Movie Review: Sinister (2012)

Following on from Insidious was a film I had been looking forward to watching for a long time. From the first time I saw the trailer, I was excited at the prospect of seeing it. I finally saw my opportunity and within hours of buying it, Sinister was spinning to life in front of my eyes.

The film opens with a scene unlike any other, a silent film reel which shows a family of four bound, with hoods over their faces and nooses around their necks tied to a tree branch. An unseen source slowly cuts through a branch of the tree which when it collapses, acts as a pulley and hoists the family high up into the air. The camera rolls for a few moments as we watch the families’ lives being slowly extinguished by the weight of their own bodies!

Skip forward a few months and we are introduced to the Oswalt family, Ellison, his wife Tracy and their two kids Ashley and Trevor. Ellison is a once-successful true crime writer who is on a push for another triumph. He has moved the family from their home to be close to the scene of his new subject. Unbeknown to his wife however, they have moved into the actual house which played scene to the tragic events viewed in the opening moments of the film!

While moving some boxes into the attic, Ellison finds an auspicious looking box containing a projector and several reels of Super 8 film. The films seem innocent enough with their labels reading things like “BBQ ‘79” and “Family hanging out” however, once Ellison fires up the projector and begins investigating the films it soon becomes apparent that something much more sinister exists within these celluloid film reels!

As he continues his investigation into the films and the tragedy of the hangings, he begins to draw connections and soon discovers that there may be a cult connection! Some strange symbols that keep re-occurring in the different films catch his attention. After consulting Jonas, a professor and expert of the occult,, the identity of the symbol leads them to a pagan deity named Bughuul. Bughuul would kill families in order to steel children and take them into his realm so he could consume their souls! Ellison connects the dots and the stark realisation that his family may be in peril becomes his living nightmare!

Normally when I see a horror film with this much pre-release attention, a wide cinema release and a top name attached, I instantly think it may be a bit stilted or diluted down but from what I saw in early trailers, I was more than hooked. With Ethan Hawke as top billing you have something akin to The Sixth Sense or What Lies Beneath. Something unexpected from someone we’re used to seeing in more action packed titles. This was in no way detrimental to the film and I was not so much surprised because Hawke is a brilliant actor but pleasantly stunned with his stellar performance.

With films like this, the imagery is effortless, it doesn’t take a lot to conjure up visions of terror. While this has a very similar feel to Insidious, the collective impression is somewhat different. Insidious played with primal fear and showed you lots to scare while Sinister was much more subtle. Both had slight twists in the tale and you can definitely tell that there was a connection somewhere.

When I say I was looking forward to this film, it’s a bit of an understatement. From the first time I saw a 30 second teaser trailer to the time I actually sat down to watch it, I must have seen the various different trailers a dozen times. Each time I watched one, it made me want to see it even more! Normally when I am looking forward to a film that much, I normally feel slightly let down by the end product, however Sinister did nothing to distil my thoughts. While it was slightly different from what I initially envisioned, I was not disappointed.

I would certainly recommend Sinister to anyone who likes a good haunted thriller with a definite shock factor. What may start as a bit of a slow burner soon turns into the kind of film you watch on the edge of your seat waiting for the next thrill! You will not be disappointed.

Released: 2012

My Rating: 9

Movie Review: Insidious (2010)

I know this is moving slightly away from my typical “Random Horror” but I am not averse to bigger pictures which I why I relished the opportunity to watch Insidious. Having received it as a Christmas present in 2011, I couldn’t wait to watch it and I have since seen it several times.

Insidious follows Josh and Renai Lambert and their three kids. After moving into a new house, the family struggle to settle and things are set back even further when Dalton, one of the kids falls into a bizarre coma like state. This causes more strain on the already thinly stretched family but it isn’t until Renai experiences strange noises and ghostly activity that the family decide enough is enough! They move into a new house to try to escape the supernatural activity which has been plaguing the poor woman only to experience the same thing in their new home!

