Tag Archives: horror movies

Phobias (2021) Delivers

08 Thursday Jul 2021

Posted by in Binge this Movie, Horror Movies, Movie Reviews, Movies

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Movie poster for Phobias (2021) and movie still of Macy Gray.

The New York Times’ article “Five Horror Movies to Stream Now” came at the perfect time. Okay, I didn’t actually read the article; I jotted down the titles and streaming services to get me through Tropical Storm Elsa. I figured the films would be palatable, if not great. I viewed Phobias (2021) first. Initially, I expected a knockoff B grade film, but I was quickly proven wrong. This horror film delivers.

You can take my word for it and stop reading now. Go stream it. Then read the reviews.

The film is divided into short vignettes that are linked by a deranged governmental doctor, who has imprisoned patients who exhibit extreme phobias in an effort to exploit their fears. Each vignette details how the patient came to the facility.

I enjoy opening and closing credits. I play a game trying to link names with prior roles. When Macy Gray’s name appeared, I was confused—was she the same R&B singer? (Answer: It is!) The opening credits also show each writer and director for each segment. This raised a flag. Many films attempting to bring together distinct stories often fail. But I continued watching.

This film is not a slasher film. The gore is minimal, which seems to be the largest complaint about the movie, but present. The film is rated R. The acting is consistent, the other complaint, but may come across as choppy due to each director’s vision—the main issue with these anthology attempts.

The final story stars Macy Gray. And boy does she shine. Phobias fills the void created by COVID binging. It is currently streaming on Hulu.

The Awakening Is Traditional Ghost Story

15 Sunday Oct 2017

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

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Poster

 

Halloween is quickly approaching. I have challenged myself to watch 10 new horror movies this year.

First up is The Awakening (2011). The Awakening is a traditional ghost story. It’s contains the elements used back in the day before slasher movies exploded onto the movie screen. This English film is set in 1921 after the war. Florence Cathcart debunks paranormal frauds and works with police to expose these criminals. She has been invited to the boys’ boarding school where staff has reported seeing a child ghost. This film is a traditional ghost story. The tagline: “All the children are gone…except one” drives the film. This film satisfies horror movie aficionados and newbies who freak out over too much blood. This film was crafted in the British horror tradition.

View this movie on Netflix before Halloween ends. Rated R for horror content and running at 1 hour 42 minutes.

It won several awards including London Film Festival’s Best Newcomer for Director Nick Murphy. Mr. Murphy took home three awards at the Gérardmer Film Festival and “The Golden Raven” award at the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film (BIFFF). Lead actress Rebecca Hall was nominated for “Best Actress” at the British Independent Film Award.

 

 

 

Is That a Banjo I Hear?

24 Sunday Sep 2017

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

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HalfBodyFront

Is That a Banjo I Hear?

Eli Craig’s 2010 cult classic Tucker and Dale vs. Evil features two hillbillies, played by Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk, heading out to fix up their waterfront vacation house. The house is an abandoned cabin set deep in the West Virginian woods. While loading up on supplies, “Tucker” and “Dale” encounter a large group of college students heading out on a camping trip. Queue the banjos. Not so fast. As NPR’s film critic Ian Buckwalter asks: … “what if that banjo were just a bango?” This limited-release feature film upends the horror genre by injecting comedy into the plot.

Poster

A group of college students rely on stereotypes and mistake a couple of mountain men as serial killers. Through continuous miscommunication, the college students get picked off much like students in another cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Make no mistake, though, this is not a spoof or a reboot. The film stands on its own and deserves the favorable reviews it has garnered. Read some of them here:

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/29/140854152/tucker-dale-vs-evil-deliver-ance-us-yall;

New York Times Critic’s Pick: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/movies/eli-craigs-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-review.html?ref=movies;

The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-29235.

Filmed for $5 million, critics doubted the viability of the production. The movie was a film festival favorite being nominated and winning a few special awards. Its release was limited; however, it really—like really—bombed at the box office. Ultimately, the movie exceeded the budget by earning $15 million with strong screenings abroad. It became an instant classic. With it streaming on Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon, the R-rated comedy/horror movie has become a solid cult classic.

In 2014, the sequel was announced. Asked last month, Tudyk and Labine reaffirmed their interest in a sequel once a suitable script is approved by Craig. Seems they’re up for another adventure. Queue the synthesizer.

Marthasville–Yeah, I’m a Screenwriter, too

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Horror Movies, Marthasville, Paranormal, Uncategorized

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Marthasville

Marthasville—Yeah, I’m a Screenwriter, too

My writing career has taken many paths. In addition to writing blogs and legal motions, I write screenplays. Actually, my undergraduate degree is in Cinematography, back when we hiked across campus with our Super 8 cameras and spent our evenings in the audio booth splicing double tracks hoping to God they aligned with the video, which was shipped to Seattle for development. The days before video cameras and smartphones and computer software editing programs. And way before screenwriting software. (I now see retro typewriters are having a revival) Screenwriting was placed on the back-burner as I focused on other pursuits and mixed media art. Now, it, too, is having a revival. I have partnered with playwright Duane Willoughby to write horror movies.

