Ryan McNeil
With Halloween upon us, I thought it might be a good time to recap the horror bender I’ve been on this month in an effort to address the films sitting in that giant personal blindspot of mine.
I’m going to start at the end if you don’t mind with THE DESCENT (it was both the final film I watched, and the most recent). Of everything on this list, this was easily one of the two most intense films probably helped in no small part by the way the cave itself is such a heavy presence in the film. It falls into darkness, it surrounds the characters sometimes by mere inches, it seems unending…oh yeah, and it’s the home to some pretty weird creatures. This was one of the few films that I watched at nighttime, and I really think a darkened apartment really boosted its effect. I’d been hearing a lot about this film for years, so to see it live up to the hype was a welcome surprise.
The first film in the series I sat and watched was actually one of the very shortest, and the oldest by a healthy margin. CAT PEOPLE was one of the few entries on my list that was more “classic horror”, and it was a title that many came out in favour of. In hindsight, it’s easy to see why as the film – while not all that scary – does do marvellous things with the eeriness that lurks within the shadows. Seeing how classic tales hold up is quite interesting, since people’s sensibilities obviously change with the passing of time (anyone freaked out by The Raven anymore?). In the case of CAT PEOPLE, much of the freakiness stands up quite nicely, since it’s all built upon walks alone down the street at night, and what lurks in the shadows of one’s own home.
From there we move on to [REC], which was the other intense film that I watched in this series. It’s funny – even though I knew of the film’s existence, somehow I managed to get this far removed from its release without learning much about it. The film deserves a lot of credit for using the ‘found footage’ angle to its advantage – especially now when so many films try to use that as a crutch and fail. The viciousness of much of the violence did a lot to unnerve me, as did the helplessness of being trapped in that building. Interestingly, one common element between [REC] and THE DESCENT is the fact that everyone in both films have a genuine look to them, and none of them are “movie stars”. Thus, the whole story seems more plausible – found footage or no.
The next stop was PULSE, which wasn’t really talked up by too many of y’all, and more grabbed out of convenience. I’m begging to be told how wrong I am, but of everything I watched in this series, PULSE felt like the least engaging. I count myself as a big fan of movies like PULSE – THE RING, THE GRUDGE, and THE EYE are three of the most effective horrors I watched over the last decade. But for some strange reason, the horrors of PULSE never seemed to land. Perhaps it’s because it was the only one of the four I didn’t watch in a theatre, thus the fear wasn’t surrounding me on all sides. Or perhaps it’s because I was never entirely clear on what the source of the terror was. It had some neat moments, but by a healthy margin it was my least favorite.
The back half of my horror syllabus was full of 80’s entries, which were the very things I was afraid of growing up, and a big reason this blind spot exists. Now, that I’ve watched these titles, I can’t believe I ever hid my eyes. This block of titles began with POLTERGEIST, which in some ways has aged well, and in other ways…y’know…hasn’t. Interestingly, what most gave me the heebie-jeebies with this film wasn’t intended to be all that scary. I can’t say entirely why, but I found the little woman who plays the medium to be rather unnerving! Perhaps it’s her sense of style, or lack thereof. While some details of the film still do a good job at giving me goosebumps (the toy clown is evil!), most of it was rather laughable…not the least of which is Craig T. Nelson’s angry declaration in the film’s finale.
Growing up, no film character was more popular amongst my schoolmates than Freddy Krueger. This left me out in the cold, since no boogieman seemed scarier to me than Freddy Krueger – the burnt face alone grossed me out. As I watched A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS, and again laughed at how silly the film now feels, I had to think back on those kids I used to know. They went on and on about how cool this series was, and while I can now see some of the things they probably thought was badass, I have to wonder what sorts of parents let their kids watch these sorts of things at age ten. I’m not trying to suggest that kids should be completely sheltered from any sort of frightening material, but I don’t think it’s erring too far on the side of caution to make a kid wait until they are in high school to watch movies involving heroin overdoses, stories of gang rape, and naked women lashing kids to a bed with tongues.
That said, 33 year-old me found this film to be a laugh.
Last but not least was the double-shot of THE EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD II. My friernds, if there was anything on this list that i wished I’d seen already, it was these two films. I howled laughing, I cringed with disgust, and I shook my head at some of the most outlandish moments (Tree rape? Really??). While it’s not about to go rocketing up the charts of my all time favorite films, I can say for certain that the films have aged quite nicely, and still stands firmly in that grey area between scary that can make only the most crafted films successful. Strangely enough, I had already seen ARMY OF DARKNESS many years ago (thanks to those same schoolmates whose parents didn’t care what they watched), so now things like the chainsaw hand make a whole lot more sense. On the surface, these two films might well have been the silliest of the entire watchlist, but damned if they weren’t the most fun.
