Supposedly in the original script the scene where they wake up the engineer goes a little different. They have a conversation. Now how damn cool would that have been? Instead this super intelligent alien just roars and attacks them mindlessly like an animal.

YES! Exactly! I was SO excited to see what he would have to say to the android, and instead this supposedly hyper-evolved being just starts slapping bitches and not even caring to ask questions later. That being said, I really hope they make that sequel they've talked about, because the ending promises some potentially amazing stuff!

[JuZ]

Prometheus was a pretty cool flick. Visually pleasing, of course, being a Riddley Scott movie. The themes and ideas were insanely cool, and that is kind of why, when the main characters started talking about

Spoiler: show

how she can't have a baby

, I couldn't help but sarcastically think "Oh, right, almost forgot that a movie can't possibly keep our interest without human drama and conflict! No way fucking god-like aliens and discovering their secrets would be fascinating enough to fill 2 hours!". But fuck it, I liked it anyway. I was just left wondering how awesome it would be to see a movie this beautifully made (and budgetarily unrestrained) that could focus its whole running time on exploring these cool things without having to stop every 15 minutes to show us people screaming and running and arguing and so and so.
There are huge groups on Facebook about how cool science is, I think there is now an audience for a film like that.

Oh, and "young Magneto" and "Stringer Bell" were fucking cool!

Btw, shouldn't there be a general movie-discussion thread? I want to express how amazing that Cumberbatch fella sounds as Smaug in the new Hobbit-trailer!

I've posted this link more than once, but if you haven't seen it I recommend it. Very interesting essay on Prometheus that emphasises the fact that Ridley Scott sci fi films are about so much more than what's going on in your mind the first time you watch them (Blade Runner being the definitive example) :

http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html

I suppose that the thing about a movie like Prometheus is that in order to get a budget big enough to make it look as incredible as it did, you need to convince studios that it will be a box office hit. A proper hit, not just a hit with the fans, a "cult" hit 10 years from now. I would also assume that there would always be some level of artistic compromise when you are creating what is seen as a commercial venture by so many of those involved in the process.

By the way, this has become sort of the default movie discussion forum so, short of us giving it a new title etc., feel free to bring up movie discussion that isn't about a film you just watched. I know I do that anyway.

I'd like to hear a bit more of Smaug's voice but what I've heard so far is pretty good. And Cumberbatch is doing very well for himself isn't he? A fine actor indeed.

Very interesting read, and it's that kind of stuff that I loved. I want to emphasize that I did like the movie a lot. I just wanted even more of the "discovering" and less of the "running away from the discoveries screaming and dying". More sci-fi and less horror, in other words.

Yeah, that Cumberbatch has a pretty badass voice, and with the enhancements done to it digitally... dat bass! I got those goosebumps that I get when listening to Alien. That scene between him and Bilbo is going to be immense, I reckon.

Horror flick for today, The Innkeepers.

Today's film was Ti West's The Innkeepers. My first introduction to West was his film House of the Devil (which I watched in a previous October Horror Binge), a slow-burning film that I absolutely loved. The Innkeepers is a slow-burning story as well centered around a couple of young hotel employees trying to catch footage of a ghost haunting the small hotel.

Like House of the Devil, West makes you wait for around 3/4s of the film for any of the big scares. This technique of horror filmmaking is, in many ways, like walking a tight rope--and a technique that, when done right, is probably one of my horror favorites. Making the audience wait for something explosive and satisfying at the close of the movie can make the journey to get there seem all the better. However, if the ending doesn't stand up sturdily against the wait it pretty much ruins the journey to get there. Unfortunately, The Innkeepers is by and large the latter. I loved the build waiting to see how West would close out the film, but was only rewarded with a stereotypical ending that was too little, too typical. West obviously has a lot of talent as a filmmaker, but I think in trying to replicate the formula of House of the Devil he shot himself in the foot and came out with a film that wasn't fully realized through a good ending. Not a bad film but one that in the end disappoints.

6.5/10

http://horrorbingechron.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-innkeepers.html

[JuZ]

Supposedly in the original script the scene where they wake up the engineer goes a little different. They have a conversation. Now how damn cool would that have been? Instead this super intelligent alien just roars and attacks them mindlessly like an animal.

