Ghostbusters

(1984)

Alexis says:

3 STARS

Ghostbusters isn't scary (unless you're 10 or younger) but it is a funny movie to be enjoyed this holiday season with the whole family. It is funny, action packed and a little frightening (Weaver's make-up, I had to hide my face).

You should definitely add this to your must see Halloween List.

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

Ghostbusters is a classic. It's one of those refreshing comedies that comes out every so often that isn't just a variation on a theme. The acting, direction, and writing are all great, the one thing that did not survive the trip from the eighties so well is the special effects, but even they aren't horrible. And at the time they were awesome, I remember I was like 10 or something and those ghosts were pretty scary stuff.

This is a great movie to watch for Halloween if you have kids, it'll be scarier to them than to you, but you can all enjoy it together. I definitely recommend this movie.

Saw II

(2005)

Alexis says:

1 STAR

So remember I said I finally saw Saw after all these years? Well, I liked it so much that we immediately viewed Saw II (picked up after Thanksgiving for $3 last year). And what can I say but ...yuck?

Really I can say a lot more than that. It is so obvious that Saw did so well and made so much money that now they are just going to keep spitting them out until no one goes to see them and people will still probably go and see them because most people like horror movies no matter how bad they suck, the more blood the better. But I thought this movie was everything I dislike about the genre, overly gorey, too much blood and unnecessary violence, lacking plot and bad acting. Where as the first film had an intriguing thought out plot this movie was obviously made with little or no worry for a storyline. The box says "Yes, there will be blood." And there is, a lot of it. Too much to keep me interested in seeing any more Saw movies.

And I don't want to spoil the film for you but I feel that they took a good plot and ruined it with this film. I would recommend that they stop hurting the first film but I am a little too late as they are already up to the fifth installment. I don't recommend this film to anyone. I would, I suppose recommend it to people who like lots of blood and annoying, unintelligent characters that you almost cheer on their imminent demise.

Todd Says (reluctantly):

1 STAR

Saw II is alot like Friday the 13th 2 where they take a good scary story with a believable villain, and do their best to recycle it. The thing is, it works at the box-office. People would still be lining up to see Jason killing campers in interesting and provocative ways if they hadn't run out of ideas and sent him to space and then to hell. The secret to selling tickets to these movies is blood, the more the better. I've actually got this idea for a movie where I'm just going to set up a camera in a slaughter house, edit it for 90 minutes of the best blood spurting-dismemberment I can catch on film, and get someone with a deep creepy voice to narrate a story over it. What do you think?

But really, this movie wasn't very good. I mean lets face it (SPOILER ALERT) how many times have we seen a group of not very smart people trapped in a situation where they slowly get killed off one by one. The only thing about this movie that doesn't totally wreak of lameness is that it keeps to its own invention, and the people are killed by booby-traps and not a masked phsyco. But at least if there was a masked phsyco you might be able to feel sorry for these people, but come on when you stick your hands into a box visibly lined with sharp blades, or crawl into a furnace at the urging of a creepy voice on a tape I can't feel very sorry for you. That is simply Darwin's theory of Natural Selection in action.

So unless you are a die-hard fan of gore for the sake of gore, I DO NOT recommend this movie.

Saw

(2004)

Alexis says:

3.75 STARS

I am not a fan of blood and gore, so most horror movies aren't on my must list. Saw was one of those films for the longest time, a friend even bought me the DVD for Christmas, three years ago, and I wouldn't watch it. Finally, for Halloween here on Cinemaphiles I agreed to view it. And you know what? It wasn't half bad.

Unlike most horror movies I have seen and disliked this film had an interesting story, gripping and terrifying but there was a good crime story with twists and turns. There was some blood and gore but it wasn't over the top, it was just enough to scare you to pieces.

I am not sure that I will ever be able to say that I loved a horror movie, it's just not in me I suppose, but this film broke the barrier to one I could say I really liked. I am sure I am the last person to see this film, what with the fifth one coming out this month, but I would definitely recommend it if you haven't seen it.

Todd Says:

2 STARS

Saw, I assume, was supposed to be something new. It was however much of the same, just repackaged for a new generation, as is evidenced by the upcoming release of SAW V just before Halloween. It fits right in there with the Classic Horror Franchises of the 1980's like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween. With those three titles we got almost 30 movies, some of which were no doubt delivered to us on Halloween Day.

Now I'm not saying that Saw was all that bad of a movie, it just wasn't all that great. The acting, especially by the known actors (Cary Elwes, Danny Glover) was mediocre, bordering on bad. The story was interesting, but not as original as the masses like to think. I don't know if the darkened scenes contributed, but I felt like I was watching a low budget version of Se7en sometimes.

But, for a horror movie it wasn't half bad. If I just had to rate this movie against fiends from it's home genre I could probably bring myself to give it 4 STARS, I can't, however, do that in good conscience, it wouldn't be fair to films like Se7en. So, if you like gore this would be a good movie, and I recommend watching with all the lights in the house turned off.

