big fan of the last two films and felt my money would be better spent on something else. If I had wanted to watch a SAW film around Halloween time, I'd just pop in my DVDs of SAW 1 through III. So I waited six months after its theatrical release to sit down and actually watch it on DVD, having very low expectations. After all, it's a fifth sequel and SAW V was a really bland and pointless film. Surprisingly, SAW VI was an entertaining and smart film that actually breathed new life into this dying franchise. But is it too late?

PLOT
Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is still carrying on John Kramer's (Tobin Bell) work as Jigsaw, putting people in deadly traps so they can value life after taking advantage of it. In a twist of events, it seems Hoffman has been working together with Kramer's wife, Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell) - both wanting to carry out Kramer's final wishes, although in different ways. Jill was left an assignment in Kramer's will, but Hoffman [finding out about it] wants to take total control of the mission, leaving Jill bitter.

The assignment? To kidnap William Easton (Peter Outerbridge), who is the Chief Executive Officer of a medical insurance company called Umbrella [ella, ella, ay ay ay] Health. Easton is placed in a series of traps that attempt to teach him that he shouldn't play God with people's lives, especially when his family is involved.

At the same time, a returning Agent Lindsay Perez (Athena Karkanis) and Agent Dan Erickson (Mark Rolston) are close to figuring out who's behind the current Jigsaw murders, making Hoffman concerned about the truth coming out.

Wow, that kind of made sense. Is this really a SAW film?

REVIEW
SAW VI ended up being a better viewing experience than I was expecting - WAY better. After the uber-confusing SAW IV and the bland SAW V, I had pretty much given up on this franchise. But SAW VI kind of brought back some of the elements that I enjoyed in the original SAW trilogy, making SAW VI a standout in a long winded franchise. In fact, I can honestly say that SAW VI is the best SAW flick since SAW III, which isn't saying a whole lot.

I think what makes SAW VI more watchable than the last two installments is that the narrative carries the film instead of the traps carrying the film and the narrative. Writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan [who wrote SAW IV and SAW V, as well as FEAST] bring in a humanistic aspect to the story that makes the viewer connect to what's going on right away. It's ironic that I watched this film after the historical health care deal in America, but the idea of making health insurance big wigs the victims of Jigsaw's current traps is pretty genius. It's an issue most of us can relate to and seeing how much of a business it is that seems to hurt more people than help them, you can't help but root for Jigsaw to prevails over these bastards. This storyline definitely gives SAW VI a thematic resonance that some of the others failed to accomplish. There's an actual legitimate and logical reason why Jigsaw does what he does here, making the narrative much stronger. Before, we had to watch victims make choices in order to survive. Now, we have to watch someone who thought he was God actually make choices on who lives and who dies. Why this wasn't done in SAW IV or even SAW V is beyond me?

The character development was also a lot stronger here than in the past two SAW films. The William Easton character, in particular, had several layers that I was able to relate and distance myself from him. While he did bad things as the head of a health insurance company, declining sick, dying people due to their status financially or for whatever reason, I could also see where he was coming from. He's a businessman. He has to make money and do whatever it takes to make sure of that, even if the things he does are morally questionable. So in a way, he's a douche but he's also a human being. So I enjoyed the struggle during his "game" because it was then that he realized that being in charge of people's lives was more than about making money. It was about saving your own soul.

I also enjoyed the development of the recurring characters. John Kramer may be dead, but the flashbacks that continue to show his descent into the Jigsaw persona are always interesting. I still believe that Jigsaw is one of the most interesting horror movie villains of all time. He does bad things but we're behind him when he does them. He makes me question morality and whether or not I would do the exact same thing if I were in his shoes. His arc made sense to what was happening and I dug it. Same goes to Jill Tuck, who hasn't had much of anything to do besides star in flashbacks with Jigsaw, revealing that she was the catalyst for his descent. I had always wondered if she knew about what her husband was up to and we get the answer in this installment. While she could have been in the film more, her scenes were very effective and added to the narrative rather than deter from it. And then we have Hoffman, who I've made very clear in my SAW IV and SAW V reviews that I'm not a fan of. But somehow, I enjoyed watching him in this installment. Maybe it's because he actually had something meaningful to do for a change and I could understand his goals. Also, the flashbacks with him, Jigsaw, and Amanda told a lot and answered a lot of questions I had about this trio. Instead of being used as an afterthought in the other films, he finally felt like a true villain here. I'm actually curious now what will happen with him in SAW VII. Damn you, screenwriters!

