The Best Moments of one of the Worst Decades in Horror: looking back 20 years to 1997
This is a follow-up article to:
The Best Moments of one of the Worst Years in Horror: 1996
The Best Moments of one of the Worst Years in Horror: 1995
There are great horror films (e.g., Saw, The Conjuring), there are typically color-by-numbers trope-rich sequels (e.g., A Nightmare on Elm Street after part 3) and there are zany, gory, low budget direct-to-video releases (e.g., Puppet Master and almost everything by Full Moon Entertainment). Generally we see maybe one or two great films, several enjoyable trope-rich flicks, and countless DTV releases in any given year. We recently did some articles on more current “best moments” in horror: 15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 1 (2000-2014), 15 Images for 15 Years of Horror, Part 2 (2001-2015) and 15 Images for 15 Years of Horror: The Good, the Bad and the Hilarious. But I think we all know that The Best Horror came from the 80s! Between those eras befell the Rise of Video (and drop in quality) of the 1990s.
Now the year of 1997 was one of the better years of its decade. But make no mistake, it still hails from a lousy video-era decade:
1997 was a part of the 90s. As a blanket statement, all years of that decade were generally bad for horror fans (when compared to the 70s, 80s and 2010s). A few good gifts under the Christmas tree from mom and dad don’t let us completely overlook a stocking full of coal. Check out my Horror Index and you’ll find very few 90s horror reviews (or, at least, not many positive reviews). There’s a reason for that!
I really struggled to put together 10 decent movies for many years of the 90s. Last year I was so desperate I used Head of the Family (1996). Thankfully, I didn’t need to pull Hideous! (1997) to make this year’s line-up. Again, 1997 was a highlight for its decade.
So let’s turn back the clock 20 years to reflect on the more memorable moments that 1997’s horror had to offer. Here are some moments from 1997 horror movies, in no particular order…
Mimic (1997; Guillermo del Toro) is regaled by some as a bad movie of sorts–honestly, I think it’s great. This creepy film accomplished some great things and memorable scenes. In shadowy settings, our man-eating giant cockroach had the ability to physically “mimic” the form of a man in a trench coat by positioning its head and palps (those antenna-like parts around the mandibles) and uprighting its body. I about flipped when I first saw it abandon this false form and its limbs gangled out! Thankfully, entomologist Mira Sorvino was there to crack the case and save the day.
Anaconda (1997) was a terrible film, a so-so movie, but a great ridiculously fun flick! This giant snake was a blast to watch, Jon Voight’s weird attempt at a Brazilian accent was an awkward joy to hear, and I’ll never forget when the snake regurgitated him after swallowing him whole! I love that his half-digested face BLINKS! LOL
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) warns teenagers and parents of the consequences to skipping Driver Safety courses. Even before texting and driving was a thing they managed to nearly kill a man on the road. Just look at Jennifer Love Hewitt’s face as she opens the note…yup. That face–when you know your parents will be pissed at how your car insurance rates skyrocket after you hit some mentally imbalanced fisherman. Not sure what the big deal is, Freddie Prince Jr was driving and it was Phillippe’s BMW.
Scream 2 (1997) was a released so quickly after Scream (1996), it’s a wonder it wasn’t awful. In fact, I quite liked it as it took the metamovie approach of part 1 to the next level. We have guys discussing the technical logistics of sequels using real-world examples while eating ice cream, and movie fans in Ghost-Faced Killer costumes at urinals look over their shoulders at people freaking out about a REAL Ghost-Faced Killer. The satirical irony is deliciously thick, much like their Baskin Robbins treats.
Probably a strong influencer of the eventual Saw films (2004-2017), Cube (1997) changed the face of horror and made suffering into a game. The most iconic death scene from the Cube franchise, this scene has been replicated by Resident Evil (2002), Ghost Ship (2002) and Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead (2009) among others.
Wishmaster (1997) is not a good film. Rather it’s a GREAT bad horror movie and, for all it’s ambitiously playful gore, it’s probably one of the best bad horror movies of the 90s. This movie knows exactly what it is and has a good sense of humor about it, making it a blast to watch with friends who grew up in the 80s and 90s.