Donnie Darko

(2001)

Alexis says:

4.5 STARS

I am not sure how this film made it into out Halloween stack or if it really belongs, but I'm sure it has something to do with how much I really enjoy this film.

The first time I was a little skeptical because of the description of a demonic bunny rabbit named Frank but the story is actually quite interesting and well thought out, there aren't lots of wholes and the film makes you think.

I really wish everyone would see this movie, I think it is that good and interesting.

Todd Says:

3.75 STARS

This is one of those movies that kind of surprises you with how interesting it actually gets. The story gets a little convoluted, with the whole time travelling-demonic bunny-seeing the future thing going on, but it is still an enjoyable film. A little on the dark and depressing side, but the title should have prepared you for that already.

The characters are great and surprisingly well developed, and the actors do a good job with their parts. The director does such a good job that it is hard to distinguish what is and is not reality anymore, and the story lends itself to a few possible interpretations, which we wont go into here because of spoilers.

All in all, this is a movie that is worth your time. You're guaranteed to be thinking about it the next day.

Fallen

(1998)

Alexis says:

4 STARS

If you can watch Fallen without being even slightly creeped out, good for you, because I cannot. Fallen is so powerfully convincing and clever that I have a hard time sleeping after each viewing, so why do I keep watching it? Because it's just that good.

Fallen is the tale of a homicide detective, John Hobbes, who is being pursued by what seems like an immortal villain. It is bonechillingly good. I don't want to spoil the film, but I will say that it is best the first time but very good with subsequent viewings.

Everything about Fallen is great. The twists and turns, the acting, the story, the scenes. Do yourself a favor and watch this one.

Todd Says:

4.5 STARS

Fallen is one of the greatest suspense movies ever made. The story is excellent, gripping and unsettling at the same time. The cast is superb, Washington and Goodman are totally believable. And the direction is dead on (no pun intended).

I highly recommend Fallen to anyone who hasn't seen it before.

Hocus Pocus

(1993)

Sue says:

3.75 Stars

This is a great movie. Especially this time of year. It's not cinematic genius, it's just a fun spooky Halloween movie. It's fairly predictable, but it's also pretty funny.

The witches are a hoot, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, they are so "witchy". They cackle wickedly, make potions, and cast spells. They also fly around on vacuum cleaners.

Years ago these witches were put to death, for being witches, but before their demise a spell was cast. Now they have been brought back to life, but only for one night, Halloween. Of course that's not enough, they want to stay alive. Forever. Naturally a sacrifice is needed, teenagers are involved, and hijinxs ensue.

Hocus Pocus is a Disney movie, so it's not too frightening, but I wouldn't let anyone younger than 5 watch, unless you know they don't scare easily.

Flatliners

(1990)


Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

Flatliners is ER meets The Sixth Sense. It is a really good supernatural thriller, and a mediocre medical drama. But I know that the medical drama is only a peripheral part of the story so I think that we can let that slide.

Flatliners is about a group of medical school students who decide to kill themselves in a controlled environment and then trust their friends to bring them back to life, all in hopes of discovering what the afterlife is all about. Well, they do and they do. The movie is dark an somewhat unsettling, and the bad guys aren't what you'd expect.







This is a great movie for a Halloween movie marathon, it even has a wild 80's Halloween party as the backdrop for the most dramatic scene of all.





Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

Flatliners is a gripping story of five medical students who are interested in flatlining to see what is out there after life as an experiment. The stories are well written and interweaved with the exception of Baldwin's camera crazed sex addict.

The movie is dark, the scenes are dark and so are the characters and their stories. The plot is creepy and makes you wonder what is out there, or at least made me wonder. The acting is all a little sub par but the film overall is surprisingly good despite the less than phenomenal performances.

Time and time again this film spooks me out, I would recommend it for you Halloween Movie Marathon, you are having one of those right?

Bram Stoker's Dracula

(1992)



Todd Says:


3.75 STARS

Following Bram Stoker's original Dracula story, this movie is different then most vampire movies. Dracula is portrayed as a conflicted and suffering soul, very powerful and almost fragile at the same time. At it's essence, the story is really a love story, both sensual and horrible, where Dracula vies for the affection of his soul mate.

I found a few scenes to be a bit over the top, more gore than was really fitting, but all in all the movie is put together really well. Oldman is spectacular as the villain, sometimes frightening and other time pitiable. Everyone else does well too, except for a few of Anthony Hopkins' scenes that seem unnecessarily frantic.

All in all though this is an excellent choice for Halloween night or any other.

Alexis says:



3 STARS

Let me begin with the good. The acting is for the most part pretty good, especially Oldman as Dracula. Both his costumes and his performance were chilling, just the right feel for Dracula to have. The costumes, with the exception of Reeves' dyed hair, were very well done for a time peice.

I have never read Bram Stoker's Dracula but I wonder if all of the unneccessary blood in the film was in the books. There were several scenes where rooms just exploded into blood baths, I am not sure the point of it, but it distracted from the film.

