HALLOWEEN VIEWING REPORT II

EVIL DEAD II (1987) It’s funny, it’s scary, it’s masterful. So many bravura sequences, the whole film’s a bravura sequence. Bruce Campbell gives one of the great performances in the history of horror. When you think, so much of what he/his character is doing is essentially alone. Twisted comic brilliance. Sam Raimi shows why watching the Three Stooges is important.

STRANGE INVADERS (1983) Wow. What happened? Was 1983 the right time and place for this? Does this mean you can’t go home again? Was I just so tickled to see Ken Tobey in an ‘83 film? Really liked it then, but man what tough sledding today. Eesh.

UNEARTHED(2007) Truly truly dreadful. Full disclosure: couldn’t make it through, we fastforwarded to see the monster better. Wasn’t worth it. The promising premise of people trapped at desert gas station was gunned down in its prime.

THE MISSING JUROR (1944) Mystery with horrorish vibe—jurors of old murder case getting mysteriously bumped off—runs into mind numbingly transparent “they’ve got to be kidding” obvious solution at midpoint, that a 2 year old could spot—but not the characters in this film.

THE GREAT YOKAI WAR (2005) We enjoyed the Yokai Monsters trilogy several years ago and were blown away by Miike’s new addition. Enough imagination for 20 fantasy films. In a blog not too long ago I was wondering where the wonder went from the screen. Between this and Miyazaki, apparently a lot of it’s in Japan. Only caveat, towards the end, some stuff that soured us. Meantime, hundreds of the wildest monsters you’ve even seen.

LES DIABOLIQUE (1955) The classic. Finally saw it. Now, I can read the Doomed Farmer’s review. Brilliant piece of suspense, sterling filmmaking in every department.

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) Bert, Ernie, Frank and Freddie contend with the walking dead down at the plant. It’s funny, it’s scary. Sounds like EVIL DEAD II. our pal Jimmy Karen of course steals the first half of the film, but really Clu Gulager, Thom Mathews and Don Calfa are also fantastic. And Linnea Quigley’s nude dance is legend. Written and directed beatifully by Dan O’Bannon.

SCARECROWS (1988) Bankrobbers parachute into field, and farm, that are lousy with killer scarecrows. Some good things here, but kind of meanders, keeps running out of steam. By the end, unsatisfying.

Best horror find this year? Unheralded 40’s British gothic masterpiece UNCLE SILAS repeating on TCM in next few days (see above pic). Do yourself a favor and catch it.
—Larry Blamire