Ju-On: The Grudge

Date Of Release:  October 2002

Director: Takashi Shimizu

Producer: Takashige Ichise, Kunio Kawakami, Yoshinoro Kumazawa, Hiroki Numata

Starring: Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara, Takashi Matsuyama, Yuya Ozeki, Takako Fuji

Running Time: 92 minutes

Distributor:  Lionsgate Entertainment (for the DVD release)

Review

For those of you poor fools who are accustomed to the "glamorous" American versions, I hate to break it to you but, this film was the original and quite frankly, like most originals, the best. The film itself was actually the third entry in the Ju-on series (with the previous 2 going straight to video). Despite what people believe, it is not a remake of the previous 2 but more of a sequel.

The summary of the film is actually quite simple. It is based upon a popular Japanese legend that states that, when a person is killed out of a malicious rage in a close vicinity (such as their home) then the rage will lurk within that place and create a curse, consuming all those who come into contact with either the spirit or the dwelling. The film, like the directors previous series, are all divided into 6 little segments that are all interconnected somehow. The film works its way through the stories of those living in the house and the care workers, and eventually how the house gained this curse.
 

                                          
 

The film, unlike its American counterpart, does not need to rely on any scare tactics or gore. Instead, the build up of suspense, that is characteristic in many Asian horrors, is what the film is really known for. That and the fact that the spirit has a very distinctive sound and movement (if you have seen the film then you will know what I am referring to!), that really gets the spine tingling. If you are sitting there and saying to yourself, "That wasn't all that scary" then you are but a liar. You telling me that you never checked your staircase every time you walked past??......Thought not....

In a generation where we are so used to blood and gore, this film is for those with a required taste for smart horror. I may be biased as I adore Asian horror, but I would seriously advise you to check this out before you see the remake. I dare say that this film almost feels realistic, almost as though you have just sat and listened to an actual experience. This is one of the first films to really make Japanese horror stand out and it is still one of the best.

Rating:  10/10 - Don't hold a grudge against me if you don't like it....



Psycho

 

Date Of Release: 16th June 1960

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Producer: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Janet Leigh

Running Time: 109 minutes

Distributor: Paramount Pictures (original) & Universal Pictures (later releases)

Review:

This was not only one of the first ever horror films I watched, but the first ever horror that I watched in black and white. Because of this film, I have a stronger love and respect for old black and white movies. I also remember watching a documentary about Ed Gein around that time, so imagine my surprise when I found out that the movie was loosely inspired by his crimes. The films story line is a simple one, it shows the downward spiral psyche of a man with a split personality and the events that lead him to become a serial killer.

When Psycho was first released, it was met with mixed reviews. After the film done overwhelmingly at the box office, a re-review was offered which led to the film gaining 4 Academy award nominations. Not only did this become one of Hitchcock's best films, but is still ranked as one of the greatest films of all time. It is not hard to see why either. The film is full of suspense and is so intense. The film shows exactly how a horror should be done. What I love about it most is, as much as I love a bit of blood and guts, this film is hardly gorey, but that is what I love about it. The film never needed it.

My favourite scene is actually the part where you realise that Norman has a split personality. His own and "mother". What I love about it most is that it completely taps in to a deranged human psyche without actually making a mockery of it. It is so easy for films nowadays to over dramatize what people in real life live everyday as though it is normal. The most famous scene however, has to be the shower scene. If you do not know what it is then shame on you! Go and watch it!!

The film is one of very few that will have an everlasting longevity to it. It is as popular now as it was then. It is also a favourite amongst many film students (as most of Hitchcocks works are). It made Janet Leigh the first of the scream queens yet, typecast Perkins in his career. The film is perfection and that is all that can be said.

Rating: 9/10 - Oh look! Here's a free copy of the film with this blog....PSYCHE(O)!!!

　

Martyrs

 

Date Of Release: May 2008 (Cannes) and 3rd September 2008 (France)

Director: Pascal Laugler

Producer: Richard Grandpierre & Simon Trottier

Starring: Morjana Alaoui, Mylene Jampanoi

Running Time: 94 minutes

Distributor: Canal Horizons

Review

This film is one of the many of a wave of new French extremity movies. This was one of the first in that genre that I watched and it is the movie that got me hooked on it too. The film has a very simple premise, they are a secret society that are trying to make someone into a martyr so that they can learn the secrets of the afterlife. In some countries, this was a very controversial plotline. When you watch the film you can see why it may ruffle a few feathers!

