Movie Zone
Here I will post movie reviews and recommendations, opinions and updates on the world of film, lists/rankings, and the occasional film essay/analysis if I am feeling brave enough
A film review and mini-analysis of the recent Netflix hit. WARNING: REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Released on Netflix July 21st (a fateful day for film in this year of 2023), They Cloned Tyrone is a sci-fi comedy film centering on a trio of very different characters teaming together to uncover a conspiracy taking place in their neighborhood. Directed by Juel Taylor, written by Tony Rettenmeier and Juel Taylor, and starring John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx. I had been getting more and more excited about this film as time went on, and am happy to say it thoroughly exceeded my expectations. This film is a lot of fun, with laughs, thrills, and an intriguing mystery that unfolds to the tune of relevant and clever satire. I had an absolute blast from beginning to end. THE CHARACTERSThe first thing I have to talk about, and the biggest aspect that makes this movie work so well, is the characters. Fontaine (Boyega) the drug dealer, Yo-Yo (Parris) the prostitute, and Slick Charles (Foxx) the pimp. As a character mentions at a later point in the film, it really does sound like the beginning of a joke. The way these characters interact with each other throughout the film creates such an entertaining dynamic that carries the audience through the story. Each of the trio’s personalities are balanced well between each other, with Fontaine’s grumpy and more stoic nature, Yo-Yo being the one to try to bring logic and togetherness to the group, and Slick Charles’ hilarious self-absorbed attitude. It’s enjoyable to follow them as they uncover this mystery because of the bond we see between them and others in the neighborhood as well. Despite the comedy and the friction within the group, we see how they really care for one another, as they each go out of their way to rescue one another whenever danger arises. I absolutely love when a film can show a comedic friction between a group of characters, but build up a rapport between them enough that there is no question in our minds of them sticking their necks out for each other when the moment comes. Fontaine was a great choice for the main character as well. He starts off as someone who would probably be the antagonist in another film, but through his relationships between Yo-Yo, Slick Charles, and a boy named Junebug whom we see him connect with in a younger brother sort of way, the connections create sympathy towards his character which grows as the story goes on and he is confronted with the reality that this secret organization is relying on him to keep the neighborhood the way it is to allow them to conduct their experiments on people in the community. THE STORYI think the story was very well put together with a great combination of humor and satire, but also returning to seriousness when it was called for. This definitely doesn’t feel like a parody, which a lot of “comedy” movies do feel like to me. It felt like a real film, with stakes that had me anxious to see if the characters would be able to save the day and stop the bad guys (which is all I ask for in a film, really). The comedic moments come from the characters and how they interact with one another, but the plot remains serious enough so that it feels like an actual sci-fi thriller. The film comes together slowly at first as it begins to reveal what is going on, but then quickly sends the three characters on a mystery hunt that rockets forward beat after beat, creating a thrilling race that culminates in a very satisfying ending battle with half of the neighborhood charging the underground lab to free the people being experimented on. You have the action portion with that, and then the more emotional climax between Fontaine and the original Fontaine (who is credited as just “Old Fontaine”, which I love) where you then have the explanation for why he has chosen to do this. It’s short, sweet, and entertaining. It gets it’s purpose across clearly and without over-bloated monologues or repetition of spelling out the point they are trying to get across, which many movies (especially ones having to do with social commentary) seem to have trouble with. GENRE AND REFERENCESThe main subgenre this movie references through its style of storytelling, character design, music, etc., is the 70’s Blaxploitation film, which I think was a great choice to give us something fresh and original, seeing that the genre has been pretty quiet for some time now. While I am not as familiar with Blaxploitation specifically, I am a very big fan of 70’s and 80’s exploitation in general, so it is nice to feel that vibe when it comes to the music