Film Review: ' the Munsters"

First let us consider what was the last movie Rob Zombie did that was worth a shit? Well "31" was entertaining, but not the greatest if we are not measuring it against other b-grade straight to video/ streaming standards. That would make "Halloween 2' the last movie really worth watching, and that is being generous. Up until this point at least his movies looked good and gave enough wink at Grindhouse horror to make it worthwhile.  With adapting the Munsters, you would think since one of his biggest radio hit songs was about their race car Dragula, that Zombie would protect the legacy of the television show in making, what amounts to a prequel. Instead, what we got was Zombie taking a piss on it with something that has the production quality of a Six-Flags Halloween commercial. There are yard props that you can buy at Spirit Halloween that looks better than what he made here. 

While I appreciate the lighting and the vivid colors, that is the only redeeming aspect of this garbage. Richard Brake is really the only actor who tried with his Vincent Price impersonation. Sheri Moon, acted like Elvira, who was ironically also in the movie but not acting like herself. Then the rest of the cast camped it up to the point beyond cheese making every interaction painfully awkward. When you go back and watch the original sitcom, it is clear Fred Gwynne was a closet queen, which was not uncommon with Hollywood actors back in 1964. But even then, his acting is far superior to anything that happens here. The script was cumbersome and seems like it was written by a child. Speaking of children how Eddie Munster was not included even as a bundle of fur, is a testament to how the pacing and plot were poorly mapped out. 

It is hard to really sum up my thoughts after watching something that bad. It was so bad it was funny in places where it was not trying too hard to be funny, much like one of Herman's stand-up routines. While those types of jokes were in the original show, they were delivered much better. Zombie should have taken notes from Tim Burton's reboot of "the Addams Family' as to how to take creative license and still pay proper respect for the source material. Instead, we got a piece of trash that I found myself having to endure rather than enjoy and makes me hope this is the last film Zombie is allowed by the studios to make.   

Film Review: "Barbarian"

 

Zach Cregger has done a fine job establishing himself as a horror director with this film. Though a great deal of credit goes to the writers. The whole movie hinges on the "don't go into the basement" trope of horror but takes it a step further. The acting is also really great, which was needed in order to create the misdirection this movie thrives upon. There are story arcs that split off and come back together which enrich the story telling. The mood also gives you a sense of unease, which is more effective than blood and guts or jump scares.

In Hollywood these days, you have to know some of their politics are going to get involved and I think there is pressure to give in a go with the narrative that forms their identity and makes them feel like a vital part of their perceived culture. It is like reading the room through rose tinted glasses. The film does stay relevant to that, but in a manner that does not take side and shows other perspectives to topics like cancel culture, though they influence the story it is not what it all hinges upon but motivating factors to the characters. The unique voice to the story telling assimilates all of this.

In some ways it owes a great deal to 'the People Under the Stairs" , it is what they do not tell you and the direction you think this movie is going that helps seal the deal. The themes in play might not be new to horror, underground inbreeds, feels very Hills Have Eyes, but it is all in the telling and how this movie has an ending that happens fast, but brings with it the kind of bleak ness I want, as I hate happy ending, and prefer that people do not survive my horror movies. If you want practical effects, and an old school production feel to a new movie, then they have you covered here. One of the better horror films so far.    

Review : Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

From a production standpoint, this is pretty flawless. There is no question that American Horror Story's Ryan Murphy has a keen eye. He also comes with the typical Hollywood baggage of wanting to tell their story rather than the story so they can work their own politics and views into. If you have only a pedestrian interest in the history his work touches on, then the entertainment value beats out the historical accuracy, after all who needs those pesky facts anyways. Most of this has become so common place in anything coming out of Hollywood, as a viewer I just tune it out. The impeccable citing of Evan Peters who gives a legendary performance as the title character is the spoon full of sugar that makes the medicine go down. 

With that said the story telling and writing is a fucking mess. Perhaps this would have been time better spent condensed into a three-hour movie. Ryan Murphy is a fan of serial killers, having had many make cameos on American Horror Story. He gave a glamorized and almost cartoonish portrayal of Richard Ramierz on American Horror Story and managed to squeeze in Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy into this show. Here it seems he was unsure what message he was trying to get across here. The show is marketed as being from the victim's perspective, yet Jeff feels like the protagonist most of the time due to Peter's charismatic acting. Is it Black Lives Matter? or Black live are delicious?  At time they spin things like this was an issue of race with the white man-eating people of color, then have Jeff come out and say this is not the case and it was about his abandonment issues. Is he a calculating killer driven by a compulsion to rack up a 17-person body count m with 15 of them in an apartment or did he skate by due to faulty police work. 

Some of the more glaring liberties taken include the fact that Glenda Cleveland who is a focal point of the story, did not live next door to Dahmer, but in a building next to Dahmer's. This shoots down the impact of the trauma she claims to have had on the show due to this and her credibility as a witness when it came to her calling the police. But when you are trying to push a point why stick to something like the facts. Despite this the Peters / Murphy combo proved enough to keep me entertained and watching, as someone who has a long-standing interest in serial killers, it was on par with "Mindhunter" in terms of capturing the mood with the title character. Other pieces of trivia about the case, were shown here which have not really gotten this same treatment in other on-screen depictions of Dahmer.    

I have seen some response online of people saying that the show needed warning as it was too triggering for them and some even said traumatizing.  It is not Hollywood or any entertainment entity's job to protect your feelings or tip toe around your psychological issues.  Those are your responsibility. If you know a show about a serial killer who is a cannibal might be too much for your tender mind, then do not watch it. You perhaps should not watch tv at all and might find reading up on cognitive Behavorial therapy a better investment in your time. Aside from that I was eager to make it through the show, but the last few episodes dragged and the story lines with some of the victims' families or the fictional relationship episode could have been edited down as it lost momentum there.