Event Horizon (1997) is a great Hell-in-space follow-up to Hellraiser IV: Bloodline (1996). It brought horror to space, and did so to new levels with a great cast, great story, and a CREEPY-AF atmosphere. Remember when Dr. Weir (Sam Neill) had become fully “possessed” and was explaining “where we’re going we won’t need eyes to see the suffering,” but then he showed us anyway? That imagery is soul-rattling evil at its best.
Alien: Resurrection (1997) was the loony videogame action movie of the franchise. Nut they got one thing right. The xenomorph’s movement was the best. Check this out, they really move like animals; like predators. A perfect mix of a cat, velociraptor and (in the water) maybe an iguana.
Look at that snaggletooth from The Night Flier (1997)! Is this not the most busted-ass-faced vampire you’ve seen since Fright Night (1985)? But really, this is one of Stephen King’s stranger stories: that of a night-flying pilot vampire who feeds on attendants at small air strips. Sounds awful, but I promise you, it’s not.
An American Werewolf in Paris (1997), basically a contemporary and Parisian remake of An American Werewolf in London (1981), demonstrates how a twenty-something man always picks the most cursed women. But at least he has great taste: Julie Delpy and Julie Bowen! Admittedly, this movie is awful “as a remake/reimagining.” However, it remains a very fun coming-of-age horror comedy that I continue to love.
If you enjoyed this weird article, please check out last year’s edition:
The Best Moments of one of the Worst Years in Horror: 1996The Best Moments of one of the Worst Years in Horror: 1995
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John’s Horror Corner: Saw IV (2007), very ambitious story with lackluster execution and so-so death traps—my least favorite of the franchise so far.
MY CALL: This franchise was always good about featuring characters in whom we invested…but this time I just didn’t care about any these characters. Easily my least favorite (and by far the most confusing) of the franchise so far (I-IV). But I’ll give credit where it’s due—the contributions to the franchise story-arc were ambitious. MORE MOVIES LIKE Saw: Well, after Saw (2004), Saw II (2005) and Saw III (2006) there are sequels up to part VIII, Jigsaw (2017). Subsequent torture porn for gory thrill-seekers would include Hostel I-II (2005, 2007; but not part III), Martyrs (2008; not the remake), The Human Centipede films (2009, 2011, 2015), and the I Spit on Your Grave series (1978 original, 2010-2015). For more fun and innovative kills I’d also recommend the Final Destination films (2000-2011; but skip part 4).
The “where are we now” SIDEBAR: When part II ended we learned that Amanda (Shawnee Smith; The Blob, Saw I-III/VI, The Grudge 3) had been Jigsaw’s (Tobin Bell; Boogeyman 2-3, Saw I-VII) disciple throughout the entire film, and as part III developed we learned her involvement extended through the majority of events of part I! But something else was new. Amanda’s death traps were unbeatable; designed to kill rather than challenge their victims to live. So, Jigsaw tested her (she failed, and died). But she wasn’t alone. Jeff (who we just met in part IV) failed, too. Now on the fourth film in as many years, director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV, The Devil’s Carnival, Mother’s Day) and executive producer James Wan (The Conjuring 1-2, Insidious 1-2) continue Jigsaw’s intestine-exposing shenanigans. Much to my dismay, this is the first film of the franchise not written by Leigh Whannell (Insidious 1-4, Saw I-III, Cooties).
After Kerry’s (Dina Meyer; Bats, Saw I-III, Piranha 3D) death and so many others, Lt. Rigg (Lyriq Bent; Saw II-III, Mother’s Day) remains to be tested by Jigsaw. And so, he must save the apparently still living Detectives Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg; Dead Silence, Saw II-IV) and the recently captured Lt Hoffman (Costas Mandylor; Saw V-VII, The Horde). But where’s Jeff (Angus Macfadyen; Saw III) in all this? When part III ended Kramer’s tape instructed that Jeff would have to “play a game” to save his daughter…then the credits roll. Curious.
