October/Halloween/Horror Recommendations

bladespin · 21-10-2019 12:33pm

Love Stephen King's The cat's eye too, great pulpy scares, good for a watch party imo.

Bit dated maybe but love it still.

El Duda · 21-10-2019 1:08pm

Been away but managed to watch a few more...

The Ritual - 7/10

A group of middle aged Brits decide to go for a walk in the woods and cross paths with an ominous presence. Ended up enjoying this a lot. Good performances from Rafe Spall and Sam Troughton. It has a thick atmosphere of dread and there's a set-piece early on that freaked me out a lot. You know a horror film is doing its job properly when you need to watch something comedic afterwards for some levity before bedtime.

It ends up a bit silly and there is missed opportunity with Arsher Ali's character. There are a few others who are also massively underwritten. The script probably needed another draft or two. The first half is certainly stronger than the second but its a definite thumbs up.

Magic (1978) – 6.75/10

A young Anthony Hopkins plays an aspiring magician who is struggling to make a connection with his audience. The introduction of a ventriloquist’s dummy helps him to bridge the gap, but we don’t know where the performance begins and ends. As a film about an evil doll, you immediately think Childs Play but this is more comparable with Psycho. Hopkins brilliantly portrays mental deterioration of someone who isn’t equipped to deal with fame. His ‘relationship’ with Fats the dummy is the highlight of the film.

This could’ve been great if it had just been a bit scarier. It’s entertaining enough though and it features a good supporting role from Burgess Meredith. I found myself chuckling away to some of the outdated 70’s misogyny. Lots of references to women being ‘just a pair of jugs’ etc…

Happy Death Day – 5.5/10

Groundhog Day without any originality, charm or likable actors. A non-descript, generic blonde protagonist teams up with budget Andrew Garfield to try and solve the mystery of why she keeps being killed and reliving her birthday. The film sets up way too many red-herrings and seems to think it is being clever. None of the twists and turns are surprising or witty.

I’d suggest you just watch Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow again and avoid this.

Has there ever been a great, scary doll film? (Please do not say Annabelle)

Mike Guide 69 · 21-10-2019 1:39pm

El Duda wrote: »

Been away but managed to watch a few more...

The Ritual - 7/10

A group of middle aged Brits decide to go for a walk in the woods and cross paths with an ominous presence. Ended up enjoying this a lot. Good performances from Rafe Spall and Sam Troughton. It has a thick atmosphere of dread and there's a set-piece early on that freaked me out a lot. You know a horror film is doing its job properly when you need to watch something comedic afterwards for some levity before bedtime.

It ends up a bit silly and there is missed opportunity with Arsher Ali's character. There are a few others who are also massively underwritten. The script probably needed another draft or two. The first half is certainly stronger than the second but its a definite thumbs up.

Magic (1978) – 6.75/10

A young Anthony Hopkins plays an aspiring magician who is struggling to make a connection with his audience. The introduction of a ventriloquist’s dummy helps him to bridge the gap, but we don’t know where the performance begins and ends. As a film about an evil doll, you immediately think Childs Play but this is more comparable with Psycho. Hopkins brilliantly portrays mental deterioration of someone who isn’t equipped to deal with fame. His ‘relationship’ with Fats the dummy is the highlight of the film.

This could’ve been great if it had just been a bit scarier. It’s entertaining enough though and it features a good supporting role from Burgess Meredith. I found myself chuckling away to some of the outdated 70’s misogyny. Lots of references to women being ‘just a pair of jugs’ etc…

Happy Death Day – 5.5/10

Groundhog Day without any originality, charm or likable actors. A non-descript, generic blonde protagonist teams up with budget Andrew Garfield to try and solve the mystery of why she keeps being killed and reliving her birthday. The film sets up way too many red-herrings and seems to think it is being clever. None of the twists and turns are surprising or witty.

I’d suggest you just watch Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow again and avoid this.

Has there ever been a great, scary doll film? (Please do not say Annabelle)

Child’s Play???

El Duda · 21-10-2019 1:45pm

Not particularly frightening though. Plus, it was only a 15!

This scene though i spuppose...

tenor.gif?itemid=5425427

CastorTroy · 21-10-2019 10:54pm

Don't think the age rating matters.
Poltergeist is PG or 15 as well and even contains a creepy clown doll.
Or even Coraline, which is a kid's film, is as creepy as they come.

Think Child's Play is the scariest doll film I've seen. All others are more slasher or comedic like Puppet Master.

mrcheez · 22-10-2019 10:25am

bladespin wrote: »

Love Stephen King's The cat's eye too, great pulpy scares, good for a watch party imo.

Bit dated maybe but love it still.

yeah I hated pigeons after seeing that

El Duda · 23-10-2019 1:07pm

This one was great...

