"The Haunting of Molly Hartley" (2008) Well... this was D rated shit, but not unwatchable. It was the Hills meets the Craft, but worth peekin at for some fun. What should have been a Lifetime movie babysitter shit turned up on the "Big Screen" last year, now available for you rental junkies. Enjoy?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
I found this interesting about AHICT...
"Back in 1992, the book now titled "In A Dark Place: The Story of A True Haunting" was published by Villard Books(3) and proved to be one of the most horrifying stories ever told. Well written to the point where the reader would not be able to tell if the work was fiction or real life,
Garton describes the story of the Snedeker house, using the building for a perfect plot that would later influence more stories and ultimately the movie that is being released this year. Now out of print, "In A Dark Place" is supposed to be a detailed description of the events the Snedekers witnessed while living in the former funeral parlor: crosses being removed, men with large irises beign seen late at night, groups of men seen in the basement, family members levitating during the exorcism, furniture moving by itself, and ghosts turning into fireballs.(4) While many would think that such a scary book would at least be in reprint, it started to arouse the curiosity of those who are seriously into hauntings and possessions. While the Warrens were called in on the case, the Snedeker family had a hard time dealing with the reality of the story: that most of it was not true at all, that their son was maybe not ill with cancer, but he was experimenting with drugs which most likely did cause hallucinations. Garton was reticent about the book being called a "true story" but finished the story per his contract. He was also interested in the work the Warrens did and even interviewed the Snedeker family but soon discovered that each family member's account conflicted with each other. He was however willing to write a story and proved to be a gifted storyteller in the realm of horror. After learning a few details from the Warrens about the Snedekers, Garton finished his end of the deal, making money for both himself, the Warrewns, and the Snedekers. While Garton wound up a bit disallusioned about the Warrens, feeling he was cheated, weaving a really good horror story was all that mattered to the Warrens and the Snedekers, even if none of it was true. The Snedeker house was not haunted, their teenage son was never possessed, although he was under the influence of drugs. Garton even questions if the boy really had cancer, since he wasn't allowed to meet with the allegedly sick boy.(5)
Real ghostbusters are willing to produce some evidence of the spirit world influencing the material world, even if it may appear impossible to do so. The two realms do not normally clash with each other like that on a daily basis, even in the most disturbed family homes. There is, however, the power of suggestion that can eventually influence the person doing the suggesting as well as those around him or her. This simply means that one can makes oneself believe a place is really haunted. For the Snedekers, this meant a stressful period in their lives: the potential loss of a son due to drug use, discovering their home was a funeral parlor, plus their own religious faith. It is not without coincidence that many stories and films involving hauntings and exorcisms are rooted in the Roman Catholic faith. "The Exorcist", "The Amityville Horror" and its numerous installments, "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", and "A Haunting in Connecticut" all share this element. Was there a possible motive by the Snedekers? In the case of their son with the drug problem, yes. The family had some financial problems, maybe from attempting to get help for their son, but seemed to be willing to have thought up a way to solve that problem: call in a couple of self professed ghostbusters, create a story for the media, and start letting the money roll in. Garton admits that those families who feel they have a problem with where they live, should be seeking psychologists, not ghostbusters, who would just take advantage of the family and create a story that does not exist. Such events may give the phrases "skeletons in the family closet" and "dealing with your demons" a whole new meaning, but when it comes to the real thing, genuine hauntings are very few and far between."
Story told from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1520382/the_haunting_in_connecticut_the_film_pg3.html?cat=40
Garton describes the story of the Snedeker house, using the building for a perfect plot that would later influence more stories and ultimately the movie that is being released this year. Now out of print, "In A Dark Place" is supposed to be a detailed description of the events the Snedekers witnessed while living in the former funeral parlor: crosses being removed, men with large irises beign seen late at night, groups of men seen in the basement, family members levitating during the exorcism, furniture moving by itself, and ghosts turning into fireballs.(4) While many would think that such a scary book would at least be in reprint, it started to arouse the curiosity of those who are seriously into hauntings and possessions. While the Warrens were called in on the case, the Snedeker family had a hard time dealing with the reality of the story: that most of it was not true at all, that their son was maybe not ill with cancer, but he was experimenting with drugs which most likely did cause hallucinations. Garton was reticent about the book being called a "true story" but finished the story per his contract. He was also interested in the work the Warrens did and even interviewed the Snedeker family but soon discovered that each family member's account conflicted with each other. He was however willing to write a story and proved to be a gifted storyteller in the realm of horror. After learning a few details from the Warrens about the Snedekers, Garton finished his end of the deal, making money for both himself, the Warrewns, and the Snedekers. While Garton wound up a bit disallusioned about the Warrens, feeling he was cheated, weaving a really good horror story was all that mattered to the Warrens and the Snedekers, even if none of it was true. The Snedeker house was not haunted, their teenage son was never possessed, although he was under the influence of drugs. Garton even questions if the boy really had cancer, since he wasn't allowed to meet with the allegedly sick boy.(5)
Real ghostbusters are willing to produce some evidence of the spirit world influencing the material world, even if it may appear impossible to do so. The two realms do not normally clash with each other like that on a daily basis, even in the most disturbed family homes. There is, however, the power of suggestion that can eventually influence the person doing the suggesting as well as those around him or her. This simply means that one can makes oneself believe a place is really haunted. For the Snedekers, this meant a stressful period in their lives: the potential loss of a son due to drug use, discovering their home was a funeral parlor, plus their own religious faith. It is not without coincidence that many stories and films involving hauntings and exorcisms are rooted in the Roman Catholic faith. "The Exorcist", "The Amityville Horror" and its numerous installments, "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", and "A Haunting in Connecticut" all share this element. Was there a possible motive by the Snedekers? In the case of their son with the drug problem, yes. The family had some financial problems, maybe from attempting to get help for their son, but seemed to be willing to have thought up a way to solve that problem: call in a couple of self professed ghostbusters, create a story for the media, and start letting the money roll in. Garton admits that those families who feel they have a problem with where they live, should be seeking psychologists, not ghostbusters, who would just take advantage of the family and create a story that does not exist. Such events may give the phrases "skeletons in the family closet" and "dealing with your demons" a whole new meaning, but when it comes to the real thing, genuine hauntings are very few and far between."
