31 on 31 for Halloween Day 22: Hell House LLC

Welcome back everyone to 31 on 31 for Halloween! We are almost there. It's the beginning of the home stretch it feels like. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Take deep breath and let's dive back in, shall we?

In 2015, a film was released by Stephen Cognetti that breathed new life into the found footage genre. That film was HELL HOUSE LLC.

HELL HOUSE LLC tells the story of a documentary crew investigating the scene of a tragic event that resulted in the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of the HELL HOUSE Hotel Tour.

The story is simple and is presented very well. We are introduced to the documentary crew as they begin their investigation of the Abaddon Hotel and interview a surviving member of the HELL HOUSE crew. Then on a brilliant move, we are transported back to footage that was recorded from the HELL HOUSE crew themselves as they prepare the hotel for opening night. This adds a sense of tragedy as we witness the events that lead to that fateful opening night.

Some may say that the film may move slow. But it moves at a good pace. It allows you to take in the story that the filmmakers are trying to tell. As well as allowing the story to breathe, it adds a lot and helps ground the film.

The cast do an incredible job. Everyone brings their A-game to the film. Some of my favorite characters were Mack and Paul (played by Andrew Schneider and Gore Abrahams) . Danny Bellini and Ryan Jennifer Jones provide incredible performances as Alex and Sara.

The effects were fairly simple and that is not a bad thing. It allows a lot of t e effects to be happening in camera. That is something that is a tremendous help to the film. It also really helped breathe new air into a genre many had thought gone stale. The creepiest element in the film for me was the girl that visits Paul. The makeup was done so well that terrified me. And the there’s the Clown – this provided a few scares as well. Both are standouts in my opinion.

The music in the film was something that gelled very well. It is very iconic. The song Paul plays on the piano is the real standout.

Overall, this film is an essential part of my days of Horror in October. It is very memorable. And is one of the best examples of a found footage horror film for me.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

*HELL HOUSE LLC is available on Amazon Prime, Shudder, Tubi

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You Know The Drill: Slumber Party Massacre (2021)

When I first watched the original Slumber Party Massacre, I loved it. Earlier this year, I had the chance to revisit it. It held up extremely well. It was the first time that my partner, Mandy, got to watch the film. They loved it. It has a very distinct unique voice. One that was different from other slashers at the time. It had a very feminine perspective - credit for that must go to Amy Holden Jones and Rita Mae Brown. It definitely played upon ones expectations on what a slasher film could be. It resulted in a film that was a love letter to the genre while also having fun with it. 

When it was first announced that it would be receiving a remake, I was a bit hesitant. Actually I'll admit it, I was very skeptical. The original was a very good film. *Note to self: Must track it down on blu-ray.* Then I started to think about it after hearing it would be from Shout! Studios and SYFY. I started to become a bit more open to the idea of it. I wasn't exactly sure how they would adapt it. There are definitely many ways that one could go about doing so. That's honestly one of the beautiful aspects of approaching a remake, it is a bit of an open slate. 

Then the trailer was released, it looked like fun. It looked like it was approaching the material with respect and honor. I immediately was like Let's Go! I even remember looking at my partner with a huge smile on my face. They were like What are you smirking about? I immediately turned my phone and showed them the trailer. Mandy was on board as well. At that time, word had begun to get out from Fantastic Fest screening. The word was its good. My excitement just continued to grow for the film. 

After that, I decided that I would just take my shot and reach out to those involved. Thank you to Danishka Esterhazy, SYFY and NBCUniversal for allowing me this huge opportunity. 

Now, I'm not going to be diving into spoilers with this review. That's not what this one is going to be about. Be patient and after the film is released, we will be diving deeper into things. 

With all of that out of the way, is Slumber Party Massacre (2021) a Slumber Party Massacre film? Girls having a great time at a slumber party? Check. Crazed man that silently stalks them from the shadows? Check. Massive oversized power drill? Check. Yes, this is a Slumber Party Massacre film. 

How is the film? First off, I went into the movie with a lot of expectations. I am happy to say that Danishka Esterhazy (Director/Executive Producer) and Suzanne Keilly (writer) have crafted a very fine film. They knew exactly the kind of film that they wanted to make and story to tell. They are not afraid of having fun with the material while also honoring and respecting the original film. It allows the film to be a fun rollercoaster. And that's something that is very refreshing and gives the film such a unique voice.

Now going back to my expectations, they took every one that I had and subverted it. I thought I knew where the story was going one minute and then the next, they proved me wrong. It left me guessing as to what was going to happen next. This is a film that also manages to dip into different types of horror. One minute it's a straight forward slasher, then it'll dip into a bit of parody and follow it up with a feminine take on things. There are many different aspects that are being juggled throughout the runtime. 

The characters are all pretty well rounded. When compared to the original, I would say that they are given a bit more depth in this take. Would I have enjoyed more time with them? Yes, I would have loved more time getting to know the characters. But I never felt like they were cardboard cutouts that fill the typical sterotypes. Each one has something that makes them standout. 

For those worried that there wouldn't be any gore, don't be. There is gore in this film. I would say that there probably is more than in the original film. The kills are well done. Yeah, we get the oversized power drill from the original. But be prepared for a few surprises with the weapons used. There is a healthy amount of them. 

