Home for the Holidays: Black Christmas (2019)

 

    Black Christmas is considered by many to be the ultimate Christmas horror film. It is the pinnacle of what this branch of the genre provides. It is tense and littered with atmosphere. It keeps its threat in the shadows. Since that 1974 film, we have seen two more additions that crafted an anthological franchise. Honestly, I would consider that to be pretty impressive. 

    In 2019, we had our latest addition to this franchise. It was Sophia Takal's take on Black Christmas. The film was by many considered to be an unmitigated disaster. It was honestly what they would probably consider to be Blumhouse's first black mark on their resume. Blumhouse honestly is to this generation what New Line and Dimension were in the 80s and 90s. For the most part whenever I see something be labelled as a Blumhouse film, I tend to go in a bit open minded. 

    When it came to Black Christmas 2019, I missed it when it was released in theaters. I had kept my ear to the ground on it. So I had heard a lot of what many would consider its faults. For me, I had the pleasure of getting to catch the film last Christmas Eve. My partner and I were finishing up wrapping presents and getting them underneath our tree. Why not watch a Christmas horror film? So, I booted up our Vudu account and hit Play. 

    I had gone all in on the film. I managed to keep an open mind the entire runtime. Yeah, it wasn't a retelling of the story from the original film. It didn't have to be for me. It was something different. It honestly felt a bit fresh. Yeah, it was PG-13. But for me, that didn't hurt it. It's honestly nice to have some Christmas horror films that aren't straight Rated R bloodbaths. Actually sometimes it's nice to be able to go into a horror film that's just PG-13 over R. Almost a bit comforting if you will. Yeah, I have heard that there was originally a Rated R cut that ran 111 minutes. But for the most part, this PG-13 cut was solid. 

    Sophia Takal and April Wolfe crafted a film that stands apart from the original Black Christmas. To some, it probably felt a bit heavy handed with its themes. But it never felt like that. Yeah, its a bit unique with its shifting of the villain from Billy to the Hawthorne College Illuminati. There isn't one sole person but overall those members of the fraternity. It felt like the Hawthorne fraternity was a Legion that was spread by the mysterious black goo. Yeah, I said that right. There's black goo that is able to infect the men and turn them against the women. Does that hinder the film? Not really. 

    The characters in this film are all pretty unique. Well, besides the cold opening character of Lindsay. Every one has something that makes them feel like real people. They just aren't straight cookie cutter stereotypes. All of them also don't take crap when things start coming to a head. Imogen Poots delivers a solid performance as Riley. She's a bit on edge at the beginning of the film, but as it goes on she comes into her own. Cary Elwes once again brings a solid performance to the film. He's a very strong headed character, especially with the reveal at the end of the film. By that point, I wasn't surprised with it. 

    With the trimming of the film down to PG-13, it meant that there was a bit less violence. What violence there is in the film doesn't feel out of place. It all works together to serve a purpose. Would I be interested in seeing what the R cut would have been like? Yeah, I would be interested. Does it hurt the film? No. 

    Overall, Black Christmas 2019 isn't as bad as many have said. If you go in with an open mind, you might be surprised at how smart and entertaining the film can be. Is it perfect? No, but what film is? It is a good watch for the holiday season. 

Rating: 3.75 out of 5. 

Follow BlazinBlue's Horror Review on Facebook and Twitter.

Evil Dies Tonight: Halloween Kills (Non-Spoiler)

Today is the day. It's the one that I have been waiting for so long. When I first watched Halloween (2018), I was a bit underwhelmed. It felt a bit off. It honestly did not feel like a full story. There were some aspects that did not necessarily feel right. And the ending felt more closer to a cliffhanger than anything else. Honestly looking back at it now, it's a type of film making that harkens back to those films from the 70s and 80s. It's something that we don't necessarily see anymore. It's probably because studios have a hard time wanting to take chances anymore. 

One thing that I have learned time and time again this year, expectations can influence one's experience with a film. I mean it's well known by this point that I watched The Exorcist for the first time. I have had years of expectations for it and it honestly made me miss out. If I would have went in with an open mind, I probably would have liked it a lot better. 