You're Next - 7.75/10

On the surface it looks like it will be just another home invasion slasher, but Adam Wingard is an inventive director and he flips some of the tired genre tropes on their head.

If you find modern slashers infuriating because of idiotic protagonists and invincible killers, this is the antidote. It's very well paced and extremely violent though it gets slightly more tongue-in-cheek by the end.

El Duda · 28-10-2019 2:07pm

Few more...

The Stuff – 5/10

A shoddily put together B-movie that doesn’t seem to know whether to adopt a farcical tone or to try and take things seriously. Given the films absurd plot about an addictive food product that brainwashes consumers, this was ripe for a more comedic/satirical approach. The films biggest problem is how scrappily put together it is. Poorly synced dialogue, abrupt editing, lame effects etc… This is a tacky mess that could’ve been fun. Brian Yuzna’s Society did this whole thing a lot better. Enough is more than enough of The Stuff.

Pet Sematary (1989) 4K - 5.9/10

This was my first exposure to any iteration of Stephen King's classic story. It is widely regarded as his scariest book, so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, I think this adaptation is almost completely outdated. It is creepy in places, but it's let down by flat direction and mediocre performances. Fred Gwynne's 'Jud Crandall' is by far the highlight of the film. I'd seen his spoof on South Park but had no idea it was from this film. Without his inclusion this would've been a miserable watch.

Tenebrae – 8.5/10

Finally got around to watching this classic Dario Argento Giallo murder mystery. Much like Suspiria, this is visually striking and ultra-stylistic filmmaking. Goblin provide another brilliant score and know how to accentuate a set piece. I love ‘whodunnit’ films and I thought I had this one worked out; I was completely wrong. It keeps twisting and turning right up to the bat**** finale. Christopher Walken was considered for the lead role but they ended up using Anthony Franciosa who is superb. The highlight of the film was the ferocious dog chase scene. I looked to my left and my pet Labrador was just as transfixed as I was.

One thing in Tenebrae that was a bit distracting was the bad audio syncing with the dialogue. In some scenes it's horrendous!? What's the deal?

28-10-2019 2:35pm

The Nightingale is worth a watch, Ultra violent horror with an Irish tint!

3 from Hell - sequel to The Devils Rejects. Pretty damn violent too, and while not as good as the first one it delivers on a pretty tight budget, three people from hell.

El Duda · 28-10-2019 3:11pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The Nightingale is worth a watch, Ultra violent horror with an Irish tint!

The new Jeniffer kent film? (Babadook follow up)

28-10-2019 4:09pm

El Duda wrote: »

The new Jeniffer kent film? (Babadook follow up)

The very same

CastorTroy · 31-10-2019 1:27am

October movies so far included Halloween (2018), Candyman, Happy Death Day 2U, Hocus Pocus and Sleepy Hollow.

Will watch 1 or 2 more tomorrow but as it is past midnight I'll just leave this here. (Warning: Don't watch while wearing a Silver Shamrock mask)
(Also contains strobing type effect)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHUv2ooG38

briany · 31-10-2019 11:02am

Watched WNUF Halloween Special (2013) last night and really enjoyed it.

The premise is that it's 1987 and follows a reporting team from a small-town American TV channel as they go on a live Halloween investigation of a house with a dark past and an allegedly ghostly present. In many ways this is similar to the British mockumentary, Ghostwatch, but has elements of comedy in there, mainly because of the corny faux-ads that come on in between programme 'segments'. The makers of the film did an excellent job of making this look like it's from 1987 and it the visuals have that VCR, recording of a recording of a recording quality. And although it has comedy elements, the dark house seen through the grainy picture lends a rather creepy atmosphere. I'd say to give this one a watch of you're looking for something a bit different tonight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5iCF2Ltjlk

Sugarlumps · 31-10-2019 11:42am

Goosebumps 2 - Really entertaining flick.

31-10-2019 11:45am

Anyone ever see the House series?
Its so bad but used to scare the **** outta me when I was 10

johnny_ultimate · 31-10-2019 11:57am

I often see the House series mentioned, but it only just reminds that House (Hausu) is the greatest horror-comedy ever made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_Yo06kIIA

El Duda · 31-10-2019 1:58pm

Last year I watched halloween on DVD. This year I watched it on 4K. The difference is huge. Obviously the picture quality was brilliant but the thing that really surprised me was the sound. You could hear Mike Myers freaky breathing so much more clearly. It properly creeped me out.

4K is so so good for restorations of old films. The Alien one in particular looks insane.

Man Vs ManUre · 31-10-2019 2:14pm

El Duda wrote: »

Last year I watched halloween on DVD. This year I watched it on 4K. The difference is huge. Obviously the picture quality was brilliant but the thing that really surprised me was the sound. You could hear Mike Myers freaky breathing so much more clearly. It properly creeped me out.