What I love about this film most is that it doesn't fuck around. The plot is brilliant and the story moves at a fast pace. The 2 main actresses are brilliant in their roles also. The passion and emotion that they portray is certainly worthy of an Oscar in my opinion. The look and feel of the film is very gritty. You could not blame someone for almost confusing it with a supernatural horror in some places. There are no over dramatics and out of place special effects. The film is just perfect in every way.

I don't want to give too much about this film away, it really is something you have to see for yourself. My favourite scene is the ending where Mademoiselle asks Anna what it is that she sees. It is a subtle warning to many people out there that the answer is best not knowing until it is your time to find out. A lot of scenes in this are extremely brutal and you really feel for the main character. You go from anger to sadness to relief. That is what I call the sign of a good movie.

You can imagine how much it annoyed me however, when I found out that the film is in the process of being remade for American audiences. Some films should not be touched and I am beyond pissed off about it. To make matters worse, the producers of twilight are the ones that are over seeing the project. I shall be expecting sparkly martyrs then...

Rating: 10/10 - You should own this movie no martyr what!!

 

　

Nosferatu (1922)

Date Of Release: 4^th March 1922

Director: F.W. Murnau

Producer: Enrico Dieckmann & Albin Grau

Starring: Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schroder, Alexander Granach, Ruth Landshoff, Wolfgang Heinz  

Running Time: 94 minutes

Distributor: Film Arts Guild

Review
 

This iconic German horror movie was an unauthorised adaption of Bram Stokers Dracula. The studio was not able to obtain any rights to the novel so names, places and other little details had to be changed. Count Dracula became known as Count Orlok and a Vampire became known as the Nosferatu. Despite this and all of the legal battles that went with it, it not only became one of the first vampire movies, but developed an enormous cult following that kept it alive as one of the most popular horror movies ever.

What many people from our generation don’t realise is that, the film is a silent film in the sense that it has no speaking parts whatsoever. There is music that helps to set the scene and written dialogue to help you with what is going on in the story. This unfortunately, puts a lot of people of, and in turn, the film is not given a chance and brushed to the side as boring. For those who do give the film a chance however, are not disappointed. The scenery is amazing. They were shot in various places in Slovakia. The film had a whole dark romanticism to it, making it very appealing for horror fans.

One of the most iconic scenes in the film is where you see the shadow of Count Orlok ascending a stair case with his arms almost stretched out. Scenes like this may not scare today’s audiences but back then, it would have certainly caused a few sleepless nights. This image of this devil like creature, breaking into an innocent persons home to feed upon them had many people in hysterics. The vampire myth was almost being relived again.

This is the only film of its kind. If I’m being honest, I could not watch another film made in this way. I unfortunately have grown up in a society that likes noise! This film however has stayed with me ever since I first watched it, due to the fact that it used to scare me but now that I can appreciate its beauty. This film has managed to stand the test of time and I’m pretty sure that it will continue to do so.

Rating: 9/10 – If this film is Nos-fer-you then I suggest you give it another try!
 

 

Black Christmas (2006)

Date Of Release: 15^th December 2006 (UK) and 25^th December 2006 (US)

Director: Glen Morgan

Producer: Glen Morgan, James Wong, Odgen Gavanski, Bob Clark, Mark Cuban, Todd Wagner 

Starring: Katie Cassidy, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Oliver Hudson, Lacey Chabert, Kristen Cloke, Andrea Martin

Running Time: 84 minutes

Distributor: Dimension Films & MGM

Review

This film is a very loose remake of the 1974 film of the same name. I had seen that film years ago and was a little bit sceptic about this one. I don’t do remakes to well but seeing as this one was loosely based I thought that I should give it a go. I have to say, I was highly surprised. I expected this to be another teen slasher with a stupid twist set around Christmas. It is a little bit like that but better than you think.

To start off with, the theme of the film. Yes, it is Christmas, but when you are watching it you actually believe it is Christmas. They have all the decorations, the snowy weather and the music. I especially like the part where one of the girls explains that all of the customs are actually Pagan. I also love how the make the scene cheery yet very dark. The film is set in a sorority house, but it’s not your typical bimbo like setting, they don’t play on that too much. The look of the killer is different too. He was born with jaundice which gives him a yellow tint to his skin. In the scenes where he was younger, I think the yellowness was a bit over the top. It’s weird how they got something so common to actually look quite creepy. 
 