Our first screenplay is tentatively titled Marthasville. I combines what we know best: comedy (Duane) and the paranormal (me). A family is brutally murdered in the late 60s. The small Georgia town is torn apart. Fifty years later the secret is released onto the town.

That’s all I can divulge at the moment. Watch this space for updates.

Haunting of Cellblock 11 Released on DVD with Bonus Features

11 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Horror Movies, Movie Reviews, Prisons

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Haunting of Cellblock 11

Haunting of Cellblock 11

Haunting of Cellblock 11 Released on DVD with Bonus Features

Bonus features trump the ease of Video on Demand (VOD) purchases. And the Haunting of Cellblock 11 raises the stakes. Released last week, the Andrew P. Jones film includes two additional segments: the History of the Missouri State Penitentiary and a Director’s Commentary. Even though I purchased the digital copy, I have ordered the DVD just to get the bonus features.

The movie was filmed on location at the now closed Missouri State Penitentiary. Known as “the bloodiest 47 acres in America,” the prison operated from March 1836 to September 15, 2004. The prison housed male and female prisoners. Its history included riots, executions, and prison breaks. In addition, visitors have experienced unexplained paranormal phenomena. Visit the official Website, http://www.missouripentours.com/, for more information.

Also included in the DVD package is an on-going Commentary with Andrew and some of the actors. Andrew assures viewers that it is not the stuffy commentary feature other movies include. I cannot wait to view!

On a side note, this movie is NOT a “found footage” film. Found footage is a sub-genre of movie making where raw, unedited footage is assembled as the movie. Examples may be documentary films or collage films. It can be fictional or non-fictional. Basically the director uses film footage as a “found” object. Andrew did not use found footage for this movie. Further, all of the footage in the Haunting of Cellblock 11 was unique to the movie. This movie was filmed based on a script, which Andrew wrote.

I thoroughly enjoyed Haunting of Cellblock 11. It is a great horror movie. View it for what it is: an independent film shot on a low-budget. To review the movie otherwise does the film a disservice and reduces the writer’s credibility. Order your copy and make sure to watch the added features. I will!

Andrew P. Jones Returns to Archer Paranormal Radio

05 Thursday Mar 2015

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Haunting of Cellblock 11

Haunting of Cellblock 11

Andrew P. Jones Returns to Archer Paranormal Radio

Prepared to be scared! Writer/Director Andrew P. Jones returns to Archer Paranormal Radio tonight at 7 pm EST. View the trailer of his hit horror movie Haunting of Cellblock 11 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRe5Kx3xHIs. The film follows the crew of the fictional Ghost Sightings TV show as they film in an abandoned prison. The movie is “far out” and super frightening. Log into the Live Paranormal Chat Room where Jenn and 2L Lisa will take questions. Tune in tonight at 7 pm EST at www.liveparanormal.com.

Horror Movie Abigail: Walls Have Secrets, Too

07 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Live Paranormal, Movies, Radio Show

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Abigail

Abigail

Horror Movie Abigail: Walls have Secrets, too

Filmmaking has expanded in the Atlanta area. API Gals’ friend Brian Popkin, CEO of Elfkin Studios and Post Productions, has been involved in two 48 Film Project in Atlanta. This year’s entry was a zombie spoof. Pure comedy! It won an audience award for best short. In addition, Brian is now involved in a full-length horror movie, Abigail: Walls have Secrets, too, which hits theaters in 2015/2016.

Tune in Thursday, October 9th at 7 pm EST to Archer Paranormal Radio, www.liveparanormal.com, as Brian discusses his film projects and his paranormal experiences.

6:10 Like Horror Films

21 Thursday Aug 2014

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Conjuring--Annabelle Doll

Conjuring–Annabelle Doll

6:10 Like Horror Films

If 6 out of 10 people like horror films, why do so many horror films suck? Traditionally, horror films are low-budget, or micro-budget, films that could potentially catapult an unknown actor, screenwriter, director into the stratosphere. Horror movies have dedicated fans and enduring franchises. Screenwriters continue to push the limits of the genre. Now it’s time to reel it back in. Horror films don’t need to be complicated. Alfred Hitchcock’s movies were simple: few cast members, few locations, few distractions. Classic formula. Quit screwing with it!

The formula is tried and true. Tell a story through film. Show don’t tell. Start with action. Sprinkle backstory once the audience is hooked. Most importantly: There needs to be a hero. Someone—anyone—must survive. And it should be someone the audience likes.