I still think the dialogue is bland though. The way people speak is really silly to me, as if talking like human beings until they utter expositional dialogue to remind us who they are, how they're connected to other characters in the franchise, and why they do what they do. We get it, guys. You don't need to hammer us in the head about certain things. The horror audience isn't stupid. We can figure things out. But yeah, it's like watching a soap opera that's 70 percent summarizing and 30 percent moving things forward.

Speaking of soap operas, the direction by Kevin Greutert kind of makes it feel and look like one. I have to say... SAW VI looked really cheap to me. I don't know if it was the dreary cinematography [which I actually liked alot], the lack of gore [pretty tame for a SAW movie], the traps, or what. But I felt like the other installments were more big budget. That's not a bad thing, but it sort of threw me off a bit. Greutert does an okay job behind the camera. While the quick editing is still there [although not as much], it's pretty much a point-and-shoot affair. I do think the pacing was extremely well done, as it felt a lot shorter than it was [and this film was short to begin with], so that was a plus. There were some nice moments of suspense and tension as well, especially the opening and the ending. So yeah, not the best direction in the world but well enough for a SAW film, especially this late in the game.

The traps in SAW VI aren't as memorable as the traps in previous SAW films, but they serve their purpose. I thought the opening trap was definitely a throwback to the original SAW trilogy, where people had to cut off body parts just to survive. I actually cringed during the opening, especially during the limb amputation moments. I also thought the trap with the acid towards the end was really fucked up, but in a good way. I did think the hanging trap was interesting as a concept, but wasn't as memorable or as gory as it should have been. The shotgun merry-go-round was fun only because of the characters trying to convince Easton why he should give them mercy while bashing the other characters. It does seem that the SAW producers are running out of ideas, but these traps were definitely an improvement over the boring ones in SAW V. So that has to count for something.

The acting was your typical SAW fare. Tobin Bell still rocks as Kramer/Jigsaw. I could watch the guy in anything. He's a great actor who's interesting to watch and hear. Betsy Russell was good again as Jill Tuck. I wish they'd give her a bigger role but she does fine with what she's given. Peter Outerbridge did a nice job was Easton, making him unlikeable and sympathetic at the same time. His performance, especially while playing his "game", was very strong. And while I wasn't a fan in the previous films, Costas Mandylor sold me this time as Hoffman. I think the guy just needed better material to chew on, and he did a nice job when it finally happened. His smug demeanor and cold voice really added a lot to his character, especially when he actually did things that mattered. And it's always nice to see Shawnee Smith's cameo as Amanda. I still miss that crazy bitch.

One last thing - I loved the twist ending here. I was not expecting the reveal of the relationships between certain characters. I thought it was very clever and even the set up for SAW VII was pretty good. I'm just hoping it's the last one. Damn, that last sentence may be the funniest thing I've written in a while.

THE FINAL HOWL
I'm surprised to be writing this but I actually liked SAW VI more than I was expecting. The narrative was ambitious and made sense, the acting was decent, and the direction did enough to make this sequel better than it should have been. It's not as good as SAW or SAW III, but it's on par with SAW II. It's nice to see that the SAW series is finally moving somewhere interesting. I'm just wondering if anyone really cares at this point. I guess we will see this October with the release of SAW VII in 3-D.

The Pencil + Updates

This is a film I shot recently for a college movie festival. It's called The Pencil and the rules were that it had to be 5 minutes long, hence the awkward editing at times (which I did not have a hand at - I just was the Director of Photography and helped with lighting). Just figured you'd enjoy watching it.



Also, there are reviews coming very soon. I have a SAW VI review coming, a look at two short films, plus a double comparison review for THE CRAZIES, and a review for both versions of THE EXORCIST as well. There's also another video heading your way about horror remakes [someone requested it so it shall be]. Sorry about the lack of updates! Forgive me? :)

Fangoria X-Clusive: Fango Flashback on "Killer Klowns From Outer Space"

Fangoria posted my Fango Flashback article on KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE on their website. Click on the link to read it boys and girls!

Fango Flashback: KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE

Sherlock Holmes (2010) [Fangoria X-Clusive]

Fangoria Magazine has just posted my review for The Asylum's SHERLOCK HOLMES mockbuster on their website! I'm so excited, I just can't hide it! Check it out by clicking on the link.

