Film Review : Candy Man 2021

 

Originally  slated for a 2020 release, Covid the theater releases off kilter and tis movie which would have ridden the coat tail of the more topical issues of the year, instead was laid bare with the grievous issues in it's writing glaring like the open wounds depicted over the course of the film. This is a sequel that ignores the other sequels so it is a re-boot in that sense. This short story by Clive Barker had already been milked for all it's worth. Lagging behind "Hell Raiser" and "Lord of Illusions" in terms of film adaptions of Barker's work, this movie would have done best if Jordan Peele had been left as a producer only and not allowed to participate in the writing.

They key to good writing of ay kind and perhaps the golden rule of story telling is to show me do not tell me. Instead we get the sub text of topics like gentrification pushed too heavy handed into the fore front, so it felt like you were being preached at rather than watching a horror movie. These topics came up in a more organic fashion back when Barker originally write this. Well not this particular piece, though they would have done better if it had. The start of the movie could have been OK, but as the film progressed rather than creating a sense of dread, things took a jagged turn. I called the protagonist's  descent early on and nothing felt like an unexpected turn. Some of the shots were ok and perhaps some where on the cutting room floor there is a better edit of this movie. 

Much like the emperor not wearing any clothes there will be those who want this to be a good movie so badly due to the nostalgia they have attached to the original that they will even tell you this is a good movie. I have seen people post things on line as absurd as it's the best horror movie of the year, which if this was remotely true would be a sad state of affairs' for horror in 2021. When you strip away the politics this movie is unsure how they want want to tell the story they are trying to tell and hope winks at their homage is enough to make you forget this. Well you can fool some of the the people some of the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time. In short , I would not pay theater prices to see this movie, even if "Candy Man' is your favorite movie which in that case I hope you would be able to be objective enough to raise the bar higher for what you want to see when this property is brought to the screen,. but these days that might be asking too much from people.   

Film Review : "the Green Knight"

The trailer for this movie had my hopes high along with the fact it is the same production company that brought you the VVitch , which is one of my favorite movies. This fact is deceptive since Eggers the writer and director has nothing to do with this movie. Read that again, this has nothing to do with the VVitch in terms of being a horror movie or what went into the writing and directing of this film. Writing wise it is based on the Arthurian Legend of the Green Knight , so I am still game given the fact that  swords and castles are firmly in my wheelhouse of interest. 

If I had instead gone into this knowing how  proud they are of the  fact they have vegan costumes , then I might have been more prepared for the tone of things to come. Lets start with the protagonist. The first Arthurian “hero” who does nothing heroic, in fact he has no redeeming qualities at all. He can not fight. If you let the kid from “Killing the Sacred Deer’ rob you then you are beyond a pussy and have no right to hold any sword or be considered a knight. By the end of the movie we are rooting against him. At least I was hoping he would get his head chopped off. Most of the movie he runs from his own shadow like a little bitch and while he does dive in the water to find a skull that is about all he has going for him. 

Then there is the fact that he makes this pilgrimage for nothing. Its a slow movie that leads to nothing. Sure there is some creepy atmosphere and some cool shots, but if I had paid 15 bucks to see this in the theater I would have been pissed as hell. I am pissed that I wasted the time that I did not watch it,. That is two hours of my life that would have been much better spent doing something else. If you see this on anyone’s top 10 horror movies of 2021 list , do not trust another word that person writes. Terrible might be a strong word as it made me feel something which was pissed, I would say worthless is a better term for this film. 

Film Review : " Host"

 Shudder is coming correct with horror movies this year, I think the most entertaining one I have seen in something or at least over the course of last Saturday when I downloaded a bunch after feeling I needed to get caught up. This one came out back in July. In the vein of the Paranormal activity movies. The British film is impressive for a variety of reasons . Some of these are behind the scenes, like how the director worked remotely with the actors. The were instructed how to light their shots that were done via Zoom, which is the platform on which the movie was set. But even more they were given a online tutorial as to how they were to handle taking care of all their effects. Some of these included people suspended in mid aire, which I have to assume was handled in post production . 

The writing and the cast are really at the heart of what makes this movie, as well as the mood it creates . This movie is a clear cut lesson often forgotten in horror. You have to care about the characters in order for it to become scary. If you have annoying character or the dumb college kids at Crystal Lake, then you root for the monster to kill them. Some characters do make stupid horror mistakes , but I feel it is given proper context. I do not like comedy , but the beginning of this movie is funny. The drinking game that occurs is one of my favorite moments. I think this makes the characters more endearing. Fun friends that you do not want to see killed.  

