Hello Friends,
A few days ago I mentioned a man by the name of William Castle and how he was known for doing insane gimmicks for each of his movie releases. Castle was also behind another "horror classic" however he didn't direct this one, much to his dismay.
In the summer of 1968 a new horror film came out with the tag line " Pray for Rosemary's Baby", directed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary's Baby was to launch William Castle Productions to the big leagues. However, when Castle started to come forward with the idea of adapting the film he wanted to direct the picture, the film studios wanted someone younger and who had interesting, new ideas. Castle was devastated that they chose another director but they allowed him to be the executive producer. He even has a cameo as the man outside of the pay phone that Rosemary is using.
The premise of Rosemary's Baby is that a young couple moves into an apartment in New York that seems too good to be true, and for a good reason. Strange occurrences begin to plague the couple, Rosemary and Guy, as they settle into their new routines. As Guy actively pursues an acting career, Rosemary begins to feel lonely and neglected. One night the eccentric next door elderly couple offers for Rosemary and Guy to have dinner with them, at first Guy protests saying that they needn't bother themselves with becoming friends with the aging couple. However, when they attend and Guy becomes enthralled with Roman ( the elderly man) Guy's entire mood changes towards the couple. After the dinner party, Rosemary begins to have strange dreams and one night she and Guy plan to start trying for a baby when they are interrupted by Minnie (Roman's wife) who brings desert over. After Rosemary has a bite of the desert she claims it taste funny thus sending her into an odd state. Soon she becomes pregnant but this isn't a normal pregnancy.....
I hate this movie, not because of the acting ( although Mia Farrow is pretty terrible) but the plot is slow and predictable. Now for the time period I can see how this film was soooooo cool and interesting, but for me, it doesn't live up to the hype. As this was William Castles last commercially successful film, there is a bittersweet quality to it as this could have been much better. I wish, as Elaine Benes put it, that the dingo ate Rosemary's Baby.
Keep Watching and Get Scared
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
" But you are in that chair, Blanche!"
Hello Friends,
It's Monday, and for those of you already at work, I'm sorry. Today lets take a step back in thriller movie history....
The year is 1962 and two of Hollywood's most notorious rivals are starring in Robert Aldrich's film adaptation of What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? The film centers around two sisters, Jane and Blanche, who both were well known in the Vaudeville circuit when they were younger. However Jane, formerly know as "Baby Jane", was out shined by her younger sister as the two became older. One fateful night Blanche is hit by a drunk driver and becomes paralyzed. Blanche, who is confined to a wheel chair, and Jane live as spinsters in an old decaying home. Jane in all her delusion begins to torment her sister by intercepting her letters so she wouldn't have any contact with the outside, she would send her inedible food and wouldn't let her come out of her room sometimes. But there lies a deadly secret within these two sisters that explains it all.
There is a lot going on in this film and I don't want to spoil anything.
But who played these two tragic characters, you ask? None other than the infamous Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.No other Hollywood rivalry has been as juicy as these two legends. It all started when Joan Crawford married Franchot Tone, the alleged " love" of Bette Davis life. During filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Bette Davis has to "kick" Joan Crawford as she's lying on the ground, well like any good vindictive woman wold do, she actually kicked her as hard as she could in the head. Crawford needed 3 stitches after the scene because Davis gashed her head so bad.
This film is extraordinary because all the hate in this film is REAL! These two women had a long history of hating each other and trying to out do the other. I love this film, there are too many good lines and great twist and turns. One of my favorite scenes has to do with a bird...I'll leave it at that. Bette Davis also has amazing make-up in this film, she was quoted saying " I wanted her to look like she never washed her face". Well done, Bette!
Thanks for reading guys and remember,
Keep Watching and Get Scared!
It's Monday, and for those of you already at work, I'm sorry. Today lets take a step back in thriller movie history....
The year is 1962 and two of Hollywood's most notorious rivals are starring in Robert Aldrich's film adaptation of What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? The film centers around two sisters, Jane and Blanche, who both were well known in the Vaudeville circuit when they were younger. However Jane, formerly know as "Baby Jane", was out shined by her younger sister as the two became older. One fateful night Blanche is hit by a drunk driver and becomes paralyzed. Blanche, who is confined to a wheel chair, and Jane live as spinsters in an old decaying home. Jane in all her delusion begins to torment her sister by intercepting her letters so she wouldn't have any contact with the outside, she would send her inedible food and wouldn't let her come out of her room sometimes. But there lies a deadly secret within these two sisters that explains it all.
There is a lot going on in this film and I don't want to spoil anything.