4K is so so good for restorations of old films. The Alien one in particular looks insane.

I quite liked the rob zombie Halloween 1 and 2 films from a few years ago also. They were vicious.

mrcheez · 31-10-2019 2:26pm

I saw Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects recently on Shudder and it's very good... typical ott violence of course!

Also Mandy starring an insane Nicolas Cage ... slow moving initially but watch it just to see N Cage's crazy eyes

Sugarlumps · 31-10-2019 2:32pm

mrcheez wrote: »

I saw Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects recently on Shudder and it's very good... typical ott violence of course

In my opinion this film is dire, lame plot - acting if you can call it that. His wife is atrocious.

Fysh · 31-10-2019 5:36pm

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I often see the House series mentioned, but it only just reminds that House (Hausu) is the greatest horror-comedy ever made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_Yo06kIIA

I picked up the Eureka Blu ray of this a while ago and watched it last night. It managed to top Happiness Of The Katakuris as the most perplexing Japanese film I've seen, which is no mean feat.

Fysh · 31-10-2019 5:38pm

Man Vs ManUre wrote: »

I quite liked the rob zombie Halloween 1 and 2 films from a few years ago also. They were vicious.

I liked some bits of both but my preferred way to revisit them is a fanedit version that combines both, under the name The Myers Family. Worth checking out.

johnny_ultimate · 31-10-2019 5:39pm

Fysh wrote: »

I picked up the Eureka Blu ray of this a while ago and watched it last night. It managed to top Happiness Of The Katakuris as the most perplexing Japanese film I've seen, which is no mean feat.

Now go watch Symbol (not a horror, but next level joyfully perplexing) by Hitoshi Matsumoto if you can find it, but do not read a single thing about it before you hit play

Tammy! · 31-10-2019 5:45pm

Saw The Craft years ago. Watched it again the other night and enjoyed it.

Fysh · 31-10-2019 5:47pm

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Now go watch Symbol (not a horror, but next level joyfully perplexing) by Hitoshi Matsumoto if you can find it, but do not read a single thing about it before you hit play

I caught that on Mubi a while back based on your recommendation, and it was great. Baffling, but great

El Duda · 31-10-2019 5:55pm

Mark Kermode Exorcist doc is up on iPlayer. never before seen festival cut.

31-10-2019 6:13pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0qxI9a3k24

Will I Am Not · 31-10-2019 6:24pm

mrcheez wrote: »

I saw Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects recently on Shudder and it's very good... typical ott violence of course!

Also Mandy starring an insane Nicolas Cage ... slow moving initially but watch it just to see N Cage's crazy eyes

I’ve seen The Devil’s Rejects a couple of times and enjoyed it so I was really looking forward to the sequel, 3 From Hell. What a letdown, it’s absolutely dire.

Will I Am Not · 31-10-2019 6:29pm

Recently watched The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Fractured.
Fractured wasn’t too bad, the other one was distinctly average.

CastorTroy · 31-10-2019 9:30pm

Wasn't The Devil's Rejects a sequel to House of a Thousand Corpses? Or the other way around?

Homelander · 31-10-2019 9:38pm

Watched Child's Play. Surprisingly decent and willing to take the piss out of itself.

Will I Am Not · 31-10-2019 9:39pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

Wasn't The Devil's Rejects a sequel to House of a Thousand Corpses? Or the other way around?

Yeah you’re right. 3 From Hell picks up right at the end of The Devil’s Rejects. Suppose it’s more of a ‘Part 2’ than a sequel?

Inviere · 01-11-2019 9:02am

I think it was this thread someone mentioned Inside No. 9? Whoever it was, thank you, what an absolutely cracking little show it is

El Duda · 01-11-2019 1:58pm

Homelander wrote: »

Watched Child's Play. Surprisingly decent and willing to take the piss out of itself.

The original or the remake?

I think I might get the Childs play box set next year. I've only seen the first one.

CastorTroy · 04-11-2019 8:54pm

Will it actually happen?

bladespin · 04-11-2019 10:06pm

Watched 'the cabin in the woods' last night, really enjoyed it, different.

Also, an old classic I love to watch if the weather's right: The fog.

05-11-2019 2:36pm

I've run out of English language horror

so have been looking into more foreign titles on Shudder and have found a couple of good ones recently:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549892/

Aterrados (Terrified) 2017 - Argentina

"When strange events occur in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, a doctor specializing in the paranormal, her colleague, and an ex police officer decide to investigate further."