Of the six movies I watched last weekend this was the best with "#Alive" coming in 2nd place. I will get around to writing a review of that as well. I think since found footage movies are not coming out at the rate they once were, even if you are not normally a fan of them, there is a great deal that is entertaining about this movie . If you are not into supernatural themes then you are not going to like it , but if you do then this is a must. It might be my top contender for best horror movie of the year. It has certianly been the horror movie I have been recomending the most this week. 

The Top 10 Horror Movies of the Millenium

It's the Time of Year when every one wants to ask me what are the best horror movies . They do not ask me what are the best horror movies for Halloween, just are the best ones and I think those are two seperate questions. So I am going with the best. To make a best of all time would need more than 10 entries , and would be a bit redundant after all how could I make a top 10 without "the Exorcist" , "the Shining" or "Texas Chainsaw Massacre"/ So I am making this list instead, it might spille fresher blood.

There are two components that factor into this what is being defined as good or the best ? What is horror? 

What makes them better than others? ...The ability to make you feel something, feat would be preferred but some of these also embraced a quality of darkness that offered feeling of despair or bleakness, the looming dread. Not jump scares. 

Horror there are many beautiful movies that had horror concepts but were not horror movies. Vampires being one of the most comming concepts that offered wonderfully beautiful movies like..."Let the Right One In" , "The Only Lovers Left Alive" or " Byzantium" but  they were not fear inducing on any level and just great movies.  Nothing wrong with that, it just doesn't belong on this list. Remakes are also disqualified. There is one movie on here that pays heavy tribute, but found it's own way.  There you go now lets not waste any time. 

10- "Green Inferno"

Sure it pays homage to "Cannibal Holocaust" , but the sense of gritty doom it brings is very tangible. How many cannibals in the jungle movies have we gotten in recent years. I also like the perhaps not so subtle message to activists it brings with it. 

 

9- "Frankenstein's Monster" 

I love Frankenstein lore. We get it mixed with Nazi's in a more gritty than grindhouse manner. It's a win. It also shows that Hollywood does not have to pump out the same kinds of Blumhouse crap they do now. 

8-Creep

Pyschos are a common theme in horror. The challenge is to present them in a real way, that has not been done a million times before this movie did that. I also liked "Split" but this movie is more horror and intense than that one. 

7-"House of the Devil" 

A wonderful tribute to the post-"Exorcist" horror of the 80s, I love the mood of this movie. 

6- "House of 1000 Corpses" 

I was on the fence , but it is wonderfully made, and felt intense the first few times I have seen it and fun when I still rewatch it. Zombie has not been able to touch it since. 

5- "What We Become" 

Zombies have been done to death. Not to say there are not still good zombie movies being made, most of them become action. Like "Train to Busan" or "the Horde" . Both great movies, just more fun than scary, not this one . 

4- 'What Keeps You Alive" 

The survivor vengence theme. Another trope that is sometimes pulled of better than others. 'Ready Or Not " was fun this is more intense and scary. 

3- " It Follows" 

The grim bleakness of this movie is wonderful, it left me anxious and in a low swing. 

2- "the VVitch" 

Black Philip became a horror icon. One of the best movies ever made. 

1- "Human Centipede" 

How often has the very premise of a movie made someone afraid to watch it?  Very tastefully done considering the premise. The sequel might have been everything you were afraid this was going to be, but it is what you don't see that scares you. 

the

Film Review : "Possessor"

 I saw a few people refer to this movie by David Cronenberg’s son Brandon as horror.  It’s not. It is dark sci -fi.  I mean in a year where there is a noticed lack of horror movies that might be just sitting on the shelves , I am willing to make do with dark sci-fi to fill that void. The movie is violent enough and at times even gorey. Gore alone doesn’t make something horror.  Not as twisted as say “Old Boy” , the mind fuck is very overt. In fact at times it feels like it is perhaps trying too hard.   It looks great. It is also well acted. The sound mix is crucial to the film and nailed pretty well. All the technical elements of filmmaking he has down. He took notes from his father in this regard. In fact he might even go a little overboard trying to convey the traumatic flashbacks suffered by the conflicted protagonist. 

There are moments when you can not tell what reality they are in. This happens more as the film climaxes. The main protagonist you never get connected to as they are off screen and acting as the title suggests. You get more of the bodies they are riding. I think it does a good job of showing the dissonance it creates. How awkwardly they fit into their lives. There is one scene that I would not say is scary as much as it is , oh jeez this is not going to end well. So Brandon succeeds in making me feel something. If a film can do this they are doing something right. Another mark of the film’s success is when I am watching a movie at home there are enough distractions that I often stop and come back to it. I watched this all in one sitting, 

If you are a fan of his father’s work then you are going to like this movie. I mean the obvious comparison that came to mind was “Existenz” . It just benefits from better cinematography. The use of color in this film is impressive. It glosses over some of the discomfort caused by certain situations presented . If you show up to this movie wanting horror you may be disappointed. The trailer is kind of vague  and elusive when painting the best picture of what the tone is going to be. Dark is a fitting adjective for the film for sure. The premise of the movie is much more Phillip K Dick than Cliver Barker or Stephen King. I think if this came out in the summer before we experienced such a drought of horror, the lack of horror might not be a disappointing factor as it is very well made. Adjust your expectations going into this and if you like paranoid science fiction then this will be a fun ride for you.

