The October Project 2: Day 31   Happy Halloween!

 

 

Vampyr  (1932)

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer

Okay, admittedly for my final recommendation, I've gone pretty highbrow. Dreyer is one of the undisputed masters of cinema, a creator of austere but emotionally devastating masterpieces that will  remain relevant as long as people care about film, or art for that matter.
This is my point. Horror is an often maligned genre, seen and dismissed as only suitable for the most trashy and exploitive material. Admittedly, I've included some pretty trashy material in this list and that was because I wanted to give an indication of the wide variety of subjects and styles that can categorized, broadly, as "horror".  Yes, it includes the "trash" but it also can include as sublime a work of art as Dreyer's Vampyr.Loosly adapted from Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla (as would many vampire films in the coming decades) Vampyr tells the story of a young student of the occult who, when investigating the illness of a friend's sister, encounters a Vampire and her coven of acolytes. The plot is simple enough, but hardly the point. This was Dreyer's first sound film and it contains very little dialogue. The heart of the storytelling is in the eerie, poetic visuals that can invoke wonder to this day.

 

 

 

 

 

Mysterious, dreamlike and ultimately unlike any other vampire film, this movie may be a bit abstract and slow paced for modern audiences. However, if you have any interest in the history of film and the great works of horror genre in particular, Vampyr is required viewing.

A sublime and ethereal way to spend an October night.

 

 

Whew, that's it, 31 new recommendations in as many days. I know this list is all over the place. As I warned at the beginning it contains a lot of odd choices but all are enjoyable in their own way. As usual there was a lot of films I would have liked to include, but couldn't find a space.

Some of these would include:
David Lynch's dark and disturbing Eraserhead, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's love-letter to the genre, Cabin in the Woods, Stuart Gordon's equally twisted follow-up to Re-Animator, From Beyond, the extraordinary Finnish film Sauna and either Dario Argento's  Deep Red or Inferno. It also bothers me that there are no Japanese titles on the list but I am woefully undereducated in J-horror.

Anyway, I hope this list provides some interesting new viewing ideas for fans of the genre, or movies in general.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween, or a dark, disturbing Samhain, whatever you prefer.




The October Project 2: Day 30

 

"Blood! Your precious blood! "

 

 

"Death is not the worst. There are things more horrible than death."

 

 

Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens   (1922)
Directed by F. W. Murnau


Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht   (1979)
Directed by Werner Herzog

Two films by master German filmmakers, made almost 60 years apart, ostensibly telling the same story, sharing many of the same plot points, themes and images and yet very distinct and individual works of art.
Way back in 1922 Murnau set the standard for gothic horror with his loose, and unauthorized, adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Instead of Stoker's corrupted and debauched nobleman, Murnau and actor Max Schreck create a Count who's pure monster. His bald head, bat ears and rat-like fangs, combined with his strange jerky walk and unnaturally stiff posture create a figure to instill chills to this day.
So why would Werner Herzog, one of the leaders of the German "new-wave" of the sixties and seventies bother with a remake of an established masterwork? Well obviously he wanted to pay tribute to the great pre-war German film culture destroyed by the Nazis, but in interviews he's stated:
"I never thought of my film Nosferatu as being a remake. It stands on its own feet as an entirely new version... My Nosferatu has a different context, different figures and a somewhat different story."
This may sound like a rationalization, but he's absolutely right. His vampire, as personified by the great mad genius Klaus Kinski, is a far more nuanced and tragic character, brimming over with angst and existential pain. It's one of Kinski's best roles.
 By all means see these films, one at a time, or as a double feature, but see them. They're important

PS- Also, you might want to check out Shadow of the Vampire E. Elias Merhige, a tounge-in-cheek fictionalized portrayl of the filming of Murnau's Nosferatu. John Malkovich is terrific as Murnau, but the film belongs to Willem Dafoe, who gives one of his best best performances as Max Schreck, portrayed here as an actual vampire (with really loathsome manners).
        

 

 

The October Project 2: Day 29

 

 

"You will never escape my vengeance, or Satan's!"

