(Andre Ovredal, 2010)
Norwegian "found footage" film about a group of film students who look to find what happened in a series of bear killings, but come across a man who hunts trolls. Not really a horror film, more of a fun fantasy with some great humor thrown in. Special effects are effective, and there's several really good action set pieces. Otto Jespersen's performance as the troll hunter is the best part, flourishing the fairy tale elements yet grounding it in reality. Summitt is planning a remake. May I suggest Liam Neeson in the title role? One thing they should consider is dropping the found footage angle. I get its intention, but it came off as a distraction most of the time. GRADE: B
THE BLOB
(Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr, 1958)
Steve McQueen! Then Steven McQueen, the hunk stars as a 28-year-old teenager who along with his teenybopper friends (all in their 30's) battles a big red blob that overtakes his small town after crashing from space. I watched Criterion's edition, which was colorized. A drive-in staple, this is deliriously campy fun. Though I wanted more shots of a giant blob wreaking havoc. There really wasn't any? I loved it invading the theatre and everyone running out. In regards to the ending, I'm sure a remake could address the global warming issue. GRADE: B+
THE ROOST
(Ti West, 2005)
I loved West's House of the Devil so much I thought I'd check out one of his earlier efforts. I believe he was right out of film school when he made this. It does come off at times like a student film, especially the acting. While the college kids won't be winning Oscars anytime soon, West's talent shows through. Labled boring by many people on Netflix, West really knows how to draw out the tension. He is very limited by the budget of the film, which is about a group of college students on their way to a friend's wedding when they have car trouble. Arriving at a desolate farm house, they are soon fending off killer bats that turn people into zombies. The storyline is riddled with cliches as you can tell, but when the film works it works. Bookended by a "late night horror show" hosted by Tom Noonan, this aspect doesn't work at all, and the ending is too abrupt. I wish we had more of these late night horror shows still around, though. GRADE: B-
DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW
(Frank De Felitta, 1981)
TV movie (though you'd never know it) about a mentally challenged man wrongly accused of murdering a young girl. Some men in the town kill him, and a while later are haunted by a scarecrow that comes for them one by one. Seems a lot of people who remember watching this as a kid on late night television hold it in high regard, and I see why. While there is some minor blood, this is more suspenseful and some things are rightfully left unexplained. The story and characters are kept first, though I'm not sure why exactly the four men believed they were totally innocent of the crime. Of the cast, only Charles Durning is famous. This could easily be remade, though they'd probably ruin the film's ambiguous ending. GRADE: B
MANHUNTER
(Michael Mann, 1986)
First Hannibal Lecter movie, though he's here named Lecktor. Remade by Brett Ratner in 2002 under the novel's original name, Red Dragon, this ranks along Silence of the Lambs as the best of the Hannibal movies. Here he's briefly played by one of my faves, Brian Cox. William Peterson is excellent as the detective tracking down The Tooth Fairy killer, despite being damaged from his previous case involving bringing in Hannibal. Cox's version of the legendary psychopath is not as mannered as Hopkins, and is probably closer to how the character is intended to be: a psychotic genius. Mann's stylized 80's noir directing may come across as dated to some, but works very thoroughly in the context of the film. Cinematography, like all of Mann's films, is perfect. This is one of those films where being very much of a product of its time works for it. Some of the editing of the climax left me a little cold, but I doubt I'll ever think of "In-a-gadda-da-vida" the same way. Tom Noonan (again!) is masterful as the serial killer. There's apparently many versions of this available, but I watched the theatrical version. A box office disappointment when it opened, the film has amassed a cult following. Despite how the character Hannibal has entered the lexicon, most people still aren't aware of this film. Check it out not just because you love serial killer procedurals, but because William Peterson in short shorts is very worth it. GRADE: A-
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