Review : Lovecraft Country

I love HP Lovecraft , with him the horror genre would not be what it is today. We can not say the same for writer Matt Ruff. "Lovecraft Country" was his stab at horror. Normally he is a left of center urband fantasy author who is mediocre at best "Lovecraft Country " found him trying to work through his conflict in loving  HP Lovecraft. Quality wise it was like "50 Shades of Gray" was to ' Twilight", the idea was there the excution was off.  "50 Shades of Gray" is sadly a better book than "Lovecraft Country".  I went into the show with low expectations . Jordan Peele's name had been attached to it and fortunatly he was only the producer. It is more watchable than any of the garbage Peele has put out. I expected more from director Yann Demange as he also directed 'Dead Set". Instead when the horror elements came in at the end it felt like a bad rip off of Sam Rami.

Good news first ...the best part of the show was Jurnee Smollett. She is way hotter than she was in "Birds of Prey". She was the only actor in this show not made out of card board or playing off a tired stereotype. The point they were trying to make on the show was better made on the most recent season of "Umbrella Accademy". I think even when trying to capture the feel of the time period it was ruined by stupid mistakes like breaking the mood with hip hop. Jazz would have made more sense. Writer Misha Green read the Ruff book in order to adapt it , but it feels like she never got around to reading any actual Lovecraft or maybe she would have known the basics like  ...there are no vampires in his stories! Not showing the monster and letting imagination to the work is scarier. After all if the CGI budget was just big enough to make the monsters look like something from the 2004 Van Helsing film, then what you did now show us wwould have been better than what you showed us. I did like the monster that attacked them with all the eyes, but only when they did not show it full on.

This episode was a let down and the bar could not have been raised any lower. The moral to all horror should be ...abandon all hope, life is futile, you will die. Lovecraft carried this message with a dose of you will be driven mad by the unseen evil. Instead we get a veiled history lesson that we have already have had Hollywood sense us hundreds of times, thankfully not in horror until now. Horror is loosely termed as nothing was actually scary in this episode. I might give it one more episode to see if it either gets better or Smollet gets naked. I have low expectations for either happening.

Film Review : "Blood Machines"

Give director Seth Ickerman all the money in Hollywood so he can make every cosmic Marvel movie planned to come out as well as any HP Lovecraft adaptation. This is not a movie in the most traditional sense of how we cosume movies. It is episodic without being a tv show. It is an odd choice for Shudder sense it is dark but not horror. Organic space ships are the theme.  LSD the inspiration. Music videos from the 8Os also haunt this . The colors are neons , black light rainbows. I no longer do the kind of drugs I need to in order to fully consume this into my brain. Synth wave artist Carpenter Brut is a collaborator on this . The music is a living breathing part of the film. It is like a trip as you are seeing the sounds, and hearing what you are watching.

Horror is more of my jam than sci-fi. I but I do like sci fi if it is dark enough. So your Star Trek / Star Wars pop corn fare feels like they are trying to sell me toys. This is closer to "Blade Runner" than any of that. Though it is written like this is from the pages of Heavy Metal magazine. There are sine great lines like " I have been fucking machines for so long I am beginning to smell like one" . I like sex mixed with both my horror and sci-fi I think from reading said magazine growing up. Things do take a bleaker turn in the 3rd episode. This begins to turn it into more of a horror slant.Man vs machine is one theme prevelant. The characters are almost more symbolic than fleshed out . The protagonist is not the most likeable hero , but he is not a hero. Story telling is very surreal here.

I suppose cyber punk is one genre this might fall into. I have seen things calling it a space opera. Most opera takes grim turns so that might apply here. It does tell the story it sets out to tell though I would like to see this world expanded upon. It is more visually stunning than any sci fi I have seen in recent memory. Some ofthe choices to remind me of "the Color From Space" or "Mandy". The one thing I can agree one in regards to other reviews is that Hollywood can learn alot from what Ickerman does here. This might not commerically be the vehicle that makes them take notice as they are not  ready for this yet. The abundance of boobs is the first thing they will balk at. Morbidly beautiful and orgasmic, all the things i need my sci-fi to be.