Horror Bites - They're Creeping Up On You

IT FOLLOWS (2014)

A lot of modern horror these days falls into the category of bland, with the likes of Insidious and Sinister blurring together not only in terms of their homogeneous titles, but the generic supernatural plot elements. They have forgettable casts of family units and there's an overall lack of charisma. Elsewhere the lingering smell of the Blair Witch Project and its found footage ilk remains. The type of haunted house jump scares these projects are littered with replace any really imaginative elements, which is a shame. And don't get me started on all of the remakes out there. It's understandable that the old-school slasher movie won't get as many theatre seats filled, thanks to the age rating problem. But still this is a disappointing state of affairs. Luckily there are those who try something new, which is to say they borrow from other sources.

Horror Bites - Ninety-Nine Red Balloons

IT CHAPTER TWO (2019)

Well boys and girls, here were are with the conclusion to Stephen King's It. Again. The ending to the original TV movie is one of those memories many viewers share similar feelings about. The adult actors aren't as good, the pacing is off, and the internal logic of the story quickly falls apart. Particularly during the final battle with unspeakable horror, and that whole shoe-string budget spider set piece. It sets a clear template on what to avoid, with all the pitfalls mapped out. Surely nothing can go wrong this time, right? But in their efforts to reproduce the elements that worked in part one, it seems as though they've spent all their time shoe-horning in extra childhood scenes. In a strange turn of events all the important elements have been overlooked.

Horror Bites - Evil Within

HALLOWEEN SEQUELS (1981 & 1988)

Time for a few spooky sequels. Depending on who you ask, the original Halloween series has a selection of highlights to choose from. Some enjoy the first direct follow up, while others prefer the zanier aspects of part four. Others are adamant that the whole thing was a mistake and only the original is worth sitting through. Perhaps you enjoy some of the later remakes and reboots. Or perhaps you're in one camp or another regarding the perennial debate surrounding part three, with all of it's Silver Shamrock silliness. Personally I'm more of a fan of the music in most of these cases than the films themselves. So let's take another Autumnal jaunt into the world of Michael Myers and his singular wardrobe choice.

Review Roundup - Thank the Maker

DUNE (2021)

Long delayed, and coming after multiple prior adaptations that never quite hit the mark, this latest excursion to the desert world of Arrakis has been somewhat anticipated. There were several good omens during the wait. Director Denis Villeneuve was a fan of the material. His work on science fiction thriller Arrival proved he had the chops to delivery a narrative involving precognition, and other big concepts, without laborious dialogue. The film itself would be allowed to breathe since the plot would be split into two chapters. But would other pitfalls be avoided? Could the story be executed faithfully in a modern blockbuster? Would the characters have emotional depth and charisma, or would it be another Blade Runner 2049? With part two being give a green light the results are certainly worth examination. 

Scorecard

SEPTEMBER

FILM OF THE MONTH Kelly's Heroes

Monster Bites - Clash of the Titans

PACIFIC RIM (2013)

Guillermo Del Toro's work has a particularly nice texture, thanks to his special blend of horror and beauty. There's a creepy magic, a certain atmosphere of melancholy. It elevates the stock elements like vampires, or ghosts. But he also makes films in English occasionally. I shouldn't be too harsh, as the enthusiasm for the craft is clear. But while they are generally solid something gets lost in between a masterpiece like Pan's Labyrinth and a popcorn flick like Hellboy. The trade paperbacks of Mike Mignola's anti-hero are worth reading. The art and the writing seems simple but has a lot of depth, and the characters are done well with a subtle sense of humour. However, on film it becomes a teen melodrama, and the weight of doomsday is swapped out for Hollywood clichés. So you understand I went into Pacific Rim with some anxiety.