Category Archives: Movies

3rd Installment of Annabelle Arrives in Time for Summer

11 Tuesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Annabelle, conjuring, Movies, Uncategorized, Warrens

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3rd Installment of Annabelle Arrives in Time for Summer

Annabelle Comes Home (2019) hits theaters on June 26. In the meantime, catch up on some facts and inconsistencies in the infamous Annabelle story.

Annabelle Comes Home (2019) picks up immediately after the Warrens take the possessed doll home and place her in their occult museum. In the 3rd installment in the series, the doll sets her sights on the Warrens’ daughter Judy, now played by Mckenna Grace. Annabelle causes the other items in the museum to manifest and focus their combined demonic energy on Judy.

This will be the directorial debut of Gary Dauberman, who wrote The Nun, both It Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, and the earlier Annabelle films. The bar may not be that high for him to cross.

Doll

Here are some facts and inconsistencies about Annabelle.

  1. This will be the 3rd movie in the series.
  2. It is the 7th movie in the Conjuring franchise.
  3. The real doll is an over-sized Raggedy Ann doll.
  4. It was purchased either in 1968 or 1970 by a nursing student’s mother.
  5. Donna is the nursing student who was terrorized by the doll, along with her roommate Angie and other nursing student Lou.
  6. Early articles spelled the doll’s name as “Annabel.” Somewhere along the way, it changed to “Annabelle.”
  7. None of the Annabelle stories have been corroborated against Ed and Lorraine’s accounts.
  8. The first 2 Annabelle movies starred Sterling Jerins as “Judy.” She has been replaced with Mckenna Grace.
  9. Mckenna Grace starred as “Juliet” in the flop Amityville: The Awakening (2017).
  10. Initially scheduled for a July 2nd opening, the movie was bumped up a week as not to compete the eagerly expected Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019).
  11. Follow the money. Industry expectations for Annabelle’s opening weekend are $35-45 million with a total domestic tally of $101 million.

 

 

The Nun (2018) Conjures Up Largest Opening Weekend for Franchise

10 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by in Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

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The Nun (2018) Conjures Up Largest Opening Weekend for Franchise

The Nun raked in $53.5 million over its opening weekend—far exceeding projections. Filmed on a shoestring budget of $22 million, The Nun is a financial success; however, it failed to excite critics and fans alike.

Friday night’s episode “Damaged” on The Dead Files was more believable than the latest offering in the Conjuring franchise. The movie opened with the all-to-cliché disclaimer: “Based on a true story.” Unfortunately, it isn’t. There are more effective ways to insinuate a true tale of horror. Instead, the producers decided to lie. Horror audiences aren’t that gullible.

The film follows Father Burke, played by Demián Bichir, the Catholic Church’s “Miracle Hunter” who has been assigned the uninitiated Sister Irene (played by Taissa Farmiga) as they travel to the isolated Carta Monastery in Romania to investigate the suicide of one of the cloistered nuns. The year is 1952.

Narrative and jump scares propel the film forward. The backstory is complicated as Father Burke and Sister Irene pick up Frenchie, played by Jonas Bloquet, who provides much needed comic relief. The story is slow in places; the jump scares predictable in others.

However, it’s important to stay until the end.

The 96-minute horror movie is rated R.

5 Things I Learned from The Nun

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in exorcisms, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

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5 Things I Learned from The Nun

  1. Father Burke, played by Demián Bichir, is called a “Miracle Hunter,” not an exorcist. Watch the movie and decide if the correct title is used.

DemianBichir

  1. The Carta Monastery in Romania, the named location in the film, was built by Benedictine monks around 1202-1206. At no point in time did it transfer into the hands of a sadistic Count.
  2. The Corvin Castle, where the movie was filmed, may have a checkered past; however, that past is nothing compared to the story relayed in the film. The Romanian Minister of Culture owns the castle.

GodEndsHere

  1. This addition to The Conjuring franchise focuses on the Catholic Church the most. That may explain the couple next to me who left. Using a religious relic from Christ may have been a bridge too far for some moviegoers.
  2. The movie opens claiming, incorrectly, that it is set in 1952 and based on a true story. Most Conjuring franchise fans know this is incorrect. However, there are still many moviegoers—and I mean a lot—who fall for this marketing ploy.

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Ghost Team (2016) Offers Up Campy Fun

02 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in Ghost Hunters, Horror Movies, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

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Ghost Team (2016) Offers Up Campy Fun

A man who is trapped in the monotonous cycle of adulting seeks to become the newest member of a fictional TV paranormal team. After assembling a team, they trespass onto a large, seemingly abandoned farm searching for evidence of paranormal activity. Sometimes we all need campy fun, and Ghost Team delivers.

