Scary Movies, anyone?
Because I'm bored, and because it's that time of year, I am going to blab on about my favorite scary movies. Feel free to skip. Not that I am a scary movie connoisseur by any means, but I've watched quite a few. Especially since Mr. Kizzy is in Iraq... silly man can't abide the horror films, LOL! Note that my definition of scary does most definitely not equate with blood and gore.
Please feel free to tell me your favorite scary movie as I'd love to watch any I've missed! Or share your thoughts, disagree... I'll keep this as non-spoilery as possible. So if you're looking for a movie this weekend...
People ask me what my favorite scary movie is, and that's near impossible to answer. It depends, you see, on what you're looking for, what you find scary, etc. So for ease, I'm going to subdivide the movies.
Psychological Horror:
"Silence of the Lambs:" I first saw this when I was in middle school, down in the basement of my friend's house during a sleepover. Well, we didn't sleep that night. It's truly terrifying, especially the end, so fraught with tension! But nothing beats the discussions between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling. "A census taker tried to test me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Sluuuuuuurp."
"Misery:" Based on a Stephen King novel. Basically, a successful romance novelist crashes his car during a snowstorm and is 'rescued' by his number one fan. Yes, there is some physical horror here, especially the one part, you know what I'm talking about if you've seen it. But what makes this movie scary is Kathy Bates' Annie Wilkes. Bates won an Oscar for her performance here, very well-deserved. In Annie, she created a woman so monstrous who yet has no idea that she is monstrous. And the language! "He didn't get out of the COCKADOODIE CAR!"
"The Orphanage:" Okay, one of my friends said she did not find this scary at all. I disagree! Very atmospheric, and how could you not find that little kid in that creepy mask scary?!?! A foreign film, it's completely in Spanish, but definitely worth a view. The best types of horror are those that take universal themes--such as death--and bring them home. Here, it is a poignant tale of a mother who's son disappears in the old Orphanage she grew up in.
"The Descent:" A British film, I think, about a group of female spelunkers who get stuck in a cave. Creepy surrounding, playing on our fear of small, enclosed spaces, but then come the monsters. Physical gore, yes, but I read something speculating about what was in the main character's head and what wasn't, which is interesting.
"The Shining:" Heeeeeeere's Johnny! Um, yes, Jack Nicholson at his creepiest. Also based on a King novel. Isolation. Long, sweeping camera shots. Loud, pulsating music. Redrum.
"Rosemary's Baby:" This one is creepy due to the brilliant performances. Bone-thin Mia Farrow looking terrified, the overbearing neighbors. A classic, definitely worth seeing if you haven't. Rosemary is pregnant, and her new neighbors seem bizarrely interested, even persuading her to go to their doctor and drink their herbs. I liked it, but I did not like how they didn't distinguish Satanists from Wiccans, or other Pagans. Religious themes, which I like. Speaking of which...
"The Exorcist:" Creepy, creepy. Although... was I the only one who thought the priest was a bit sexy, and a bit Snapeish? Anyways, the classic tale of demonic possession. Linda Blair doing obscene things with a crucifix. Projectile vomiting.
"Let the Right One In:" Sorry, Bella and Edward, but this is how vampires should be done. It's a gorgeous film--ie the shots, the camera work is beautiful. A story about a bullied twelve-year-old named Oskar, and the alluring girl who's just moved in next to him. Very emotional. Tale of two children connecting through their loneliness. A Russian film, I think? Based off a book which I haven't read. Excellent.
Physical Horror:
Not my favorite. I'm not a huge fan of just the violence and gore with very little plot. I've never seen the Saw movies, and never plan to. But, in case you're into that, I have a few recs.
"Severance:" British, starring Toby Stephens aka Mr. Rochester and also the woman who played Charlotte in 'Pride and Prejudice.' An office of five or six go off into the Hungarian (I think??) wilderness for a fun-filled team-building weekend. Little do they know... Oh, little do they know. Yes, lots of gore, violence, painful, painful deaths. Why, then, did I rec this, do you ask? Because it's funny! OMG it's funny. The co-workers are hilarious, this couldn't have happened to funnier people. And the first half is pretty much just office humor. Its like... The Office meets Hostel. And the end? Also funny.
"The Strangers:" Nothing particularly brilliant about this film, starring Liv Tyler and the guy from Underworld. But I can honestly say... this is the one movie I watched and then stayed up at night, scared, thinking about it. Thinking about masked strangers outside my door. Because it could actually happen! So the couple are in a summer home in the winter, so no one is around. And then comes a knock on the door. *shivers* *goes to deadbolt doors* And the masks!!
"The Audition": Now... I'm not recc'ing this exactly. Actually, I'm not sure if anyone should ever see it, ever. Japanese. I'd say the first half or so feels like a slow-moving romance. This guy's wife dies, and his friend convinces him he needs a new wife. Now, his friend happens to be in the theater business, so he holds an audition for a part in a play (or movie, can't remember which), but really its an audition for the guy's new wife. He immediately is attracted to this waifish girl, falling in love with her after one date. But then... things get weird. The restaurant she claims she works at, for instance, burned down months ago. And, well... piano wire. That's all I'm saying. It's probably the most disturbing movie I've ever, ever seen. Ever.