Story told from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1520382/the_haunting_in_connecticut_the_film_pg3.html?cat=40
OOOOOPS
The date for a haunting in CT is NOT in June- it is March 27th 2009. Could we be any happier? I think NOT! This is great news and I'm sorry I was fooled into thinking that it was in June. So pumped- this is going to be a GREAT one. I have SUPER high hopes for this flick- and I feel I won't be let down.
Picture of "A Haunting in Connecticut" Courtesy of: http://tinyurl.com/chmml4
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday the 13th.. PART 12!!!!
Okay, so a weekend ago i saw Friday the 13th.. the NEW REMAKE. A remake of a classic movie? How unique!! Anyways, yea.. I have good news for the masses.. it honestly ain't that bad.
The movie takes place in a.. semi-separate dimension.. between the first film and the 2nd and 3rd. If your not familiar with the story-line.. its about a child that was ignored by camp councilors and left to drown. Years later he comes back as a machete wielding, hockey mask wearing, super-mutant-of-a-man and slays anything and everything that enjoys premarital sex, drugs, and an overall good time. I'm pretty sure its roots are from classic horror story told at camps around the world.
Welp, this time around the infamous Camp Crystal Lake is a secret pot haven that college kids flock to in order to get free weed. The back-story is still there.. but, one thing i noticed is the story lacked an origin story for Jason (Other than the whole drowning thing. You never get why he's alive.. or if he's a ghost or something different), which i am totally fine with, but it does leave a gaping hole at the beginning of the film. I honestly don't want to ruin anything so i'll stop with the synopsis and get to the reviewing.
Now when i saw the original trailer.. i was a little hesitant. Seeing Michael Bay's name attached to the project honestly was a deterrent for me. Anything this guy has produced in the last decade has been garbage, or borderline garbage (Unborn, Transformers, TCM remakes, The Hitcher, etc. ). SO, my expectations for this film was set pretty damn low.
The opening 30 minutes were pretty epic.. and i am surprised horror movies haven't utilized the same setup.. or maybe they have and i haven't seen them. Honestly, its ingenious. All the actors held up pretty well and there were some GORGEOUS titties in this film. At one point, whilst fuckin a chick, a guy is constantly complementing her breasts ("Your nipple placement is amazing!") and honestly, all the guys in the audience are thinking the same thing. The kills are subtle nods to the films of the past and are semi-creative and well done. There isn't much gore in the film, which i am also fine with. I think some films can take gore to an extreme.. to a point where it actually works against the film. The pacing is decent.. your always waiting for Jason to appear and kill something, but near the end it drags slightly. People who go to see this movie and expect to witness horror glory.. something brand new and mind blowing are going to be disappointed. This is the 12th addition to this particular franchise.. so its hard to be original. Honestly, the film doesn't take itself to seriously.. the dialogue is laughable at times, even some of the deaths.. but i think thats what they were going for. Its just a good time. Again, it reminds me of the old Slasher genre.. where the audience bounces between rooting for the characters and rooting for the monster.
Now the gripes. Jason has become a mystical ninja-like being that can teleport and stab things through objects with uncanny precision. At one point in the film Jason kills a man outside near a house.. the camera pans to the window where everyone's watching/listening to the screams, then pans above the window.. and Jason is standing on the roof. Really? He's this giant ogre-like man. I don't think he runs once in the film.. he just appears! Again, this brings me to wonder if he was meant to be a ghost of sorts.. but.. he takes damage like a regular human. Anyways, if you can deal with that.. you can enjoy the movie more. Also, a lot of the creepy old people that appeared in the in TCM remake appear in this one! That pissed me off a little and honestly took me out of the whole atmosphere of the film. Shouldn't those folks be in some dusty Texas town? Why are they near a lush camp suddenly? Boooooo.