Too many horror films conclude with an abstraction here: villain, demon, mirror. No thanks. Franchises are built on the hero surviving for the sequel. Remember Jamie Lee Curtis? She lives. Watch Scream for the rules. There are rules, just like any other genre.

Horror films are not difficult to write. Getting produced is another story. (See “Haunting of Cellblock 11: Success with Crowdfunding” for discussion) While ambitious independent filmmakers embark on their horror film production, I expect great things. I expect a strong protagonist. I expect a sequel. I expect a likeable hero to survive. Long live the horror film genre!

 

Haunting of Cellblock 11: Success with Crowdfunding

21 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Media, Movies, Prisons, Radio Show

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Haunting of Cellblock 11

Haunting of Cellblock 11

Haunting of Cellblock 11: Success with Crowdfunding

Screenwriter Andrew P. Jones appeared on Archer Paranormal Radio and discussed his horror movie, Haunting of Cellblock 11. If you haven’t screened it yet, do! Great script, fabulous actors, and beautiful location. All for a fraction—deep fraction—of a major Hollywood film. Jones produced the movie on a micro-budget and utilized crowdfunding.

A studio-backed major Hollywood movie costs roughly $139 million to produce. That’s 1-3-9-MILLION. The odds of your script making it to the big screen are nil. Independent filmmakers are creatively funding their projects. For some genres, the reward is huge.

Horror movies consist of 4% of the overall motion picture market share. However, they are the second most profitable genre. Documentary films are statistically the most profitable, but they are also the cheapest films to produce. The average documentary costs $2.6 million, and most are made far below that figure. So, for major genres, horror movies are the best genre. I’m not surprised. There are loads of statistics on why we love horror movies. But that’s another blog.

Back to Jones. He was able to raise enough money and create a production schedule based on a very small production budget. That’s encouraging to all the other independent filmmakers out there. Inevitably, Jones turned to crowdfunding to raise some of the money.

Crowdfunding started in 2007. In 2012, $2.7 billion dollars was raised through crowdfunding (www.gogetfunding.com). Films/Performing Arts comprise nearly 12% of the money raised in campaigns. For a small contribution, movie fans can buy in on a film. Although the most successful campaigns attempt to raise a few thousand dollars, with $7,000 the best target, some independent films have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to Fundable.com, the average campaign lasts 9 weeks, 24-35 years olds are more likely to contribute, and males donate more than females. Thirty percent of the total is raised within the first week. The critical factor driving success is social media outlets. The more people who see the post, blog, tweet, the more money contributed. Important. Re-read that one again. In order for a crowdfunding campaign to succeed, the campaign has to utilize as many social media outlets as possible.

Independent filmmakers like Andrew don’t need the blessing of major studios to produce horror movies. Instead, Jones and others can work with micro-budgets and establish crowdfunding campaigns inviting horror movie fans to own a piece of the film. I like that. Less Hollywood control equates to less formulaic movies and more people entering the industry. Shoot. I may even buy a piece myself.

Dee Wallace, Haunting of Cellblock 11

Dee Wallace, Haunting of Cellblock 11

Oculus—One Cloudy Film

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Haunted Houses, Media, Movies, Pets, Reviews

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Oculus Movie Poster

Oculus Movie Poster

 

Oculus—One Cloudy Film

The gals from Archer Paranormal Investigations (API) took in the film Oculus Saturday night. Many, many words come to mind now that I have properly reflected upon it, and none of them are the words “Good,” “So-So,” or even “Marginal.” This movie was horrible.

There were only two things I liked about the movie: the eerie music and “Dog.” Spoiler Alert: The only saving grace was that the dog was released half way through. I wished that I too was released then. I kept looking at my cell phone to see how much longer the pain would continue. The mediocre storyline could have been overcome with less flash backs. The lady down from me kept saying how confused she was. I wasn’t confused. I was bored.

Prior to the screening, I was concerned that the movie would be too graphic and gruesome. There was one bug-out scene where the adult Kaylie, played by Karen Gillan, mistakenly eats an abnormally large, round light bulb thinking it was an apple. (And the hairdresser should be shot for styling her hair that way, just saying.) Other than that, the horror factor was low. And that would be okay if the director played upon our psyche. He did not. Instead he kept rotating the flashback scenes with present day trying to confuse the viewer. There are so many holes in the plot. Why weren’t the kids in school? What neighbor walks a pre-teen child back without calling 9-1-1? Who has a tattoo on her arm in 2002? How does a mother who never leaves the house really believe her husband is having an affair in his home office? None of this makes sense. Then add an expensive mirror with ties to royalty. How on God’s green earth did this family afford it? It was too distracting to try and reconcile all of this and still watch.

In the end no one won. And that’s a cinematic problem. The protagonist always wins. That’s the formula. That’s what makes the genre work. Instead one dies and the other is remanded back into custody. The movie ends with an obvious desire for a sequel. Pass.