The extensive gore and long-scened brutality persist beginning with an enduring autopsy which recovers the tape Kramer swallowed right before our eyes in part III. However, these gruesome scenes simply don’t hit as hard as they did in the most brutal part III. The “see no evil, speak no evil” opener really only felt intense during the painful stitch-ripping yell, the voyeur-rapist’s demise was bloody but unsensational, and the impaled marriage packed no punch behind its cleverness (although the actors playing the victims did well). Just about the only time I was nervous for a victim and reeling over her torment was during the scalp-tearing hair winch scene. I can’t tell if our director has grown uninspired and lazy, perhaps over ambitious and unable to keep up with his elaborate plot, or if he’s mourning the loss of the franchise’s great writer (Leigh Whannell).
Speaking of whom, I’m really feeling Whannell’s absence. The story and exposition in this installment feels stale—clearly a lot of thought went into it, but it didn’t seem as proficiently and thoughtfully executed as we’re accustomed to in this series. Before we were shown how things came to be and how Kramer’s pathology formulated. Now we have the FBI spewing explanations at us viewers as if we sit in a lecture hall. We learn more about Kramer’s marital problems, his ex-wife Jill (Betsy Russell; Saw III-VII), and what they suffered that incited his motive and philosophy. But, like the death scenes in this sequel, there is just no magic; no cultivated tension. I’m not invested in any of these characters (as I once was in I-III) and I just don’t care like I once did.
It’s still pretty fun (though no longer awesome) watching the death traps unfold, but that’s all that’s fun. The quality is just way down (except for maybe the hair winch). Even the manner in which they are staged feels weaker, as if Riggs was just walking through a funhouse scavenger hunt, reading clues aloud, and then a judgy tape narration explains away the next death as Jigsaw tries to proselytize Riggs from the grave with mantras written on the walls in blood. Oh, and the FBI agent (Scott Patterson; Saw V-VI) will bullet point everything in case you missed it the first time. It’s somehow convoluted and cryptic yet simultaneously shallow. I mean, in parts II-III we learn about Amanda’s involvement, we have no clue of Jeff’s (Angus Macfadyen; Saw III) whereabouts (even though part III ended implying he’d become Jigsaw’s new executioner), and it’s revealed that perhaps others are behind the scenes in one way or another.
There’s too much going on with too many people for me to start caring about any of them. Dare I say it, but this may be the first of the Saw films during which I found myself just “waiting” for it to end. It’s maybe kinda’ boring (for a Saw film, that is—not in general). When we meet the great reveal at the end, I wasn’t exactly stunned. I absolutely didn’t see it coming (it was basically impossible to see coming), but I just didn’t have any reason to care. That used to be a strong suit for this franchise.
This was easily my least favorite (and by far the most confusing) of the franchise so far (I-IV). But I’ll give credit where it’s due—the contributions to the franchise story-arc were ambitious. Honestly, in hindsight I find myself “appreciating” this sequel more than I “liked” it.
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The 2017 MFF October Streaming Calendar: 31 Films for 31 Days
The MFF October Calendar is back and I’m hoping this years edition will introduce you to some fantastic films that will change your life forever and give you a horrible fear of trolls! I searched the streaming services Netflix, Amazon Prime, Shudder, Hulu and HBO GO and put together a list of films you can stream at your leisure.
I didn’t want to burn people out with too much intense horror so I included some creature features, thrillers and horror comedies to add some laughs and monster carnage to the depravity and murder. I’ve included some alternates in the calendar just in case you don’t have all the streaming services.
Look underthe calendar to find links to the movies we’ve reviewed or covered on our podcast!
Enjoy!
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What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.
- Cheap Thrills
- The Blackcoat’s Daughter
- Green Room
- Fright Night
- 10 Cloverfield Lane
- The Void
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- What We Do in the Shadows
- Grabbers
- Train to Busan
Here is the 2016 calendar as well! The majority of these movies are still streaming and I’m pretty sure you will dig most of them. This gives you tons of options!
- The Witch – Amazon Prime
- Pontypool – Netflix
- From Dusk Till Dawn – Netflix
- The Invitation – Netflix
- Bone Tomahawk – Amazon Prime
- Housebound – Netflix
- Under the Skin – Amazon Prime
- Rosemary’s Baby – Amazon Prime
- Tucker and Dale vs. Evil – Amazon Prime/Netflix
- The House of the Devil – Hulu
- The Voices – Amazon Prime
- Trollhunter – Netflix
- Hush – Netflix
- An American Werewolf in London – Amazon Prime
- It Follows – Hulu
- Poltergeist – HBO Now
- 28 Days Later – HBO Now
- Spring – Amazon Prime
- Honeymoon – Netflix
Alternates
More Horror reading
- The Top 21 Horror Films of the 21st Century!