This film looks beautiful. There are many times where I kept forgetting that this was a SyFy Original. The way that the colors are utilized is so good. It's very nice and bright at times. 

Overall, Slumber Party Massacre (2021) is a film that I honestly wasn't expecting. It left me wondering where the story was going to go next. It honors and respects the legacy of this franchise while updating the story wonderfully. There are quite a few likeable characters. It's a fun, gorey, rollercoaster. One that honestly helped me realize that 2021 really is the year fun horror movies have returned. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

*A screener was supplied by NBCUniversal and the SYFY Press Team*

"Slumber Party Massacre" airs Saturday, October 16th at 9PM PT/ET on SYFY. 

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31 on 31 for Halloween Day 21: The Exorcist III

As you all know I recently covered The Exorcist for the new series - First Watch, it was a bit of a hot take. Well to some, it was a massive hot take that made it onto the Scoville Scale. So I felt that it was right to tackle another entry to The Exorcist franchise. Unlike the First Watch series, this entry felt more at home with the 31 on 31 for Halloween. So join me as I dive into William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist III. 

For those wondering, I was unable to get the collectors Blu ray from Shout Factory so I will be discussing the theatrical cut. And yes there will be SPOILERS.

After The Exorcist, the most notable entry in the franchise is considered to be The Exorcist III. Now I understand it's because there are quite a few people that didn't like the way the second entry The Heretic was. Some even going as far as saying that it's a complete rubbish movie. I will get that to film at some point as well. But people seem to overlook the way II and III are set up. 

Exorcist II covers what happened to Regan and her family after the events of the first film. It gave us more insight into the mythology as well. Exorcist III gave us the story of what happened to Kinderman, Father Dyer and the surprise of Patient X. Both these films whether want to admit that The Heretic exists or not, it works well with Exorcist III by giving us the survivor stories. And I'm not even going to get into the whole prequel mess yet. 

After The Heretic was released and was a bit of a disappointment to audiences, it took thirteen years for a third installment to be released. For me, that feels absolutely crazy to think. William Peter Blatty had written the original novel and film. He was rather unimpressed and a bit upset by that second film. He took it upon himself to return to the world that he had created in the original novel with a follow up titled Legion. 

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When word had gotten out what Blatty was up to, the studio approached him to make a film of it. He wanted the film to just be called Legion. However, the studio pushed to use the title The Exorcist III. Not a good start with things. 

Lieutenant Kinderman uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward. Ultimately his journey leads him to the mysterious Patient X - who happens to be someone from Kinderman's past. 

The cast in this film is great. We have George C. Scott taking on the role of Lieutenant Kinderman from the original film. Scott delivers a fantastic performance. I think this may have been the first time I had seen a film with him in it. But he kept me interested in what was going on with a very authoritative presence when it's needed. He's also very likeable. 

Ed Flanders is Father Dyer. Here, he's very warm and welcoming. He's likeable. And it's easy to see why him and Kinderman get along. The hospital scene where they get to banter with one another is also delightful. 

Jason Miller returns to the franchise in the role of Patient X. Now you may remember that Jason Miller was Father Karras. Here in a surprise return of events, Father Karras and Pazuzu have survived the events of the first film. At first I was very shocked by this. But I appreciate that Miller was able to return to reprise the role. It actually made me a bit unsettled as it would switch between Karras and the Gemini Killer.

And then there's Brad Dourif. He plays The Gemini Killer. This was a presence that felt like a split personality companion to Father Karras. And that works wonderfully as there are scenes where we would switch between the two on the fly. It just added a bit of unsettling and creepiness to things. Also Brad Dourif kills it in this role. Definitely part of the reason why this film works so well.

The film is pretty well paced. I mean considering that this wasn't Blatty's original version and was a studio interference. It handles things pretty well. There is creepiness and tension to scenes that I did not feel in the original Exorcist. Though, there was a scene with a patient crawling round on the ceiling. That instance came off extremely comedic. But not once did I find myself bored. The mystery of who is committing the murders was handled really well. For myself, I thought Kinderman had finally cracked and was being possessed and forced to commit the murders. But when it's established that it is Father Karras once again, I felt a little better as I had come to enjoy George C. Scott so well. The exorcism at the end and Father Morning felt tacked on. Rest assured with my researching, I learned that was a studio note. But it didn't feel out of place. I also was extremely worried during the car ride to Kinderman's home. I honestly had no idea how that was going to play out. It was well done.

The Exorcist III works for me really well. It gets to play with the world that the original spent so much time building. It's nice seeing the returning characters and seeing their stories come to a close. There isn't much gore in the film. But honestly, the suggestive-ness of it all felt creepier than anything could be shown. Great use of letting the audience imagine the aftermath of the killings. There is a bit of a tragic feel to it. But it's one that I would be happy to revisit any time. And I'm sure I will once I get the Shout Factory Blu ray. 

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.

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The Night Busta Was There: Halloween Resurrection

After H20 seemingly brought the franchise to a close, Dimension proved that they still had more to come. They had placed a loophole in Jamie Lee Curtis contract where it said she couldn't kill Michael. Even though the ending seemed very definitive, they managed to write the ol' switcheroo with a paramedic so that Michael still lived. 