[Clicking Here Is Elementary!]

Vacancy 2: The First Cut (2009) + Thoughts on the 2nd Trailer to A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)

This is my first live review. I'll probably do more of these. Still trying to get comfortable in front of the camera, so please be kind with me! I *hope* you enjoy.

2009 Short Reviews Catch Up + Another Award!

Received another award from Cool Ass Cinema:

Very nice. Thank you very much, sir. Cool Ass Cinema is a great site for your alternative cinema needs. Show some love.

So with that out of the way, let's get to the point of this entry. Originally, I was gonna do short reviews for a few films I missed out reviewing last year due to time constraints. But my computer is an asshole and decided to freeze up on me before I could save it. So I'm just gonna give really quick thoughts and maybe one day when I have time, I'll come back to these films and give them deeper write-ups. As for 2009 horror films that haven't been reviewed here [like SAW VI, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, THE STEPFATHER, etc., they'll be getting their own entries for various reasons].

GRACE
Dir. Paul Solet
Starring Jordan Ladd, Gabrielle Rose, Stephen Park, Samantha Ferris

PLOT (from IMDB): After losing her unborn child, Madeline Matheson insists on carrying the baby to term. Following the delivery, the child miraculously returns to life with an appetite for human blood. Madeline is faced with a mother's ultimate decision.

+ The performances, especially by Ladd, Rose, and Ferris. They were all convincing and were all sympathetic to various degrees. Definitely the highlight of the film.

+ Creepy story, helped by the fact that it took the premise as seriously as possible. I was expecting a camp fest like IT'S ALIVE, but not here. For the best, I say.

+ The direction by Solet was very well done. I liked how subtle and calm the framing and atmosphere was, even in light of the evil that was occuring.

- Wished there could have been more explanation as to the baby still being alive after it was stillborn. The question seemed to be lingering throughout the film without it ever being answered.

Score - 3 Howls Outta 4


JENNIFER'S BODY
Dir. Karyn Kusama
Starring Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody

PLOT (from IMDB): A newly possessed cheerleader turns into a killer who specializes in offing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?

+ The sacrifice scene with Fox and Brody was the highlight of the film. I'll never hear "867-5309 (Jenny)" the same way again.

+ The acting was good here. Amanda Seyfried was fantastic in carrying much of the film and I think she's actually sexier than Megan Fox. Fox also showed some nice comedic timing and wasn't all that bad really. I liked both girls.

+ Nice bit of gore and special effects.

+ Direction was decent also. Some nice glimpses of style.

- The script annoyed me. Diablo Cody has a great ear for dialogue and humor. But it was just too much of it here and it became distracting. I know people actually talk like this, but it doesn't mean everyone will want to listen.

- Tried too hard to be a cult classic. It reminded me of HEATHERS, which is a superior film to this. Hell, MEAN GIRLS was better than this. Could have used more subtlety, but this is Cody we're talking about. I understand the attempt to make the film quirky, but it just confused the tone of the film. Was this a horror movie? A comedy? Both?

Score - 2.5 Howls Outta 4


ORPHAN
Dir. Juame Collet-Serra
Starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman

PLOT (IMDB): A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be.

+ Generic story we've seen many times done right. Nice character development, a clever twist, and the 2-hour running time never felt that long. Definitely an entertaining film.

+ Top notch performances by all involved, especially by Isabelle Fuhrman who gave the killer child a whole new dimension. Great fake Russian accent and handled the material with maturity. I want to see more of this girl. Farmiga was great and Sarsgaard played the nice guy perfectly.

+ Great direction by Collet-Serra. Well paced, lots of tension and suspense, and a great use of a gloomy atmosphere.

+ Killer kids rule. That is fact.

Score - 4 Howls Outta 4


ZOMBIELAND
Dir. Ruben Fleischer
Starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin

PLOT (from IMDB): Focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus is a big wuss -- but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee is an AK-toting, zombie-slaying' bad ass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

+ One of the best horror-comedies around. Definitely some great laugh-out-loud moments due to a fantastic script and great acting. Plus the script has a lot of heart, as you grow to love the characters immediately.

+ Bill Murray cameo. Just brilliant. That's all I'll say about that.