- What Are Your Favorite Horror Films That Don’t Appear on “Best of” Lists?
- The 10 Best Moments of 21st Century Horror.
- What is the Best Horror Movie of the 21st Century? An In-Depth Look into Critical and Audience Scores.
- 10 Films That Can United the Art-House Hardcore Horror Fans.
- Examining the State of 2015 Horror Cinema.
- Everything You Need to Know About Horror Franchises.
- Breaking Down the Plots of Jaws 5-19.
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John’s Horror Corner: Saw III (2006), proving that torture porn sequels can have good writing AND loads of lingering, gross, chunky gore!
MY CALL: Better than the second and highly rewatchable. I’ve come to quite enjoy the highly different styles of these first three moves. This is the most gruesome so far, but it still takes time to thoughtfully develop the overarching franchise story. MORE MOVIES LIKE Saw: Well, after Saw (2004) there were six sequels and now part VIII, Jigsaw (2017). Subsequent torture porn for gory thrill-seekers would include Hostel I-II (2005, 2007; but not part III), Martyrs (2008; not the remake), The Human Centipede films (2009, 2011, 2015), and the I Spit on Your Grave series (1978 original, 2010-2015). For more fun and innovative kills I’d also recommend the Final Destination films (2000-2011; but skip part 4).
As Saw II (2005) rolled the credits, we left Detective Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg; Dead Silence, Saw II-IV) for dead in the very same filth-painted bathroom as we opened and closed in part I, and Jigsaw (Tobin Bell; Boogeyman 2-3, Saw I-VII) escaped with his disciple Amanda (Shawnee Smith; The Blob, Saw I-III/VI, The Grudge 3). This sequel picks up right in that very same bathroom, with its accumulated cadavers ever more decayed. Now on the third film in as many years, director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV, The Devil’s Carnival, Mother’s Day), writer Leigh Whannell (Insidious 1-4, Saw I-III, Cooties) and executive producer James Wan (The Conjuring 1-2, Insidious 1-2) continue Jigsaw’s intestine-exposing shenanigans.
Whereas part I was character and story-driven, part II was a chaotically mean funhouse of horrors, and now part III takes yet a new approach—that of a Final Destination-style kill flick that basks in the gory glory of its death scenes. Basically, while thoughtfully deepening the over-arching franchise story, these sequels keep getting meaner and clearly delight on transforming each subsequent release into something devastatingly harder to watch than the last.
Everything is yet more gruesome and brutal as we skip the saw and go right for bone-crushing blunt-force trauma. The early chained victim sequence is viciously cruel, with the rib-ripping harness and the hypothermia rig follow suit. But something else is new beyond the more abundantly showcased chunks of gore. The camera lingers more on the suffering… The brain surgery scene offers exactly what you expect, yet takes its time to such extent that you find yourself dreading each application of the power drill. Paving the way for films like Evil Dead (2013) and Drag Me to Hell (2009), the offal pit offers waves of putrefied bodies frappe-blended into a slimy drowning pool and “the rack” regaled us with the sounds of slippery twisting flesh punctuated by cracking and splintering bones exposing themselves through mangled skin. That’s right, people—don’t watch this with your grandmother.
During the offal pit scene, I was eating scrambled eggs with chunks of bacon covered in (no joke, folks) a green avocado chili sauce. Nice timing. LOL.
Each movie seems to have its star victim; the one with the deck stacked most against them. Gordon in part I, Detective Matthews’ son in part II, and part III follows Jeff (Angus Macfadyen; Saw IV) who encounters death trap victims at the mercy of his forgiveness. Yes—forgiveness. This film is about redemption. Detective Kerry (Dina Meyer; Bats, Saw I-IV, Piranha 3D) seeks to save Matthews, Amanda is trying to save Jigsaw, Jigsaw wants to save Amanda, and Jeff is challenged to save his family.
