This is Reel Scary here to provide you with honest reviews of all paranormal, supernatural, unnatural, out of this world and plain weird films. From b-movies to opening weekend blockbusters we are talking about them all! So without further delay, let the weirdness commence.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Mother May I?
Hello and Happy Mother's Day!
Yes, I'm back and I mean it this time! To kick off the first post of the year,in honor of the holiday, I'd like to talk about some of my favorite movies involving a loving mothers...
Carrie(1976)- "They're all gonna laugh at you!" Margaret White is one of the craziest, bible wielding mothers in cinematic history. Piper Laurie, who originated the role, knock it out of the park with her quite reversed crazy, something that Julianne Moore failed to do in the remake.
Psycho(1960)- Mother Bates knows best! Norman Bates is such a great son and he obeys his mothers every wish. No questions asked! The fact that Mother Bates never actually speaks makes this film much more disturbing that anything else. Fun Fact: The screenwriter, Joseph Stefano was actually going through therapy to deal with his own relationship with his mother. So that's therapeutic, I suppose.
Mama(2013)-Nothing says eternal like a mothers love. Mama is a touching story about a mother who would do anything for her children....or others peoples children.
Well that's all for today but I do have news! Every Saturday and Sunday, I'll be posting suspenseful/scary original short stories!
Keep Watching and Get Scared
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Short Story Sunday: Run
Hey Guys,
I thought I'd post some short scary stories on here to add to our scary movies. Enjoy!
I thought I'd post some short scary stories on here to add to our scary movies. Enjoy!
Run
By
E.Garrison
You
open your eyes. You're standing in the woods before a door, white and
tall, glancing down you see there is no handle. Mist starts gathering
around your bare feet, your heart starts to beat fast, painfully
fast. You hear the maniacal cackle behind you as you whip around to
see where it came from. You know He is getting closer. Your palms are
sweating as you try to open the white door. You close your
eyes.“Open”, your mind voice says. It remains closed “You
really shouldn't have tried to escape.”, He says. Your eyes fly
open and start to water. You are helpless. The air around you
suddenly becomes thick and suffocating, you claw at your neck as you
hear that laugh again. That sinister giggle that grows as you lose
oxygen. He is getting closer. You have a choice: open the door and
continue the game or die a thousand horrible deaths. Once more, your
mind voice screams “PLEASE OPEN!”
The
air swirls and suddenly everything stops. You can't move as a single
tear runs down your cheek. The door creaks open and you are met with
darkness. You can feel Him looking for you. You run through the
doorway and as it slams shut behind you, you see a light ahead. You
begin to run towards it but stop upon seeing a small girl. You slowly
walk towards her, hearing her cry softly. “Are you alright?” you
ask her. Silence. “It's going to be okay.” you tell her. She
slowly begins to rise. You look down, noticing she cradles a small
foot in her bloody palms. She turns to face you,smiling. You scream
as loud as you can.....
And
in the distance, a laugh can be heard.
Thanks for reading! Keep Watching and Get Scared!!
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Wolfman's Got Nards!
Hello Friends
I am thoroughly sadden by the fact it is October and I haven't posted yet! Well here I am, with a 1987 classic: The Monster Squad!
One of my favorite movies growing up not only because I thought Frankenstein was nice and funny but Duncan Regehr's portrayal of Dracula was especially frightening. This film is the perfect mix of The Goonies and all the classic horror films into one.
A group of monster loving kids stumble upon a journal written by Van Helsing detailing that come the following night, Dracula, Frankenstien, The Mummy, The Wolfman and The Creature from The Black Lagoon are going to take over the world! Now its up to The Monster Squad to stop them before it's too late!
Scary German Guy is one of my favorite characters in the movie because he added such a safe presence during most of the turmoil. Another great moment is when Eugune says that the Creature "took his Twinkie". The children performed remarkably and I have such a soft spot for funny child-parent relationships. Particularly when Eugene wakes up his dad because he gets scared as The Mummy is in his closet.
Yes some d the dialogue is forced and cheesy but hey it's the '80's. What else do you expect?! The song at the end of the credits is also great in a Parents Just Don't Understand mixed with Hangin Tough kind of way.
The only complaint I truly have is that the benevolent Hollywood Gods are remaking it. This film was only good because it was made in the '80's! I can only imagine how they are going to try and modernize it.
Some things should be left in the past where they belong.
Keep Watching and Get Scared!
p.s. keep a look out for an Actor Highlight later this week :)
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Prisoners....That Sounds About Right
Hey Friends,
Prisoners centers around two
families in their frantic search for the man responsible for
kidnapping their daughters. As the police follow several red
herrings, Keller Dover (played by Hugh Jackman) becomes obsessive in
finding the truth.
Hugh Jackman is many things; a great
singer,decent actor, Wolverine but, was he the right actor for the
film? No, he wasn't. While his character is supposed to be this
concerned father, Jackman comes across as someone who watch too many
American soap operas. His performance felt forced and melodramtic
which cheapened the story. However, it wasn't entirely his fault and
he wasn't the only one who suffered.. He and Jake Gyllenhaal, who
plays Detective Loki, were both subjected to some poor dialogue.
Gyllenhaal however, was able to overcome the dialogue for the most
part by playing the character indifferent at times which helped scale
back the melodrama.