+ Great acting by everyone involved. Eisenberg is great as the vulnerable hero. Harrelson steals the show as the Twinkie-obsessed Tallahassee. Emma Stone was hot as the tough Wichita. And Abigail Breslin was cool as the very mature Little Rock.

+ Great looking zombies.

- Wish it were longer. At less than 90 minutes, it was too short for me.

Score - 3.5 Howls Outta 4


HORSEMEN
Dir. Jonas Akerlund
Starring Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang, Patrick Fugit, Lou Taylor Pucci

PLOT (from IMDB): A recently widowed detective still grieving over his wife's death discovers a shocking connection between himself and the suspects in a serial killing spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

+ Interesting concept. Had all the qualities of a good movie.

- Too bad it wasn't. Extremely generic in its SE7EN ripoff. The twists were interesting as seperate entities. Once they started coming together, I just found myself annoyed by the whole thing. Plus when it did come together, it just ended. Like, what was the point then? Luckily, I've seen worse.

+/- The acting was a mixed bag. Dennis Quaid was okay as the lead, but just started to ham it up towards the end. Ziyi Zhang seemed out of place in her character role. Lou Taylor Pucci was decent. Stronger performances would have made this film more watchable.

+/- The directing was just there. Yes there was style, but it added nothing to the film. Looks like someone was overcompensating for a crummy script.

- The ending. I can't even wrap my head around it. Just so fuckin' lame. 90 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Score - 1.5 Howls Outta 4


TRICK 'R TREAT
Dir. Michael Dougherty
Starring Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb

PLOT (From IMDB): Four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: An everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the one guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband.

+ The direction and cinematography was beautiful. The mise-en-scene, the framing, the small details, and the little hints that connected the stories together were very well done. Just a stunning film.

+ Great stories. I never really knew how they would end up. It's hard to be unpredictable in this day and age, but it definitely helped this film. And when I was trying to figure out why these stories were so important and how they were connected with each other, it all wrapped up very nicely at the end. It definitely captured the essence of Halloween.

+ The acting was good. Nobody really stands out, well maybe Brian Cox and Dylan Baker, but it's a great ensemble cast.

+ CGI was very good. Won't spoil those moments but I enjoyed the special effects here.

- Should have been given a theatrical release instead of just dropping on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Score - 4 Howls Outta 4

Kreativ Blogger Award

I know I should have updated about this a while ago [my laziness and internship have kept away from blogger - fully apologize and will be more active around here], but Full Moon Reviews won another major award. Here it is:

Well...that's one way of spelling it. This award was bestowed on Full Moon Reviews by my good friend Scot Nolan of Bargain Bin Reviews and Bloggin' Bin Revue. I would like to thank you sir for always supporting me. Means a lot.

Now before we can celebrate, let's make this award official:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
Scot, thank you again for the award. You've always been a great friend and I love the fact that you love horrible movies as much as I do. Thumbs up to you, sir.


2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Been there, done that.


3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
See the intro.


4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

While alot of you know that John Carpenter's Halloween was the first horror film to really have a lasting impact on my psyche, the first horror film that I ever watched in theaters was David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986). My five-year-old mind was traumatized by the transformation and the grossness of Jeff Goldblum's character, to the point that I have trouble watching the last half of the film even today. Sad, but true.

I've never seen any of the Tomb Raider films. Not even clips of these films. People find this weird. Not sure why.

Carson Daly bumped into me once in Times Square, knocking me on my ass. I got free TRL tickets (back when he was hosting) because of this incident. Christina Aguilera was a guest on that show. Pretty cool.

I've been a pro wrestling fan since I can remember, long before my fandom started with horror movies. I even have tapes of WWF/E stuff starting with Wrestlemania X and ending somewhere in 2007 [pretty much after the whole Chris Benoit incident]. My favorite wrestler in the 1980s was Randy "Macho Man" Savage, 90s was "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker, and 00s was Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho. And yes, I still watch the product, no matter how hard it is sometimes.

I'm allergic to all seafood and barbecue sauce. God is a weird one...

I wanted to be a doctor when I was younger, even going to NYU with those plans. But bombing in Biology and dealing with a whole bunch of math classes ruined that for me. So I went into film instead and it feels right.

I own every Madonna album. And yes, I'm straight.


5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
Okey dokey.


6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

Tower Farm Reviews - Jeremy and Billy love craptacular films and review them with a lot of love and gusto. They make me want to watch films I shouldn't want to watch. That's how good these two brothers are. Always enjoy reading their work.

