(Lucio Fulci, 1980)
Sometimes titled The Gates of Hell, depending where/how you watch it. Fulci's gorefest about how a priest's suicide unleashes a horde of the undead in a small town. I believe this my third Fulci I've watched for Horrorfest, and it may have been the grossest one yet as I'm not sure much can top maggot vomit. Or vomiting up one's own intestines. Might have reached the top of the charts with that. I'll have to make a mental note to watch future Fulci's on an empty stomach. Luckily, this has mood and atmosphere to spare. With Christopher George and Catriona MacColl. GRADE: B
OLD
(M. Night Shyamalan, 2021)
Another divisive entry into Philadelphia's own auteur's oeuvre. Some will absolutely despise this. I think if you take it as a thriller/dark comedy riffing on a Twilight Zone-esque scenario, this totally works and is even very good. Several families are taken to a secluded beach near a swanky resort where time moves faster than usual, resulting in everyone aging at a rapid pace. Shyamalan occasionally writes dialogue that no great actor can deliver in a way that doesn't sound completely awkward, but I found that fitting for such a heightened atmosphere. He's a better director than writer, as evidence by the palpable sense of dread. With Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Thomasin McKenzie, and Abbey Lee. Took me forever to realize that was Embeth Davidtz at the end! GRADE: B+
(Roseanne Liang, 2021)
Chloe Grace Moretz stars as a World War II pilot who boards a bomber plane much to the chagrin of the male crew. Armed with top secret cargo, she soon finds herself fending off a monstrous presence. The first third or so of this was very good, with a definite Twilight Zone link. About halfway through it does something colossally stupid, and never quite finds its footing again. It doesn't help that the subtle but still good effects eventually turn quite bad. I'm hoping someday Liang gets the budget to do what she wants because she does have a lot of talent, and this is also a good showcase for Moretz. Great score, too. Nice feminist touch at the ending! With Nick Robinson and Taylor John Smith. GRADE: B
And two anniversary rewatches...
(John Landis, 1981)
Happy 40th to the first film that won the Oscar for Best Makeup! From what I gather, I first saw this in the late aughts. I thought I saw it before that, but I guess not. I do remember watching the poorly received 1997 sequel - An American Werewolf in Paris - shortly after it came to VHS. I also remember always seeing the VHS box of this at the video store when I was a kid. This hybrid of comedy and horror follows two American college students backpacking through Europe. Hitting the English moors, they are attacked by an animal that kills one of them and puts the other in the hospital. There, he begins to notice some changes once the moon becomes full. Worth noting that the dazzling transformation sequence doesn't occur until nearly an hour into the film. Even forty years later, London has a distinct vibe that hasn't been successfully replicated since. With David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, and Jenny Agutter. GRADE: A-
(John Dahl, 2001)
Have I ever mentioned here how the road thriller is one of my favorite subgenres? Well, it is. And this is one of the best! Equal parts Duel and Scream, Paul Walker and Steve Zahn play estranged brothers who are stalked by an insane trucker after a prank goes wrong. Dahl's tight directing keeps thrills coming, and the screenplay was co-written by JJ Abrams before his career took off. At a lean 96 minutes, Joy Ride doesn't waste a second. It was Walker's most natural performance, while Zahn is fantastic as the fuckup brother. I always felt he didn't get the career he deserved, but this is my favorite work of his. He gives the film a very grounded sense of humor. (The "Bitch!" bar scene is an all-timer.) Genre fave Ted Levine provides the voice of Rusty Nail, and it's one of the genre's best vocal performances. We get everything we need to know about Rusty through Levine's work. The film spawned two mostly dismal direct-to-DVD sequels. Leelee Sobieski, who has since retired from acting, co-stars. Happy 20th to this truly underrated gem! GRADE: A-
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