Paul Dano who plays Alex Jones, a
suspect in the case, shines with his timid yet cryptic portrayal of
the trouble young man. His quiet reservedness is chilling as he
becomes a victim himself in more ways than one. Surprisingly Melissa
Leo, in very convincing old age makeup, plays the protective aunt of
Alex Jones and while she does a pretty good job, her character arch
is visible from 50 miles away.
Truth be told, I felt like a prisoner
having to watch an almost three hour film. The ending was obvious
within the first thirty minutes, so for the next two hours and twenty
minutes I sat there wishing someone would let me escape. The film
easily could have been cut down to two and half hours but lingering
shots of trees got the better of the film. If you want to sit in a
dark theatre and pull out your hair, be my guest but for those of you
who want to not be stressed out save this one for Netflix.
See you guys next week and keep
watching!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
He's Got Your Baby.....INSIDIOUS: Chapter 2 Review
I'm back in full force with one of the most anticipated horror films this year! Insidious:Chapter 2 is releasing today! Friday the 13th folks!
However, before I go into the film and such, I want to congratulate the marketing team on this one. By showing a "double feature" of Insidious and Insidious: Chapter 2, movie goers are taken back to the old days of a "Friday night double feature" and I encourage all of you to attend one.
James Wan has already done well this year with The Conjuring and continues with the Insidious saga! His style of modernized throwback horror has paved the way for his success. Through intense music and interesting visuals, he creates terrifying situations and horrific nightmares.
Now I will say, going into this I was very skeptical because with *SPOILER ALERT*dead characters coming back and the plot seeming the same yet the main characters acknowledging that previous events from Insidious, I was confused how they were going to, frankly, keep the audience entertained... they did NOT fail.
Flashbacks and intertwining plots keep this film entertaining and unique, however predictable it seemed. With an interesting twist on the "bad guy" to the warm welcome of Elise the audience is taken for a ride. Now yes, the jokes were predictable, with the exception of the scene involving a safe word , and yes some of the plot was just plain weird and unexplained but as a whole this film delights on all levels.
I don't want to divulge too much but some of the scares worked really well and some were reminiscent of either the prequel or The Conjuring ( we can all agree that wardrobes are terrible and children's toys are always possessed). If you're looking to have fun and get scared; I recommend this film.
And if you have high expectations for this movie then here is my advice: Don't. Don't expect anything for horror films. If you go in with an open mind and let yourself go just enough...... you might have fun.
Although....don't let yourself go too far, for you never know who will come back with you....
Keep Watching and Get Scared!!!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Top Secret! And......
Hello Friends!!!
Alright I will let you in on my secret....I have been working on a zombie feature film and it's been taking up all of my time! So there you have it, that's why I haven't been updating lately. Hopefully as it comes to an end I can reveal more!
In cinema we, as an audience, want to connect with the story and nine times out of ten its the characters that help us to achieve that sense of inclusion. The horror and scary movie genre is no exception, however instead of the "good guys", the audience relies on the villain or the "bad guys" to inspire fear and dread.
Regan MacNeil- Nothing is more terrifying than child possession. Especially when a demon forces the child to do and say unspeakable things. From crucifixes to pea soup, Regan MacNeil is the epitome of evil and all things sinister.
Emily Rose- Again with creepy possession, although it was Emily's internal struggle that set her apart from Regan. Her fear and confusion is as scary as her actual possession. The genuflect scene when she is in her bedroom is particularly terrifying.
The Strangers- Look, we don't know who they are so we will refer to them as The Strangers. Masked people who give no explanation other than " You were home" as the reason they decided to torture and kill a man and almost kill a woman.
Just the beginning of the list but only a taste for today. Thanks for reading guys and remember
Keep Watching and Get Scared
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
He Who Walks Behind The Rows
Hey Friends,
Again sorry, I've working on something that I hope soon I can share with you!
This is the last Stephen King movies installment and what a film to end with.... Children of the Corn. I love this film because let's face it it, children without authority is as terrifying as a serial killer or a demon. Children are impulsive and excitable therefore if a peer convinces them, in this case that they must kill all adults and children that do not believe the way they do. The thought of an innocent child committing unspeakable crimes is still a very strange and uncomfortable taboo to even think about.
The film begins with Job telling what happened three years before Isaac and Malachai took over the town and killed all the adults in Gatlin, Nebraska . Then it takes you to present day to a couple named Burt and Vicky who are driving to Burt's new hospital internship, where they become stranded in the town.
The premise of a religious cult that kills anyone over the age of 18, guided by a 12 year old preacher is ridiculously scary! Kids plus creepy preachings from the old testament mixed with a demonic force that "walks behind the rows" equals freaking weird problems. We never find out who "He who walks behind the rows" is or why the blue man is important!!!
Linda Hamilton plays Vicky and for the life of me, I don't understand why she was ever cast in anything but whatever right? It was the '80's so she worked I guess. Her forced and vapid responses are mundane and her facial expressions constantly pained. While Courtney Gains and John Franklin steal the show as Isaac and Malachai, one the scary child preacher (who was 25 when he was cast) and the other, a power hungry follower.
The film is one of the greats because of the children they cast, they inspire fear and yet a few of them retain innocence and purity. It's on Netflix instant stream so please watch it!!!! For "question me not, Malachai!"
Keep Watching and Get Scared....
p.s. 85 days till Halloween!!!
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