So that does it for the concerted effort to play horror catch-up. I’m not done with it – not by a longshot. Hopefully by this time next year that list will be even shorter and a bit more respectable, especially after all the comments you folks provided helping to point me in the right direction. However, as we turn the page from October to November, I’m a little bit horror’d out and want to spread the love around a little bit.
Besides…another genre syllabus has been compiled for me that will be tackled next!
I saw [REC] for the first time this week too, and I was just as blown away as you were. I think the ‘found footage’ sub-genre might be getting played out by now, but that movie did a superb job with the idea.
I wonder what it is that makes some ‘found-footage’ films work and others seem so gimmicky. Perhaps there’s a post to be written about that discussion!
I’ve seen a good deal of the films on this list. Oddly enough I’ve seen Evil Dead II but not Evil Dead or Army of Darkness (friend in college was a massive BC fan and had me watch that and Bubba Ho Tep in quick succession – one heck of a screwy night).
A funny thing about The Descent – possibly the most nit picky thing in history. It takes place in NC, but very early on there’s a scene where they show the car driving to the location and it has a front license plate (something we in NC do not sport except for our own diabolical ends) and that just settled in the back of my mind throughout the entire viewing. I still enjoyed it and was quite thrilled with the intense moments they manage to create, but the way it set that egg of thought into the back of my mind. Years removed and I remember that better than any particular point of the movie itself.
EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD II are sort of an interesting case, as the essentially tell the same story, but not in a stale sequel sort of manner. There are only small details to be added by going back and watching part one if you’ve already seen part two…of course if you’re a fan of tree-rape, it’s a must.
I know what you mean about those small details throwing you off…I went through something slightly similar with THE INCREDIBLE HULK. There’s a scene where he’s rushing through a park towards the military ops who have gathered to bring him in. When the camera faces the army, the scene is set on University of Toronto campus. When the shot faces Hulk, it’s in a park miles away on the west side of town.
I’m glad you enjoyed “Cat People” since I was one of the people promoting it. Ambiguity and metaphor are always in style.
Many thanks for recommending it! I did have to smile at the amount of people who told me to skip the sequel, RETURN OF THE CAT PEOPLE…
“But it’s on the same disc…”
“I don’t care – don’t watch it!”
Since you enjoyed Cat People, you may well enjoy a few other movies toward the zero-depth end of the horror pool. Films produced by Val Lewton don’t rank high on the boo-factor, but are all about the creeps. I Walked with a Zombie (for example), while totally different in terms of plot, is similar in terms of feel. Consider the tag of “Produced by Val Lewton” as sort of a guarantee of creepy and disquieting without being truly scary.
Dually noted! Perhaps I can get one of those in before next Halloween.
Just a note for the note–I love Val Lewton films. While I swim in the horror pool from time to time, I still really like the shallow end.
I think we’ve already discussed why you’re wrong about “Pulse”, but may I point you to my Finite Focus post on one of its key scenes? I think my explanation for why the scene works for me really sums up my feelings on the whole film, so please take a read and then we can go mano-a-mano on it if need be…B-)
Once again though, I do understand someone not liking the film. It doesn’t tickle your creepy bone – that’s fine. I am a little disappointed you didn’t get much out of the artistry of the film though – the subtle nature of the ghosts, the shadows, the framing, etc. But I suppose that’s not what you were looking for since it doesn’t really belong with the rest of the films you watched (all of which I’ve seen and enjoy a great deal too). “Pulse” is probably closest to “Cat People” in many ways – I just happened to stumble across that movie on TCM over the weekend during the pool scene – what a gorgeous scene. Though it doesn’t “scare” you, I’m getting to the point where I prefer the spookier, creepy horror films – the ones that leave ideas and concepts and images rattling around in your brain so that they can crop up at inopportune times. The ones that use slow builds so that you end up curled into a ball on the couch without even realizing it. If “Cat People” doesn’t quite do that latter point, it certainly leaves indelible images with me.
By the way, the list of horror films to see never shrinks…It just keeps growing.
Oh, and Slant Magazine called “Pulse” the Best Horror Film of the Aughts. So I have backing behind me…B-)
I have two theories towards my disappointment. The first is that i watched it at home, and not in a theatre. I might feel a bit more of that terror if I was completely zeroed in and had no way out. The second is the fact that i watched The Ring, the Grudge, and The Eye first…so I knew the basic rhythm the film was going to follow.