All in all, the film wasn't bad and Dracula is a great choice for Halloween.

The Mummy Returns

(2001)

Todd Says:

2.75 STARS

This is the model lack-luster sequel. The movie is good, well, it's alright anyway, but it draws it's life solely from the themes and success of it's predecessor. I guess what I am saying is originality is not it's strong point, but then again that seems to be a major theme in Hollywood these days.

Like the first Mummy movie, the action is non-stop and the characters are fun (or evil if that's their thing), but the stunts are a little more unbelievable, and the Rock is quite frankly ridiculous as the Scorpion King.

What it comes down to for me is momentum. Being a follow-up movie to a pretty good movie I expected better. Perhaps if this was a stand alone film I'd have thought more of it, but we may never know.

Alexis says:

2 STARS

This film is far inferior to its predecessor, The Mummy. I can only imagine that the first film did so well that the green light was given to The Mummy Returns without little concern over whether the film was going to be any good. The best thing I can really say about this film is that all of the actors from the first film are back to reprise their roles which I always think is important for sequels.

This film isn't all bad it just isn't all that good either. The movie wasn't all that creative and at times I just rolled my eyes and checked the time, never a good sign for a movie. Everything good had already been presented in the first film. The Mummy was good and it's sequel deserved better.

The Mummy

(1999)

Todd Says:

4 STARS

More of an Indiana Jones Style action adventure than a true horror movie, The Mummy still delivers it's share of scares and gore. I think that the cast and and story are both great in this film, and the scenery, wow. Egypt is a beautiful place.

The action is nearly non-stop, and the dialogue is quick and witty, creating a fast paced thrill ride that will keep your attention focused. This movie is fun to watch, and although I wouldn't really call it Historical, it may help to spark some interest in your kids about the ancient past.

I highly recommend that you and your family watch The Mummy as one of your Halloween Monster Movie Treats this year.

Alexis says:

4 STARS

If you've ever watched a Brendan Fraser movie and asked yourself, why is he in movie if he isn't any good, then you probably have never seen the Mummy, possibly Fraser's best performance to date.

The story is well written, tangling mythology, acheology and suspense into a wonderful action film. Some of the acting is a little sub par (perhaps another reason why Fraser shines) but Fraser and Weisz' performances carry the film well enough that the overall film isn't effected. The action sequences and special effects are done well for this genre of film and are quite entertaining.

The Mummy isn't really scary, not for adults, but it could make the kid in you or at least those watching along with you, jump at times. It is a funny, entertaining film that should be on your list of films to watch with the family.

An American Werewolf In London

(1981)

Todd Says:

3.75 STARS

I thought that, aside from the super-spectacular transformation special effects, An American Werewolf In London aged rather nicely. Like an immortal creature of the night you might say. The story is all about the struggle of a young man bitten by a werewolf trying to come to grips with his new reality. John Landis, who wrote and directed, blends witty dialogue, suspense, and gore very well, and the outcome is an enjoyable film about bodily dismemberment.

The suspense scenes are still chilling, and most of the gore is still convincing. If you are willing to overlook the few aspects of this movie that didn't age well, then I think that you are in for a bone-chillingly good time.

Alexis says:

3.75 STARS

This is a rather well done film, especially for the time (1981) and possibly the best writing John Landis ever did (with the exception of Clue a few years later). The actors were unknown, yet do a very good job, especially Griffin Dunne who plays Jack, the friend who reaches an early demise, went on to have a nice career in acting.

For a 27 year old film the special effects are better than I thought they would be. A special DVD feature shows some of the moldings being made for the werewolf transformation. Though touching on cheesy on occasion, the film is still frightening and entertaining despite it's age.

Little Shop Of Horrors

(1986)



Alexis says:

4 STARS


This is the best science-fiction, horror movie about an alien plant that feeds only off of human blood, especially that of demented dentists while singing tunes sung by Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops that I have ever seen.





But seriously, this film has made me laugh and smile since I was a kid. The story is cute, yet dark and original and the characters both detestable and sweet. But what makes and has always made this film is the music. The songs are well written and performed and make this musical one of the best I've ever seen.











Todd Says:



4 STARS




It's like I always say: "If you can't mix your Comedy with your Horror with you Musicals with your Herbological Themes then what's the point?" But seriously folks, Little Shop Of Horrors is a genius of a comedy. Dark, emotional, sensual, educational, mystical, oral hygienical, cosmic, and even uplifting at times.



As a real testament to the bizarreness of this movie, I think that as a comedy without the musical aspect this movie would have been terrible. The songs are great. Really. This was a Broadway musical after all. But, the movie is funny. Really. The cast does a great job with both the singing and the acting.




As far as re-makes of Broadway plays that were inspired by older low-budget movies go, I think that this is a film for the whole family. So when you get done trick-or-treating, gather up the youngsters with their fresh sugar-buzzes, and crowd around the television for this Horrific Gem.