YES! Exactly! I was SO excited to see what he would have to say to the android, and instead this supposedly hyper-evolved being just starts slapping bitches and not even caring to ask questions later. That being said, I really hope they make that sequel they've talked about, because the ending promises some potentially amazing stuff!

I'm trying to remember my reaction as it was a while ago. But I think my first thought was something along the lines of "I'm just going to assume that the engineer's motives are beyond me, just as my motives are beyond the mind of a chimp." That almost-suspension of disbelief did the job pretty well, but I too wanted something more from the engineer than what we got.

Supposedly in the original script the scene where they wake up the engineer goes a little different. They have a conversation. Now how damn cool would that have been? Instead this super intelligent alien just roars and attacks them mindlessly like an animal.

YES! Exactly! I was SO excited to see what he would have to say to the android, and instead this supposedly hyper-evolved being just starts slapping bitches and not even caring to ask questions later. That being said, I really hope they make that sequel they've talked about, because the ending promises some potentially amazing stuff!

I'm trying to remember my reaction as it was a while ago. But I think my first thought was something along the lines of "I'm just going to assume that the engineer's motives are beyond me, just as my motives are beyond the mind of a chimp." That almost-suspension of disbelief did the job pretty well, but I too wanted something more from the engineer than what we got.

Even though they're not in the final film, at least you can enjoy those moments in the deleted scenes.

[EphelDuath666]

Day 3: Re-Animator (integral cut)



Re-Animator was the movie of the day and boy was it fun to watch! It's campy, it's nuts, it's gross...it's got everything that is great about horror flicks from the 80's. Haven't seen it in ages and I actually went for the special integral cut this time which you can find on the recent German release of the movie by Capelight (apparently region code free). It includes additional, beautifully restored deleted scenes which make the movie even better. This might just be Stuart Gordon's best movie although my personal preference may tend towards From Beyond after all. But in any cases, this is a great old school horror flick.

[JuZ]

Supposedly in the original script the scene where they wake up the engineer goes a little different. They have a conversation. Now how damn cool would that have been? Instead this super intelligent alien just roars and attacks them mindlessly like an animal.

YES! Exactly! I was SO excited to see what he would have to say to the android, and instead this supposedly hyper-evolved being just starts slapping bitches and not even caring to ask questions later. That being said, I really hope they make that sequel they've talked about, because the ending promises some potentially amazing stuff!

I'm trying to remember my reaction as it was a while ago. But I think my first thought was something along the lines of "I'm just going to assume that the engineer's motives are beyond me, just as my motives are beyond the mind of a chimp." That almost-suspension of disbelief did the job pretty well, but I too wanted something more from the engineer than what we got.

Even though they're not in the final film, at least you can enjoy those moments in the deleted scenes.

Ooh really? Sweet. Haven't watched it since the first time but will hopefully land it on BR eventually.

[EphelDuath666]

Day 4: The Brood

David Cronenberg is known for his seriously messed up and weird movies. And 'The Brood' is no exception. It may not be 'Videodrome' or 'Naked Lunch' weird but it's still odd enough to freak one out. And it's actually quite scary...even today, comparing it to other, more recent horror movies. Atmosphere and subtle horror are far more important in this movie than cheap scares and gore. I have to say this is probably one of the best horror flicks I have seen, both recently and over the past few decades.

[EphelDuath666]

Day 5: Society



Directed by Brian Yuzna, director of Return of the living Dead 3 and producer of classics such as Re-Animator, Society tells the tale of a young guy who thinks that his parents and sister are different and not like him. He keeps seeing his family acting strange but no one seems to believe him. His sister's ex-boyfriend believes him however and tells him about a secret society that his family is part of.
God I LOVED this movie. You can really tell that Brian Yuzna produced movies such as Re-Animator and From Beyond as Society is quite similar in many ways. Lots of practical special effects, the grossest mutations one can think of, lots of silly and dark humor...it's all there. I'm sure I will revisit this one again.