But who played these two tragic characters, you ask? None other than the infamous Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.No other Hollywood rivalry has been as juicy as these two legends. It all started when Joan Crawford married Franchot Tone, the alleged " love" of Bette Davis life. During filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Bette Davis has to "kick" Joan Crawford as she's lying on the ground, well like any good vindictive woman wold do, she actually kicked her as hard as she could in the head. Crawford needed 3 stitches after the scene because Davis gashed her head so bad.
This film is extraordinary because all the hate in this film is REAL! These two women had a long history of hating each other and trying to out do the other. I love this film, there are too many good lines and great twist and turns. One of my favorite scenes has to do with a bird...I'll leave it at that. Bette Davis also has amazing make-up in this film, she was quoted saying " I wanted her to look like she never washed her face". Well done, Bette!
Thanks for reading guys and remember,
Keep Watching and Get Scared!
Friday, June 21, 2013
World War Z.....FINALLY!!!!
Hello Friends,
Shaking with anticipation, waiting with bated breath World War Z has finally come to theaters nation and world wide!!!
Now before you see the film you need to know a few things:
1. It's different from the book..as it should be! The book was written in a interview sort of way with a ton of information. And it worked as a novel! A movie? Not so much
2. Max Brooks, the author, is a genius and you need to read all of his books. Right now. World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide are amazing.
3.Max Brooks dad is Mel Brooks so that makes him awesome
The film begins with the Lane family, who live in Philadelphia with their children, as they embark on a regular day. However, it quickly takes a turn for the worst during rush hour. Massive amounts of super human undead are ravaging anyone they can get their hands on. As the Lanes try to make sense of what's happening, Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) calls in an favor...that favor being the General Ambassador to the U.N. They get air lifted and taken to safety on a remote military ship, where Gerry finds out the only reason he and his family were saved was because they need him to investigate this global epidemic, as the point of origin is unknown a.k.a no patient zero Now trying not to spoil anything, suffice it to say much more happens. There! Tight lipped!
I really enjoyed this film, not only because it had a great cast consisting of Brad Pitt,Mirelle Enos and ever so talented Pierfrancesco Favino as a doctor, but this was a rare example of a zombie movie because at the center of it is what the human spirit can do when presented with chaos and destruction. You either rise above it and help others, or you drown under the swells of the masses. There was a lot of heart in this film and it showed the good and bad sides of human nature.
Okay, lets talk Zombies! These undead mutants are in a category all their own. They were fast,slow,terrifying, hilarious and plain savage. Drawn to noise instead of blood, they become dormant if silence is around them. That's why the major cities fell first. The creatures also made interesting vocal sounds that reminded me of the vampires in 30 Days of Night. The close up shots of the Zombies were great and some really good F/X make-up was showcased. But the wide shots left the audience wanting, they looked like a bad video game version of a zombie hoard. Some of the more in your face-jump out at you scares were really clever and good, but over all I wouldn't consider it to be a "scary" or "horror" film. Its a film that features every facet of human beings trying to make sense of mass hysteria, it the best way Hollywood can.
I extremely recommend that you go and see this film (Pitt makes a homemade bayonet!).
P.s. rumors of two more sequels....perhaps you should keep that in mind?
Keep Watching and Don't Get Bitten!
Shaking with anticipation, waiting with bated breath World War Z has finally come to theaters nation and world wide!!!
Now before you see the film you need to know a few things:
1. It's different from the book..as it should be! The book was written in a interview sort of way with a ton of information. And it worked as a novel! A movie? Not so much
2. Max Brooks, the author, is a genius and you need to read all of his books. Right now. World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide are amazing.
3.Max Brooks dad is Mel Brooks so that makes him awesome
The film begins with the Lane family, who live in Philadelphia with their children, as they embark on a regular day. However, it quickly takes a turn for the worst during rush hour. Massive amounts of super human undead are ravaging anyone they can get their hands on. As the Lanes try to make sense of what's happening, Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) calls in an favor...that favor being the General Ambassador to the U.N. They get air lifted and taken to safety on a remote military ship, where Gerry finds out the only reason he and his family were saved was because they need him to investigate this global epidemic, as the point of origin is unknown a.k.a no patient zero Now trying not to spoil anything, suffice it to say much more happens. There! Tight lipped!
I really enjoyed this film, not only because it had a great cast consisting of Brad Pitt,Mirelle Enos and ever so talented Pierfrancesco Favino as a doctor, but this was a rare example of a zombie movie because at the center of it is what the human spirit can do when presented with chaos and destruction. You either rise above it and help others, or you drown under the swells of the masses. There was a lot of heart in this film and it showed the good and bad sides of human nature.