The whole reasoning for Michael still being alive felt cheap. It felt lacking the gravitas that was in the H20 ending. While interesting having Laurie at the asylum, it made some semblance of sense. It's a nice touch that she has a raggedy ann doll as that was a callback to the original film. However the fact that they kill Laurie Strode off is a severe problem. It was such a terrible way to go out on. And the fact that it was Rick Rosenthal who helmed this installment was a let down. 

Now Rick Rosenthal was the one that directed the much loved Halloween II. I'm guessing Dimension and the Weinsteins were hoping that it would be able to capture that lightning in a bottle that made the second installment so well liked. Well, unfortunately that was not meant to be. 

Resurrection is the one that a lot of fans immediately hate. Again, it's a cheap cash in at that point. They just wanted to push a sequel out but because Jamie Lee Curtis didn't want to be in it, they had to figure out what to do. "Hey, let's make a film that calls upon that found footage type of film. It was success before. Let's see if throw Michael in it, if it'll work.". 

No. No it does not work. One of the huge reasons it doesn't work is because it fails to commit to the found footage approach. Yeah, there are many times when we see what the characters see. But it's just mishandled and rushed. So it ultimately led to a bit of a cheap gimmick feeling with it. Now don't get me wrong, the found footage approach doesn't work. However on the DVD release, there is a ton of footage that was shot by the actors. It was one of the big highlights of the DVD because it was pretty interesting. However it was still very early on and the found footage craze wouldn't resurface till Blumhouse hit with Paranormal Activity. Imagine what could have been if they would have doubled down on the interactive element of the footage. That could have been impressive. 

This is also the film that brought Busta Rhymes into the franchise. "Trick or Treat mutha" before kicking Michael back into some wires seemingly ending our villain. Well, honestly villain is a strong one for Michael in this installment. Yeah, he kills Laurie. But outside of that, he's defending his childhood home. These new characters are trespassing on his property. That seems to me like they the bad guys. Looking it through that lens, it makes the film a little better. For the most part, the characters are okay but ultimately a bit forgettable. They just seem like generic stereotypes to fill the body count and runtime. 

There's a reason why after Resurrection, they went to Rob Zombie to reboot it. Resurrection is a forgettable slasher that tries to tap into 'found footage' to absymal results in the theatrical. That DVD feature with all the footage is least kinda neat. There's probably some people that only watch it that way. 

Rating: 1.5 out of 5. 

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The Night She Returned: Halloween H20

After 1995s The Curse of Michael Myers, once again the franchise laid dormant. It had not revived the franchise nor won it's fans over. There were those that even thought it had strayed too far at the expense of seeming hip (lots of gore effects). With the only version being released so far, that was very true. 

However that all changed once again in 1998, the year She Returned. When it was first mentioned that Halloween would be returning to theaters, word got out that it would be written by Kevin Williamson. That made sense given that Scream was a huge hit and had been in the zeitgeist by that point. Plus his love for the franchise was very evident in the first Scream with its easter egg when Casey's Dad tells her mom to go down to the Makenzie's. It felt very much like Laurie telling Tommy and Lindsay to go down the street. 

After securing Williamson, Dimension and the Weinsteins would later secure Steven Miner for directorial duties. This was after the initial option had been passed by their ideal director. Steven Miner was most known for helming entries in the Friday the 13th series. So far, it seems like it'd be a good fit. 

Once that had happened, they reached out to someone the fans would come to see return to the franchise - Jamie Lee Curtis. Fans missed Jamie Lee Curtis and her character so much. That's part of the reason why there was some backlash initially to Halloween 4 for 'killing off' her character. It was also approaching the twentieth anniversary of the original film. What better way to celebrate than to reunite Jamie Lee Curtis with the franchise that had started her career.

By having Jamie Lee Curtis return, the attention turned to what this new installment would be about. They just decided that it would pick up after Halloween II and send The Thorn Trilogy off to the wayside. For me, I get it. I get why they did this. Personally, it could have been handled a little differently. But hey, who am I to say what works or doesn't work. 

Now, we would finally find out what happened to Laurie twenty years after the second film. Turns out she managed to make a bit of a life for herself. She's a mom and has a job working at a prep school. Not bad for someone that is terrified every year just by the Halloween season. I understand eliminating connections to the previous three films but come on - we couldn't have Danielle Harris return to play an older Jamie. Nah instead we get John played by the upcoming Josh Hartnett at the time. Hartnett later would go on to some really great roles as evident by his work on the show Penny Dreadful. There has also been some speculation as to who his father is. Personally, I find it interesting that it's the paramedic from II. Honestly, I consider that to be Jamie's father in the Thorn timeline and Karen's in the Blumhouse timeline. Multiple timelines yet sharing the use of that same character. MCU going with a multiverse, nah Halloween did it first. 

Unfortunately because of Donald Pleasance's passing, Loomis couldn't return. But in the beginning of the film, there's a distinct voice over performed wonderfully by Tom Kane. Tom Kane is most well known for his role as Yoda in The Clone Wars among other characters. He captured the essence so beautifully that there's times where I forget that it's not Donald Pleasance. Plus Kane had been close friends with Donald as well. 

We also had another returning member in Nancy Stephens as Nurse Marion. It was very welcoming seeing her return to reprise the role. Ultimately, it would be nothing more than a cameo. But hey, it's the thought that counts at least. 