I loved this one. I'm a sucker for a good jump scare and this one has it's share but doesn't rely solely upon them. It's not perfect, a bit slow in parts, but it is very creepy and, at times, horrific.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2640474/

La casa del fin de los tiempos (The House at the End of Time) 2013 - Venezuela

"Dulce is a mother of two who experiences terrifying encounters with apparitions inside her old house, a place where a tragedy occurs. Thirty years later, an elderly Dulce returns home to decipher the mystery that has tormented her for so long."

Maybe more of a thriller with a few jump scares than a horror but a great well-paced story that pulls you in from the very beginning.

p to the e · 05-11-2019 6:26pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I've run out of English language horror so have been looking into more foreign titles on Shudder and have found a couple of good ones recently:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549892/

Aterrados (Terrified) 2017 - Argentina

"When strange events occur in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, a doctor specializing in the paranormal, her colleague, and an ex police officer decide to investigate further."

I loved this one. I'm a sucker for a good jump scare and this one has it's share but doesn't rely solely upon them. It's not perfect, a bit slow in parts, but it is very creepy and, at times, horrific.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2640474/

La casa del fin de los tiempos (The House at the End of Time) 2013 - Venezuela

"Dulce is a mother of two who experiences terrifying encounters with apparitions inside her old house, a place where a tragedy occurs. Thirty years later, an elderly Dulce returns home to decipher the mystery that has tormented her for so long."

Maybe more of a thriller with a few jump scares than a horror but a great well-paced story that pulls you in from the very beginning.

A decent horror I watched late on Film4 one night was the Turkish horror "Baskin". Maintains a tense and chilling atmosphere throughout.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4935418/

Wailin · 05-11-2019 10:48pm

Have 47 metres down, Drag me to Hell and Ouija origins recorded from Film 4 on Halloween night. Which should I watch later folks?

El Duda · 05-11-2019 11:13pm

Drag me to Hell is the best imo, then 47 meters. Depends what you want. Sharks or scary pensioners?

mrcheez · 06-11-2019 11:20am

Audition is on Shudder at the moment

****ed up movie that one, but another recommendation to add here

Man Vs ManUre · 06-11-2019 12:33pm

I haven’t watch Us yet. Is it anywhere near as good as Get Out??
Get Out, Cabin in the woods, It Follows, and Sinister are great modern horrors.

El Duda · 06-11-2019 2:56pm

Audition is incredible.

Us has polarised audiences slightly and it is very interesting. Visually it has great rhythm and Peele is great at directing actors. I'd say it was one of the years few must watch films. Get Out had a very clear and precise idea behind it whereas Us is a bit more crazy and disjointed.

El Duda · 13-10-2020 7:02pm

Bump

Hey guys

What are the best/newest horror films on Netflix/Prime/Shudder?

rtron · 13-10-2020 8:18pm

Have skim through this thread, I found some gems I would have missed and some new ones aswell.
Host (2020) is a good one off the top of my head.

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058095198/18/#post114909194

mrcheez · 13-10-2020 8:37pm

El Duda wrote: »

Bump

Hey guys

What are the best/newest horror films on Netflix/Prime/Shudder?

Vivarium on Shudder with Jesse Eisenberg is excellent and very creepy.

Directed and Produced by an Irish team, but you'd hardly believe it wasn't made by a top Hollywood producer.

Apparently it's only available on the Irish shudder... maybe the UK one too.

Fysh · 13-10-2020 8:55pm

There's a lot of talk about Host on Shudder being the film of the Lockdown era, which I haven't seen yet. But Vivarium is really good and also has unexpected relevance in the context of Lockdown.

mrcheez · 13-10-2020 9:09pm

Fysh wrote: »

There's a lot of talk about Host on Shudder being the film of the Lockdown era, which I haven't seen yet. But Vivarium is really good and also has unexpected relevance in the context of Lockdown.

Host was surprisingly effective... I thought it would be cheap and like a Hell House rip off or similar, but I actually had a few chills up my spine with that one

Dyr · 13-10-2020 9:23pm

Fysh wrote: »

At this time of year, it's almost a contractual obligation to have some Carpenter goodness - Halloween and The Thing being the obvious choices, although I also have a soft spot for The Fog.

Everyone says The Fog and Halloween, nobody says In the Mouth of Madness and the Prince of Darkness

Its sad

Trick r Treat is a good Halloween film, great production and sets

A Dark Song, The Canal and The Borderlands are three good watches if you want slow burning occult horrors, small budgets and casts but they're good

Its well worth signing up to Shudder for a free trial over Halloween too, theres some good films on there

Dyr · 13-10-2020 9:24pm

mrcheez wrote: »

Host was surprisingly effective... I thought it would be cheap and like a Hell House rip off or similar, but I actually had a few chills up my spine with that one

I thought Host was awful, I wanted the entire cast dead within 10 minutes

October/Halloween/Horror Recommendations

Comments