and characters, even though the budget of this film is Star Wars-level compared to the budgets of the exploitation films of old. Aside from the overall style, this film lifts many iconic images, sets, and story points from other films that I was very excited to see. The first is Groundhog Day, given the repetition we see Fontaine go through from day to day seemingly without even taking notice of it. Next is They Live, relating to the idea of hidden messages being fed to the people in the neighborhood in order to keep them docile and under control of the beings that have invaded their community. Another one is The Stuff. There seems to be many jokes in this film about consumerism when it comes to the products being marketed to the community through jolly commercials of people looking like they have discovered the meaning of life. But of course, the reality is that the product is slowly destroying you from the inside out. Instead of killer ice cream, here, it’s fried chicken, grape juice, and hair cream. Though instead of melting your insides and turning you into a monster, these products just brainwash you. And of course, it’s difficult to not identify the Stranger Things vibes here as well, whether it is the secret lab exploiting a small town for nefarious experiments, the head scientist who thinks he’s saving the world, the familiar evil henchmen, or even the style of Fontaine’s house interior that reminded me very much of the Byers house. There is definitely also a Get Out vibe towards the beginning of the film in particular, with the scene of a bloodied man stumbling around in the street before being taken away by one of the mysterious dark vans. This also has to do with how the movie plays between genres, sometimes dipping into the supernatural when we are slowly given the ominous clues as to what is going on. The secret facility in the house disappearing in the daytime is one example of this, making it almost feel like a haunted house film. Later on in the movie, during the scene where hoards of people chase our main trio out of the strip club and through the streets, it even starts to feel a bit like a zombie or deadly virus film. Something else I appreciated as well as a horror fan was the revelation of the underground lab. I definitely felt a Hostel style of filming as the characters walked down the halls and looked into what was going on in each of the rooms where they were experimenting on people. The character Slick Charles even mentions A Clockwork Orange, which also appears to be an influence regarding the brainwashing techniques being used on the citizens of the neighborhood. STYLE ANALYSISWhat I love about the style of this movie is that you almost can’t tell what time it is set in. There are set, costume, and design choices that make it feel like the 1970s, to go along with the salute to Blaxploitation films. This is true especially where Yo-Yo and Slick Charles’ characters are concerned. But there are more hints with Fontaine’s scenes that the story takes place in modern times, with his character design and style especially. And conversely, once you get to the very sci-fi and rather epic design of the lab, with sharp glowing pods and advanced brain-washing technology, it suggests the story is set in a more futuristic time period. Something that I think will stand out to any viewer in this film is the use of color. In the daytime, you will see greens and yellows with a slightly grimy filter that highlight them, compared to glowing golds, browns, blues, purples, and pinks in the darker scenes. It adds a lot of slick style to the film that helps it to stand out visually as well as with its colorful characters and storyline. What stands out as well as how the three main characters each have their own colors, mostly that shine through with their individual costuming. And now, allow me to briefly and delightedly dive into my obsession with discussing the meaning of different colors in film. We will start with Fontaine, whose color is green. Green can typically be associated with healing, hope, and youth. Fontaine, obviously being the unlikely hero of the film, is the symbol of hope and healing for the community when he defeats the original he was cloned from at the end of the film. But green can also be related to mundanity, which could be signifying where Fontaine starts at the beginning of the story. We see him go through the same routine everyday and he seems not awfully intent on changing anything about it until later on when he has to step up and become the hero. Next is Yo-Yo, whose color is yellow. Yellow can mean a lot of different things, but here, I take it to represent knowledge and wisdom, the reason why Yo-Yo is the logical and most level-headed of the group, and the one who often pushes them all into action. It can