Michael somehow escaped after the events of II and is ready to track down Laurie. So he returns to Loomis house (that correct?), which Marion had been looking after. He breaks in and manages to get the information needed and finish the job with Marion. Thus it kicks off the film. 

This beginning was good. I remember going to see this film in the theater at the age of 10. I loved it. I love the opening credits with Tom Kane resurrecting Loomis in style. It's a very powerful way to pay tribute to the character. With everything else, I don't know. The film feels a bit by the numbers slasher. Honestly, that's overall how I have come to feel bout the film. 

The film then immediately sets up how the events of that night is still haunting her. It's very much still a PTSD feel to it. She's one that's been on the defensive and ready to run at a moments notice. That's definitely very much evident in a throwaway line how she faked her death. She is completely haunted by everything. And it's taken such a toll on John as well. He's ready to go away so can find himself. It's ultimately because he can't understand what happened to his mother years ago. 

Michael ends up finding and successfully infiltrating the prep school. Lots of slasher fun ensues as a few of John's friends are killed. This should be more striking. However again it feels by the numbers. One of the biggest reasons is because of the score in the film. It was very much in the vein of Scream. It worked for Scream, so should work for Halloween too right? 

One of the biggest hits the film took was Michael's mask. It was something that was very hard apparently to get right. The original mask was hard to find or too expensive to get hold of. I don't remember what the story was exactly. But it led to one film having multiple versions made and even a CG mask. However none of them could touch the original or replicate it. It was lightning in a bottle at that time. And fans very much noticed. 

The ending with Laurie stalking Michael. It was a very good flip on the usual. It was nice to see Laurie done running and stand up for herself. Her success was a bit hit and miss though. And then it ultimately came down to her stealing a van with Michael's corpse in it and crash it. Then successfully behead him. Ending the series of films once and all. Wait, that didn't happen? You kidding me right? How could they keep going? Oh, okay guess find out in the next one. 

H20 is a nice anniversary film. It pays tribute to what came before. Sometimes successfully. Sometimes not. But it's nice seeing where things went for Laurie. There's some likeable characters (Security Guard LL Cool J being an example). And some that made me happy to see where they ended up (obnoxious Joseph Gordon Levitt). Love some of the callbacks. It all leads to a memorable finale that we had been waiting for. It's also a bit of a popcorn slasher film. 

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.

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31 on 31 for Halloween Day 20: The Guest

 After the release of You're Next, it was a success. It had delivered on what the film had promised itself as. It also helped establish Simon Barrett and Adam Wingard. I mean they also had a hand in the anthology series V/H/S if I remember correctly. For me, I was hoping to see if there was a way to do a sequel to You're Next. Ultimately, it's better as a one-off. But the cool thing for me was the mixing of genres within that film. Again, You're Next feels very Die Hard-ish by way of home invasion or The Strangers. 

When it was announced that they had their next film, I was ecstatic. I mean You're Next is very memorable. It's unique and fresh. To this day, it still holds up so extremely well. For me, it feels like it's the first time watching it all over again. Now, the follow up film is The Guest. Beware that there will be some spoilers to the film. So turn away while you can, if you haven't seen the film yet. 

The Guest is even more of a thrill ride than You're Next. It's also extremely different than You're Next. If my analogy for You're Next holds true, then The Guest is Terminator by way of Halloween. This film just oozes the Halloween atmosphere that not many films successfully manage to pull off. But it also pulls off the coldness that was ever present in The Terminator. 

The story of The Guest is as follows: 

A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcome into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence. 

That's a very clear cut simple story of a film. I think that's part of the reason why it works so well. It starts out super simple but then it just reveals the many many layers to it. It's also because of the characters. 

When we are introduced to our soldier, David - he's very genuine and polite. It's a fantastic performance from Dan Stevens. Yeah, I know Dan Stevens is in Downtown Abbey. At this point, I hadn't seen it nor have I still seen it. I know him for this film. He again is very genuine and polite. But there's an offness to him. There's something that we can tell he's holding back. What is going on with him? It's something that just plays so extremely well. It also helps that Dan Stevens is very likeable as well. 

We have the return of Maika Monroe. The last film that we had seen her in was IT Follows. She plays Anna Peterson. Again, she is very likeable. At first, she's a bit apprehensive of David - but she's still a bit curious about this mystery before her. She's also a bit protective of her family, which is understandable after the news of her brother's death. 

Brendan Meyer fills the role of Luke Peterson, the younger brother of Anna. Now, Luke is someone that admires David. It's understandable as Luke doesn't necessarily have much of a male role model in his life. So with David coming in with his swagger, that's just something that comes off cool to Luke. 

Sheila Kelley and Leland Orser round out the family unit as Laura and Spencer Peterson. Both of them deliver solid performances in their small bit of screen time. For the most part, they just feel like absent parents though. Probably due to the fact that they are mourning the loss of their son. 

And then the last outstanding performance is Lance Reddick. Here was one that came out of nowhere to me. I hadn't seen the trailers and had no idea he was in the film. He does a great job as the strong leader of a government organization. When the big twist occurs, it makes complete sense because of the fact that there is no one that could lend so much gravitas to it besides Lance Reddick. 