Okay, lets talk Zombies! These undead mutants are in a category all their own. They were fast,slow,terrifying, hilarious and plain savage. Drawn to noise instead of blood, they become dormant if silence is around them. That's why the major cities fell first. The creatures also made interesting vocal sounds that reminded me of the vampires in 30 Days of Night. The close up shots of the Zombies were great and some really good F/X make-up was showcased. But the wide shots left the audience wanting, they looked like a bad video game version of a zombie hoard. Some of the more in your face-jump out at you scares were really clever and good, but over all I wouldn't consider it to be a "scary" or "horror" film. Its a film that features every facet of human beings trying to make sense of mass hysteria, it the best way Hollywood can.
I extremely recommend that you go and see this film (Pitt makes a homemade bayonet!).
P.s. rumors of two more sequels....perhaps you should keep that in mind?
Keep Watching and Don't Get Bitten!
FreakFest Friday!
Hello Friends,
Well, it's that time again! Today the 1959 masterpiece The House on Haunted Hill, starring Vincent Price (a personal hero of mine), Carol Ohmmart and Richard Long.
William Castle, the notorious director that used genius gimmicks to fill seats in theaters, used a pulley system that when audiences were watching the movie a plastic skeleton would drop down from the ceiling just like the skeleton in the film. Castle,who used military motors,was the first person to put under-the-seat buzzers in theaters and now that technology is used at major theme parks, had a great professional relationship with Vincent Price and worked with him on several films besides House on Haunted Hill. Price starred in the cult hit The Tingler the same year, but the reception of House on Haunted Hill inspired one of the best horror films...Alfred Hitchcock's 1960's classic Psycho. Castle also, during the release of The Tingler, spoke into a intercom during the presentation and told audiences members to remain calm because the creature is loose in the theater (another gimmick). If you don't know too much about William Castle, I encourage you to read about him, he because was a great director and a pioneer in the horror film genre.
The film's plot centers around millionaire Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) invites five people to a "party" he is throwing for his wife, Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), in an allegedly haunted house he has rented, promising to give them each $10,000. But there is a catch: each guest must stay the entire night in the house after the doors are locked at midnight.
I love Vincent Price with his cryptic voice and mischievous looks, he instilled a quite fear in every film he was in. As a kid I remember watching Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, as being terrified at the voice who laughs at the end of it. Later, I found out it was Vincent Price and it blew my mind!
Well, it's that time again! Today the 1959 masterpiece The House on Haunted Hill, starring Vincent Price (a personal hero of mine), Carol Ohmmart and Richard Long.
William Castle, the notorious director that used genius gimmicks to fill seats in theaters, used a pulley system that when audiences were watching the movie a plastic skeleton would drop down from the ceiling just like the skeleton in the film. Castle,who used military motors,was the first person to put under-the-seat buzzers in theaters and now that technology is used at major theme parks, had a great professional relationship with Vincent Price and worked with him on several films besides House on Haunted Hill. Price starred in the cult hit The Tingler the same year, but the reception of House on Haunted Hill inspired one of the best horror films...Alfred Hitchcock's 1960's classic Psycho. Castle also, during the release of The Tingler, spoke into a intercom during the presentation and told audiences members to remain calm because the creature is loose in the theater (another gimmick). If you don't know too much about William Castle, I encourage you to read about him, he because was a great director and a pioneer in the horror film genre.
The film's plot centers around millionaire Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) invites five people to a "party" he is throwing for his wife, Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), in an allegedly haunted house he has rented, promising to give them each $10,000. But there is a catch: each guest must stay the entire night in the house after the doors are locked at midnight.
I love Vincent Price with his cryptic voice and mischievous looks, he instilled a quite fear in every film he was in. As a kid I remember watching Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, as being terrified at the voice who laughs at the end of it. Later, I found out it was Vincent Price and it blew my mind!
The film is campy and creepy at the same time and that's why it's a timeless classic. It is a a relic of a genre within horror movies, when slashers and blood and guts weren't needed to "scare" people. I think the industry needs to go back to the less-is more style of scary movies, let the audience imagine what happens and leave them watching their backs.
Thanks for reading and remember,
Keep Watching and Get Scared
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Insidious? How about unreal,insane or down right weird!
Hello Friends,
Today we are talking about Insidious Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.
Insidious Chapter 1 was a very interesting film that features everything from "astral projections" to Tiny Tim! If you haven't seen the film it's about a couple with three kids that moves into a new house. Then per usual weird crap starts happening like people yelling in baby monitors and slamming doors. The oldest son falls into a "coma" and the haunting a worsen. Thinking it is the house, they move and make their other two children stay with the grandmother. Long story short the hauntings are concerted to the family.
This movie plays on the mind,body and soul. What if our dreams lead us to other worlds and other metaphysical experiences? That's too trippy to think about but it's weird none the less. Demons to ghost are present in this film. The intro reminds me of a campy '70s scary movie and I love it, with the aggressive violin music. Some of the makeup effects are a tad too much like The Haunted Mansion ride. But all in all this movie is weird beyond belief but it is a fun ride and I encourage you to watch it.