also represent idealism and optimism, which fits with her character as well, being someone who is hoping to retire from her prostitution work and go start fresh somewhere in Memphis. What’s interesting is there is a scene towards the third act of the film between Yo-Yo and Fontaine, where he is silhouetted in green, and she in yellow, while she tries desperately to convince him to help her do something about what’s going on beneath the town. Her yellow of course is meant to signify her being hopeful that they can overcome the evil scientists if they all work together, while his green is meant to signify his satisfaction in remaining unchanged, going along the way he has. But of course, since he does end up being the one to ultimately save the day, the green symbolizes the change he is going to end up bringing in freeing the community. Lastly, we have Slick Charles, whose color is purple, showcasing things like illusion, as well as wealth and royalty. Slick Charles certainly fancies himself royalty as he reminds the other characters often in the film, but his self-proclaimed status as King of the Pimps is entirely an illusion, as we find out when he realizes he is a clone as well and never actually achieved any pimp status he claims to have. He just has the memory of them. Thus, the illusion. I really love colors, if you couldn’t tell. COMEDYI honestly can’t not talk more about the comedy before concluding. They are all such small things that just add to the overall hilarious nature to the film. The liquor store “Got Dranks!” and the fried chicken fast food place “Goddamn Fried Chicken” are brilliant. Fontaine’s friend who is always holding a small electronic fan for no spoken reason, one of the scientists in the lab randomly rolling around everywhere on a scooter, Fontaine’s drug lord rival and his gang rolling up to the barber shop looking intimidating while wearing personalized ponchos, are all things that add that touch of personality to the film that really helps you to get into the world that much more. You even get a Jedi mind trick joke very early on in this John Boyega-led film, so that was nice. Also, the church pastor. What a brief, but absolutely legendary performance. This man is going to live in my brain for a very long time. He was only bested by one other character. Chester. Chester is my favorite character of 2023, and I honestly can’t explain why. IDEASThis movie mostly satirizes the idea of white-washing, which is essentially what is being done to this community, and Black communities everywhere, as a way to make the world a more peaceful place amidst times of racial tensions. It was interesting that the leader of this entire movement is a Black man who wishes to erase his own race after the horrific death of his little brother at the hands of a trigger-happy cop. He rationalizes, as he explains to Fontaine (or technically, the clone of himself) at the end of the film, that it is better to “assimilate” rather than be eliminated, suggesting that it is better to give in and turn away from their own culture in order to not be erased completely. A somewhat similar idea to Get Out, where white people want to essentially steal Black culture and pretend it’s their own, but this time, from a different angle. Another idea that is explored a lot throughout the film is the concept of running in place and never moving forward, shown in many small ways within this neighborhood, and relating to the larger message of the story as well. Fontaine repeats the same routine day after day, Yo-Yo keeps talking about retiring from sex work and moving to Memphis, there is another prostitute who breifly talks about how she is just trying to work long enough to make enough money to get into school, and so on. As counterpart villain Kiefer Sutherland (who is also a lot of fun to watch in this film) explains, the stereotypes of the community are meant to stay here and remain stagnant in order to keep the area undesirable to others, keeping everyone else out so they are free to conduct their experiments. Again, lots of social commentary here that could probably be delved into with an entire film essay. FINAL THOUGHTSThis is a very entertaining film that perfectly balances mystery, laughs, and excitement with its more serious message about the world we live in. The satire is exactly what it’s supposed to be, enough to allow you to think about it a while after you’ve seen it, but not so heavy handed and talking down to the audience that it intrudes on an entertaining movie.
The performances were perfect and the plot was equal parts fun and daunting, with the likeability of the characters and the personality of the movie itself delightfully carrying you through the entire time. This is one I am planning to happily revisit time and time again in the future.