On the advice of Josh’s mother Lorraine, Renai calls in an expert and promptly invites paranormal investigator Elise into their new home. Along with her two assistants Specs and Tucker, Elise sets about trying to explain the mysterious occurrences surrounding their haunting and how the medical condition of Dalton and the weird activity could be connected!

What impressed me about Insidious was, well pretty much everything. With a few minor tweaks, this could have been one of the closest things to a modern horror masterpiece. Directed by James Wan, a personal favourite and someone who is consistently improving with each film and written by regular Wan collaborator and star, Leigh Whannell, Insidious instantly became a favourite! Whannell and Wan combine to create thrills, spills and genuine fright in equal measure. The atmosphere generated in the first half of the film help create a world which is not only believable but also terrifying! Together they have developed the horror genre from all facets and in my opinion they have created a whole new sub-genre of slasher with Saw.

A large aspect of the horror in this film comes from the fact half of the ghostly happenings occur during the harsh light of day. It certainly adds to the unexpected fear throughout the film and vigorously avoids the standard traps and clichés of most horror films! Some great ghosts and demons rear their ugly heads throughout the film to fantastic effect and all add to the growing anxiety and atmosphere which grips the viewer from every angle.

If there is one criticism of Insidious it would have to be the slight decline towards the films conclusion. There is something wholly dissatisfying about actually seeing the antagonist in a less than sinister state. Once the red faced demon is seen sharpening his claws and listening to ‘Tip toe through the Tulips’ he seems less intimidating and therefore loses a lot of the lustre! In saying that though, the remainder of the spirits maintain their initial daunt factor and even provide some jumpy moments of their own.

It is very satisfying after watching a lot of low budget horror which sometimes leads to some yawns and groans to watch something which not only looks and feels brilliant but is almost effortless in its delivery. There is a lot to be said for a more than able cast and crew and sometimes films like this really showcase the gap between Hollywood and indie pictures. Unfortunately for the indie scene for every Midnight Movie there is a Zombie Chronicles and to make it even worse, you have James Wan putting efforts like this into the wider world for all to see through cinema and wide releasing. It can’t be easy for the likes of Midnight Movie to get any kind of exposure when this is what they have to compete against. However, in the same breathe for every Insidious there is Friday the 13th (Remake) and another Paranormal Activity sequel so I suppose Hollywood is just as open to failure as the rest of the world!

Released: 2010

My Rating: 9

Movie Review: Gut (2012)

When I first heard about this film, I was somewhat intrigued to see how it would play out. However, my intrigue was somewhat stilted by the thought in the back of my head which smacked of un-ease. There was something sinister and wrong about the films subject matter which for some reason, be it that part of my human psyche which craves and is fascinated by the morbid and the unknown or just some sick notion. Whatever it was, it looked... interesting.

Gut tells the story of two friends, Tom and Dan. Tom, who has settled down and has the nice family life, seems to have grown up. Dan on the other hand still wants to be a teenager, living the bachelor life. Together they have been friends for a long time but slowly the friendship begins to drift as Tom outgrows Dan and his beer and movie fuelled nights.

A conversation during a lunch break notifies Dan that Tom is thinking of upping sticks and moving away. This news doesn’t go down too well with Dan! Eventually he seems to accept the idea but at a cost. He entices Tom round to his flat with the prospect of a new horror film he received in the post recently. The film he received he says, was bought on a cult website and is supposedly a real snuff film. Anyway, the pair sit in silence as the film flickers away before their eyes. Tom’s initial reaction is that of disdain and disgust but it isn’t long before his inner thoughts spill out and it soon begins to consume him! Another DVD arrives and it soon becomes apparent that the pictures being displayed on the bright screen are a little too close to home....

Now, in premise, the film is solid, a great display of separation and contrasts. The human psyche is laid bare for all to see in many scenes, most notably a scene in which Tom awakes to find his wife’s stomach slit in the same manner as the victims in the films! Tom’s slow unfurling plays out for all to see as he gradually loses his calm, cool exterior!