Overall its a campy good time. Have a drink or two prior to seeing the movie.. feel free to yell at the screen and say "What the fuck!?" a few times. It doesn't totally make sense.. but its a fun time! A decent afternoon for $8.
Overall Rating: B
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Natzi's
Okay, so I (DevilsDoormat) am a movie nerd.. and this was brought to my attention today via my buddy Ryan. What does it have to do with Horror? Well i think it marks Eli Roth's first acting debut (YES he's been in other films, but never a main character).. aka the director behind such gems as Hostel 1, Hostel 2, Cabin Fever, and the glorious Thanksgiving trailer in Grindhouse. So here it is.. Tarantino's upcoming flick.. Inglorious Bastards!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
My Retort..
SPEAKING OF BRUTAL BEATINGS... i got one for ya. This is from the movie i reviewed earlier.. the scene that i "almost fast forwarded through". I sent it to my friend and he complained about how fake it looked, but i guess you had to watch the entire movie for this to really effect you. Either way.. let the blood flow.. WARNING: Graphic violence ensues.. Buy it from Amazon or watch the trailer
SOUP IT TO ME!
OK, this is one of THE COOLEST beatings i have ever seen- Was it blood? Was it soup? I don't know! (its about half way through this VERY fucked up movie from the 90's called "Nowhere"... Not horror but a good-mind fuck with an alien...
Thursday, February 5, 2009
And it strikes again
"COLLINSVILLE, Ill.—Pranksters in at least three states are messing with electronic road signs meant to warn motorists of possible traffic problems by putting drivers on notice about Nazi zombies and raptors. And highway safety officials aren't amused.
The latest breach came Tuesday during the morning rush hour near Collinsville, Ill., where hackers changed a sign along southbound Interstate 255 to read, "DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES."
A day earlier in Indiana's Hamilton County, the electronic message on a board in Carmel's construction zone warned drivers of "RAPTORS AHEAD—CAUTION."
And signs in Austin, Texas, recently flashed: "NAZI ZOMBIES! RUN!!!" and "ZOMBIES IN AREA! RUN."
Officials in Illinois are concerned the rewritten signs distract motorists from heeding legitimate hazards down the road. The hacked sign on Tuesday originally warned drivers of crews replacing guardrails.
"We understood it was a hoax, but at the same time those boards are there for a reason," said Joe Gasaway, an Illinois Department of Transportation supervisory field engineer. "We don't want (drivers) being distracted by a funny sign."
Authorities haven't figured out how pranksters access the signs. Gasaway believes the Illinois sign was changed remotely, and Austin Public Works spokeswoman Sara Hartley suspected the hackers there cut a padlock to get into the signs' computers.
Some Web sites, such as Jalopnik.com, have published tutorials titled "How to Hack an Electronic Road Sign" as a way to alert security holes to traffic-safety officials. Jalopnik urges its readership of 2.6 million a month not to put its lesson to practice.
"Hacking generally is about showing where there are holes in security systems, and I think this is a great example of that," the site's editor-in-chief, Ray Wert, told The Associated Press by telephone Wednesday. "I'm sure there are all sorts of ways to use that information in a way that's inappropriate, but we're trying to make clear this is an issue that needs to be confronted by traffic safety and transportation officials."
Wert said he had no immediate plans to take down Jalopnik's how-to guide.
In Illinois, tampering with an official traffic control device is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $250 fine—half what a culprit might have to pay in Texas if caught. If convicted in Indiana, a culprit faces up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines." (story courtesy of: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_11628613)
It seems as though the makers of "Dead Snow" are also friends with the makers of "Jurassic Park"... Maybe there will be another Jurassic movie? Wouldn't surprise me now-a-days...
Picture of Raptor sign courtesy of: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_11628613
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Publicity stunt? I think so
I may be wrong (and i usually am) but could it be possible that this is a publicity stunt by the makers of upcoming Indie-Flick "Dead Snow"? You can be the judge...
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Can't Wait till' JUNE of 2009!
This movie ("A Haunting in CT" 2009) looks AMAZING and FINALLY! An ORIGINAL!!!! I guess...even though it was once a documentary/reenactment on the Discovery Channel...
This shiz looks AMAZING! I remember watching it on Discovery and thinking- wow, this would make a great movie. It was well done- I hope the movie is just as good! At least the trailer looks good...
Monday, January 26, 2009
PLEASE! "Last House on the Left" (2009)
Can ANYONE make a new horror movie? At least Wes Craven is a part of this. We'll see, but I'm PISSED!
Im Scared
This is a little scary. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE Bridget Marquardt (she is smart, funny, LOVES horror Movies, and Loves to dress up in Costume (hello, so do I) but, this movie makes me sad. She had the potential to do so many great things being the producer of this flick. It seems like it has some bad acting from Holly Madison and some great acting from Bridget herself, but PLEASE! If another bad movie comes out I think I may scream- not in a scared way. I will give this movie a chance until i see it like i do all movies, but i hope for her movie career sake this ones not as bad as the trailer.
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