21st- Eyes without a Face:
A French film from 1960 that is very well regarded and is seen as an inspiration of many future films. The story centers on an unfortunate girl who has had her face horribly disfigured in an automobile accident and is forced to wear a mask. Feeling responsible for his daughters accident the girls father, a doctor, becomes a full blown mad scientist luring beautiful girls to his lab in order to attempt a face transplant for his daughter. The film has little gore by today's standards, but does a great job of developing its characters and their motives. While I wouldn't consider it a must see, I do understand why some people hold it in high regard and can see where other film makers have looked to this film for inspiration.
6.5/10
22nd- Shivers:
The first major film from one of the greatest horror directors of all time, David Cronenberg. This film is a classic example of the "body horror" sub-genre that made the Canadian master famous. The film is about a pathogen that spreads from person to person making them sex starved zombies who engage in giant orgies. The film is equal parts scary and gross. Not the greatest movie in Cronenberg's catalog, but a quintessential one nonetheless. Check out The Brood, The Fly, Dead Ringers and Videodrome by Cronenberg if you are a fan of this flick, and his version of Crash if you are turned on by car crashes.
7/10
23rd- Rubber:
Easily one of the most original and strange films I have ever seen. On the surface this is the story of a serial murdering car tire that can blow people up using its "mind". However, this is also one of those self-aware meta films and is sorta like scream meets rear window meets film school. I imagine film professors love this film. Great combination of clever, funny and bizarre. Wears out it's welcome some towards the end, but you got to admire the film makers for trying such a unique story.
7/10
Below is the absolutely incredible opening scenes to one of the strangest films I have ever seen:
24th- Inside:
Inside is one of the most notorious entries in the "new wave of French horror." The film tells the story of a now single, pregnant female who recently survived a car crash. On this particular night she is viciously attacked by a mysterious woman intent on taking her still unborn baby. The violence in this film is like nothing you have ever seen before, it is incredibly graphic and absolutely unrelenting. In a previous blog entry I ranked this film along with Martyrs, another new wave of French horror flick, as the duel 6th most disturbing film I have ever seen. Simply nothing can describe how uncomfortable and jumpy some of the scenes make you feel. Impossible to watch without covering your eyes. There has been talk in the past about a possible American remake, I for one will absolutely never see that film as I doubt I will ever get the nerve to re-watch the French original. Beatrice Dalle in this film is unforgettable; the thing of nightmares.
7/10
25th- Evil Dead 2:
My favorite film of all time. What more needs to be said? Obviously it is great so check it out if you haven't already seen it. Apparently the French version is available in full on youtube for any of you bilingual readers. Evil Dead en Francais
9.8/10
How Bruce Campbell did not win, or even get nominated, for the Oscar is unforgivable:
26th- Poltergeist:
I have tried several times to watch this movie, but honestly every time I try I either end up turning it off or falling asleep. A lot of people really like this film and the director is Tobe Hooper, the horror legend who made Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Salem's Lot, so I know I have to at least give it a shot. I think I just can't get over the Stephen Spielberg executive producer credit. That sentimental dbag has no place in the awesome genre that is Horror.
5/10
27th- Bride of Frankenstein:
This is the very well regarded 1935 sequel of the 1931 Universal monster flick with the original cast all returning. The film continues right where the last one ended with the monster and doctor seemingly murdered. When they both eventually return to health the doctor is about to give up on his experiment with reincarnating the dead when he is visited by his mentor and convinced to make his creation a bride. This film is most memorable to me because of the weird little men that the mentor has created; why are they not nearly as big a deal as Dr. Frankenstein's monster? I was a little disappointed in this flick as my favorite part of the original, doctor Frankenstein, was a little more subdued in the sequel than his off the wall performance in the original. Not bad, but not the absolute classic I had expected.
6/10
28th- The Wolf Man (Original obvi):
The final of the classic Monster movies that I watched during the loooooong, seemingly never-ending October. The Wolf Man is another classic story that everyone knows. Like many of the classic Universal monsters from the 20s and 30s The Wolf Man offers memorable images and plot, however it lacks the scares and violence/gore of modern horror movies. Also like the other early monster flicks the movie is noticeably very short. I thought that Lon Chaney was great as the title monster, playing a complex character who is truly guilt ridden with the violent acts his monster side embarks on. Not a bad film, definitely worth a watch if you can find it. However, I would recommend the 2 classics from the 80s, An American Werewolf in London and The Howling, if you truly want to see a high quality werewolf flick. The Wolf Man was simply made too early to have special effects that get anywhere near the complexity present in those two great movies from the 80s.