Now for Insidious:Chapter 2 we as an audience have only a trailer as of right now. But from what I can tell, it hopefully will leave up to its prequel ( that never happens but a girl can dream right?)
It seems whatever happened to the oldest son has now claimed the youngest child. Now usually I'm all for scary children, but over the last few years my sister has had children and now it hits a little too close to home so I am already apprehensive of the film.
Thanks guys for reading
Keep Watching and Get Scared
Session Over!
Hello Friends,
Yes I've been gone and yes I know how aggravating that is. And I'm sorry.
I have an affinity for films featuring abandon hospitals, I will pretty much see any movie about mental hospitals or sanatoriums. Which leads me to today's movie topic : Session 9.
This movie is interesting, not only because they got David Caruso from CSI to be in the film but, the film reminds me of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium mixed with the Cropsey urban legend. Like I said anything with hospitals and stuff I totally dig so let me give you a glimpse of the plot...(courtesy of IMDB)
An asbestos abatement crew wins the bid for an abandoned insane asylum. What should be a straightforward, if rather rushed, job, is complicated by the personal histories of the crew. Things get more complicated as would-be lawyer Mike plays the tapes from a former patient with multiple personalities, including the mysterious Simon who does not appear until Session 9....
The human psyche is fascinating and perplexing at the same time. This film implies that the "weak" and "wounded" are more susceptible to welcoming evil and manipulation. What I like most about the movie was that fact that each character's weakness was identified in the beginning so really anyone could have been afflicted. Now I'm not saying it is one of the best films ever, heck I wasn't even remotely scared,but that concept behind the movie was interesting enough to hold my attention.
So on another note, can I just say that I am apprehensive about Insidious:2? The first one was okay but I'll get into that tomorrow.
Keep Watching and Get Scared!!
Yes I've been gone and yes I know how aggravating that is. And I'm sorry.
I have an affinity for films featuring abandon hospitals, I will pretty much see any movie about mental hospitals or sanatoriums. Which leads me to today's movie topic : Session 9.
This movie is interesting, not only because they got David Caruso from CSI to be in the film but, the film reminds me of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium mixed with the Cropsey urban legend. Like I said anything with hospitals and stuff I totally dig so let me give you a glimpse of the plot...(courtesy of IMDB)
An asbestos abatement crew wins the bid for an abandoned insane asylum. What should be a straightforward, if rather rushed, job, is complicated by the personal histories of the crew. Things get more complicated as would-be lawyer Mike plays the tapes from a former patient with multiple personalities, including the mysterious Simon who does not appear until Session 9....
The human psyche is fascinating and perplexing at the same time. This film implies that the "weak" and "wounded" are more susceptible to welcoming evil and manipulation. What I like most about the movie was that fact that each character's weakness was identified in the beginning so really anyone could have been afflicted. Now I'm not saying it is one of the best films ever, heck I wasn't even remotely scared,but that concept behind the movie was interesting enough to hold my attention.
So on another note, can I just say that I am apprehensive about Insidious:2? The first one was okay but I'll get into that tomorrow.
Keep Watching and Get Scared!!
Friday, June 14, 2013
She Blinded Me with Quantum Physics?
Hello Friends,
It is Friday and if you're like me, and don't want to brave the masses at the cinemas, are looking for a film to watch. Well look no further for a freaking weird film called The Baby's Room directed by Álex de la Iglesia.
The film is about a couple, Juan and Sonia, who move into a big scary house with their new born baby and baby monitors. As soon as they enter the house and install the baby monitors,Juan starts seeing a man in the baby's room. Sonia however thinks he's crazy and goes to live with her mother, taking the baby with her. But that doesn't stop the weird things from happening.
This film is more than a "haunted house" film because it just gets more convoluted, for instance, with the opening scene with a radio and two children, that are never mentioned again except that one of the kids became a weird old lady. However, the movie is essentially about........quantum physics? Let me explain.
The paradoxical experiment Schrodinger's Cat is at the heart of this film, now before I saw the film I had no clue what that even meant. So allow me to teach you something new.
" Thus, said Schrodinger, the cat must itself be in a superposition of dead and alive states before the observer opens the box..."
What does that mean? In this case, alternate realities mixed with Pandora's Box. Like I said, this movie is freaky to say the least because you don't really expect a horror film to be so....scientific. It's worth watching and I don't want to say much more because you really do need to watch it. Now if you want to pair this film with another, I highly recommend another Spanish film called The Orphanage. Thats all for today, tomorrow look out for a good Saturday Night chiller.
Keep watching and get scared!
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