THE THING (1982)
What was wrongfully reviled and scrutinized in 1982 has slowly revealed itself as one of THE perfect horror movies over the past three and a half decades. All the ingredients are there and they’re prepared to perfection. Masterful practical effects from Rob Bottin, smart characters, clever plotting, skillful direction, Ennio Morrricone’s haunting score, and bone-chillingly effective atmosphere. Even above Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China, this film cements Carpenter and Russel as bonafide titans of genre cinema.
[RATING: 5 out of 5]
SAW (2004)
At times tedious, questionably acted and showing it’s age too well (the editing in the now-iconic Reverse Bear Trap scene done in a rapidly hectic manner that screams “THIS WAS MADE IN 2004!”), it’s still a decently entertaining sleazy B-movie posing as lower-tier psycho-thriller fodder that paved the way for a whole franchise of enjoyably deranged splatter flicks and the fantastic career of James Wan. Some good atmosphere and memorable set pieces also help.
[RATING: 3 out of 5]
NEAR DARK (1987)
Man, they really don’t make vampire flicks like this anymore. Great doses of dark comedy amongst Southern fried, blood-soaked carnage. Sure, the low budget occasionally reveals the film’s limitations and the romance between Jenny Wright’s Mae and Adrian Pasdar’s Caleb could’ve, nay should’ve, been focused a little bit more (the two of them share a remarkable warmth/tenderness that serves as a nice counterpoint to all the chaos unfolding around them). Plus, Bill Paxton’s Severen is now one of the favorite movie bloodsuckers. Nevertheless, the climax is fun and that bar scene is a classic. Makes you wish Kathryn Bigelow was making more stuff like this and Point Break instead of heated Oscar baby pleasers. Finger lickin’ good!
[RATING: 4 out of 5]
BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (1992)
Coppola’s most phantasmagorical accomplishment as one of the all-time great filmmakers. Riveting acting (aside from Keanu Reeves and his much-maligned British accent), brilliant costume & set design, hauntingly operatic music and quixotic yet effective editing/cinematography choices. All of which add up to a horror film that truly earns being described as an epic. A true gothic standout from the horror pictures of its time that has yet to get the iconic status it deserves.
[RATING: 4 out of 5]
IT FOLLOWS (2015)
Perhaps the finest of the many recent homages to John Carpenter. Takes an initially silly premise and turns into something geniunely terrifying. A lesson in how to make a fantastic looking film with a small budget and creating a truly iconic horror soundtrack. Undoubtedly one of the best (if not the best) chillers of the modern era. Bla bla bla... you get the picture!
[RATING: 4 and 1/2 out of 5]
HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982)
Oh, what could’ve been if the Halloween franchise continued in this direction instead of bringing back Michael Myers for the umpteenth time. A unique little 80s horror picture whose campy sensibilities oddly compliment the haunting atmosphere, all wrapped with one bombshell of a down ending. Impressive gore and a well-utilized EC comics-esque premise are underlined by Carpenter & Howarth’s bone-chillingly eerie score. Year after year, I put this on and it always manages to get me in the mood for the season. Also, if you watch this and don’t have the Silver Shamrock jingle stuck in your head, I’m convinced you aren’t human.
[RATING: 3 and 1/2 out of 5]
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