Back to the task on hand, Halloween (2018) is a film that once I got past the initial shock. I began to enjoy it more with each subsequent viewing. At this point, it's on the top half of my franchise ranking. It also allowed me begin to see what David Gordon Green and Danny McBride were trying to do. Again, it's very much the unexpected as it hones closer to the original film than anything we have had in quite awhile. Much older way of storytelling. And I was excited to see what they were going to do next. 

After three years and a pandemic, we finally have the next chapter - Halloween Kills. Wow. Just wow. 

Now, I know there are people that recommend going to see this in the theater. I completely understand why. For me, I was quick to sign up for Peacock. Well, not really quick - it literally took me an hour to get everything set up. But I'm guessing it was because the service may have been going a little crazy cause of the excitement for this film. 

Now, I spent a few times trying to write this review. So I'm going to try things a little different this time around. Do I recommend seeing this film? Hell yes! This is really an incredible film. It's honestly going to be divisive. But then again, it seems like the fanbase was a bit hit and miss when 2018 originally came out as well. 

The kills in this film are incredible. Every. single. one. of. them. I was left in such a stupor for a bit because this film is brutal. There were so many times where I was caught off guard and immediately I'd just be saying "Goddammit Michael".  

I really would love to dive into spoilers for this film. But I can't find myself saying Let's Go. This is a film where it is such an experience. 

I have seen some people have problems with some actors and such. For me, I didn't have a problem with any of them. I thought everybody brought their game. I loved Judy Greer's performance as Karen. She does such an amazing job. 

Anthony Michael Hall also does a great job as Tommy. Yeah, people are comparing him to Paul Rudd's version. But there is absolutely no way to compare them. They are two valid takes on the character. One has taken his fear of Michael and made it into his obsession - very much to Loomis levels. And Anthony Michael Hall's is just filled with so much rage. He is so angry at Michael. But I also think that he's just as angry at himself for allowing himself to be afraid. He's just as much screwed up as Laurie is. Honestly, something I would have been a bit more interested to know is did Laurie give Tommy some training like she did with Karen? And that's why he was quick to run after Michael cause he thought he was ready. 

The rest of the Haddonfield survivors were nice to see. They did a decent job. I honestly think that we will be seeing Lindsay returning for Halloween Ends. It'll be interesting to see where they take the story next. Because hot damn is there so much that can happen. 

Another fantastic part of this film is the flashback. It is so thrilling to be transported back to Halloween '78. The music. The look. The atmosphere. It's all spot on. And it works to really thrilling results. Especially when we end up seeing '78 Loomis. That just had me smiling so much. It's also extremely interesting as it was originally a scene that was to be featured first in Halloween 2018. Honestly, I am super glad that they waited to utilize it here. 

Now, a lot of people know my thoughts on Halloween II (1981). I was not a huge fan of it. I still am not. It just doesn't click with me. I don't know if it will. However the love that people have for that movie, well I can say I have that for Halloween Kills. This is my jam. It delivers on so much. I thought the film was very well paced. I didn't mind the hospital scenes. It gave a good look at what Haddonfield has become because of Michael. And hot damn what an ending.

Rating: 5 out of 5. Go check it out if you have a chance or catch it on Peacock. 

Follow BlazinBlue's Horror Review on Facebook and Twitter

Road to Kills: Revisiting Halloween (2018)

Back when it was first announced, I was super excited about Halloween (2018). It had David Gordon Green working along with Jason Blum and Danny McBride. Their pitch was so strong that it was bringing John Carpenter back to the franchise. It had everything going for it. 

Then the first trailer dropped. You know the one. Michael stalking the streets of Haddonfield. One continuous take as we witness Michael disappear from the shot and rememerge in brilliant fashion to enact his spree. It was beautiful. 

However, when I initially saw the finished film. I will say that I was not thrilled. I was not pleased with it. And it felt a little like it was overrated to me. 

But over the years, I have had time to watch the film again. And then I would think on it. Eventually come back to it again. With each new viewing, I began to slowly appreciate the film more.

Now after all this time, I will admit that I was harsh on the film. I went in expecting something akin to what Halloween (1981) presented. Instead what we got was something different and more relevant to today. 

David Gordon Green and Danny McBride delivered a fantastic story. It's easy to understand why it was this specific pitch that worked. That it brought Carpenter back. It was because of the fact that it is a different beast entirely. It subverts the audience's expectations so much. And it's a natural evolution of the story from what happened in the original film. 