As each film in the series advances, so advances John Kramer’s cancer. Now near death in his work shop, Amanda continues his handy work as we explore the history of their relationship—her frailty, his hopes for her, her jealousy, his disappointment…and how much it has evolved over the course of three films. And therein lies the elegance of the franchise—three stylistically different films with three different approaches, but all stacking the deck high. I continue to love all three films, but this third installment is probably the most rewatchable.
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John’s Horror Corner: Saw II (2005), more brutal, more death traps, more ominous tapes, more Jigsaw!
MY CALL: Less tactful and more brutal, this was a very different film than part I. Following very much the trajectory between Hellraiser (1987) and Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), we shift from a film driven by atmosphere and characters to one of world elaboration and gorier effects. But honestly, it’s a rather satisfying shift. MORE MOVIES LIKE Saw: Well, after Saw (2004) there were six sequels and now part VIII, Jigsaw (2017). Cube (1997) and Se7en (1995) share some of the death trap and methodical villain themes, respectively. Subsequent torture porn for gory thrill-seekers would include Hostel I-II (2005, 2007; but not part III), Martyrs (2008; not the remake), The Human Centipede films (2009, 2011, 2015), and the I Spit on Your Grave series (1978 original, 2010-2015). For more fun and innovative kills I’d also recommend the Final Destination films (2000-2011; but skip part 4).
Show me a horror sensation and I’ll show you a swiftly released sequel, and that’s exactly what happened with the Saw’s (2004) success—not that I’m complaining! Just one year after the original’s release, James Wan (The Conjuring 1-2, Insidious 1-2) stepped back to the role of executive producer and writer Leigh Whannell (Insidious 1-4, Saw I-III, Cooties) joined director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw III-IV, The Devil’s Carnival, Mother’s Day) for parts II and III.
At the end of Saw (2004), we watched in shock as Jigsaw (Tobin Bell; Boogeyman 2-3, Saw I-VII) stood up and strolled away after playing the unobtrusively limp centerpiece to his last death trap, leaving poor Adam (Leigh Whannell) to die in a filth-smeared bathroom. But now with his mystique largely revealed, what will this sequel have to offer from our yet more terminally ill John Kramer (Jigsaw)?
Whereas part I was thoughtful and character-driven, this sequel replaces much of its class with crass. More akin to a teen slasher, our victims awaken in a deadly funhouse of horrors that is more chaotically Cube (1997) than tactfully Se7en (1995). The rules are less clear, the tape player is less eerie, and our villain’s purpose is somewhat obscured. I’m not saying I don’t like it. I’m simply saying that the very elements that drew many fans to part I (its subtlety) has been rather sidelined. However, that said, we do develop Kramer’s motive and back story. And while many fans adored the characters of part I, others reveled more in its brutal nature. And it’s that very brutality that gets turned up quite a bit in this sequel.
As detectives Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg; Dead Silence, Saw III-IV) and Kerry (Dina Meyer; Bats, Saw II-IV, Piranha 3D) race against time to locate Kramer’s murder house, his victims begin to turn on one another. The aspect of choice deciding his victims’ fate is less of a driving factor, now taking a back seat to their own murderous desperation. Adding intrigue is that the only survivor (Shawnee Smith; The Blob, Saw I-III/VI, The Grudge 3) from part I has returned to play another deadly game.
Perhaps more mean-spirited, this sequel is more gruesomely cringe-worthy than its predecessor. There’s much suicidal and self-mutilation imagery, wrist and throat cutting, impalement and skinning. If anyone has an issue with needles, the “syringe scene” will make you reel. No one even dies, yet it’s one of the most uncomfortable things one can watch. Yikes!
Overall, this was a very different film than part I. Following very much the trajectory between Hellraiser (1987) and Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), we shift from a film driven by atmosphere and characters to one of world elaboration and gorier effects. I miss James Wan’s more thoughtful influence, but honestly it remains a rather satisfying shift in style.
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John’s Horror Corner: Saw (2004), James Wan’s progenitor of modern torture porn is all about the characters!