Jon Heder stars as “Louis,” a man who realizes that his adult life is not the one he envisioned. He owns a single location copy shop. He chain smokes and dreams of being more, much more. He wants to be a paranormal star—like Jason Hawes and Steve Gonsalves (from the real TV show Ghost Hunters) who make cameos. One day property owner “Mitch” enters requesting 15 laminated “No Trespassing” signs for his “creepy” property that looks like it’s haunted. Louis assembles his team singing to “Dream Weaver” and hoping to hit the paranormal jackpot. Unfortunately, all they have is a crackpot, played by the wonderfully refreshing Amy Sedaris.

Admittedly, this is not a blockbuster film to the caliber of Poltergeist. It’s a low—seriously low—budget film that began streaming a month before its limited release opening. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that with all the emotionally draining news and mega-blockbuster film releases, it’s nice to clear the clutter in our brains by just watching an innocuous film. This is the film to watch.

Okay, so the reviews are weak; the Tomatometer is green. Go in with low expectations, and you will not be disappointed. The irony is that this film nails the boredom and tediousness that paranormal investigations entail. The movie may have received more “star” ratings had a paranormal investigator reviewed it because there are more laughs than reported.

Fair warning, though: IMDb.com places this movie’s genre as merely “Comedy.” Running 83 minutes and rated PG-13, Ghost Team is streaming on Netflix.

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What We Do in the Shadows (2014) is a Kiwi Delight

19 Monday Mar 2018

Posted by in Horror Movies, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

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What We Do in the Shadows (2014) is a Kiwi Delight

The BBC created a listing of the top 100 greatest comedies of all time. They polled 253 film critics from 52 countries compiling a comprehensive international list. What We Do in the Shadows came in at #62. Not too shabby for a low budget New Zealand production. This kiwi vampire mockumentary entertains and delights.

A film crew follows three vampires as they adjust to modern living with roommates, assign chores from the chore wheel, and navigate the singles scene in Wellington, New Zealand. Filmed for $1.6 million dollars, the film grossed over $6.9 million in the United States alone. The film is probably one of the most financially successful horror/comedy films Americans haven’t heard of. That is until now. Amazon Prime is streaming the film for free.

The three lead actors are large stars already. Taika Waititi, “Viago,” recently directed Thor: Ragnarok. Jemaine Clement, “Vladislav,” is the writer/actor responsible for Flight of the Conchords (TV series 2007-2009 and now a major motion picture opening in 2018). Jonny Brugh, “Deacon,” is a series regular on 800 Words, playing on US PBS stations, as “Monty.”

Walking

A mockumentary is “a motion picture or television program that takes the form of a serious documentary in order to satirize its subject.” Rob Reiner coined the term during press junkets for the film This Is Spinal Tap (1984), probably the most successful mockumentary film produced. Other examples are Best in Show (2000) and Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999). They are also called fake documentaries. Comedy is a key genre to a mockumentary films success.

Critics enjoyed the movie. Roger Ebert gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars. It has a 7.6/10 rating on IMDb and a 96% Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score. Rolling Stone Magazine’s Peter Travers says it best: “But when the vamps hit the town to party with werewolves, zombies and the strangest creatures of all, you won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face. A good sign.” Actually, it’s a fantastic sign for the B-movie.

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Taiki and Jemaine secured $1.4 million dollars for a spin-off of this film. It will be a 6-episode 30-minute situation comedy (sitcom) tentatively titled Wellington Paranormal. It follows police detectives Mike Minogue and Karen O’Leary reprising their roles in What We Do in the Shadows as they investigate paranormal phenomena. The website Gizmodo calls it “like the X-Files­ but with zombies and werewolves.” Stay tuned for US access.

Netflix Delivers a Super Bowl Surprise: The Cloverfield Paradox

05 Monday Feb 2018

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Netflix Delivers a Super Bowl Surprise: The Cloverfield Paradox

Variety dropped the bomb less than 2 hours before Super Bowl LII’s kick-off. Netflix was releasing the highly anticipated The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) early. As in directly after the game ended early. What a nice surprise!

The Cloverfield franchise was named to confuse movie audiences. It was a spoof for the 1st installment simply titled Cloverfield (2008). The sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), maintained the overall theme but took the narrative in a new direction. The 3rd installment, The Cloverfield Paradox, links the films and is set in the 2008 time frame.

Be warned: This is not an Aliens copycat. It remains true to the tone and tempo in earlier films—all the way up to the end.

The Cloverfield Paradox is currently streaming on Netflix. Its theatrical debut was scheduled for April 20th. Not currently rated, the movie runs 1 hour and 42 minutes.

Update: The movie is rated TV–MA.