As a whole, the acting was fair at best. Tom played by Jason Vail portrays a figure of immense fatigue but his delivery lacks a certain lustre! Nicolas Wilder, who plays Dan, could have had a lot of fun with his role but again, a somewhat dreary display really detracts from the overall feel of the film. Couple the acting with the overuse of single note soundtracks and what you’re left with is tedious drone which seems to be very hard work. It does show some impressive atmosphere in parts but others lament in all quarters.

If you go into this film looking at the cover and the title and expect blood, guts and gore, you may find yourself sat disappointed. Having said that, if you go in with no expectations, you may still find yourself very dissatisfied and frustrated! What started off as intrigue soon petered out into monotony as the film eventually leads to yawns and squints as I reach for the volume to put an end to that horrible droning sound! All in all, I am glad I watched Gut, if only to improve my vast knowledge of independent horror.

Considering the last indie horror I watched was the brilliantly crafted Midnight Movie, Gut somewhat disappoints, while it may have got unfavourable reviews here and elsewhere, it was not without its charm, so on the surface, good. The deeper you delve, the more it fails. Writer, Producer and Director Elias while stirring up the initial intrigue with his one word name doesn’t quite captivate the audience with this vision but great promise and potential, so here’s looking forward to his next venture!

Released: 2012

My Rating: (on the fence) 5

Movie Review: Midnight Movie (2008)

After receiving this film in the post, I was more than excited to watch what some people had called one of the best direct to DVD Horror films. Until I was contacted by Jack Messitt (Director) I had never heard of Midnight Movie, however, once I received the DVD I did a bit of research and was pleasantly surprised and intrigued with what I read. As well as a great website, this title boasts some impressive accolades and high praise from various outlets.

The film starts with a patient at a psychiatric ward painting. The patient, Ted Radford was a director who forty years ago made a slasher film called The Dark Beneath. At the request of his doctor, he is permitted to watch his film however, something sinister occurs and everyone on the ward except for the doctor vanishes leaving behind only pools of blood and a mystery! The only remnants of Radford, is a few weird symbols and a lot of blood!

Skip forward a few years and we are taken to a cinema setting with a small group of people congregating to watch a screening of The Dark Beneath! A short way into the grainy film, it flashes and unbeknown to the onlookers we are suddenly watching a point of view from within the cinema where one of the workers is in the basement. He is soon dispatched with the killers weapon of choice, a corkscrew of some description! It isn’t long before the previously oblivious spectators realise that something is happening which is beyond their initial comprehension!

Among the patrons is the surviving doctor and a cop who has seemingly devoted his career to solving the mystery surrounding Ted Radford. Between the two of them, they adequately inform the rest of the group of the dangers they face and they realise the daunting fact that maybe, the killer from the movie has somehow set his sights on them!

What impressed me from the outset about Midnight Movie was the production value, despite having a budget of $1Million (source: Wikipedia) the production values were very high indeed. Couple this with a semi-able cast and it all made for a good solid start! While the premise plays with some scale of originality, essentially it’s an old fashioned, by the book slasher film. As with most slashers of this type, the killer dons a costume and Radford’s is no slouch in that department. An impressively creepy skull mask and hillbilly style dungaree’s make this killer stand out from the crowd.

As for that semi-able cast, perhaps, semi-able is perhaps a bit harsh, with the exception of one or two, the acting was very good. With most films of this magnitude, I am normally oblivious to all members of the cast until I do some research but fans of Heroes should instantly recognise Brea Grant (Daphne Millbrook – Speedster) although she has a minor role here, a recognisable face is always a welcome addition. Lead character, Bridgett is very competently played by Rebekah Brandes. Daniel Bonjour who plays her boyfrield Josh is another example of good casting. In a great twist of characterisation, Josh’s polar opposite is ironically his best friend Mario, who is played in his only credited role to date by Greg Cirulnick. An instant dislike is taken to the obnoxious Josh who proves later in the film just how much he is worth! Some comedic value is supplied by Stan Ellsworth who plays Harley, the larger than life biker with an attitude.