MY CALL: Although unrelentingly gruesome at times, its gore always finds integral purpose. This film is more about its characters than its death, and never dares to revel in its brutality in lieu of story. MORE MOVIES LIKE Saw: Well there are six sequels and now part VIII, Jigsaw (2017). Cube (1997) and Se7en (1995) share some of the death trap and methodical villain themes, respectively. Subsequent torture porn for gory thrill-seekers would include Hostel I-II (2005, 2007; but not part III), Martyrs (2008; not the remake), The Human Centipede films (2009, 2011, 2015), and the I Spit on Your Grave series (1978 original, 2010-2015). For more fun and innovative kills I’d also recommend the Final Destination films (2000-2011; but skip part 4).
Director James Wan (The Conjuring 1-2, Insidious 1-2) and writer Leigh Whannell (Insidious 1-4, Saw II-III, Cooties) don’t like to play by the standard horror rules. This pair leaves all the guilty tropes behind and I love them for it!
Wan spins atmosphere like orb-weavers spin webs; elegantly elaborate, yet walk into it and all you’ll find is panic! From the very start, things look hopeless as we meet Doctor Gordon (Cary Elwes; The Bride, Bram Stoker’s Dracula) and Adam (Leigh Whannell) in a filthy bathroom of a clearly long-condemned building. The walls are painted in feces, they’re chained to rusty pipes, and the corpse of an apparent suicide lays in its own blood with a tape player in one hand and a gun in the other. Oh, right. And they find tapes with ominous instructions regarding their fate. How’s that for tone?
As these two quibble over who’s to blame for how they got there, flashbacks account detectives Tapp (Danny Glover; Predator 2), Sing (Ken Leung; Lost, Red Dragon) and Kerry (Dina Meyer; Bats, Saw II-IV, Piranha 3D) busy trying to solve the string of deaths linked to the terminally ill Jigsaw Killer (Tobin Bell; Boogeyman 2-3, Saw II-VII). Elaborate, mechanized death traps lead to frantic self-mutilation sparing Jigsaw from ever having to perform murders himself. Among his macabre masterpieces we discover tangled webs of razor wire and the iconic jaw-breaking reverse bear trap.
This film is unrelentingly gruesome at times, yet its gore always finds integral purpose. People desperately plunge their hands in putrefied stool or bloody tangled intestines literally searching for freedom. They grovel as they realize the horrors they must perform to survive…like sawing off their own foot or killing a fellow victim of Jigsaw’s cruel game.
Despite the occasional brutality, this film is more about its characters than its death. Our mastermind may kill most who befall his plans, but he wants those who actually live to appreciate their lives differently. Amanda (Shawnee Smith; The Blob, Saw II-III/VI, The Grudge 3) is our lone survivor, and she gives a tremendous performance as a hysterical victim. Between her, Zep (Michael Emerson; Lost), an obsessed detective and Gordon’s wife (Monica Potter; The Last House on the Left), we are up to our neck in red herrings that sort themselves out to our satisfaction.
This really set the stage for modern torture porn—although the script seems so thoughtful that the application of this subgenre feels on the verge of derogatory. This film never dares to revel in its brutality in lieu of story. Cube (1997) and Se7en (1995) clearly colored Wan’s palate, but didn’t overly guide his brush strokes. All resistance feels futile from the moment the set-ups are revealed, everyone dies, and evil wins with nary a silly nor ill-explained nor eye-rollingly ironic twist to be found.
Anyone who hasn’t yet seen this is in for a treat.
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If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
The MFF podcast is back and we are talking about Alien: Covenant, bearded movie characters, and weird movie tropes. Alien: Covenant is a strange little thing that left us with lots of random questions that we attempt to answer in this podcast. Here are some of the questions we have:
- Who makes the Engineers cloaks?
- Why do people always wander off by themselves?
- If a cyborg asked you to stick your head in a gross pod would you do it?
- What are the names of the new xenomorphs?
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As always we answer random listener questions and ponder why I love Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets so much. If you are a fan of the podcast make sure to send in some random listener questions so we can do our best to not answer them correctly. We thank you for listening and hope you enjoy the pod!
You can download the pod on Itunes or LISTEN TO THE POD ON BLOG TALK RADIO.