The Cloverfield Paradox Debuts Tonight on Netflix

05 Monday Feb 2018

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The Cloverfield Paradox Debuts Tonight on Netflix

Who cares about the Super Bowl when J.J. Abrams’ 3rd installment in the Cloverfield franchise debuts on Netflix tonight? Only those who are counting down the final minutes of the game to switch over to Netflix and catch the highly anticipated movie. The Cloverfield Paradox streams 2 ½ months before the theatrical release date. It will reportedly tie the prior two films, Cloverfield and Cloverfield Lane, together. Stay tuned for a review. Until then: Who’s winning?

In the meantime, view the trailer here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2548396/videoplayer/vi3973560345?ref_=tt_pv_vi_aiv_1.

10 Facts about Sarah Winchester & The Winchester Mystery House

02 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Haunted Houses, Hauntings, Historic Places, Movies, Uncategorized

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10 Facts about Sarah Winchester & The Winchester Mystery House

Dame Helen Mirren’s Winchester (2018) opens nationwide today. The film is a pseudo-bio pic focusing on the eccentric firearms heiress who was supposedly haunted by the ghosts of those killed by the Winchester Repeating Arms. It’s more Hollywood fiction than truth. However, movie-goers love a good ghost story. Here are 10 facts about Sarah Winchester and her labyrinth of a house.

  1. Sarah Lockwood Pardee Winchester was widowed in 1881 when her husband William Wirt Winchester died at age 43. She inherited $20 million dollars and relocated to present-day San Jose, California.
  2. Sarah was petite at 4’10” and suffered from arthritis. She was incredibly private, and few photographs of her exist. SarahWinchester
  3. Sarah converted the 8-room farmhouse into a Queen Anne Revival house with 160 rooms. The house was constantly remodeled for 30 plus years, until Sarah’s death in 1922.
  4. The house sustained extensive damage from the 1906 earthquake. Sarah was inside the house in the Daisy Bedroom at the time of the earthquake and was trapped for several hours.
  5. The house boasts over 10,000 panes of glass, letting in a lot of natural light.
  6. The number 13 is repeated in design features.
  7. Sarah was probably a Spiritualist. She was not haunted by the ghosts of those who fell victim to her husband’s rifles. She was in perpetual mourning for her only daughter who lived less than two months and her husband. Early biographers think she felt closer to her husband by adding onto the house because he was an architectural enthusiast.
  8. The urban legend that she continually built onto the house originated long after her death and was popularized by psychic Susy Smith in her 1967 book, Prominent American Ghosts.
  9. More than 12 million people have visited the house. Tours have been updated and new rooms and crawlspaces have been added for repeat visitors.
  10. The movie company purchased the photography rights; however, most of the movie was filmed in Australia. Sound stages were used since the rooms, stairways, and crawlspaces were too small for filming. Winchester

Insidious 4: The Last Key Opens in US

07 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Horror Movies, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

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Insidious 4: The Last Key

Chapter 4 in the popular Insidious franchise opened a month earlier than expected this past weekend. Still, there was plenty of time for movie critics to review and to thoroughly trash the film. Filmed on a meager $10 million-dollar budget (considering the entire franchise has brought in over $378 million), the film takes parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier back to her former home to investigate strange phenomena. The film is expected to pull in $26 million in the US and land in 2nd place behind Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. From the reviews I’ve read, I’ll wait for the film to stream.

The first Insidious (2010) made $97 million worldwide. This was a huge margin of profit considering the estimated budget was a paltry $1.5 million. The initial film was the strongest and best; however, Chapters 2 and 3 grossed more. The production company rubber-stamped a Chapter 4 and seems fine with the lackluster film. [Note: The films should be viewed in their story order which is 3, 4, 1, and 2.]

Insidious

The Guardian gave Chapter 4 2 stars. Jordan Hoffman likens Elise’s sidekicks Specs (played by screenwriter Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (played by Angus Sampson) to the Scooby-Doo gang with their Mystery Machine van. Hoffman bluntly states that the film “squanders its opportunities to get interesting.”

Although NPR’s Scott Tobias enjoyed the interplay between Lin Shaye’s Elise with Specs and Tucker, he tired when the film enters the predictable “The Further.”

RogerEbert.Com’s Simon Abrams warns viewers to bring a friend. He writes that the films really are improving but some viewers may miss the subtlety. He writes: “This one is almost good.”

Insidious: The Last Key’s release date was moved up in anticipation for February’s highly anticipated Winchester starring Helen Mirren as the haunted heiress to the Winchester gun fortune and the Irish film The Lodgers which has garnered solid reviews. If you’re a monthly moviegoer, see all three; however, if you must select one, choose The Lodgers.