 

Black Sunday (La Maschera del Demonio)  (1960)
Directed by Mario Bava

 

Gothic masterpiece from maestro Mario Bava that provided the breakthrough role for Barbara Steele, one of the great figures (and faces) in the history of horror. She plays the dual role of a virtuous young princess and a vengeful witch reincarnated as a vampire, registering strongly as both ingénue and monster.
The luminous monochrome cinematography is by Bava himself and is truly stunning. You should definitely try to see it on the new Kino Blu-ray if possible. The film may not have the most coherent narrative (there are a few continuity glitches here and there) but it has moments of visual power and beauty to rival anything in Jean Cocteau.
If you want to know more about the fascinating life and career of Mario Bava, hunt down Tim Lucas' massive illustrated biography Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark. It not only covers the director's life but provides cogent analysis of his massive filmography. It's one of the great film books.



The October Project 2: Day 28

 

 

"Each man creates his own God for himself, his own Heaven, his own Hell."

 

 

The Masque of the Red Death  (1964)

Directed by Roger Corman

 

 

Roger Corman may have a well-earned reputation as a purveyor of schlock but, when his heart was truly in a project, he could, with limited financial means, deliver a fine, well-crafted film like this one. I like all eight of Corman's Edgar Allen Poe inspired movies, even his goofy version of The Raven, but The Masque of the Red Death remains my favourite.
Vincent Price has a great time playing the evil sensualist Prince Prospero who cloisters himself and his followers inside his castle to pursue their most decadent fantasies as the titular "Red Death" ravages the countryside outside the walls. It's easily one of his best performance but, then again, he's good in all the Poe films, so you really should watch them all.
There is excellent, wide screen, colour-saturated cinematography by Nicolas Roeg and the script by Twilight Zone veteran Charles Beamont manages a perfect balance intelligence and melodrama. Despite all the genre trappings, this is a surprisingly philosophical film that debates question of morality and mortality while providing all the requisite chills and thrills. If you want a double feature any of the other Poe films will do, but I'm especially fond of The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tomb of Ligeia.

The October Project 2: Day 27

"The Angel of Death was summoned. He cannot return empty-handed."


The Devil Rides Out  (1968)
Directed by Terence Fisher


This time out, I wanted to include a film from legendary Hammer Studies, which ruled British Horror throughout the 50's and 60's. Rather than one of their famous Dracula or Frankenstein films, I chose this superb occult thriller adapted from Dennis Wheatley's novel by the late, great, Richard Matheson. Christopher Lee is splendid as usual as Wheatley's hero, the Duc de Richleau who is trying to save a friend from falling further under the influence of a satanic cult leader played by Charles Gray.
Hammer vet Terence Fisher provides his usual deft hand as director, keeping everything moving at a good pace and the cast plays the pulpy material completely straight. The film holds up marvellously, marred only by some cheap optical effects during the climax.
A classic of it's type, waiting to be rediscovered

The October Project 2: Day 26

``Yeah...I think this weekend's going to be it. We're going to get something good I can feel it.``


The Innkeepers 
(2011)
Directed by Ti West

From the director of House of the Devil comes a another exercise in subtle fear building. For most of the film the ``haunted-hotel`` plot takes a back seat to small comic moments meant to build empathy for the eccentric characters. Sara Paxton couldn't be more charming as Claire, the young night clerk of on old New England Hotel that she and her co-worker believe is haunted. She`s foolish and naive but her unfailingly positive attitude and surprising courage make her a heroine worth rooting for. Pat Healy is also memorable as her fellow clerk, the cynical, not entirely trustworthy, Luke resident expert on the Hotel's history of ghostly phenomena.
As the fright gags get ratcheted up and the film barrels to it`s abrupt conclusion the time spent with these characters proves well spent as we actually care about what happens to them.
Another winner from, not just a good horror director, but a talented indie filmmaker full-stop.

PS - Fun cameo near the beginning from Lena Dunham, who also played a voice on the phone in House of the Devil.

The October Project 2: Day 25

 

 

"Even a big bitch cockroach like you should know... never, but never, fuck with the King."