This film is paced very well. At first, we meet David and see his interactions with the Peterson family. He helps them out in many ways. In a sense, he does a good job of filling the role that their son could have. Many of them look to David in that surrogate way. Well except for Anna. Anna then spends time uncovering what's going on. And it's a hell of a twist. David is a liar. He was part of a government project that broke out. Very much, he was trained to kill with no remorse or conscience. Therefore, he's basically a living breathing Terminator. With this discovery, the film kicks it into overgear. It's very much a strong third act with some good ol' action as David just mows down anything in his way. It all leads to a standoff as Anna is trying to save Luke from David's warpath. It's incredibly tense as the use of a school transformed into a haunted house is used to great effect. 

This film is just a fun ride. It blew away any expectations I could have possibly had for it. You're Next and The Guest just ooze that special feeling of the films you'd discover in a local video store. That's something that doesn't come across much these days. It's something of a bit of a rarity. I think the most recent example we could look at is Malignant. So if you're looking for a solid flick with that video store feeling, look no further. 

Rating: 4 out of 5. 

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31 on 31 for Halloween Day 19: You're Next

 Welcome back everyone to Day 19 of our journey of 31 on 31 for Halloween. Tonight, we are going to be showing some love and discussing the film You're Next. (BEWARE THERE WILL BE A SPOILER) It's a film that definitely is one that caught me off guard when it was released. It is just so good. So much so that when had the chance, I highly recommended it to my Grandma. 

Now with my Grandma, she's the one that introduced me to the original Hitchcock classic - Psycho. We also used to watch Scream, Halloween and any other horror movies that we could find whenever I visited her. There was also a videotape she had called Creepy Classics. It was a compilation of scenes from horror films and trailers. The best part was that it was hosted by none other than Vincent Price. So, it wasn't outside the realm and throwing her wholeheartedly into the deep end with the recommendation. Safe to say though, she loved it. 

You're Next is definitely a film that's a bit special. It had a bit of a time being released. I remember that it had been shot and then was going to be released but then was delayed. For me at that point in my life, I had heard about it and was keeping an eye out on it. So there was a bit of an expectation that was beginning to form. 

Safe to say, it fully delivered on its promise. It is a total ride of a film. At first, the opening sets up to be in the vein of The Strangers and the home invasion genre. That opening is a bit creepy and has a lot of tension to it. The way that Looking for the Magic is utilized in the opening scene also feels a bit much like an homage to The Strangers. Again, it immediately gives off the feeling that this will be a typical home invasion film. 

All of the actors and actresses deliver incredible performances. One of the big highlights for the film is Sharni Vinson as Erin. She's our heroine in the film. She's also our entry as an audience to gain insight and access to Crispian (AJ Bowen)'s family. And boy what a family Crispian's family is. It's honestly a very realistic take on a family. Looking back at it now, the way they all interact with each other - it reminds me of the family from Knives Out. Barbara Crampton also made her big return in this film. At that point, it had been thought that she had retired from acting. But with Simon Barrett and Adam Wingard, she came back because the script was so so good. Her role as the mother of the family is so good. I found myself just totally at a loss with where her character ends up because of her fantastic performance. And man, I'm glad that she came back. If you haven't checked it out yet, go check out Jakob's Wife - she kills it in that film. 

When the three masked killers make their presence known, they do it in style. There is just so much tension in the film that left me wondering where things would go next. I tried to just guess where it could go, but I would be left with something coming out of left field to shatter my expectation. I would also try and figure out where the killers would be coming from next. The masks are also so distinct that helps make the film so memorable. The most iconic one being the Wolf mask. 

Now there's a twist in the film. When it is revealed that this was all a set up and that Crispian hired the killers. I was floored. It caught me off guard and out of left field. By this point, AJ Bowen had been a very nice guy. He appeared to be very loving of his girlfriend, Erin. He does his best to be there for her. But after that reveal, it changed how the film is upon rewatch. And holy crap. Bowen's performance is so deep as can see the glimmer of darkness in his eyes towards his family members. And ultimately with Erin. He wanted to be free and have money. So why not kill two birds with one stone? He just wasn't counting on Erin being a complete badass that can hold her own against the hired thugs. 

Then there's the ending for the film. The film was such a journey with Erin being taken through the ringer. It feels a little in the vein of Die Hard. Honestly, adding on to that - You're Next is Die Hard by way of The Strangers. And the punch of the ending just left me speechless. 

You're Next is an incredible film. Its one that should be seen. If you haven't go check it out, it's pretty available film to stream or to buy. I think it's available to stream on Hulu or Tubi. 

Also happy ten years You're Next. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5. 

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First Watch: The Exorcist

Hello everyone, here with another new series here at BlazinBlue's Horror Review. This is the First Watch series. Here, I will be covering older films that I haven't yet had the chance to see. Then I will be giving my raw thoughts on them. Keep in mind these will all be thoughts had during that initial viewing experience. 

Now, it's been known for a little while that I hadn't seen The Exorcist. Honestly it was a small bit of a running gag with the guys over at Essential Scares Podcast (if you haven't checked them out, go give them a look). So immediately that made me want to start this series off with The Exorcist. 

I tried my best to find somewhere to stream the film. Nowhere is it streaming. That's something that's a bit of a shame. I ended up tracking it down on Amazon. The only version that they had was Director's Cut. But I made sure it was done right and bought it on blu ray. Yesterday, it arrived in the mail and immediately I threw it into the PS4. 

