Jackhammer's Horror Corner

jackhammer · 03-31-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

You lost me when you put "David Caruso and "great acting" in the same sentence.

You can't knock a film until you have seen it. That's just ignorant. If I diss any film or music on these boards I make sure that I have watched/heard in order to validate my own personal opinion.

sleepy jack · 03-31-2009, 12:46 PM

I don't think he was criticizing the film so much as he was doubting the actor's talent (or rather lack of.)

jackhammer · 03-31-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy jack

I don't think he was criticizing the film so much as he was doubting the actor's talent (or rather lack of.)

I know what he was saying but there are tons of actors who are average but can turn in a good performance once in a while.

jackhammer · 06-18-2009, 10:40 AM

Night Of The Eagle (AKA Burn Witch, Burn) (1962)

Following on from my promise of tackling a couple of atmospheric psycholgical films here for your delectation is the little known British film 'Night Of The Eagle' . Coming a year before the very well known 'The Haunting' often classed as THE haunted house film, NOTE peddles a similar set up but in a much more intimate and claustrophobic house.

A young Peter Wyngarde is a succesful professor in Psychology who disbelieves in anything supernatural. To his dismay he finds out that his wife is a practising witch and orders her to destroy any artifacts she owns to do with witchcraft. Immediately the teacher suffers a downturn in fortune, accused of sexual harrasment and bullying. Were his wifes trinkets and utter belief in them really a source of his success or are there other forces at work?

To expand on this would let too much plot slip. NOTE success is built upon it's superb sense of menace, eerie chills and very very credible acting from all concerned. Despite it's middle England setting, the film never becomes stuffy and aloof (many British movies dealing with the middle class at the time were all stiff upper lip and starched collars) and the B&W photography works wonders and the shadows are used expertly.

Adapted from a Fritz Leiber story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), this is a tight, economic and genuinely scary movie (for it's time) that holds up extremley well even by today's standards.

The only clip I could find which is terrible quality:

Bulldog · 06-18-2009, 04:57 PM

Can't say I've ever heard of that one, but it does look quite an interesting watch, even if I don't really have a lot of patience for haunted house movies (though you could say it's modern directors' stabs at the concept that's dragged it all through the mud).

Good to see this thread back in business again.

jackhammer · 06-18-2009, 05:40 PM

An American Werewolf In London (1981)

This is partly for bulldog and partly for myself as it's still one of my favourite Horror films. I first saw this film about a year after it's release on pirate video so that would make me about 10 at the time and it still hold's up superbly.

The basic premise of the film is that 2 young American tourists are in England and they are attacked by a werewolf. One dies and one lives, thus ensuring that the werewolves line continues. Sound boring and far fetched? The film is exactly the opposite. John Landis (Blues Brothers) wrote and directed a film that works on a myriad of levels. It's a culture clash film, it's a black comedy, it's a horror, it's an homage, it's a love story and never once do any of these attributes threaten to derail the story.

I give massive kudos to Landis for setting his film in England and not make stereotypes of the English and fully embrace English humour and incorporate it into his film with aplomb. He also uses so many cinematic devices and still get's a cohesive whole. There are vivid, surreal dreams, brutal violence, quirky characters and astonishing pre CGI F/X that are still a joy to behold even today.

We also have the fantastic soundtrack, with every song incorporating the word 'Moon' into the title and again it's effortless and not a cheap gimmick. Even at a young age I could see the correlation between contemporary music and the moving image. This is never better than the sex scene matched to Van Morrison's 'Moondance' which is still a great use of music.

An American Werewolf In London is a superlative movie on every level and is still the Werewolf movie to beat. Extra points to any who recognise the American embassy guy

Guybrush · 06-19-2009, 05:05 AM

It is not one of my favourites, but I agree that Landis really did do a good job .. the transformation scene is a classic horror moment.

Bulldog · 06-19-2009, 04:00 PM

One of my all-time faves, and definitely in the top-drawer of horror movies, particularly as it doesn't take itself too seriously. The make-up is absolutely beautiful too, especially for Griffin Dunne's decomposing throughout the movie. An absolute must this film.

Top review sir

jackhammer · 06-19-2009, 04:09 PM

Oh yeah and Jenny Agutter FTW. My first crush.

