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Shadow's Halloween Film Festival (Freestyle Halloween W/O)Oct 31 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Snuff films, knife-wielding maniacs, psycho hitchhikers, shape-shifting aliens, intestine-eating zombies, exploding heads, flying female ghosts, and more. Ah…the Spirit of Halloween. Ladies and ghosts, my third favorite holiday (next to Christmas and my personal birthday) is upon us. I love Halloween for so many reasons. When I was a kid (like many of us), I used to go trick or treating wearing grotesque, bloody make-up. Needless to say, I scared the folks in my neighborhood into giving me the best candy available. Now that I am a college student, I can no longer go trick or treating (though I may consider doing that next year anyway). Instead, I like to spend my Halloween night inviting friends over for my own fiendishly delicious horror film festival. As usual, do not expect conventionality here. I am trying to run the gamut here, giving nods to a variety of horror flicks from the classics (Halloween) to the relatively unknown (The Art of Dying). Whether you are hungry for a cool, gory flick, or a unique horror-fantasy classic, hopefully there is a film in my list which will satisfy your bloody appetite. The Art of Dying (1991) Director: Wings Hauser Cast: Wings Hauser, Kathleen Kinmont, Michael J. Pollard, Gary Werntz Ever heard of Peeping Tom? Well, imagine that flick updated with modern (modern as in the early 1990s) sensibilities. The Art of Dying is an extremely violent yet stylish B-movie about a former vice squad detective (Wings Hauser) who must apprehend a "snuff" filmmaker (Gary Werntz) who is murdering aspiring actors and actresses on camera! The Art of Dying is one of the best horror flicks you have never heard of. Besides this film having plenty of genuine suspense, it is also loaded with dark humor. This film pokes fun at the seedy side of Hollywood and how there are some people out there who are so desperate (yet so gullible ) that they will do anything to give "the performance of a lifetime". This film also pays homage to such classics as Psycho, The Deer Hunter, and Scarface! A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) Director: Ching Siu-Tung Cast: Leslie Cheung, Joey Wang, Wu Ma. Can a human being fall in love with a ghost? Leslie Cheung (A Better Tomorrow) stars as some inept tax collector who stays at the Lo Ran temple for the night. What he doesn't realize is that the most beautiful ghost you will ever lay your eyes on haunts this temple. Meanwhile, a wacky priest (Wu Ma) is trying to exorcise this ghost. A Chinese Ghost Story is a classic tale of forbidden love in the world of the surreal and the supernatural. The performances are superlative and the chemistry between the two stars (Leslie Cheung and actress Joey Wang) is rather believable. Other than the fact that this film is a little uneven at times (What's up with the priest's musical number about Daoism?), A Chinese Ghost Story is one of the most pulchritudinous films ever made. The visuals and colors are beautiful and the special effects are a wow. The Crow (1994) Director: Alex Proyas Cast: Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott "If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn. People die. But real love lives forever." The Crow may belong more to the action genre, but in many ways, I consider this film to be a true horror classic. The Crow is the tale of vengeance, justice, tragedy, and love in the time of darkness. The plot deals with a murdered man (the late Brandon Lee) who rises from the grave to avenge the death of him and his loved one. The plot sounds simple, right? While that is true, The Crow is more than just a standard vigilante-takes-revenge film. This is a powerful, atmospheric movie. It has a very surreal quality to it, as if we are experiencing a dream. I saw this film many years ago, but it still burns in my mind and soul. Most fans will no doubt enjoy The Crow for its vigorous action sequences—including a cool car chase and a way-cool shoot-out—but I found this film to be profound on many levels. I find this film to be a horror flick simply for its visceral effect. When you watch The Crow, you get the feeling you are in a world full of despair. Yet, there is also a powerful subtext about how the true power of love will prevail. The Crow is well-worth seeing. Unfortunately, The Crow would end up being Brandon Lee’s swan song. Brandon died on the set of The Crow when he was accidentally shot by what was suppose to be a blank from a gun. To this day, Brandon Lee’s untimely death still shocks me. To see a promising actor with such potential—not just as a martial artist, but also as a legitimate actor—lose his life at such a young age is tragic and disheartening. Dawn of the Dead Director: George A. Romero Cast: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross Dawn of the Dead is George A. Romero's ne plus ultra zombie flick. I doubt that there is any other director out there (well, maybe Peter Jackson) who could've done a better job crafting a sanguinary zombie flick with damning social commentary about the corruption of consumption and greed. The plot of Dawn of the Dead is simple: the zombie epidemic is running rampant throughout the nation. Four survivors, including two police officers, an air traffic reporter, and his girlfriend flee the city via helicopter, hoping to escape the madness. They land on top of a shopping mall which is overrun by...flesh-craving zombies! The beleaguered fight to the end, blowing away as many heads as possible. I cannot do this film proper justice without writing a lengthy review, so I'll make it short. This film is a brilliant horror film. I love everything in this movie from the gory special effects (the exploding head in the beginning was gruesome yet awesome) to the scathing social commentary. On the surface, Dawn of the Dead is essentially a film about survival. But if you look deeper, this film also talks about the madness of consumption and greed as the four heroes find themselves barricaded in what appears to be man's utopia. In any case, this film rightfully deserves its cult following. But a caveat: vomit bag not included. Halloween (1978) Director: John Carpenter Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance, Nancy Loomis. Okay, so this is way too predictable. I don't care, this film scared me to death when I was around ten years old. I guess that the main reason why I chose to mention this film is for the sake of nostalgia. I also credit this film for getting me addicted to the horror genre. Seriously, John Carpenter's tale of a knife-wielding madman named Michael Myers (not that Michael Myers) haunting an innocuous babysitter (Jamie Lee Curtis) will give you (pardon the cliché) Goosebumps. This is the type of film that relies on suspense rather than blood and guts. This is the type of film that makes you afraid to go out at night. Halloween is the consummate horror flick. Carpenter uses every trick in the book from foreshadowing and the unforgettable disturbing theme music to utilizing the subjective camera-where you can see the action from the killer's eyes. If you are a true red horror movie fan, then you must see this film (if you haven't already). Hellraiser (1987) Director: Clive Barker Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence. What happens when an S&M fantasy becomes the ultimate nightmare? Frank (Sean Chapman) finds out the hard way when he discovers how to open a Rubik's Cube-type box. This same box serves as a gateway to a netherworld where pleasure and pain mysteriously co-exist… Meanwhile, Frank's brother in law Larry (Andrew Robinson, memorable as the villain in Dirty Harry) and his family move into the house where Frank inhabited. Larry's wife finds herself seduced by the remains of Frank (don't ask) and all hell is gonna break loose…literally. Hellraiser is a meditation on the dichotomy (or rather, lack thereof) of pleasure and pain. This film is absolutely disgusting (the scene where Frank's remains resurrect themselves after touching Larry's blood is an impressive visual effect), yet at the same time, fascinating. I am not really sure why I enjoyed this flick so much. Maybe it is the atmosphere. Or maybe it is the fact that this film is simply compelling to watch. Better yet, maybe it is the film's thematic content. It asks the question, "How much pain are we willing to experience in order to derive pleasure?" Clive Barker's astute direction makes this film a haunting classic which will keep you hooked from beginning to end. The Hitcher Director: Robert Harmon Cast: C. Thomas Howell, Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh Didn't you mother ever tell you to never pick up a stranger? C. Thomas Howell stars as Jim Halsey, a naïve young man who ignores his mother's admonition and decides to pick up a deceivably friendly-looking stranger named John Ryder (Rutger Hauer). What Jim Halsey does not realize is that the stranger loves to play mind games with his victims…before he carves them up! The Hitcher is yet another under-appreciated horror classic. This film is an excellent spin on the traditional stalk and slash genre. Rutger Hauer is excellent and appropriately over-the-top as the villain while Howell gives a decent performance as the hero. What I enjoy most about the film is it's unpredictably. Though the film requires a strong suspension of disbelief, it is fun (writing this with an evil smile) to watch Ryder torment our hero in many improbable and unpredictable ways. This movie always manages to catch you off-guard so stay alert. Scanners (1981) Director: David Cronenberg Cast: Stephen Lack, Michael Ironside, Jennifer O'Neill Imagine what it feels like when you have