First off, I want to say that I understand The Exorcist is a big film. It's a big cult film. It came out at a time when there was not many other films like it. I saw Cody Leach refer to it as being for the 70s what torture porn was for the 00s. Honestly, that is a really good analogy for it. It was a film that I had heard about while I was growing up. Everybody and I  mean everybody always refer to it as the scariest film ever made. Now, that may have been true when this film was released. I get that a lot of people have said it's their favorite film. I respect all of that. 

Unfortunately The Exorcist is not really for me. I honestly thought it was a bit meh. If I had seen this when I was younger, it may have been scarier for me. Watching it now after years of watching horror movies, it left the film feeling a little lacking. The pacing of the film is something that I honestly had a big part with. In the first act of the film, we have a section with a priest supervising a dig in Iraq. He discovers some smaller statues of Pazuzu that were buried. But the biggest thing he found was this massive statue displaying Pazuzu in all its glory. Honestly upon first watch it felt out of place and like padding for the film's runtime. Upon a second watch, I realized that the priest is supposed to be Father Merrin from the third act of the film. There's also the story of Father Karras. I understand that his interaction with his mother shows his guilt over putting his duty over family. Maybe seeing time with his mother is supposed to help us feel for him. But for me, I feel like it just takes time away from the story of Regan and her family. Especially when we just discover how Karras feels he's lost his faith and guilt over not being there for his mother in a discussion with Father Dyer.

Moving on we have the story of Regan and her mother. This was something that feels like it needed more to be fleshed out. Her mother is relatively more or less a parent that is a bit absent because of her job as an actress. But the love her mother has for her does come through as she realizes there's nothing she can do for her daughter. And the deep spiral into desperation and madness does come through pretty brilliantly. Least she's there unlike Regan's father. The whole deal with Regan's father being completely absent was something that did hit a little bit for me. Especially when they mention that he's just ignoring any calls from Regan's mother, what a dirtbag. It's something that I'm able to relate to because for my son - I seen his birth father. His birth father was very much a dirtbag in this vein. Only wanting to spend time with him when it was able to somehow help him. 

The biggest issue is that it takes so long to get to Regan being possessed. For a film that is about an exorcism, the pay off was lacking. It felt tame by today's standards. All of it coming down to Regan spouting obscenities, thrashing about, or bitch smacking people. 

Honestly, I felt like I had already seen the film. It probably is due to the fact that this story is so well known that it's been parodied so many times. That just amplified the parts I didn't know feeling a bit like fluff. I was also left wishing that there would have been more said about Pazuzu. All we basically get is a name and that it wants Regan. That really it. 

Ultimately, I didn't care for The Exorcist. I am keeping an open mind. Maybe with more rewatches and digging into the behind the scenes and commentary, I will find more appreciation for it. I am pretty interested in tackling the commentary with the director. 

First Watch Rating: 2.5 out of 5. 

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The Blue Review: Venom/Let There Be Carnage Double Feature

 Hello everyone, hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend so far. As I announced over on my Twitter (if you aren't following, go give it a follow), I was having a few new additions to the blog this month. Well I am here to kick things off with my first piece in what I am calling The Blue Review. The Blue Review will be a section where I will cover films, series and games outside of the horror genre. This was something that I have been thinking about for a while now. Especially because I nicknamed the blog as The Blue. (Actually a nice fun fact about this blog is that originally I was going to be going by that - The Blue Review. But decided with Blazinblue's Horror Review cause it rolled off the tongue a little more and more unique.)

Alright, just yesterday a new film in the Sony/Marvel Cinematic Universe was released. Oh yes, we are going to be talking about Venom: Let There Be Carnage and also the first film. Now, I understand that there a lot of people that are not going to like the film. Chances are they probably didn't like the original Venom film. Or they didn't like the tone of that original film. But there are people that enjoyed it quite a bit. 

For me, I am a Venom fan. I grew up watching the original 90s Spider-Man cartoon where they had Venom as a villain. I had a Venom #1 for one of the series - it was a really cool cover. It was Venom's face just staring at you and it would glow in the dark. Really badass. I'm also a comic fan. I grew up reading comics when my Dad introduced me to them during a time that I really needed them. My parents were going through a divorce. It was just Dad and I, by that point. We went to a Barnes and Noble and he told me to pick out a comic. Immediately I grabbed Batman Year One - striking red and black image of Batman staring at you. Next thing I dove into was Marvel's Ultimate line of comics - specifically Spider-Man and X-Men. Later on, I would go into reading through so much of this lineup. But the one story that just struck me was their take on the Venom story. 

Now, this take was and is probably considered a bit of a hot take. It did away with the outer space origin for the symbiote. It was a man-made entity that was designed to help one heal from wounds and such. It could have had the potential to even cure cancer. That to me was just so powerful. Then there was Eddie Brock, who was a bit more of an anti-Peter in a sense. He tries to come across as a nice guy when it fits his needs. But then proves he's a bit of a douchebag. 

I know - what does this all have to do with the movies? I'm going to get there. 