Please feel free to tell me your favorite scary movie as I'd love to watch any I've missed! Or share your thoughts, disagree... I'll keep this as non-spoilery as possible. So if you're looking for a movie this weekend...
People ask me what my favorite scary movie is, and that's near impossible to answer. It depends, you see, on what you're looking for, what you find scary, etc. So for ease, I'm going to subdivide the movies.
Psychological Horror:
"Silence of the Lambs:" I first saw this when I was in middle school, down in the basement of my friend's house during a sleepover. Well, we didn't sleep that night. It's truly terrifying, especially the end, so fraught with tension! But nothing beats the discussions between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling. "A census taker tried to test me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Sluuuuuuurp."
"Misery:" Based on a Stephen King novel. Basically, a successful romance novelist crashes his car during a snowstorm and is 'rescued' by his number one fan. Yes, there is some physical horror here, especially the one part, you know what I'm talking about if you've seen it. But what makes this movie scary is Kathy Bates' Annie Wilkes. Bates won an Oscar for her performance here, very well-deserved. In Annie, she created a woman so monstrous who yet has no idea that she is monstrous. And the language! "He didn't get out of the COCKADOODIE CAR!"
"The Orphanage:" Okay, one of my friends said she did not find this scary at all. I disagree! Very atmospheric, and how could you not find that little kid in that creepy mask scary?!?! A foreign film, it's completely in Spanish, but definitely worth a view. The best types of horror are those that take universal themes--such as death--and bring them home. Here, it is a poignant tale of a mother who's son disappears in the old Orphanage she grew up in.
"The Descent:" A British film, I think, about a group of female spelunkers who get stuck in a cave. Creepy surrounding, playing on our fear of small, enclosed spaces, but then come the monsters. Physical gore, yes, but I read something speculating about what was in the main character's head and what wasn't, which is interesting.
"The Shining:" Heeeeeeere's Johnny! Um, yes, Jack Nicholson at his creepiest. Also based on a King novel. Isolation. Long, sweeping camera shots. Loud, pulsating music. Redrum.
"Rosemary's Baby:" This one is creepy due to the brilliant performances. Bone-thin Mia Farrow looking terrified, the overbearing neighbors. A classic, definitely worth seeing if you haven't. Rosemary is pregnant, and her new neighbors seem bizarrely interested, even persuading her to go to their doctor and drink their herbs. I liked it, but I did not like how they didn't distinguish Satanists from Wiccans, or other Pagans. Religious themes, which I like. Speaking of which...
"The Exorcist:" Creepy, creepy. Although... was I the only one who thought the priest was a bit sexy, and a bit Snapeish? Anyways, the classic tale of demonic possession. Linda Blair doing obscene things with a crucifix. Projectile vomiting.
"Let the Right One In:" Sorry, Bella and Edward, but this is how vampires should be done. It's a gorgeous film--ie the shots, the camera work is beautiful. A story about a bullied twelve-year-old named Oskar, and the alluring girl who's just moved in next to him. Very emotional. Tale of two children connecting through their loneliness. A Russian film, I think? Based off a book which I haven't read. Excellent.
Physical Horror:
Not my favorite. I'm not a huge fan of just the violence and gore with very little plot. I've never seen the Saw movies, and never plan to. But, in case you're into that, I have a few recs.
"Severance:" British, starring Toby Stephens aka Mr. Rochester and also the woman who played Charlotte in 'Pride and Prejudice.' An office of five or six go off into the Hungarian (I think??) wilderness for a fun-filled team-building weekend. Little do they know... Oh, little do they know. Yes, lots of gore, violence, painful, painful deaths. Why, then, did I rec this, do you ask? Because it's funny! OMG it's funny. The co-workers are hilarious, this couldn't have happened to funnier people. And the first half is pretty much just office humor. Its like... The Office meets Hostel. And the end? Also funny.
"The Strangers:" Nothing particularly brilliant about this film, starring Liv Tyler and the guy from Underworld. But I can honestly say... this is the one movie I watched and then stayed up at night, scared, thinking about it. Thinking about masked strangers outside my door. Because it could actually happen! So the couple are in a summer home in the winter, so no one is around. And then comes a knock on the door. *shivers* *goes to deadbolt doors* And the masks!!
"The Audition": Now... I'm not recc'ing this exactly. Actually, I'm not sure if anyone should ever see it, ever. Japanese. I'd say the first half or so feels like a slow-moving romance. This guy's wife dies, and his friend convinces him he needs a new wife. Now, his friend happens to be in the theater business, so he holds an audition for a part in a play (or movie, can't remember which), but really its an audition for the guy's new wife. He immediately is attracted to this waifish girl, falling in love with her after one date. But then... things get weird. The restaurant she claims she works at, for instance, burned down months ago. And, well... piano wire. That's all I'm saying. It's probably the most disturbing movie I've ever, ever seen. Ever.