Bubba Ho-Tep  (2002)
Directed By Don Coscarelli

The most surprising thing about Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep is how poignant it proves to be.
Given that this is a film with BRUCE CAMPBELL playing Elvis (!) who fights a souls stealing mummy (!) with the aid of Ossie Davis who plays JFK (?), I think it was fair to assume that this film would be a knock-about comedy in the vein of Evil Dead 2. Well I couldn't have been more wrong! This is a melancholy film, coloured with loneliness, regret and keen sense of mortality.
Bruce Campbell plays the king as a sick frustrated old man, but this makes him all the more heroic as he decides that he's the only one who can save his fellow rest-home patients from immortal evil. (Well, he and his best friend, elderly African American JFK, that is.)
This is not to say that the film has no humour, it's just that the laughs are in the dark sardonic vein of author Joe R. Lansdale, the writer of the original short story. Anyway both Campbell and Davis give strong, moving performances and Coscarelli, as usual, spins, atmospheric gold out of a tiny budget.
Terrific little film and a welcome addition to it's director's strange and utterly personal filmography.

The October Project 2: Day 24

 

"Keep away from Pumpkinhead,
Unless you're tired of living.
His enemies are mostly dead,
He's mean and unforgiving."

 

Pumpkinhead  (1988)
Directed by Stan Winston

 Terrific atmospheric monster movie from the great Stan Winston. If you didn't know, he's one of the all time giants of special effects and make-up technology with credits including The Terminator, Terminator 2, Aliens, Predator, Monster Squad and A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, and he does not disappoint here, with his directorial debut.
One could wish that the script had a stronger third act. It begins promisingly, steeped in folklore and rural atmosphere but it degenerates into a body count movie pretty quickly. Never fear though, Pumpkinhead has three very strong elements working in it's favour, the excellent moody cinematography by Bojan Bazelli, a strong central performance from  Lance Henrikson as a grieving father whose despair releases a demon and, of course, the title character, one of the great screen monsters.
Pumpkinhead (the demon) is a great Stan Winston design, achieved entirely  with puppetry and animatronics and it's a testament to the value of these pre-cgi techniques. Pumpkinhead is a genuine character in the film, oozing with gleeful malice as he wreaks havoc in the name of revenge.

If you've never seen it, see it soon, if it's been awhile see it again. It's worth an October revisit.

 

The October Project 2 :Day 23

 

 

 

 

"To a new world of gods and monsters!"

 

Frankenstein  (1931)

 

The Bride of Frankenstein  (1935)
Both Directed by James Whale

Just like the last time I created one of these lists, I have decided to include very few titles from the earliest decades of cinema. As great as these films can be, they are often only of interest to hardcore movie nerds. Most of today's moviegoers find them quaint and silly, not scary in the least. It's better to just avoid the argument.
However, this time I did want to pay tribute to the original "Universal Monsters"
horror cycle of the 30's and 40's and, for me, James Whale's Frankenstein films represent the pinnacle of this, the first great period of American horror cinema.

As most are aware, Frankenstein is an early triumph of Hollywood Gothic. The photography and design are very much in the vein of German expressionism and the whole film holds up much better than the previous year's Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi. A lot of things went right with the film but the primary reason for it's success is the casting of Boris Karloff.
What a beautiful and soulful performance he managed to give with no dialogue! In combination with Jack Pierce's make-up design (still one of the best and most evocative in the history of movies) Karloff created an unforgettable character, frightening, brutish but never less than sympathetic.

Even better is the sequel, the wonderful, goofy, beautiful, campy, poetic The Bride of Frankenstein.
Whale only agreed to do the film if he had total artistic freedom and what he came up with is one of the great Hollywood fantasies. Dr Frankenstein is seduced back into the monster-making game by Dr. Septimus Pretorious, (portrayed by the brilliantly over-the-top Ernest Thesiger) who wants to build Karloff's monster a mate and, hopefully, kick-start a new master-race of undead "gods and monsters".
Crazy then and crazy now, this is a completely delightful film, at once, bizarre, moving and oddly subversive.
A masterpiece.
Both are less than 90 minutes long and together would make one of the great Halloween double-features.


 

The October Project 2: Day 22

 

"They should suffer."

