This Week In Theatres - The Halloween Edition
Posted by Daniel Mann
Greetings and salutations fellow Maniacs, it’s been a long time since I last did one of these but never fear for I am back after spending a week abroad in L.A. I am back and ready to go again with another edition of This Week In Theatres. Thor. That’s pretty much all I have to say. Because really, who isn’t going to see Thor this week?
Seeing that today marks the annual tradition of Halloween – Happy Halloween Folks -- I figure I’ll throw in a Special Treat and list of some of my picks and recommendations for what to watch this Halloween.
So without further ado, lets get this week’s edition of slim pickings rolling.
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Director: Alan Taylor
Release Status: Wide
Synopsis: Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Dan’s Take: Neon Maniac’s very own Anthony O’Connor has seen it and had this to say about it.
“Thor: The Dark World is a hoot. Big, bold, exciting, frequently silly and very funny. Loki is totes awesome, Thor made lots of ladies in the audience swoony (and Aaron too a bit, I think) and the support cast were in fine form both comedically and dramatically. Great post credits sequence too. Plus the Captain America trailer rocks on the big screen”
As for myself, well I thoroughly enjoyed the hell out of Kenneth Branagh’s first film. For someone who never really had too much of an interest in Thor before the film reared its head, I admit to being completely won over by Chris Hemsworth’s charm as the leading man. The first movie won a lot of good will for this non-Thor fan and that good will is carrying over into a form of giddy anticipation for this sequel for myself.
Director: Lee Daniel’s
Release Status: Limited
Synopsis: As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.
Dan’s Take: We’re creeping closer and closer into Oscar season and as such the first round of contenders are starting to appear in the wild. Academy Award Nominated Best Director Lee Daniel’s returns fresh off his critical darling Precious with his new film The Butler. A generation sprawling historical drama loosely inspired by the life and times of Eugene Allen – the head butler who served the Whitehouse for 34 years.
Featuring a stellar cast including the likes of Robin Williams, Liev Schrieber, John Cusack, Cuba Gooding Jr, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, Terrance Howard, Oprah Winfrey and more. Not to mention a much talked about stellar leading performance from Forest Whitaker as the titular Butler himself. Over in the states, the film has already acclaimed Universal Critical Praise whilst also proving itself to be a staggering financial success. At this point in time, it’s looking to be a strong contender during this years award seasons.
I’d recommend it solely on the of the strength of the casting and the directors previous work alone.
HALLOWEEN PICKS
In absolutely no particular order, here are just ten of my usual “go to” picks. Working under the philosophy of “Something for Everyone”, I’ve tried not to limit myself to one era, one sub-genre or even one type of horror film. I’ve truly tried to operate under the “Something for Everyone” mentality. Nor is this a listing of “Ten Best Horror Films” as that list might look a little different. But these are just Ten “Go To” picks that I usually recommend for people when asked. So without any further ado, lets get this exhaustive list rolling.
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1.) The Thing Director: John Carpenter
Take a Scientific Expedition; shove it in the middle of the frozen wastelands of the Antarctic and then proceed to inject a little chaos in the form of an Alien Being that can metamorphose its appearance into the form of another being. Then just sit back and watch the paranoia of the Expedition boil till it hits the breaking point as each of man slowly unravels and mistrust forces the group to implode. Complete with some rather spectacularly gross out physical puppetry that still holds up in this day and age. Permeated with a broiling tension of mistrust and paranoia that can’t be beat.
John Carpenter’s The Thing is a shining example of a completely well done reimagining. Inexplicably released on the same weekend as the family friendly ET, The Thing tanked at the box office but has since gone on to rightfully become a classic in its own rights. The Thing is an amazing Sci-Fi horror film that deserves every bit of praise it has reaped upon it.
2.) Re-Animator Director: Stuart Gordon
An absolutely perfect blend of Horror and Absurdist Black Comedy that still holds up oh so very well to this date. I say perfect blend because somehow, someway Director Stuart Gordon managed to find a sense of humour without detracting the horror qualities that lie underneath the surface of Re-Animator. Jeffery Combs gives a stellar performance as the anal-retentive brilliantly mad scientist who discovers a way to cheat death. By and large I have Re-Animator to thank for introducing me to H.P Lovecraft as a child. I saw this film for the first time when I was just 12 years of age and it has stuck with me throughout all these years. It’s a truly fucking great film bar none.
