It should serve as no surprise to the people who know me that I think “Cabin Fever” is without a doubt one of the worst horror movies ever made and one of the worst movies ever made. Seeing it in theaters was definitely one of the most excruciating and disappointing experiences I’ve ever had. This led me to form a pure hatred for Eli Roth and everything he stands for. Not to mention I did not enjoy Ti West’s film debut “The Roost,” so the chances of a sequel to Roth’s piece of junk entertaining me was utterly slim.
Tag Archives: Suspense
The Final Destination (2009) (DVD)
Yep this is it, the Final Destination, the alleged final installment in the “Final Destination” franchise that promises to close up the entire storyline. And yes, I’m not buying it either. When there is money to be made, sequels are still a potential cash cow and I think the series will continue to live on when the studios decide it’s time to make some money off of this carnival of cruel and painful deaths. What “The Final Destination” promises is not what it delivers. There are simply no questions answered to the big questions. Who are chosen to receive these premonitions? Are these people just random or do they possess unusual powers or gifts? Are they apart of a legacy or do they just happen to be apart of an accident or misfire? Who or what grants them these premonitions? Does death give it to them as some sort of sick game? And if there is some mystical being granting these people the gift to foretell the next move of death why do they want these people to be one step ahead of death?
The Hurt Locker (2008)
I honestly think that given enough time, Hollywood is going to understand how to create a great film about the Iraq War. In the eighties we observed the sixties and its impact on society and given another five or six years we’ll get the right film about the Iraq war that chronicles its impact on civilization. Few movies have done it successfully (“In the Valley of Elah” was excellent, though). That is until now where Kathryn Bigelow has managed to capture the chaotic fervor and flat out insanity of the occupation of a foreign land told through the eyes of three soldiers, one of whom happens to be a bomb specialist who takes risks time and again to ensure the safety of his platoon.
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
2009 saw an unusual change in the status quo. What were once edgy indie filmmakers soon turned to directors aiming for children’s entertainment that was raucous and quite unusual. First Wes Anderson and then Spike Jonze. That’s no caveat though as Jonze takes his knack for the surreal and the unusual and makes a family film that’s quite edgy. Never shying away from mild violence and scary images, Jonze adapts a famous children’s book in to one of the most fantastic piece of family filmmaking ever made. Displaying hints of danger, Jonze’s film is about unbridled childhood fun and the innocence that’s lost once confronted with the prospect of growing up. Do we all have to lose our imagination from a world that demands even children to leave childish things behind?
Orphan (2009)
Collet-Serra may not have the best track record but he manages to accomplish a lot in “Orphan.” The camera work is often very disturbing and he manages to evoke the true definition of insanity through stunning imagery that always tries to surpass words that can best describe what we’re seeing. From character Esther’s basic psychopathic habits right down to her ability to conceive the darkest of imagery through her paint brush (as we see throughout the film), Collet-Serra leaves almost no stone unturned. Without wanting to ruin the twist, Collet-Serra gives us enough hints sprinkled around the general mystery to keep us guessing and anxious to discover what’s wrong with Esther. Is she the anti-Christ? Is she a demon? Is she the manifestation of the past? Is she Satan? Or is she merely a disturbed child?
Boogeyman 2 (2007)
If you recall, the original “Boogeyman” was a steaming pile that seemed to put up so much effort for an end product that would ultimately mean nothing, and this is because of the phenomenally bad writing that took the interesting concept and went nowhere fast. What “Boogeyman 2” does is take the typical route and makes all the obvious moves: It becomes a slasher movie, one that basically follows in continuity with the first without reminding us too much how much it stunk. Call me an apologist, proclaim my taste as being awful, but “Boogeyman 2” isn’t so bad. Sure it’s far from perfect but what it lacks in originality and scares it makes up for in creativity and hitting most of the right chords as a slasher film… and yes some of the performances manage to be pretty decent in the meanwhile.
Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Inspired by Michael Dougherty’s short horror film “Season’s Greetings,” our favorite trick or treater Sam returns to remind us of the further tricks he has up his sleeve as Dougherty introduces a film comprised of interwoven sub-plots a la “Go” (where everyone is out for the occasion but only a select few experience the true heinous clutch of Halloween evil) along with the comic book format in the vein of “Creepshow” where we’re bombarded with comic panels of what’s to come .