 

Kill List  (2011)
Directed by Ben Wheatley 

This is a tricky film to write about because it strikes a very delicate balance among it's varied genre elements. I'd call it a thriller, primarily, with a touch of middle-class family drama spiralling inexorably toward a devastating, horrific, conclusion. So the less said, the better.
A British hit man is dragged reluctantly from retirement for "one last job", a series of  murders in which the victims seem to peacefully, even joyfully accept their fates. There is so much more to it than that, but I feel to say anything more would be telling too much.
However, I'll happily talk about director Ben Wheatley. I've seen three film by this gifted British director, this one, the darkly comic Sightseers and the phantasmagoric A Field in England and I can tell you, he is the real thing. A filmmaker to watch, he combines an truly individual approach to horror and suspense with an almost Mike Leigh level of character development. What a talent!

The October Project 2: Day 21
 

 

"God's not supposed to be a hack horror writer."

 

In the Mouth of Madness  (1994)
Directed by John Carpenter

 The tepid reviews this film received upon release remain puzzling to me. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of Carpenter's strongest films and, according to Carpenter himself, completes his unofficial "Apocalypse Trilogy"(along with  The Thing and Prince of Darkness).
When best-selling horror author Sutter Cane disappears, there appears to be an outbreak of violent dementia amongst his rabid fans. Suspecting an elaborate publicity stunt, his publisher sends an insurance investigator, played by Sam Neil, to track him down. He eventually does, in the town of Hobb's End, New Hampshire which shouldn't even exist outside of Cane's fiction. This is a GREAT premise for a horror film and Carpenter nails it. It's one of his best paced and creepiest movies.
The early scenes in Hobb's End are particularly effective. Imagine how unsettling it would be to find yourself in Stephen King's Derry or Castle Rock and you'll get an idea of  what I'm talking about.
Anyway, if you like horror and consider yourself any kind of a Carpenter fan, you need to see this.
If you haven't yet, go now and remedy this in any way possible. You won't regret it.

The October Project 2: Day 20

The American Scream  (2012)
Directed by Michael Stephenson

Not a horror movie at all but this film couldn't be more appropriate for an "October" project. A documentary focusing on three amateur "home haunters" in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, "The American Scream" is a heartfelt celebration of  Halloween and those who love it obsessively. These individuals, who turn their homes into elaborate haunted houses every October 31st, range from an obsessive perfectionist who demands a professional level of detail to a couple of sloppy sad sacks who's constructions can barely stand. All approaches are treated with equal validity and reveal their own unique charms.

The filmmakers are not blind to the impact this Halloween obsession can have on family life, especially financially, but the tone is never judgemental or exploitive.
An enjoyable film for, get this, the whole family

PS - Also, be sure to check out this director's previous documentary, Best Worst Movie. which examines the making, and cultural impact, of the magnificent Troll 2.

The October Project 2: Day 19

"Be careful what you do... because this hotel was built over one of the Seven Doors of Evil"

The Beyond (...E tu vivrai nel terrore! L'aldilà)  (1981)
Directed by Lucio Fulci

Welcome back to Fulci-town!
This next-level bonkers gem shares (steals) a few ideas with The Sentinel but with more gore and much less narrative coherence. There's a New Orleans Hotel built over the entrance to hell (evidently one of seven)  a zombie horde, eyeball-eating tarantulas (more Fulci eye trauma, what is this guy's problem!) and finally a descent into Hades itself. A sub-literate mess (look for a door that says "Do Not Entry") that somehow manages to be compulsively watchable, this is either one of the worst films I've ever seen or a dadaist masterpiece from another dimension.
I'll leave you to make up your own mind.

The October Project 2: Day 18

"Long live the new flesh!"

 

Videodrome  (1983)

Directed by David Cronenberg
 A visionary sci-fi / horror masterpiece from that most cerebral of auteurs David Cronenberg. I can't begin to explain how original, compelling and profoundly weird this film seemed back in 1983. It remains one of the director's signature pieces and has lost none of it's power in the last 30 years.
James Woods is excellent as Max Renn the operator of a sleazy cable channel on the lookout for ever more "extreme" material for his station. His personal video pirate discovers just what he's looking for, a show made up entirely of murder and torture, called "Videodrome". As Max investigates further, he begins to have increasingly bizarre but realistic hallucinations. Or are the hallucinations his new reality? I'll never tell. To say anymore would be unfair and wouldn't make any sense out of context but, suffice to say, if you looking for a film combining intellectual content with shocking body-horror, look no further.
There's also a memorably sexy performance by Blondie's Deborah Harry as radio-host Nikki Brand who's not averse to a little BDSM in her lovemaking. This is definitely one for the grownups.