So I had a bit of understanding of a Venom story. Spider-Man 3 then released. Yeah, it may be the weakest of the Raimi Spider-Man films. Actually I may consider the first one to be the weakest. But for the most part, people weren't happy with the portrayal of Venom/Eddie Brock in that film. He was a big brute. He was lean and an anti-Spidey. Honestly, I get what they were going with that version. They wanted to have him be a dark mirror version of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker/Spidey. In that sense, they actually delivered on it. It's not that original comic version. It's basically a mix of the main Marvel line and a dash of the Ultimate line's Eddie Brock/Venom. The biggest mistake with that was there was no time for the story. They didn't do what Marvel would later come to do with laying the groundwork first. 

When they first announced that there would be a Venom movie, I was on the fence. I was very worried how it would go. Then they announced it was going to be Tom Hardy. Immediately, I began to get an idea of what they were going to do. Yeah, it was going to be another take on Eddie Brock. But I was very optimistic because at that point I dug what they did with The Amazing Spider-Man films. And then we got the Tom Holland Spider-Man, I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen with the film. 

This was going to be a Venom film that had no connection to Spider-Man. Partially, it's like getting a character in their second act and not first act. For me, that was okay. It definitely began to open up a lot of different possibilities for it. Yeah, I miss seeing the giant white spider on Venom. But it isn't necessary, it's not crucial to the essence of the character. 

Then word dropped on basically what the story of the first film would be. Eddie Brock is a down and out reporter/tv personality. He happens upon the symbiote after investigating a corrupt corporation. Then he's on the run trying to figure out how to stop said corporation while figuring out what this symbiote is. That's basically the story in a nut shell. 

By that point, I had read the Flash Thompson run with Venom. I really loved that take on the character. It was just so different from anything with Eddie Brock. I personally would have loved if they had maybe used the backstory of a soldier getting the symbiote for this new Eddie Brock. With multi-verse theory, that's something that probably did happen. 

So, it's safe to say that I was excited for the original Venom film. I didn't care that it was going to be Rated PG-13 like other fans. I was just happy to see the character on the big screen and told in a much better way than the Raimi take. That original film, it honestly was so much better than I could have hoped. It gave a basic superhero story but with a dash of the cosmic weird. Honestly you removed the symbiotes from that initial story, it feels very much in the vein of that original Raimi Spider-Man film. Now, there are some that will just say NO IT'S NOT. Think about it though. It is in that vein at least. 

Venom delivered on a superhero film that felt outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That was one of its biggest strengths. It's not cookie cutter Marvel feel. They made a film that is a fun ride. That's something that I hadn't had in a superhero film for a while. By that point in 2018, we had so many superhero films going that were serious. While they were good, it began to make things feel a bit stale. Well least with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it felt like just episodes of a tv series. 

The action in Venom is pretty good. It's a bit over top when it needs to be. Yeah, motorcycle chase I'm looking at you. There was also humor and weirdness. That's something I love so much is the humor adding so much levity to the film. Yeah, it's a bit camp. But that's the point. And yes, the weirdness is so weird at times. I mean look at the lobster scene in Venom. Eddie just climbing into a lobster tank at a restaurant and sitting there. It's so good. Is it trying to be a super awesome amazing superhero film? Nah, they just wanted to make a fun B-superhero movie. That's honestly what I would consider these films to be. 

Now, Tom Hardy is a huge reason why these work. He loves the character and world so much. Its this passion that just oozes from the film. And it's something that is super cool to see. 

Venom Rating: 4 out of 5. 

It's a fun film that understands what it's going for. It wants to be a B-Superhero Popcorn movie. And that's fantastic. 

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Now, Let There Be Carnage. The trailers for this film honestly do it a disservice. Again, I hate when marketing teams just don't understand how to market films. Honestly, I feel like there was no good way they could have marketed the film. The trailers make it look like another bombastic superhero flick with tons of action. That was very much my take away from it. 

However, there is a lot going on with this film. First off, I want to applaud Andy Serkis. (I love this man. He does such an incredible job with his films. I had checked out his Jungle Book film on Netflix, it was different than what I had expected. It has a lot of heart to it. If you have a chance, check it out. He also is such a great actor. From playing Klaw in Black Panther and Age of Ultron to Gollum to Cesar in the recent Apes trilogy, he has so much versatility and diverseness with his performances. There's always something to enjoy.)  When it was announced he'd be helming the film, I was on board. I knew that he would deliver something that people wouldn't expect. 

And holy crap does Serkis deliver on it with Let There Be Carnage. This film is an amplification of all the weirdness and humor from the first film turned up to 11. It basks in all of it. The humor is throughout the film. I found myself laughing at quite a few of the scenes between Venom and Eddie. It's very light-hearted and feels like a rom-com in a sense. Now, the relationship that is explored between Venom and Eddie. That's something I appreciate. While it's reveling in that light-hearted and humor, when you dive in deeper. It's honestly pretty frickin dark. One could view it as two people in an abusive relationship and how that effects them. And Tom Hardy does so much in the film. It's interesting knowing that there are scenes where he's acting with himself and only himself. 

Now with Cletus Cassidy, I appreciate Woody Harrelson's performance. It is a bit out there and weird in some instances. But it's very much the character from the comics. Actually the Cletus Cassidy and Shriek storyline is a simplified take on the one from the comic. I actually found myself really digging it. It was pretty touching seeing this relationship. Then I remembered Oh yeah, they both killers and a bit off their rockers. 