the power to read minds. You have the power to control anyone at will. Anyway, your mind is the ultimate weapon, more potent than anything imaginable. The people who have these kinds of unprecedented telepathic powers are known as "scanners". There are two groups of scanners. There are those (like Cameron Vale) who are trying to live normal lives like the rest of us. And then there are those (like Darryl Revok) who are intent on conquering the whole planet… This is more of a science-fiction rather than a horror flick, but I am including this one on the basis of its disturbing and provocative images. Images like the exploding head in the beginning. Even if you have seen it before (and many times, mind you), the sheer shock of that head bursting like a balloon has that overwhelming power over you. There is also the grand finale between the good and bad scanners, which results with a surprise (and unforgettable) outcome. Besides the special effects, another reason why I love this movie is simply its intriguing premise. Sure, it's been done before (see Carrie and The Fury as its most obvious counterparts), but the concept itself has never been so refreshingly interesting as in Scanners. David Cronenberg is a helluva director; although he restrains himself somewhat in this movie (you should see Shivers if you really wanna be grossed out), he still manages to craft an interesting movie about what it feels like to be a "superior" member of the human race. There are also some not-so-subtle attempts to remind us how some people hear voices in their heads. Great stuff. Scream (1996) Director: Wes Craven Cast: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox. There is a serial killer on the loose who is murdering the teenage population in a small time. He likes to torment their victims on the phone before killing them. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) must find a way to unmask the killer before the body count rises even higher. Like it or not, this film is responsible for the resurgence of the teen stalk and slash film in the mid to late 1990s. Most of the post-Scream clones manage to suck in the worst way possible, but this film itself manages to be both fiendishly frightening and genuinely clever at the same time. Of course, it helps that Wes Craven is one of the best directors working in this genre field right now. There are a lot of aspects I enjoyed about Scream. First of, the characters are surprisingly sympathetic. Also, the stalking sequences are highly effective, with the beginning sequence where the Ghostface killer stalks Drew Barrymore being one of the most memorable chases ever seen on film. Overall, Scream is a witty and scary film that knows when to take itself seriously and when it should not. The Thing (1982) Director: John Carpenter Cast: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard A. Dysart, et. al. Based on the story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell Jr., The Thing is a rather simplistic tale about a group of scientists out in the Antarctic who encounter a malevolent, shape-shifting alien. The alien has the ability to take on the appearance of any of these people, thereby making the predicament even greater for these scientists who must survive both the frozen land and the imminent threat of the alien who can assume the identity of anybody. The Thing is a thoroughly engrossing masterpiece from one of the greatest auteurs of horror, John Carpenter. I consider this to be best film next to Big Trouble in Little China. But what makes this film so memorable? First of, the special effects are incredible. Credit Rob Bottin for letting his imagination run loose. He creates some of the most grotesque special effects possible including melting faces, heads bursting out of stomachs, and walking heads. Second, the location and cinematography make The Thing genuinely eerie. The superlative cinematography helps to truly establish mood. When we see the characters out in the Antarctic, we get the impression that they are alone. Yet, we also suspect that someone…or something is watching them. I also enjoyed the film's thematic content. What happens when we can no longer trust each other? What if paranoia overpowered trust? Contrary to what critics like Leonard Maltin say, The Thing is more than just a carnival of bizarre special effects. Ultimately, this is a film about people working together learning to trust each other in order to survive—a theme which was also evident in Carpenter's tightly-made action flick, Assault on Precinct 13. The journey is over and I hope that you all had a great time. As you can all tell, this entry was part of "The Freestyle Halloween Write-Off" hosted by none other than me. The list of participants is on my profile page if you want to them check out. Thanks for reading this list and Happy Halloween!  |
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