The October Project 2: Day 17

 

 "Who's going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow."


 

Re-Animator (1985)
Directed by Stuart Gordon

 

Too sick to write much here, but maybe one or two sentences. 

Stuart Gordon's horror/scifi/black comedy/Lovecraft adaptation is hilarious, gross, sexy (kinda), offensive and highly entertaining, with a terrific career defining performance from Jeffrey Combs. Contains one of the most cheerfully vulgar visual puns ever in a horror movie. Don't worry, you'll see it. It isn't exactly subtle.
The film kick started the career of Barbara Crampton one of the loveliest and most likable "scream queens" of the 1980's.
This cult classic is almost too much fun!

The October Project 2: Day 16

 "They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What's blood for, if not for shedding?"

Candyman  (1992)
Directed by Bernard Rose

An effective and underrated mixture of supernatural and urban horror with a surprisingly sympathetic monster. The Candyman of the title is an urban legend about the vengeful spirit of a free black man in the ho was murdered by a lynch mob in the previous century. Evidently, if you say his name 5 times in the mirror he will appear to wreak havoc upon the living. When a grad student played by an excellent Virginia Madsen investigates the legend, she, of course, unleashes a cycle of murder and vengeance.
Tony Todd is menacing and dignified as the hook-handed Candyman. No matter how horrible his actions we are never able to forget the grievous injustice he suffered in his mortal life. Director Bernard Rose provides an eerie, foreboding atmosphere throughout, making particularly good use of the Cabrini Green projects in Chicago as a location.
Good film.

The October Project 2: Day 15

 

 

"We've been waiting, Heidi... We've always been waiting."

 

The Lords of Salem  (2012)
Directed by Rob Zombie

I'm well aware of this film's imperfections, but I still think it represents a huge leap forward for director Rob Zombie, who has become (Halloween remakes not withstanding) one of the most unique voices in American horror cinema. In The Lords of Salem, Zombie finally abandons his preoccupation with white-trash caricatures and extreme violence, and attempts a more abstract horror story dependent on character, psychology and some trippy Satan-infused surrealism for good measure. It's his most artfully paced movie, his most subtle (which ,believe me, doesn't make it all that subtle) and by far, his most visually self-assured. The cinematography and sound design, in particular, point to filmmaker growing in his art and expressing a unique point of view.
Not that this film is without influences.There's a bit of The Shining and a lot of Rosemary's Baby in this story of a talk radio host (Shari Moon Zombie in her best performance yet) menaced by a secret coven of witches. (Or at least I think that's what it's about. The last act is pretty weird.)
After a strong first two-thirds, the film ends far too abruptly, in a crazy montage that resembles nothing so much as a black metal video trying too hard to hit every Satanist cliché.

Still, I like the film enough, for what does work, to excuse these flaws.
Not for everyone but, for me, a worthy entry and an excellent choice for Halloween viewing.

 

 

The October Project 2: Day 14

"What happened? We were attacked by huge fuckin' howlin' things, that's what."

Dog Soldiers  (2002)
Directed by Neil Marshall

Night of the Living Dead + Aliens + The Howling = Dog Soldiers.
Really that's it. A group of British soldiers on maneuvers in Scotland find themselves in a secluded farmhouse besieged by a pack of werewolves.
Not much to say about this one really. Outstanding, energetic direction from Neil Marshall, strong cast of British character actors & good non-cgi werewolves.
Lots of fun.

The October Project 2: Day 13

 

 

 

 

The Host (Gwoemul) 
(2006)
Directed by Joon-ho Bong
A superior monster movie anchored by unusual and unpredictable characters. A monster emerges from the Han river in Seoul, wreaks havoc and disappears with a little girl in tow. When the authorities prove reluctant to investigate, or even acknowledge, the incident, it's up to the girl's dysfunctional family to mount a rescue.
This film bounces from serious suspense to sincere family drama to knockabout character comedy often within a scene. Admittedly this does create a weird inconsistency of tone that some viewers will find baffling. I found it all tremendously entertaining

The October Project 2: Day 12

 

 

 

"What's in the basket?"
"My brother."