Director: Sam Raimi
The Grand Daddy of all Cabin in the Woods movies that has been often imitated yet never beaten. But why Evil Dead 2 you ask? Why not the original instead? Despite my complete and utter love for the straight horror styling’s of the original film – by comparison with the rest of the series it truly was trying to be a straight horror film – there’s just something completely and utterly loveable about The Three Stooges splatstick craziness of Evil Dead 2 that stands out as the high point of this trilogy. It’s completely filled with classic batshit crazy moments.
My favourite moment being the infamous laughing scene where the furniture of the Cabin sporadically comes to life and joins Ash in a moment of craze-filled laughter, marking for a perfect moment of madness begetting madness. Predictable choice maybe, but you truly can’t go pass this absolute classic on Halloween
Director: Kim Jee-Woon
In this big old mix of “Something for Everyone” list, I wanted to have at least one example of Asian Horror. Being the K-Film nut that I am, my “go to” pick for anyone in this situation is usually Kim Jee-Woon’s A Tale of Two Sisters. The setup is simple, two sisters return home after an extended illness. Upon return they are lauded upon by their overbearing stepmother who welcomes them home before criticizing each of them in good measure. The tension between the three women begins to boil as it becomes apparent that all is not what it seems. And from here on out, the less said about the plot the better.
Kim Jee-Woon’s direction is staggeringly good, and the acting is stunning, with the step-mother in particular incredibly good swinging from one mood style to another in the film. The large lavish gothic inspired house adds eeriness, and there are enough points in the film where you will jump out of your seat. This film to me clearly shows why Korean cinema is possibly the best most original in the world at the moment. Maybe that could be considered Hyperbolic but it is how I have genuinely felt about Korean Cinema this past decade.
Director: Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper’s original masterpiece of sheer unbridled terror -- and still the best version in my humble opinion. A group of five teens heading into rural Texas get more then they bargained for as they pick up a psychotic hitchhiker on the side of the road. This one turn of event leads what was an idyllic road trip into a nightmare as the teens find themselves victims at the sadistic hands of Leatherface and his cannibalistic family the Sawyer’s. For a film that is called The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ironically there is very little in the way of actual blood shed on offer. Instead of showing for Gore for gore sakes, Tobe Hooper opts for sheer claustrophobic terror as he relies on madness overpowering all.
No better is this displayed then in the infamous dinner scene as the Sawyer family ruthlessly provoke and torment our leading Final Girl – played by Marilyn Burns -- with nothing more then menacing vulgarity. Shot with a documentarian eye, which only further adds a sense of foreboding realism, it’s a movie where you can almost feel yourself being trapped in the same room as our heroine with its overpowering stench of madness in the surroundings.
As for the remake, I guess I should mention it briefly while here. I actually do like the very first Platinum Dunes remake. But it doesn’t quite compare in terms of delivering the atmosphere that Hooper’s classic delivers in spades.
6.) Braindead
Director: Peter Jackson
Long before Peter Jackson was making films about Hobbits, he was making punk rock low budget horror films like Bad Taste and the Cult Classic Muppet satire Meet the Feebles. But just before he bowed out of his punk rock days and made the matured move into an adult filmmaking career with Heavenly Creatures, he left us with one last blood soaked opus to rule them all; the splatter-fest horror comedy Braindead. Braindead tells the story of Lionel, a well meaning grown man who still lives with his domineering and overbearing Mother.
One day Lionel meets the girl of his dreams in the form of the sweet natured Spanish Home Delivery Lady Paquita. Much to his mothers disgust he begins dating Paquita. By a chance series of events, Mother dearest falls violently ill, kicks the bucket before being reanimated as a Zombie. Now Lionel must attend to his Zombie Mother as he tries to keep her locked in the attic whilst trying to avoid Paquita. But needless to say, all hell breaks loose.