Jamie Lee Curtis also returned as Laurie Strode. I didn't forget to mention it. It's something that did not feel new. The reason being she had returned for H20 and then cast aside in Resurrection. The difference though is her character is vastly different from the H20 incarnation. This is someone that literally turned herself into The Shape knowing one day she would see Michael again. But we are able to witness the cost of that with her interactions between her and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer). It's a very tragic evolution for Laurie. 

While we are talking about Karen, Judy Greer delivers an incredible performance. There are many layers to it. With each watch I could see a new layer unfold as the pressure of being trained to be a fighter by her mother was too much. She so desperately wishes for the normal life. And we see glimpses of that life with her husband Ray (Toby Huss) and daughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). Yes, that even includes the embarrassingly infamous peanut butter comment from Ray. But then everything comes crashing down once Michael returns as that unstoppable force. 

Andi Matichak also does a great job of making Allyson her own and not just a carbon copy of what Laurie was in the first film. Yeah, we see her be strong with her friends. And she holds her own, especially as she walks away from her boyfriend Cameron (Dylan Arnold). 

(Side Note: Arnold does a great job at being a unlikeable douchebag. Karma will hit him at some point.)

Michael Myers. In this film, we are able to see him. Fully see him as a man. James Jude Courtney delivers an incredible performance. He's able to communicate so much in his body language. One thing I wish is that we could have seen Michael's face. I understand that we don't till he gets the original mask - because that is his face. But we've seen the behind the scenes look at the makeup they did for Michael. That's a killer creepy look to it with the milk eye where he was stabbed.  But ultimately this is Michael fully unleashed in this film.

Now, there are a few things that I still don't like. It's not the characters. All of the actors and actresses delivered incredible performances. Officer Hawkins (Will Patton), Vicky (Virginia Gardner), Dana (Rhian Rees) and Aaron (Jefferson Hall). Why? 

Vicky was a very likeable and awesome babysitter. She had a lot of personality. However, her death felt wrong. Yeah, she could have been injured and then used in the next film. But I chalk it up to the performance of doing a great job at making such a likeable character. 

Dana and Aaron. The podcasters. Really, these two characters helped set the film in motion. The trailers even felt like there was going to be more with them. But then David Gordon Green subverts expectations as Michael crosses their paths. Though, I can see where in another story that Aaron could have become the next Loomis. 

Maybe that was the point of Aaron's character. Set up a Loomis type then get rid of them. Since fans are going to try to figure out who the next Loomis is. I mean even Laurie asks Dr. Sartain if he's the next Loomis. 

Speaking of Sartain, what the hell? His whole schtick is he's nuts? He wants to see what makes Michael tick? Oh, I'm going to just point Michael in Laurie's direction. Let's see what happens. That twist is something that still does not necessarily sit right with me. But again, that's the point. I see and understand it now. Subvert what hour expecting and how you expect it to go. It just happens to come at Officer Hawkins expense. 

Officer Hawkins felt like was going to be more involved. I mean it's Will Patton. He's a great actor. He has such a gravitas and physicality to him that you expect him to fight or help somehow. I guess it's taking the tropes of Halloween and then cutting them down. So we as an audience then are left to figure out where it's going to go next. 

But returning to the who's the next Loomis? Looking back now, it's evidently clear that Laurie spent time trying to figure out who would be that person. When she should have been looking at herself. She literally becomes the next Loomis in this story. 

The gore in this film was intense. It was not over the top. It fit today's modern sensibilities. This is especially evident in the fact that Michael took an officer's head and turned it into a jack o lantern. 

The music. Oh, how do I love the music in this film. It's clear to understand why. Carpenter. Well in this case, Carpenters. Hearing that it was John returning to the franchise was awesome. Hearing that he was bringing his son to work with him was something else entirely. The way they work with one another is awesome. It brings the music into today beautifully. My favorite piece of music is when Michael is in the backyard after Allyson's friend. The bowed guitar is beautiful. 

Looking back now, I appreciate this film more than ever. It's an effective continuation that evolves the story and subverts any expectations whatsoever. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Follow BlazinBlue's Horror Review on Social Media

Facebook

Twitter