 

Basket Case  (1982)
Directed by Frank Henenlotter

 

A grungy little gem intended for the old Time Square grindhouse circuit, that somehow managed to find immortality as one of the first films to find a devoted audience on VHS. Everything about this movie is low-rent and disreputable and who would want it any other way?
The remarkably tasteless premise is as follows. A young man has his deformed conjoined twin, named Belial, forcibly removed and left for dead. Instead, the boy rescues his hideous brother and carries him around in a large basket (as you do in these situations) seeking revenge on the surgeons who performed the operation.
Cheerfully exploitative and, when all is said and done, kind of charming in it's no-nonsense grubbiness. Belial is a terrific, sympathetic (to a point) monster and there is some extremely cheesy stop-action animation that's a delight to behold.
Great fun for fans of this sort of thing, and you know who you are.

 

The October Project 2: Day 11

 

 

"There is no good or evil, only spirit and matter. Only movement toward the light - and away from it."

Dust Devil  (1992)
Directed by Richard Stanley

Director Richard Stanley's follow-up to Hardware suffered from years of post-production and distribution hell until it came to be regarded as practically a "lost" film. Luckily, it re-emerged in 2005 in an excellent special edition DVD so genre fans were finally able to see what an extraordinary and unique film it is.
Based on African shape shifter legends combined with Stanley's own fascination with stories and songs about mysterious drifters Dust Devil is a sort of metaphysical spaghetti western. A woman on the run from an abusive husband encounters a mysterious trench coated drifter who turns out to be some sort of soul stealing immortal, maybe a devil, maybe an angel. She escapes and he follows with terminator-like determination.
Beautifully filmed in the South African desert, the film somehow manages to recall Tarkovsky, Jodorowsky and Leone. It also boasts an excellent score by composer Simon Boswell.
A one-of-a-kind genre-bender deserving of a wider audience.

The October Project 2: Day 10

 

 

 

Black Sabbath (I Tre Volti Della Paura)  (1963)
Directed by Mario Bava

This outstanding triptych of horror tales is an exciting collaboration between the great Boris Karloff and Italian maestro Mario Bava.

In the first episode "The Telephone" a woman receives a series of ever-more threatening phone calls from her criminal ex-boyfriend . It's the weakest of the three, but it's still a pretty effective suspense thriller in the giallo tradition.
The second episode is on a whole other level, an elegantly crafted Gothic tale of vampirism called "The Wurdelak". Karloff plays the patriarch of a Russian family who returns home after several days spent hunting down and killing a notorious local bandit. At first they're happy to see him home safely but it quickly becomes apparent that he has somehow.....changed.
Wonderfully chilling and atmospheric and featuring one of Kaloff's most menacing performances, this chapter alone would make this film worth a look but honestly, they saved the best scares for last.
Episode three is "A Single Drop of Water" and even after 50 (!) years it remains a small masterpiece of  slow burn terror. A mean, miserly old woman dies and the her bitter young caretaker steals a ring from her cold, dead finger. I think we all know that will not end well.
All of these are directed with style by Bava one of the all time masters of the genre. If you have any interest in horror at all he is a name you should seek out and get to know. You will not regret it.

The October Project 2: Day 9



 

 

"You goddamn son of a bitch! What is it you want?"



 

The Changeling  (1980)Directed by Peter Medak

 

 

Peter Medak's  The Changeling is that rare thing in horror films, a haunted house story done exactly right. It has a well developed protagonist, an excellent setting and depends far more on atmosphere and sound than visual effects or jump scares. George C. Scott gives a powerful performance (as usual) as a grieving composer who moves into a spooky old mansion that houses a terrible secret.
I won't go much further into the plot to avoid spoilers.
The "haunting" sub-genre has, of late, fallen into a rut of cliché, literal-mindedness and cheap shock effects but this film remains a shining example of what can be accomplished with those simplest of elements, a good actor, a good script and a solid director.
A classic, and one of the great Canadian genre films.
On second thought, make that one of the great Canadian films period.


