So in light of the recent DVD release of The Stepfather, I will list a few of the greatest movies of psychotic family members.
The Shining
Who doesn’t love this movie? As a kid, this scared the ever living poo out of you; and it still does to this day. Don’t lie. It is a classic story of family moves to hotel for winter, son has psychic powers, mother is fugly as hell, father loses mind slowly, son writes redrum on a door, and “Heeereee’s JOHNNY!” as an axe goes through the door. This movie is a classic and is one of the few ‘epic horror’ movies. No other like it; that is why it is top of psychotic family member list.
Mommie Dearest
Not really a horror movie, but when you see Faye Dunaway play someone as psychotic as Joan Crawford, you have something scary. The movie is based off a book written by one of Crawford’s daughters. In it, she claims that her mother abused her and treated her and her brother like crap, to say the least. Whether it happened or not, we will leave it to you, but remember, “NOOO WIRE HANGERS”
Orphan
Here is a good one; a story about a Russian girl that is adopted by a family who can not have any more children. She seems nice and innocent at first, but, Ester has a secret. The movie is paced very well and keeps you one edge wanting to know what exactly this secret is. The opening is a little weird but gets you into. This movie may startle you into wanting to adopt, but don’t let it; just stay away from Russian children.
Psycho
Here is the mother of all horror movies and psycho families. More like F***ed up families. The story of Norman Bates may look like he is a normal, quiet hotel manager taking care of his sick mother. But when Janet Leigh checks, she learns that mother is a bitch and that mother is a boys’ ONLY friend. But wait, didn’t mother die some odd years ago? Hmmm… I wonder who it is then.
Carrie
A classic 70s movie of a insecure catholic girl, secluded form the world by her overprotective mother. She gets picked on by the kids at school and has no friends because mother thinks everyone is the devil. When she finally is let to go to prom, it’ll be the last prom that everyone will attend.
The Stepfather
This is a remake of a movie of the same name. This one stars the guy from Nip/Tuck and Congo from years ago. He plays a killer who changes his look and hooks up with a woman who is a single parent, to only end up killing them and moving on. Only this time, he finds a family that is a little smarter. So what is he hiding in the cupboards in the basement?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Surrogates
Lately, Bruce Willis really hasn’t been in any memorable movies. But recently, he has made my ears perk up with Surrogates, a new Sci Fi movie that is labeled action but is way much more then that.
The story takes place about 50 years into the future, in a world where people no longer live their lives through their own bodies, but through robots. You can create a robot to look how you want and have it be perfect, but you will be the only one that will be able to use it. With this, there hadn’t been any murders or crime in a long time, until someone kills the son of the creator or surrogate. To solve this murder, who else other then Bruce Willis, whose surrogate is rockin some good hair, is called on to it. As he gets closer to solving it, the closer he is to seeing the meaning of life.
The plot may sound silly or what have you, but it is actually a very deep movie. It isn’t a rock em sock em action flick, it shows how living life through your own eyes is more precious then through someone or something else’s eyes. I highly recommend this to anyone, it has enough action that moves it along, the story is great and the acting is very well done.
I recommend it on blu ray if you have a player.
The story takes place about 50 years into the future, in a world where people no longer live their lives through their own bodies, but through robots. You can create a robot to look how you want and have it be perfect, but you will be the only one that will be able to use it. With this, there hadn’t been any murders or crime in a long time, until someone kills the son of the creator or surrogate. To solve this murder, who else other then Bruce Willis, whose surrogate is rockin some good hair, is called on to it. As he gets closer to solving it, the closer he is to seeing the meaning of life.
The plot may sound silly or what have you, but it is actually a very deep movie. It isn’t a rock em sock em action flick, it shows how living life through your own eyes is more precious then through someone or something else’s eyes. I highly recommend this to anyone, it has enough action that moves it along, the story is great and the acting is very well done.
I recommend it on blu ray if you have a player.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
ZOMBIES!!
Ok, so today I think it is time to review some movies of a sub genre that was started by a man who has made some of the biggest cult classics. His name is Romero; and the genre I am referring to is the zombie genre.
So to start off the list, I will review the best of the genre, the Living Dead series.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This is the first Romero movie and the best. To be honest it is the best zombie movie ever. It is an old movie, but the way it is made makes it so gruesome. The effects are done so well, and with the black and white make it even creepier. This is how zombies were originally done and should be to this day.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
This is defiantly the best in the series and also the all time best zombie movie. When some people watch this, they say the SFX are stupid and whatnot; the makeup for the zombies is very simple, for the extra zombies they basically covered them in blue paint and some blood and with zombies with close ups they added more makeup.
While the makeup is cheesy, the quality of the movie and of the story is not.
Day of the Dead (1986)
This is the third movie in the series. It is not as popular as the first two, but it is really worth watching. The story is much better then that in Night and Dawn and the SFX and makeup is so much better and gruesome. The meaning, though, is not as strong as Dawn and that’s why this is not as good.
Land of the Dead (2003)
This, I have to say, is the worst of all the series. The story and message behind it are very good, but ultimately, the movie fails. It would have been very good had Romero stayed to his roots and kept to being independent rather then selling out to Universal and having them take control and making it THEIR own rather then HIS own. This is not the only time a major company has screwed up a movie.
Diary of the Dead (2007)
This is one of the most recent Dead movies and probably the second best in terms with story. The concept of the hand held camera use is getting a little old, but is done very well here and adds more to it. The acting is all right for the most part, some actors could have been replaced. The best part of the movie, though, is the message. The message has to do with human nature and the whole internet craze. If you like the others in the series you will really like this one.