Riddick

It was pleasant surprise that mood and main theme was similar to first of the series, Pitch Black. Although this is more streamlined and testosterone driven variety of sci-fi, it isn't packed with action from first second to last. I would even say that pace was quite slow but not in a bad way. Vin Diesel show this is of course and if persona don't appeal to you then I would pass, otherwise actually quite enjoyable.

Oh, Re-Animator! On my list for the month.

So I've fallen a little behind posting here the past couple days, here's the past 2 days but no movie today. Too busy yo!

10/4: Friday the 13th Part 2, the movie that finally introduces Jason proper! Well, not exactly Jason proper (i.e. no hockey mask) but close. I find it so fascinating that the killer we always remember from Friday the 13th is the hockey mask-wearing hulking manchild, but this character doesn't even show up until the 3rd film in the series. This stands out so much from the two other "big" slasher films, where Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger have been the serial killers we know and love from their very first film. In that way, Jason stands out.

This film, though, doesn't really. It's kind of a staple of the classic slasher that they're all essentially the same, so I'm willing to excuse it that for the most part. This is basically a remake of the 1st complete with the DUMBEST TEENAGERS EVER (maybe being slutty makes you extra stupid?), just with Jason as the killer rather than his mother. It's entertaining, makes you yell at the screen constantly wondering WHY THESE BITCHES BE SO DUMB, and is laughingly, enjoyably predicable. All in all it's just fun popcorny horror.

7/10

10/5: So this is a repeater from last year, but I loved it so much I wanted to watch it again this year. With that said, I'm quite glad I did--there is so much more to gather watching this a second time.

Cabin in the Woods' brilliance lies in how it examines the tropes and mechanisms of the horror genre. As I've watched so many horror films in the last few years I've kind of gotten to know all these mechanisms, especially the ones in the "Cabin in the Woods"-y type films (i.e. slasher types). What this film sets out is an explanation for why. Without giving anything away, the movie explains everything from the idiocy of the characters in horror to the usually seemingly senseless motivations of the killers.

Last year I gave this a 9.5/10 due to the ending, but this year, after giving it some thought, I'm giving it a perfect 10. This time around the ending made a lot more sense and I think was another great explanation of what purpose the horror genre serves in our modern society. Again, it's hard to discuss it without giving it away, but you know... just watch it.

Cabin in the Woods is a stellar homage to horror built by horror fans for horror fans.

10/10

Rewatched the 2008 swedish film "Let the right one in". If you haven't seen this one please do yourself a favor and go rent it.
It's amazing how well the movie can depict these complex characters. Excellent story, cinematography, pacing, soundtrack and incredible acting from the two leads. Everything about it just works. I was moved so deeply and I'm not even sure why.

[youtube]ICp4g9p_rgo[/youtube]

I think I'm gonna go buy this one.

[EphelDuath666]

Day 6: Deranged

Deranged is based on Ed Gein's story. But it's more like Psycho rather than Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with some dark humor mixed in. I haven't seen this one before and it was actually quite enjoyable. It was certainly more bloody and more gory than Psycho and less over the top than TCM. It's still a B-movie for the most part so you can't expect any performance miracles but the cast actually does a pretty fine job. Especially Roberts Blossom who plays the main character Ezra (Ez) Cobb. So I can definitely see myself revisiting this one.

Day 7: American Mary

this movie may not totally qualify as a horror movie but I think it still fits into the whole Halloween marathon thing just fine. On the one hand it's a revenge thriller but on the other hand it's unlike any movie I have seen before. A young woman wants to beome a surgeon and ends up getting raped by her teachers so she uses her skills to get back at them. It was actually quite fun, strangely funny at times and just quite unique. At least I can't say I have seen any/many movies like this. Definitely worth watching.

Rewatched the 2008 swedish film "Let the right one in". If you haven't seen this one please do yourself a favor and go rent it.
It's amazing how well the movie can depict these complex characters. Excellent story, cinematography, pacing, soundtrack and incredible acting from the two leads. Everything about it just works. I was moved so deeply and I'm not even sure why.

I think I'm gonna go buy this one.

Fuck, thanks for reminding me! Can't believe I still haven't seen it, especially considering that the story takes place/was partly filmed in the same goddamn suburb I grew up in!