  



The October Project 2: Day 8

 "Never sing my music again. Not here, not anywhere. Do you understand? Never again. My music is for Phoenix. Only she can sing it. Anyone else who tries, dies! "

Phantom of the Paradise  (1974)
Directed by Brian De Palma

Look, there's a tortured madman, an evil genius in league with the devil and lots of violence and mayhem so....okay, you got me....this isn't really a horror movie. Still, this is my list and if I want to include a garish rock-opera comedy/horror pastiche starring Paul Williams that's my prerogative. 
Fact is, "Phantom of the Paradise" may be kitschy and dated but it's also a GREAT movie. As you can probably tell from the title it's a modern take on the "Phantom of the Opera", with a tacky rock club standing in for the Paris opera, while also borrowing elements of "Faust" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
De Palma delivers a piece of pure sensation cinema that somehow manages to be completely cartoonish and genuinely heartfelt. Paul Williams' songs are very strong and it's a bit of a mystery to me why this film doesn't have as large a cult following as Rocky Horror.
William Finley is memorable in the title role of disfigured composer Winslow Leech, as is Jessica Harper as soulful songstress Phoenix, and Williams is surprisingly nuanced as evil record producer Swan. However, for me the film is stolen by Garrit Graham as cowardly glam-rocker "Beef" a hysterical (in every sense) performance of pure comic camp.
To be fair, it's all pretty silly but, nevertheless,  I have genuine affection for this particular pop-culture oddity.

The October Project 2: Day 7

 

 

 

 

"Grandfather."

Cronos  (1993)
Directed by Guillermo Del Toro

The debut feature of the great Guillermo Del Toro is a vampire tale like no other. There are moments of violence and fear but overall this is a quiet, melancholy story with, perhaps, the most unassuming vampire in the history of movies.
When gentle, elderly antique dealer Jesus Gris is injured (well, bitten really) by a strange device he finds hidden in the base of a statue, he begins to feel younger and more energized than he has in years. Unfortunately, this new vitality comes with strange and disturbing cravings. To complicate things, a dying millionaire and his thuggish nephew (a marvelous Ron Perlman in his first collaboration with Del Toro) suspect what Gris has found and will stop at nothing to acquire it. For all it's genre and thriller trappings however, it is the relationship between the old man and his granddaughter that provides the real soul of the story and elevates it to the level of tragedy.
Inconsistent in tone and maybe a bit too leisurely paced, this is still a startling and original debut from one of modern cinema's great fantasists.

The October Project 2: Day 6

 

"I desire the SOUL of Christine Brown. We will FEAST upon it while she festers in the grave!"

Drag Me To Hell  (2009)
Directed by Sam Raimi

After his great success as the man behind the Spider-Man franchise, this film marked Sam Raimi's return to horror. He did not disappoint.
After foreclosing on a creepy old woman, an  ambitious young loan officer finds herself the object of a particularly dire gypsy curse. As the film progresses Raimi manages to ratchet up the fear and menace while never losing his wicked sense of humour. Despite the undeniable sense of fun (clearly the director still loves this kind of material) it all builds to an uncompromising ending.
Was that too spoilery? Well get over it, the film was released four years ago!

 

The October Project 2: Day 5

The Call of Cthulhu  (2005)
Directed by Andrew Leman

 

The Whisperer in Darkness  (2011)
Directed by Sean Branney

 

Whatever his faults as a writer Howard Philips Lovecraft is inarguably one of the most important and influential figures in the history of horror and fantasy. However, his unique combination of ornate verbiage and feverish "cosmic horror" has proven difficult to translate to film. Other than Stuart Gordon's wonderful, schlocky films from the 80's (more about those later) Lovecraft adaptations have mostly been a big snooze. So, for anybody with even a passing interest in his work, these films are cause for real excitement.
Both are low budget black and white films shot in a manner recalling early cinema. "Call" is a silent film recounting perhaps Lovecraft's most famous work. An investigation into strange occurrences worldwide uncovers a bizarre cult built around a horrifying squid-headed alien god.
"Whisperer" resembles an early sound production like a Universal Studios Gothic classic and portrays the correspondence between an academic and man convinced he's being stalked by otherworldly creatures.
The filmmakers are avowed Lovecraft fanatics and the movies have a handcrafted feel, charming enough to overcome their occasional amateurishness. I'm recommending them as a double feature as "Call" clocks in at a mere 47 minutes.
Not for everybody, but for fans of Lovecraft and lovers of early black and white cinema, these are a lot of fun.