Alfred · 08-05-2009, 09:57 PM

Jackhammer,

I have never watched a horror movie before but me and a friend of mine are planning on getting together some night and putting one on.

What would be a good entry-level horror movie? I want one that isn't too confusing, but still delivers good acting and a good plot, and will of course, scare me shitless?

Is Halloween my best option?

06-18-2009, 10:40 AM	#144 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Night Of The Eagle (AKA Burn Witch, Burn) (1962) Following on from my promise of tackling a couple of atmospheric psycholgical films here for your delectation is the little known British film 'Night Of The Eagle' . Coming a year before the very well known 'The Haunting' often classed as THE haunted house film, NOTE peddles a similar set up but in a much more intimate and claustrophobic house. A young Peter Wyngarde is a succesful professor in Psychology who disbelieves in anything supernatural. To his dismay he finds out that his wife is a practising witch and orders her to destroy any artifacts she owns to do with witchcraft. Immediately the teacher suffers a downturn in fortune, accused of sexual harrasment and bullying. Were his wifes trinkets and utter belief in them really a source of his success or are there other forces at work? To expand on this would let too much plot slip. NOTE success is built upon it's superb sense of menace, eerie chills and very very credible acting from all concerned. Despite it's middle England setting, the film never becomes stuffy and aloof (many British movies dealing with the middle class at the time were all stiff upper lip and starched collars) and the B&W photography works wonders and the shadows are used expertly. Adapted from a Fritz Leiber story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), this is a tight, economic and genuinely scary movie (for it's time) that holds up extremley well even by today's standards. The only clip I could find which is terrible quality: __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-18-2009, 05:40 PM	#146 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	An American Werewolf In London (1981) This is partly for bulldog and partly for myself as it's still one of my favourite Horror films. I first saw this film about a year after it's release on pirate video so that would make me about 10 at the time and it still hold's up superbly. The basic premise of the film is that 2 young American tourists are in England and they are attacked by a werewolf. One dies and one lives, thus ensuring that the werewolves line continues. Sound boring and far fetched? The film is exactly the opposite. John Landis (Blues Brothers) wrote and directed a film that works on a myriad of levels. It's a culture clash film, it's a black comedy, it's a horror, it's an homage, it's a love story and never once do any of these attributes threaten to derail the story. I give massive kudos to Landis for setting his film in England and not make stereotypes of the English and fully embrace English humour and incorporate it into his film with aplomb. He also uses so many cinematic devices and still get's a cohesive whole. There are vivid, surreal dreams, brutal violence, quirky characters and astonishing pre CGI F/X that are still a joy to behold even today. We also have the fantastic soundtrack, with every song incorporating the word 'Moon' into the title and again it's effortless and not a cheap gimmick. Even at a young age I could see the correlation between contemporary music and the moving image. This is never better than the sex scene matched to Van Morrison's 'Moondance' which is still a great use of music. An American Werewolf In London is a superlative movie on every level and is still the Werewolf movie to beat. Extra points to any who recognise the American embassy guy __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-19-2009, 05:05 AM	#147 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	It is not one of my favourites, but I agree that Landis really did do a good job .. the transformation scene is a classic horror moment. __________________ Something Completely Different

06-19-2009, 04:09 PM	#149 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Oh yeah and Jenny Agutter FTW. My first crush. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

08-05-2009, 09:57 PM	#150 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Jackhammer, I have never watched a horror movie before but me and a friend of mine are planning on getting together some night and putting one on. What would be a good entry-level horror movie? I want one that isn't too confusing, but still delivers good acting and a good plot, and will of course, scare me shitless? Is Halloween my best option? __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

06-18-2009, 04:57 PM	#145 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Can't say I've ever heard of that one, but it does look quite an interesting watch, even if I don't really have a lot of patience for haunted house movies (though you could say it's modern directors' stabs at the concept that's dragged it all through the mud). Good to see this thread back in business again.

06-19-2009, 04:00 PM	#148 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	One of my all-time faves, and definitely in the top-drawer of horror movies, particularly as it doesn't take itself too seriously. The make-up is absolutely beautiful too, especially for Griffin Dunne's decomposing throughout the movie. An absolute must this film. Top review sir