Midnight Confessions - Reverend Phantom does great live reviews and written reviews for grindhouse and exploitation cinema (usually of the European variety) that many mainstream people probably haven't heard of. He's extremely knowledgeable and makes you want to watch these films right after he tells you about them. He shares a common love for 70s and 80s cinema that I share. His work is always worth more than a look.

The Lightning Bug's Lair - Zach a.k.a. Mr. Bugg is probably one of the best reviewers I have ever had the pleasure of reading and befriending. Tons of info and a great amount of passion makes him one of my favorite bloggers. We share a lot of love for similar films, but he takes it to a higher level than I could ever do. I have a lot of respect for this blog because there's a lot of love put into it.

The Jaded Viewer - Great reviews and dissects horror in a very humorous, yet informational way. Plus anyone who uses JCVD in Bloodsport as a rating system gets monster kudos from yours truly.

Freddy In Space - One of my favorite horror blogs. Not only does John review horror, but he also posts news, makes lists, and just brings the funny whenever he can. Plus he also runs another great blog called Win Free Horror Shit!, which if you can't tell what it's about by the title means you should probably go back to school or something. Very supportive of the horror blogosphere. Much appreciated.

Final Girl - Stacie Ponder's horror filled blog was probably the first one to really get my attention. Her posts are funny, unique, and all around a blast to read. She also does a Film Club that I've been a part of every now and then. I wish more bloggers would do something like that because it brings us all together on one topic. Very cool lady with a very good blog.

I Like Horror Movies - Carl reviews horror films in pretty much one or two paragraphs, which is more than enough for most of them. He also supplies Great/Worst Moments In Horror, horror clips from past and present, and so much more. If you want to know if a film is good or bad in like a minute, I Like Horror Movies is your blog of choice.

There are a lot of other great blogs out there. If I didn't mention you, just remember that I love each and every one of you. Keep on bloggin'.


7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.
I will do that by this weekend.

News: The Silent House (La Casa Muda)

I got an email earlier in the week by Gustavo Rojo of Tokio Films, who directed a Spanish horror film called THE SILENT HOUSE (LA CASA MUDA). It's a 74-minute horror film done in a single shot (which definitely grabbed my attention). He wanted me to plug the film on this blog - so here it is. Check out the teaser trailer and show some support to indie horror filmmakers. And please repost this on your blogs if you can. Thanks.

"A few days after the Spanish Teaser Trailer was released, executives from some of the most important production company of Hollywood have shown interest in seeing it once it is finished and acquire the rights. The film is still at audio post production, and is expected to be finished in march. "The silent house"teaser trailer with Engish subtitles has come. Perhaps we may see the remake soon!!! "




The film is directed by Gustavo Hernandez, photographed by Pedro Luque (reknown for his worldwide success in “Ataque de Pánico”) and produced by Gustavo Rojo, at an amazingly low budget which amounts to US$ 6000. “The silent house” digs deeply into the unexplored subject of psychological terror, and the story runs through a terrifying story through a single continuous shot. This makes the film unique in the audiovisual market since it was filmed with a SLR digital, to be more precise, a Canon EOS 5D Mark. The film is therefore the first one in Latin America and the second one in the world to have been filmed by a photograph camera. This makes it the first film of horror in the world to have been filmed with this particular narrative language.

To be filmed in one single shot implies that the sequence is filmed in one go, without cuts, and the camera movements need a prior careful and meticulous planning which leads the viewer to share each one of the experiences of the character.

Laura ( Florencia Colucci) and her father ( Gustavo Alonso) settle down in a cottage which seems to be off the beaten track in order to update it since its owner ( Abel Tripaldi) will soon put the house on sale. They will spend the night there in order to start the repairs the following morning. Everything seems to go on smoothly until Laura hears a sound that comes from outside and gets louder and louder in the upper floor of the house. Wilson goes up to see what is going on while she remains downstairs on her own waiting for her father to come down. The plot is based on a true story that happened some time ago in a small village in Uruguay. “La Casa Muda” focuses on the last seventy eight minutes, second by second, when Laura intends to leave the house which hides an obscure secret and she hopes to leave unharmed.



REAL FEAR IN REAL TIME, this is the most remarkable underlying feature of the film which will not go unnoticed by all those who may be willing to experience this different and disturbing filming experience.