The plot itself is actually not half bad, even if the ending was a tad sloppy. I’m not sure about the whole “mother rapes her son to have a baby storyline”, made me gag a little if I’m being honest but I guess that is what the director may have been going for. The whole part with the cheating boyfriend was unnecessary though, too mushy and forgetful to be honest. My favourite part has to be where the bible basher got her head chopped off. All these girls get their eyes gouged out and this geeky little girl gets beheaded?! I found it highly amusing.

This film was actually a lot better than I expected it to be. Not the most amazing horror out there but certainly good for a night in. I would definitely suggest watching this on a cold winters night…with all the doors locked that is.

 

Rating: 6/10 – Simply having a wonderful (BLACK) Christmas time!!!

 

 

Dead Girl

Date Of Release: 6^th September 2008 (Toronto Film Festival) and 24^th July 2009 (US)

Director: Marcel Sarmiento & Gadi Harel

Producer: Marcel Sarmiento, Gadi Harel, Brendan Davis, Cynthia Graner, Vince P Maggio, Blue Nelson

Starring: Shiloh Fernandez, Noah Segan, Candice Accola, Michael Bowen  

Running Time: 101 minutes

Distributor: Dark Sky Films

Review

When I first heard about this movie, I have to say, I really wasn’t expecting too much from it. I thought that it would just be another crappy, porno type, teeny bopper style horror. Got to admit, after watching it, I couldn’t have been more wrong. This film is a lot better than you think it will be. The plot itself is actually quite simple. 2 high school seniors bunk school one day and come across an old abandoned psychiatric hospital. Inside they find a naked mute woman who they later find out is actually un-dead. One of the guys wants to release her whilst the other wants to keep her as some kind of sexual play thing. Events soon spiral out of control.

The film almost has a slight high school movie vibe to it, but that soon changes as the film goes on. It becomes much darker and much more sadistic. The film is full of gore, violence and explicit behaviour. This is one of the only films that I have watched were you are actually on the zombies side and wish that they would just kill every fucker on there. This is probably because abuse is abuse at the end of the day, even if they are un-dead.  
 

There is a part where one of the main guys convinces another guy to receive oral from the dead girl, which he happily goes along with. She then bites into his dick. Blatantly my favourite scene!! The ending scene is also pretty good, and almost poignant in a way. What lengths would you go to; to save the one you love?

This film is a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. It may not be to everyone’s taste and at some parts it can be a tad slow but give it a chance. It really is a lot more original than you will think. I certainly recommend you watch it.    

Rating: 7/10 – Move over Rob Zombie, there’s more than one living dead girl in town!
 

 

 

 

Inside

Date Of Release: 13^th June 2007

Director: Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury

Producer: Franck Ribiere, Rodolphe Guglielmi, Frederic Ovcaric, Teddy Percherancier

Starring: Alysson Paradis, Beatrice Dalle, Nathalie Roussel, Tahar Rahim

Running Time: 82 minutes

Distributor: La Fabrique De Films & BR Films

Review

Inside is a basic tale of home invasion and abduction. A pregnant woman is hounded by a mysterious stranger who is out to try and steal her baby. This film is considered one of the best in a new wave of extreme French horror movies, also being voted as one of the most unrelenting horror films ever made. The film is a debut for both of the directors.

I’m a massive fan of foreign horror but only recently have I started watching the French take on it. This is one of the first films that I watched and I was hooked on it ever since. It’s a very dark and twisted tale. What I love about it most is that this could potentially happen in real life and that is what makes it so chilling. I believe there was a tale in the news a couple of years ago with a similar story.

The film has a brilliant flow to it and the storyline is spot on. This film really has no flaws at all. The only thing people will probably moan about it “I have to read the subtitles”. Well, unless you can understand French then I suggest you get over yourselves. Suspense is the key to this film. Most of the film is set within the woman’s home which gives it that element of claustrophobia. Beatrice Dalle, who plays the woman trying to steal the baby, is a perfect villain. She sends shivers down your spine and plays a psychopath to a T without having to overact.

 

 





Considering that this is both the directors first film, the production value is on top form. The opening credit with the foetus is a clever throw into what the film soon becomes. The fight scenes feel very realistic and the dialogue is almost believable. I say this a lot but, the scene at the end is absolutely worth waiting for. It will be one of the most gruesome ones you will ever see but that’s what they are trying to show. Is is life and shit like this happens…..a lot.

If you have never experienced French horror before then I certainly advise that you watch this one. It is very much a must buy and one that will certainly stick with you for a long while to come. If you are pregnant by the way…beware out there…   

 

Rating: 9/10 – This is so good, you will go mad and end up INSIDE for it!!!