It wasn’t bad by any stretch, just my least favorite of the ones I watched, and the only one that left me disaffected.
I think the lesson in all of this is that you need to watch more horror. Horror is one of the most fun and most versatile genres. It’s sadly overlooked by a lot of people, but almost every time I venture into its dark recesses I come out pleased.
I’ve been trying to get more horror in my diet, but I also want to be wary of wasting my time. I still want to get something out of what I’m seeing – be it genuine creep factor or laughs.
It seems like very often, genre films (inc. horror) get a pass because they’re playing by a different set of rules. Thus, I’m often wary. Likewise it’s interesting to see how the genre has changed over time – what was once meant to freak us out now makes us laugh.
I’m getting there, and certainly more open to it now than I ever have been, but I won’t be putting on a full-court-press anytime soon.
I’m glad you enjoyed THE DESCENT – I got oddly excited for it when it came out in theaters – I’m not sure why. Since THE DESCENT I have been fascinated with Neil Marshall films – they are cliché but solid and deliver on what the trailer promises.
[REC] is right up there with THE DESCENT – probably my top 2 favorite horror films of the past decade. The claustrophobic darkness and danger – just the kind of boogeyman scares the horror genre should be all about.
I’m not surprised that [REC] and THE DESCENT are up amongst your favorite of the decade – they’d probably land in mine as well along with PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
As for marshall, the only other film of his I’ve seen is CENTURION, which is handsome, and some some cool deaths…but not anything you need to make a priority.
I was thinking of my TOP 5 horror films of the past decade and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY was kind of teetering in and out of it – it’s a great movie too.
CENTURION is a fun – nothing spectacular – Marshall does love his genre films… DOG SOLDIERS is another one his – a “low budget” werewolf film which was fun and of course DOOMSDAY which is two heaping scoops of ridiculous-ness!
Everytime I go to your site I keep thinking “Shit, I still haven’t seen DOOMSDAY”
I’ll get to it…I promise…
Doomsday is a fantastic movie. It knows it is a derivative genre movie that rips off everything that has gone before and just doesn’t care. Its silly and its fun, but its also extremely well made.
I’m disappointed you didn’t take me up on my challenge of watching INSIDE. Still, glad you got some Neil Marshall injected into your system and [rec] is a new classic for me.
INSIDE is still high up the list – I promise you I will endure it and all its wonderful what-the-fuckery.
Ryan, have you had the pleasure of seeing TROLL 2? It’s bad, but definitely worth it. Solo works fine, but I would recommend getting a group of your friends together, making some popcorn, and having a fun Halloween evening.
Good list you got there mate. There are so many lists that give praise to [REC], that I think I basically have no choice but to see it now. And with your positive words, it seems I really should pronto. *now checks local library* HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
I haven’t seen TROLL 2 proper, but sorta feel like I have since I so delighted in BEST WORST MOVIE. It’s on the list, but much lower down…and you’re darned right, if I ever do decide to fire it up, it’ll be in a room full of friends, and I’ll be at least half-tanked.
Nice work Ryan. I’ve already seen The Descent, Poltergeist (not scary at all) and Evil Dead 2 which is quite a blast. Last night, I watched Trick’ R Treat which is a surprisingly competent movie built like an anthology but with all the stories related to each other. I think we are taking it easy though and avoiding the scarier ones, aren’t we? 😀
Hard to say if I’m avoiding the scarier ones actually, since very few of the suggestions came with the “This will fuck you up!” disclaimer. I also noticed as I was going through the DVD stack that the ones I watched in the dark of night played better…so I have the daylight on my side too.
Thing is too “scary” is subjective, right? Flicks that have screwed me up make others yawn. I wonder which films on that previously posted longlist are genuinely horrific…
Evil Dead II is always a fun watch for Halloween. No night terrors.
Not unless you have an irrational fear of walls gushing blood…
Next time you decide to go on a horror bender, all these movies from your list are essential viewing:
CARNIVAL OF SOULS
CAT PEOPLE
THE CHANGELING
FRANKENSTEIN (and Bride of Frankenstein)
GINGER SNAPS
HIGH TENSION
I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE
NOSFERATU
THE OMEN
SUPSIRIA
THIRST
VAMPIRE LOVERS
I’ll keep them in mind as the year goes on, but like everyone else I’ll probably turn up the heat again next autumn.