Carnage. At first, I didn't know what they were going to do with him. They do the character justice. He's more than Venom. He is a whole complete force of nature that just tears through anything he can. He has so much glee in all the destruction. Very much a reflection of Cassidy's base psychotic instinct. 

There is some action in this film. The trailers make it look like it's completely bombastic. However, that is a bit of misrepresentation. I know we were just hoping for Venom and Carnage to be duking it out a lot. However, this film takes that hope and flips it. I honestly appreciate that. It makes us eager to see them come together and appreciate it when they do. The whole end fight with Venom and Carnage is so good. It's very gothic and wouldn't feel weird outside of a Universal Horror film. 

I had the pleasure of taking my son with me to see it. He had seen the first film and enjoyed it. This film he really loved. He was never bored with it. That's definitely a plus for the pacing of the film. It moves like a rollercoaster of just going. And before I knew it, it was over. That's my only complaint with the film. I wish it was longer. If it had been ten-fifteen minutes longer, we could have had more time with the characters. 

Now, I'm going to say something that a lot of people may disagree with. And I'm prepared for that. However, it's my opinion and you can take it or leave it. When I talked about the first film, I talked about B-Superhero popcorn movies. If I had to classify Let There Be Carnage, I honestly would say that this is the Raimi Spider-Man 2 level of B-Superhero Popcorn movies. It's such a fun ride that I could find myself watching it over and over and never being bored. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5. Amplifies the first film to 11. 

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Welcome to the Blumhouse: Black as Night

 Hello everyone, I had the pleasure of attending the virtual premiere for Amazon Prime and Blumhouse's new installment of their Welcome To The Blumhouse series. This is a series of films that first premiered in 2020. For me, it feels like a natural next step and sister series to Hulu's Into The Dark series of films. Honestly, it's easy to see why Blumhouse is everywhere and is now the big name in horror. And yes, they have usurped the throne from New Line Cinema and Lionsgate. 

During this premiere, you had the choice to watch either Bingo Hell or Black As Night. All I had to choose from when I made the choice was just going off the sypnosis for each film. I made a note to myself to avoid trailers. Because well trailers tend to spoil a lot of things in films these days. I mean did you see the last trailer for Halloween Kills? So with my choice before me, I texted my partner - Mandy and asked her to choose between A or B. They chose B and immediately clicked Black As Night and here we are. 

Black As Night was written by Sherman Payne and directed by Maritte Lee Go. It stars Ashja Cooper, Fabrizio Guido, Mason Beauchamp and the great Keith David. 

The story of the film goes a little something like this "A teenage girl with self-esteem issues finds confidence in the most unlikely way, by spending her summer battling vampires that prey on New Orleans' disenfranchised with the help of her best friend, the boy she's always pined for, and a peculiar rich girl."

When the film first began, I honestly did not know what to expect. I had stayed away from the trailer and really had glimpsed over the sypnosis initially. I was definitely approaching this film in a completely different mindset than I have ever done before. I was going in completely with an open mind. Going in blind and only knowing the title. 

Well, I am happy to say that I'll be taking this approach with more movies down the road. I think the next one will be for Bingo Hell when that releases. So stay tuned for that review. It honestly just made everything hit very well because it was just so fresh. 

Now, teenage girl battling vampires. I know what many people immediately think of when they hear that. Buffy. I mean come on, even our heroine of the film references it. Heck, there were a moment or two when I immediately started thinking of that. I quickly shut that down though. This film is not that nor is it trying to be. 

This film hit me as a different kind of vampire film. It is completely steeped in so much history. This is a film that is told through a diverse perspective with such a diverse cast. It's also one that is a much more modern take on New Orleans as well - through the lens of a post-Katrina New Orleans. And honestly that's a big thing. Because typically we see the romantic approach (i.e. Princess and The Frog) and not one grounded in a little more modern day. 

Now don't get me wrong. This film isn't grounded in reality. I mean it's a film with vampires in it. But the interesting thing about it is that it's a take that's not been seen before. The head honcho in this film is not in the vein of Dracula. He is a vampire that was turned in the 1800s and has had to witness each of the historic events that happened in the world. At one point, they even go as far to mentioning 2020 outright. They are of this world. They just happen to have glowing eyes a little bit.

There are some deaths in this film. There is some blood in it as well. The effects are really solid. But for the most part, they take a backseat to the story. So we are able to invest ourselves with our heroes and heroines. We are able to get to know some of them. Would I have liked to spend a little more time with them? Yeah, it would be nice. But overall, it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the film. One of the standout effects for me was when the vampires are staked. I literally was caught off guard at first. So much that it left me laughing at myself. It was definitely very different, fresh and unique take on what we are used to seeing. 

At this point, it hit me that I haven't dove too far into many details. Honestly, I don't think I will. This is a film that is a fun ride. It's enjoyable and by the end I was ready for more. I hope that they are able to do more with the story - whether a sequel or something else. The world that is established in this film is very unique. In a way, it's our world. 

So do as I did, stay away from the trailer. You don't need to read the sypnosis. Go in completely blind and you might be surprised. Honestly, it's the best way to experience the film. It's definitely one that I will return to. It also never overstays its welcome. 

Rating: 4 out of 5. 

Black As Night is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

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