The October Project 2: Day 4

"You will not be saved by the holy ghost. You will not be saved by the god Plutonium. In fact, YOU WILL NOT BE SAVED!"

Prince of Darkness  (1987)
Directed by John Carpenter

John Carpenter was on some kind of a roll in the 80's. He gave us, amongst others, "Escape from New York", "The Thing", "Big Trouble in Little China", "They Live" and this one-of-a-kind horror classic.
A weird priest, played by Donald Pleasence, recruits a physics Professor and a group of grad students to investigate a strange find in the basement of an abandoned church. It turns out to be an impossibly ancient cylinder of swirling green liquid the origin of which I wouldn't dream of divulging here. What I will say (and I hope you find this sufficiently fascinating) is that this is the only film I know that posits the existence of Satan at a quantum level. Huh? Pretty cool right?

Also, Alice Cooper straight-up murders a guy with a bike frame.
Seriously.

 

The October Project 2: Day 3

 

 

"Christine is dead. She is dead! Dead! Dead! Dead! Dead! Dead!"

 

Don't Look Now  (1973)

Directed by Nicolas Roeg

 

 After yesterday's awesome but skanky (awesomely skanky!) zombie epic, here's a classy Daphne Du Maurier adaptation to cleanse the palate. In an eerie, off-season Venice a grieving couple, played by Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, try to process the drowning death of their daughter (no spoiler it's literally the first thing that happens). While Sutherland attempts to lose himself in restoration work, Christie befriends two eccentric English sisters, one of whom is blind and claims to be a medium in touch with their dead child. Things grow progressively more strange and until the blind psychic claims to sense something terrible looming unless the couple leaves Venice. Also, who or what is that small figure in the red coat that Sutherland keeps glimpsing out of the corner of his eye? Could it be?......but that would be telling.

I don't want to say anything more except that the film builds to a truly unforgettable conclusion.

The October Project 2: Day 2

Zombie  (aka: Zombi 2) (1979)
Directed by Lucio Fulci

Welcome to the delightful world of Lucio Fulci, full of demented fun for the whole family. I'm sure you've all seen your share of zombie movies so I don't need to do into great detail about this particular entry. There's a tropical island, flesh eating undead and some amazing low-budget gore gags. That's pretty much all you need to know. However, I do have a few thoughts:

This is a Fulci movie so there will be eye trauma! You should know that going in.

Best tagline ever! (See poster above)

If you've ever wanted to see a zombie fight a (real) shark then this is the movie for you!
Think I'm kidding?

Told ya!

 

Did I mention the eye trauma.?

......don't look at me like that. Were you expecting Shakespeare?

 

  

The October Project 2: The Sequel

Well it's October again, my favourite time of year and a good excuse to dust off this long-ignored blog thing and create yet another list of 31 horror films for you to enjoy. Perhaps this time I should say 'horror" because after the last 31 this list will, by necessity, be a little more eccentric, filled with oddities, cult items and a few ancient classics. Still, I stand by my choices, be they acknowledged cinema milestones or the most disreputable trash. So lets begin:

"I've seen things you wouldn't believe. Things a boy shouldn't see. I was like any other kid; I didn't believe in the boogeyman. Then the world woke up to a nightmare."

Stake Land (2010)
Directed by Jim Mickle

A survival-horror tale set in a world overrun with feral vampires, Stake Land doesn't exactly break new ground but is executed without a false step. The tone is tough and gritty and the danger, whether from the undead or fellow humans, always seems terrifyingly real. All the characters are well drawn especially the charismatic vampire hunter known only as "Mister" played by Nick Damici the film's co-writer. In terms of world building his film accomplishes in 98 minutes what has taken The Walking Dead 3 seasons. An underseen gem waiting to be discovered.