Coming Soon…
Survival of the Dead
Release Date TBA
Here are some remakes of the Dead movies…
Dawn of the Dead (2003)
Here is one of the best remakes of a movie. Remaking a Romero zombie movie is very hard; you have to do it new while keeping the message across. While this is a great movie, there are a few things to say about it.
One thing that is really bugging me about new zombie movie these days, running zombies. It is a cheap way to make zombies scary when all it does is make the movie senseless and brainless. This is a prime example of that.
With that said, this movie is still great. It keeps close to the original story and message while making it its own movie.
Night of the Living Dead (1993)
This remake was directed by the makeup artist of the Dead movie, among others, and actor for other movies. This is a colorized version of the original basically. There is nothing new or original in this movie, but it is gorier and in color. It is not a horrible movie but not one to rush to see.
Here is a list of other great zombie movies…
28 Days Later
This is probably one of the best zombie movies ever, not including the Dead series. This is one time where running zombies fits. The reason: because it adds to the concept of what the virus is, which is the Rage virus. When your angry, you run and twitch, that’s why it fits perfectly compared to decaying, dead people running like the are Kenyans in a race.
This has a new look and feel for not only the zombie genre but movies in general. It is scary but also is very deep. I highly recommend this to almost anyone.
Zombieland
This movie is a recent one. This spot was reserved for Shaun of the Dead, which is also a great movie, but because this movie I think is funnier, I put this here instead. The humor of this movie is just so funny, you start to cry. It has the running zombies, but it adds to the chaos of what’s happening. It is pretty gory, is the funniest comedy of ’09, next to The Hangover. If you like zombie movies, you’ll love this movie, if you don’t, well you still might like it.
Dead Alive
This will be the last on the list. This is one of Peter Jackson’s earliest movies, this is when his style was different and quirky rather then epic on scale. This is probably the best zombie movie in terms of humor and gore. It is very hard to get into because of how weird it is, but once you get into it, strap in for a bumpy ride of humor and mayhem.
So to start off the list, I will review the best of the genre, the Living Dead series.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This is the first Romero movie and the best. To be honest it is the best zombie movie ever. It is an old movie, but the way it is made makes it so gruesome. The effects are done so well, and with the black and white make it even creepier. This is how zombies were originally done and should be to this day.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
This is defiantly the best in the series and also the all time best zombie movie. When some people watch this, they say the SFX are stupid and whatnot; the makeup for the zombies is very simple, for the extra zombies they basically covered them in blue paint and some blood and with zombies with close ups they added more makeup.
While the makeup is cheesy, the quality of the movie and of the story is not.
Day of the Dead (1986)
This is the third movie in the series. It is not as popular as the first two, but it is really worth watching. The story is much better then that in Night and Dawn and the SFX and makeup is so much better and gruesome. The meaning, though, is not as strong as Dawn and that’s why this is not as good.
Land of the Dead (2003)
This, I have to say, is the worst of all the series. The story and message behind it are very good, but ultimately, the movie fails. It would have been very good had Romero stayed to his roots and kept to being independent rather then selling out to Universal and having them take control and making it THEIR own rather then HIS own. This is not the only time a major company has screwed up a movie.
Diary of the Dead (2007)
This is one of the most recent Dead movies and probably the second best in terms with story. The concept of the hand held camera use is getting a little old, but is done very well here and adds more to it. The acting is all right for the most part, some actors could have been replaced. The best part of the movie, though, is the message. The message has to do with human nature and the whole internet craze. If you like the others in the series you will really like this one.
Coming Soon…
Survival of the Dead
Release Date TBA
Here are some remakes of the Dead movies…
Dawn of the Dead (2003)
Here is one of the best remakes of a movie. Remaking a Romero zombie movie is very hard; you have to do it new while keeping the message across. While this is a great movie, there are a few things to say about it.
One thing that is really bugging me about new zombie movie these days, running zombies. It is a cheap way to make zombies scary when all it does is make the movie senseless and brainless. This is a prime example of that.
With that said, this movie is still great. It keeps close to the original story and message while making it its own movie.
Night of the Living Dead (1993)
This remake was directed by the makeup artist of the Dead movie, among others, and actor for other movies. This is a colorized version of the original basically. There is nothing new or original in this movie, but it is gorier and in color. It is not a horrible movie but not one to rush to see.
Here is a list of other great zombie movies…
28 Days Later
This is probably one of the best zombie movies ever, not including the Dead series. This is one time where running zombies fits. The reason: because it adds to the concept of what the virus is, which is the Rage virus. When your angry, you run and twitch, that’s why it fits perfectly compared to decaying, dead people running like the are Kenyans in a race.
This has a new look and feel for not only the zombie genre but movies in general. It is scary but also is very deep. I highly recommend this to almost anyone.
Zombieland
This movie is a recent one. This spot was reserved for Shaun of the Dead, which is also a great movie, but because this movie I think is funnier, I put this here instead. The humor of this movie is just so funny, you start to cry. It has the running zombies, but it adds to the chaos of what’s happening. It is pretty gory, is the funniest comedy of ’09, next to The Hangover. If you like zombie movies, you’ll love this movie, if you don’t, well you still might like it.
Dead Alive
This will be the last on the list. This is one of Peter Jackson’s earliest movies, this is when his style was different and quirky rather then epic on scale. This is probably the best zombie movie in terms of humor and gore. It is very hard to get into because of how weird it is, but once you get into it, strap in for a bumpy ride of humor and mayhem.
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