6/10
Below is the incredible transformation from An American Werewolf in London. Made over 30 years ago but the practical effects still look phenomenal
God Dammit Kurt Russell is cool! His badass character in this film, RJ MacReady, is the reason why I began drinking J&B scotch. The film concerns an American research outpost in a remote area of Antarctica that is invaded by a shape shifting Alien that was unearthed at a Norwegian research area that has since been destroyed by fire. Since the Alien can shape shift into a perfect replicate of any animal, this film creates an intense atmosphere of fear and claustrophobia as no one is sure whether their immediate neighbor is themselves or a creature from space out to kill them and take over their planet. The characters are great; each has a distinct personality and is unique in their own way. Kurt Russell puts in a star performance as the lead, but all the actors are mostly upstaged by the incredible, practical effects. One of the absolute classics of the horror and science fiction genres.
9.2/10
30th- Deep Red:
I have mentioned numerous times about my love for the Italian slasher/thriller horror sub-genre called Giallo. Deep Red is one of the better, but not best, of the films by the master of giallo Dario Argento. Like most giallo flicks, the film follows an average person, in this case a music teacher played by David Hemmings, who witnesses a violent murder and goes on an amateur investigation to find the murderer. The film includes many thrilling moments but is especially well known for its incredible over the top death scenes. Many regard this as Argento's masterpiece but I prefer Tenebre and Opera because I think the score by electronic puck band Goblin add so much great atmosphere to those flicks that this one was unfortunately lacking. Nevertheless Deep Red is still a very solid flick that hits all the high notes of the genre. And to think I found this Italian classic in a 50 DVD "Chilling Movie" pack which cost $5 and is made up almost exclusively with the lowest of the low budget awful horror films.
7.8/10
31st- Halloween (Do you even have to fucking ask? Of course it is the 1978 original horror masterpiece not that piece of shit Rob Zombie dragged Malcolm McDowell into in 2007):
After 30 movies watched in the previous 30 days I FINALLY made it to the finish line. While I had grown incredibly tired of watching movies by this stage, watching the classic that is Halloween I instantly remembered my love for the genre and regained the enthusiasm I had at the start. I simply love this movie, it includes everything that a great horror movie should have. It is so well known and created so many sequels and imitators because it is simply that good. While not the first slasher film, John Carpenters 1978 masterpiece seemingly started every major horror movie cliche. One of the absolute greatest scores of all time, so simple yet it is instantly recognizable and to this day still brings chills to my bones. Not sure what else there is to say, great premise, great characters, great villain, simply the best! Everything you will ever want from a horror movie.
9.5/10
Here is the great opening scene from Halloween, one of the most famous in horror movie history:
Bonus Review- Frankenhooker:
I was given this DVD by my coworker along with Blood Diner, reviewed previously, after we had a conversation at work about our favorite horror movies. While she told me she liked these films for their campiness and utter craziness, she did also warn me that they were slightly lewd, vulgar and cheaply made. Boy I wish I had headed her warning and skipped this one. While Blood Diner was over the top sex/gore/camp, it at least had a good balance and somewhat likable characters. Frankenhooker on the other hand has no likeable characters. The main character is a creepy, and I mean creepy, guy who kills a bunch of hookers to take their various body parts to combine with his dead sisters head/mind to create the perfect woman. Weird right. While I am no Victorian when it comes nudity/gore in the movies I watch, clearly, even I was pretty repulsed by most of this movie. It is one thing to have some over the top nudity and gore when it is done for a comical reason, but everything in this film was just done in really bad taste. If you want to watch a well made "B-movie" I would suggest Re-Animator, if you want to watch poor acting/directing/writing/effects when by all means check out Frankenhooker.
5/10
Bonus Video (Spoiler Alert): I wanted to simply recommend the film Phenomena to everyone, but seeing as it is an Italian production and hard to find I doubt that anyone would actually take me up on my recommendation. So below for your enjoyment I give you the most ridiculous ending to any movie I have ever seen. I was absolutely blown away when I watched this the first time, utter insanity. Do not watch the below clip if you think you might someday watch the whole film, I don't want to spoil one of the greatest surprises in horror history.