Filled with Zombie Sex, Zombie Pro-Creation, a Preacher who “Kicks Arse for the Lord”, an unforgettable Zombie Baby, a Lawnmower wielding hero and a finale where five gallons of blood were pumped per second. Braindead is a riotously fun gross out gore fest from beginning to end. God I wish Peter Jackson would pull a Sam Raimi and return to his roots and do another one of these types of films someday. I can dream can’t I? Until then, I have Braindead to cherish.
7.) Inside Directors: Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury
Pardon my language but once this movie gets rolling – which only takes about 20 minutes for it to gain momentum – then this movie becomes fucking nuts! Apart of the French New Wave which included the likes of Alexandre Aja’s High Tension and Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs. Inside stood out as a twistedly gory home invasion film that never once let up in its blood soaked craziness. On the Eve of Christmas, a crazed stranger torments a pregnant Woman ruthlessly. The crazed woman wants but one thing, the unborn baby inside. Thus begins a battle of wills as the expecting mother fights for survival inside her own home.
If you can forgive the somewhat clunky finale, which maybe goes a little too nuts for its own good, then what you will find is an intense roller coaster ride of a Home Invasion film that never once lets you take a moment to breathe and relax.
8.) Zombi
Director: Lucio Fulci
It’s the Zombie movie that offers a classic scene of a Zombie versing a Shark. Need I say anymore then that really? What’s that? You want one more? Okay, I’ll give you one more. Eyeball. Huge Sharp Wooden Splinter. Piercing. Enough said. If you haven’t seen it then see it already. If you’ve seen it then see it again this Halloween.
9.) Scream
Director: Wes Craven
I wanted to have at least one Date Movie on this list and for my money Scream is still a perfect “go to” Date Movie pick. The Post Modern Meta Commentary still holds up surprisingly well as it maintains its satirical self-reflective edge. It came at a perfect time for Director Wes Craven who had already been heading down this territory with his equally brilliant semi-self aware remake New Nightmare. Scream felt like a perfected version of what he had started to do with New Nightmare.
The opening scene with Drew Barrymore still remains as a fantastically crafted stand out scene of exceptionally well-crafted terror and suspense. There are enough scares to be had that will most likely get your date clinging to your arm – if they’re willing to leave their cynicism at the door that is. While the ensemble cast is still as likeable as it ever has been.
Scream may be a safe pick on this list, but there is a certain amount of personal sentimentality that this film holds for me as a Date Movie. But I’ll go back to being a gentleman and refuse to further comment.
10.) Let the Right One In
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Last but not least, here’s my pick for all the hopeless romantics out there. In a list filled with blood soaked adrenaline pumping horror classics, you might be looking at this particular pick and asking yourself why? Why is this on this list? Well spare me your time and I will tell you why.
Yes, Let the Right One In is drastically different to everything else I have listed above. In many circles, it’s considered less a horror film and more of a drama. It’s a true slow burn by comparison to everything else on this list. Meaning it’s not exactly a thrill seekers type of Horror film. But that’s pretty much a big part of the reason as to why I love it so much.
Let the Right One In is a shining example of what the genre can achieve and how the genre can defy its own expectations. In all my years, I’ve never seen a horror film that actually moved me just about to tears. This one did exactly that. John Ajvide Lindqvist’s screenplay – based on his own novel – takes what was already a tired genre, that being the vampire genre, and flips it on its head by making it not only a sexless tale but also uses the vampire mythos to explore pent up childhood rage. On the surface, the relationship between Oskar and Eli is a sweet one yet the foreboding suggestions of what this relationship really entails is rather lingeringly chilling to say the least.
I may sound like a broken record in lathering my praise upon this film but Let the Right One In, in my opinion, truly is just that damn good of a film. It’s a shining example of how the genre can manage to completely defy itself when needed. It may not have the thrills of the other films I’ve listed but it has its own unique charm that is worthy of consideration.
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And that is a wrap. If you agree or even disagree with any of these selections then please feel free to comment below. Also, feel free to chime in your own ten recommendations below. Let's keep this conversation thriving.
Happy Halloween All and I’ll see you again next week
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