On the whole, the cast as well as the characterisation help stand this film out from the crowd of mediocre slasher flicks, of which there are many! An original concept, impressive killer with an equally toe curling weapon really do contribute as well. A few great scenes with some impressive special effects and a compelling atmosphere all make Midnight Movie one of the best Random Horror films I have ever seen, to say I was impressed was a slight understatement and the stand out aspect was its fluidity. At no point throughout this film did I find myself asking the question, “How long left?” which in my line of interest happens more than I care to admit!

I would certainly recommend this film to anyone who likes slasher films as well as supernatural, to see the cross over between the two genres unfold was very interesting. The only disappointing thing about this film has to be the lack of wide exposure and the complete unavailability and ignorance of the UK market to this film. There must be an abundance of films just like this made in America which never make it this far across the Atlantic other than in the hands of a few minor horror specialists (like mine)

Midnight Movie is one of those films which helps cement my belief that there are good low budget independent horror films out there, I just have to find them. I refer to these as my little gems, unfortunately (or not, whichever way you think about it) in my native UK, I would not find this lining the bargain bin. For that reason, I would like to say a huge thank you to Jack Messitt for not only recommending his film but also for sending me a copy.

The film industry is so diluted and overflowing with regurgitated, colourful, big budget remakes that films like this get left behind. For me, this is something of a passion but for others, it’s their lives. If real horror fans want to see something truly original and enjoyable, I implore you to seek out these hidden gems and give them the recognition and praise they so obviously deserve. If we don’t do our bit, they might cease to exist and all we will be left with is boring, unoriginal tripe!

Released: 2008

My Rating: 8.5

Movie Review: Chain letter (2010)

Chain Letter was one of many DVD’s I received at Christmas and after a quick survey of the cover art, blurb and cast details, we decided that it was to be next on the list to watch. Said cover included a close up of some of the cast and a bloody corpse with a chain wrapped tightly around their ankle. The top billed also made for promising reading with the inclusion of horror legend Brad Dourif accompanied by familiar face Keith David and from Twilight, Nikki Reed.

The film opens with what is probably the most chilling moment. A girl who has been bound and tied is chained to the back of two cars. As she lay on the floor of a garage, two people exit the house and get into the cars, unbeknown to them, their cars would soon become a weapon of horrific death! The scene ends without actually finding out what happens and it isn’t until the end that we learn of the fate of the poor woman chained to the cars!  

The basic premise of Chain Letter follows a familiar pattern and is very reminiscent of both The Ring and Final Destination, almost a freak hybrid of the two to be honest. A group of friends must struggle for their lives as they are picked off one by one following a chain letter/E-Mail being sent to them by an anonymous sender. The first to go are those who dismissed the letter as stupid and ignored or deleted it without continuing the chain! 

Well, that’s the story in a nutshell. For the most part, Chain Letter follows a very formulaic pattern shared by hundreds of like minded slasher flicks, with very little in the way of originality the premise promised a lot but fails in every quarter to deliver. As with most slasher films, it does have its fair share of impressive and inventive death scenes but other that this, there is very little to find of note with Chain Letter. 

Not even the inclusion of Brad Dourif is enough of a stimulant to stir up some quality. In fact, having his name attached to this film was probably how it got as much attention as it did, despite him having approximately 4 minutes of on-screen time. The vast majority of screen time is dominated by Nikki Reed. Reed plays Jessie, one of the group of kids who finds herself tangled in this web of horror. However, it is very difficult to find any empathy for the characters as very little effort is made in building their individuality. In fact, as the first death scene is going on, I was scratching my head trying to figure out who was being butchered, appartently he was connected to them in some way but you’d never know it!

All in all a paint by numbers slasher film with zero characterisation and a fairly poor and extrememly unsatisfactory ending leave this with very little to find in the way of recommendations. I think the closest I can come is a squeamish death scene involving a rather large chain and a poor teen’s face. I will leave it there! I also think this is the first time I have reviewed a film and scored it the same as that given by the users at IMDb! That’s something!

Released: 2010

My Rating: 4