0 Comments
A review and discussion of the camp-slasher classic that started a phenomenon. WARNING: REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS What an exciting time this is! To have a Friday the 13th actually within the month of October is legendary. My horror heart is ecstatic. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I thought I’d take a little dive into the classic horror film that helped define what we all think of when we hear the phrase “Friday the 13th.” Directed and produced by Sean S. Cunningham and released on May 9th in 1980, Friday the 13th takes us on a thrilling ride with a group of camp counselors preparing to open Camp Crystal Lake, a supposedly cursed summer camp where multiple mysterious deaths have taken place over the years. Now, a ruthless killer has returned to pick off the new counselors one by one with a gruesome vengeance. a story of revengeThis series is synonymous with Jason Voorhess and his hockey mask and machete chasing after promiscuous teens in the woods, but it is interesting to see how this first film in the franchise started off by being more of a whodunnit, where we don’t actually see who is doing the killing for a majority of the film. We get all these clues about how this camp is cursed, with a little boy drowning in 1957, then two counselors being murdered the very next year, as well as multiple reasons for the camp not being able to open after that, like fires and bad water, as we hear from one of the locals. And when this new group of counselors start getting offed, we can see that there is clearly someone who does not want this camp to open, for whatever reason. Of course, nowadays, everyone watching would just assume it is Jason who is going to be revealed as the killer. So people who are perhaps new to the horror genre are probably just as surprised today as they were in 1980 to find out who the culprit is. And yes, in case you missed the previous warning, there are spoilers everywhere in this review, as there will be in any film review I do. What also adds a unique touch to this first film is that it is, at its heart, a tragic revenge story. Pamela Voorhees, Jason's distraught mother, is the one hacking up all of the counselors, and for a very heart-wrenching reason. This woman’s son, who she clarifies needed to be watched at every minute, drowned in Crystal Lake while the counselors were having sex instead of watching the kids. Therefore, she takes revenge by doing everything she can to prevent this camp from ever opening again… even if that means murdering more irresponsible teens who may cause more despair through their ignorance. Silly and fun as this movie is, the story is quite devastating when looking at things from the perspective of Pamela Voorhees. In her deranged mind that has been destroyed by the death of her innocent child, she is performing a heroic act by making sure no other parent has to experience such a needless and horrifying loss. And while themes quite so serious certainly aren’t the spirit of the Friday the 13th franchise, it is interesting that we start the story from this place. Though to be honest, Mrs. Voorhees probably should have gone after the foolish adults who decided it was a good idea to put kids in charge of the safety of other kids. The brains of teenagers are far too underdeveloped to be supervising a hefty number of young children for such large amounts of time, in my humble opinion. But perhaps there was a deeper point Mrs. Voorhees was trying to make, showing how truly ill-equipped this camp is. So much so that a killer easily waltzed in and managed to murder all the counselors, who couldn’t defend themselves, much less any children who might have been there. the body countEveryone has their favorite Friday the 13th character and their favorite final girl, and I would say the group we get in our first tour of Crystal Lake is pretty decent. Adrienne King as Alice makes for a very capable final girl, who gets the glory of taking a machete to Mrs. Voorhees’ neck in the third act, which is quite a satisfying ending. I like that we see a bit of her fixing up the camp by herself in the beginning of the film to show some of her ingenuity that she uses later to defend herself against Mrs. Voorhees (though it definitely takes her a good minute). And Betsy Palmer herself gives a delightfully unhinged, yet tragic performance as the vengeful killer. The other characters are quite likable as well, especially when we see them all interacting together when they get to the camp, trying to get dinner together, fending off Crazy Ralph, or trying different horrible tactics to get a snake out of Alice’s cabin. And then of course there is the legendary Strip Monopoly scene. It feels like you’re just watching a bunch of friends relaxing and having a fun night, none the wiser as to what horrors are happening around them and what is soon to befall them. This is the best part about slasher movies if you ask me. It often feels like you're watching a likable teen dramedy that suddenly gets interrupted by someone chopping peoples’ heads off. And yes, our resident “before they were famous they were in a low-budget horror movie” actor for this film is, Kevin Bacon. Playing heartthrob Jack Burrell, who is the one to have a sex scene with his girlfriend and thus be killed. I know he’s somewhat recently talked about what it was like filming his death scene here, discussing the legendary tale of the pump breaking right in the middle of the take, and effects man Tom Savini having to physically blow into the tube to get the blood to squirt up. I love that Kevin Bacon often returns to the horror genre, and has spoken respectably of it, at least