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
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The Blackcoat’s Daughter: A Patient Horror Film That Builds to Something Truly Memorable
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The Blackcoat’s Daughter is a slow burning horror film that builds to something pretty great. I feel like the entire film is based upon one line and as the film progresses it all begins to make sense. It is very simple and effective in its violence, plotting and shock value. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised at the mayhem that had just unfolded in front of me. First-time director/writer Oz Perkins should be applauded for creating a lot with little.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter revolves around two students stuck at their boarding school during the winter break. Rose (Lucy Boynton) is the cooler older student who just might be pregnant (older boyfriend) and Kat (Kiernan Shipka) is the freshmen creeper who might or might not be possessed by something terrible. Also, we are thrown into another story featuring a distraught woman named Joan (Emma Roberts) who is hitchhiking her way to an undisclosed location with a nice married couple. Eventually, the two stories collide but not before we get some insane violence, demon worship and lots of blood.
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The performances are all solid and the true standout is Kiernan Shipka. She plays the character with the right amount of unhinged creepiness and earnestness. You feel for her and whatever inhabits her is truly mean and has no intention of playing games or not hurting people. I also respect that there are zero twists that occur during the 95-minute runtime. The film unfolds at its own leisure and gives you exactly what you need to know and not much more.
If you like slow burn horror that features solid performances and a great payoff I totally recommend you check out The Blackcoat’s Daughter.
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John’s Horror Corner: Hellraiser VIII: Hellworld (2005), the only movie in the franchise I didn’t like (so far).
MY CALL: I enjoyed parts I-VII only to utterly despise this sequel. Very bad, both as a Hellraiser sequel and as a random horror flick. Just bad. MORE MOVIES LIKE Hellworld: Be sure to see Hellraiser (1987) and Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) first, of course. Then maybe Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth (1992) and Hellraiser IV: Bloodline (1996). Hellraiser: Inferno (2000), Hellseeker (2002) and Hellraiser: Deader (2005) are more standalone films, along with this part VIII.
Directed by Rick Bota (Haven, Hellraiser VI-VIII), this eighth installment to the Hellraiser franchise follows Inferno (2000), Hellseeker (2002) and Deader (2005) by presenting another stand-alone story. But unlike Bota’s other sequels (VI and VII), I can comfortably say this is the only Hellraiser film I was completely unable to enjoy…although I haven’t seen part IX yet.
This direct-to-video movie feels like just that, with lousy acting, deplorable special effects and a script that doesn’t even try. In fact, the only thing this flick delivers effectively is nudity. Honestly, I’m a bit confused. How and why were Bota’s other Hellraiser sequels so superior to this?
In this uninspired franchise installment, Hellworld is a popular interactive videogame and such notions as Cenobites and opening the Puzzle Box are common objectives of the game. A group of savvy gamers (including Katheryn Winnick; The Dark Tower, Vikings and Henry Cavill; The Immortals, Red Riding Hood, Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice) find themselves invited by a mysterious host (Lance Henriksen; Pumpkinhead, Harbinger Down,The Pit and the Pendulum) to the Leviathan House for a Hellworld-themed carnal sex party.
To say this sequel was phoned in would be polite. Nothing about this felt like a Hellraiser movie. Pinhead (Doug Bradley; Hellraiser I-VII) was just forced into the script, the Box’s mythology isn’t developed, the Cenobites didn’t matter at all, and the kills could have been from any stupid Saw knock-off. We didn’t even get the hooked chains! And when someone did get killed the effects were awful (maybe “basic” would be a more fair term here). Even the depictions of the game were aggravatingly lazy.
Despite all the dialogue about the game, it never really felt important. Nothing did. This film serves as an example of the complete and utter failure to contemporize a long-running horror series. I wonder if this film’s quality had to do with it being filmed almost immediately after part VII. Sigh…
This film is bad, both as a Hellraiser story and as a DTV horror flick. I wouldn’t even recommend it for Hellraiser film completists. There’s no reason to watch this except for self-abuse.
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John’s Horror Corner: Stephen King’s It (2017), a worthy re-adaptation and R-rated remake of 1990’s TV-PG Pennywise.
