One thing about “Violet & Daisy” that bugged me most, was that it pretends to be about something. When really, it isn’t. We don’t get to meet or know Violet & Daisy long enough to understand their characters or motivation. With the writing and short run time, “Violet & Daisy” portrays the titular duo as two moronic teenagers that happen to be assassins for some kind of gang or mafia organization.
Tag Archives: Mystery
The Lords of Salem (2013)
One thing about Rob Zombie as a director is that he’s tasked with finishing one of his many nonsensical horror films with Sheri Moon as the lead. Sheri Moon is not an actress by any definition. She’s mostly suited for silent supporting roles with someone else doing the heavy lifting. Hence why she’s so much fun in “The Devil’s Rejects.” Sid Haig and Bill Moseley are such excellent actors, Moon doesn’t have to do much but work off them. With “Lords of Salem,” Zombie seems to realize Moon can’t carry a movie on her own, so he once again gives Moon a great supporting cast to work off of. When that safety net is gone, Moon mostly plays her role without much dialogue or heavy emoting, as Zombie fills in her bad performance with a ton of surrealism.
The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) [Blu-ray/DVD] Combo
Director Charles B. Pierce’s murder mystery is still a rather effective horror film, but one that hasn’t aged too well. It tends to watch more like a television movie or two hour special from “Believe It or Not!” rather than an actual horror film. Though very influential for its time, “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” has all the interesting elements for a great horror film, but doesn’t quite stack up to a horror film based on a real life series of murders like “Helter Skelter,” or “In Cold Blood.”
Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) [Blu-Ray]
Producer: Larry I love your script.
Larry Cohen: Thank you!
Producer: I mean, Aztec Cults, ritual murders, a crime investigation, it’s wonderful.
Larry Cohen: I also have David Carradine and Richard Roundtree in mind to star.
Producer: Excellent. Just throw in a large monster for no reason and we’ll make your movie!
Larry Cohen: Great! I’ll… wait–what?
Producer: There has to be a large monster wreaking havoc. “King Kong” is still big after all. And make it look like a featherless chicken. That’s the ticket!
The Town that Dreaded Sundown (1976) [Blu-Ray/DVD Combo]
Director Charles B. Pierce’s murder mystery is still a rather effective horror film, but one that hasn’t aged too well. It tends to watch more like a television movie or two hour special from “Believe It or Not!” rather than an actual horror film. Though very influential for its time, “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” has all the interesting elements for a great horror film, but doesn’t quite stack up to a horror film based on a real life series of murders like “Helter Skelter,” or “In Cold Blood.”
You’re Next (2013)
It’s always funny when you consider studios are spending millions on remaking slasher films, when people like Adam Wingard are literally re-inventing the slasher film. And making it look damn easy, too. Director Adam Wingard’s “You’re Next” is a sick, scary, and exciting amalgam of “Fortress,” and “Straw Dogs,” with a hint of Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game.” It’s clear director Wingard is heavily influenced by late seventies and eighties survival horror films, and he shows off his innate talent for style and suspense with one of the most entertaining horror films of the year.
Exhumed (2011)
Director Richard Griffin’s horror thriller about a demented and warped family comprised of people that simply can not leave their home is an often enigmatic, perplexing, but excellent horror film. I often found “Exhumed” to be a brilliant spin on the “Spider Baby” with a Lynchian atmosphere that worked quite often. From the black and white palette, to the intricate play with shadows, “Exhumed” is constricted to one setting, but feels as if we’re in an entirely new and horrific world.