MY CALL: A worthy, scarier approach to Stephen King’s book delivered with a Pennywise worthy of Curry’s original performance. MORE MOVIES LIKE Stephen King’s It: For more movie adaptations based on Stephen King’s books and other work, try the original TV mini-series of Stephen King’s It (1990), Creepshow (1982), Cujo (1983), Needful Things (1993), The Night Flier (1997) or Pet Sematary (1989), to name a few. If it’s evil clowns you desire then there is only one absolute: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988). If you simply enjoyed the band of young misfits facing evil, try the Netflix Original series Stranger Things. And, for those who like creepy hauntings of our inner demons, try the very dark Flatliners (1990; which also has a 2017 remake).
REMAKE SIDEBAR: Other quality horror remakes include Friday the 13th (2009), Carrie (2013), Evil Dead (2013), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), The Fly (1986), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), The Thing (1982; yes, this was a remake) and The Mummy (1999; adventure genre). Those to avoid include Poltergeist (2015), The Thing (2011; a prequel/remake), Cabin Fever (2016), A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), Night of the Demons (2009), Body Snatchers (1993; the second remake), The Invasion (2007; the third remake), War of the Worlds (2005) and The Mummy (2017; total adventure-style reboot-imagining). I’m on the fence about An American Werewolf in Paris (1997), Halloween (2007) and Fright Night (2011), bad remakes but decently entertaining movies.
Attempting to step out of Tim Curry’s impassive shadow, Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård; Hemlock Grove) delivers a new level of terror. His white-powdered menace palpably penetrates our sensibilities with every glare and smile. The film may be littered with loud noise-based jump scares and quick-cuts, but the horror definitely doesn’t rely on such practice. Instead, these tactics only augment the twitchy malevolence of film’s best known demon clown.
For his second feature length film (and second atmospheric jumpy horror film), director Andy Muschietti brings some familiar stylings from his first film Mama (2013), while carefully sampling Alvarez’ Evil Dead (2013) remake (i.e., Bev’s bloody bathroom scene) along with some subtle echoes from A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Numerous scenes steer us differently from the 1990 adaptation, whereas others follow along a very familiar trajectory—both in ways I enjoyed. And while several iconic scenes were recreated (e.g., Georgie meeting Pennywise at the sewer), they all bite harder than their television predecessor. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.
Contemporized from the book, we follow a group of late ‘80s kids as they experience shocking loss, ensuing “hauntings”, and learn the origin of this evil. With seasoned skill beyond their years to capture fear, dire urgency, panic, insecurity and youthful drive, this young cast outstandingly depicted Bill (Jaeden Lieberher; Midnight Special), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor; Ant-Man)Beverly (Sophia Lillis), Richie (Finn Wolfhard; Stranger Things), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer; Tales of Halloween), Stan (Wyatt Oleff; Guardians of the Galaxy Vols. 1-2) and…oh, poor Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott).
Taking a break from the accolades, I felt (at times) the pacing was way off. And while no individual scene was bad, sometimes they didn’t find the right synthesis when pasted together into this feature (the “well house” scene comes to mind). I could dwell on this, but I’d rather celebrate the film. There: that’s my negative section.
As a fan of the book (terrorizing my youth when I read It in the early 90s) and the now-unwowing TV mini-series (likewise scarier back when it was released, when I was 9), I estimate this to be a worthy adaptation of King’s work. It’s scary, really scary—the visuals are jaunting! I jumped a lot. It’s creepy, really creepy—they nailed the dire atmosphere! I was often waiting, dreading the next visual. It’s gory, gorier than you’d expect—we finally have the right budget and the right mind behind the camera to give justice to an entity that literally feeds on fear rather than flesh.
The special effects were on point for me. The bathroom scene—wow. Pennywise’s twisted toothy maw—poor Georgie, and double wow! The slide projector scene—whoa! The final confrontation with Pennywise was odd, but neat. There’s a lot to enjoy here, and it’ll all make you jump and wince and reel.
Because this “Part I” took a different chronology than the book or mini-series, you may feel a bit disoriented by things that these kids are doing which (in 1990) their adult counterparts did…or, sort of did. Some liberties are taken. Just go with it.
Back in 1990, I was thrilled to see It on-screen. Now I’m not only thrilled to see it receiving a greater reimagining, but also that this film satisfies in more ways than just Pennywise as Curry’s performance drove the first film. We now have the cast, the budget, the medium, the filmmaking prowess and a great Pennywise to bring this experience together!
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