from what I’ve heard. So two thumbs up to him for not shirking the whole thing as some actors will do once they’ve reached higher fame. the slashingsOf course, the reason we are all here in the first place, and why Friday the 13th and the slasher genre in general caught on so solidly, is the creative death scenes. And as far as over the top bloody death scenes go, we probably have this film to thank for starting that tradition in mainstream slashers. The tradition where multiple methods, weapons, and seemingly harmless items can be used to mutilate and dismember unsuspecting folks. We have a lot of classic death scenes here that were absolutely insane at the time of this film's release. We’ve already covered Kevin Bacon’s famous arrow through the throat death, we have girlfriend Marcie with the ax to the head, hitchhiker Annie getting her throat slit, Alice’s possible love interest Bill (played by Bing Crosby’s son, Harry… oh yes, that’s a thing) getting pinned to a cabin door with arrows, and of course the amazing decapitation of Mrs. Voorhees. Tom Savini is at his best here with the creativity of practical effects, and though some things may look dated now, they are still a ton of fun, and it is a wonder to think of what it must have been like to experience them for the first time in a theater way before kills like this were the norm in slashers. Something I love about every Friday movie is there is never just one weapon, and rarely do you see two people killed the same way. The machete is the most iconic weapon associated with the series, but every death scene usually has the killer utilizing a variety of tools or camp-related equipment, giving each kill a special uniqueness, and of course, a chance for everyone to have their personal favorite. Camp crystal lakeOf all the films, this first one is probably my favorite as far as the comfy, summery, camp atmosphere they managed to create. It makes things feel innocent and safe enough, until darkness begins to descend on our dear Camp Crystal Lake. They filmed at an actual summer camp, so that has a lot to do with how genuine it feels, along with how the characters interact and how much fun they have while they can, as I mentioned previously. The lake looks bright and sunny and inviting, and like a place you’d never expect anything horrible to happen, which is brilliant once the storm hits and all goes dark, and things very slowly start to feel worse and worse for our characters. We the audience know the entire time what’s coming, but it is especially interesting to watch our final girl, Alice, as she finds herself alone after more and more of her friends go missing. Eventually, she is all by herself in a cabin that is eerily silent while she tries to make some coffee. She knows something isn’t right as we can see on her face as she takes in the unnatural quiet, and it is such a far cry from only a few moments earlier when things were loud and rowdy and everyone was having a grand old time playing Strip Monopoly, or having sex, or playing music. Again, it is one of my favorite things about slashers, how the seemingly innocent and normal night so quickly turns into the most gruesome horror you can imagine ever happening. It’s in the back of our heads always, wondering what we’d do if the worst were to happen, and the slasher film puts us right in the midst of it, challenging us to survive the night along with the final girl who often, like in this case, is left to fight entirely on her own. I think this movie showcases that brilliantly through the slow isolation of Alice, and us the audience along with her. Another very important part of creating the atmosphere in this film is the essential score by Harry Manfredini. We all know the sound of it, and even just one note is enough to bring us right back into the woods, creeping along waiting for the killer to jump out from behind a tree. It is a flawless piece of music for these films, it fits the spooky fun mood so perfectly, and it has become a staple of horror. There are some nice moments of cinematography as well that add to extremely tense moments. There are many shots where we can just barely see the killer, lurking in a cabin or out from behind a curtain. It is quite unnerving, almost plainly seeing whoever it is walking around, stalking each of the characters, just out of focus or in the shadows. And my favorite shot of the film is just before Marcie is killed, where we see the shadow of the ax being raised up behind her when she is completely none the wiser. A great suspense moment created by a nice lighting trick and previously built tension. The legacyWhile far from being the first slasher in horror history, this film has the honor of bringing forth the slasher-craze of the 1980s. It was of course banking off the massive success of Halloween, which had its own copycats with movies that tried to be somewhere in between a slasher and a serial killer-character study between 1979 and 1980. Then Friday came out into the mainstream with a similar formula, but an entirely different style, which carries through to slasher films today. The over the top kills, competitive body counts, final girl ingenuity taking down the killer in the third act, one last jump scare to always leave it open for a sequel, etc. Of course, there were other important films that were essential to bringing the genre to where it is today (Black Christmas, A Bay of Blood, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to name only a few). But this film is incredibly important within the timeline of horror cinema, and though this subgenre, and this series in particular, are regarded as the “trash” side of Hollywood and looked at with mockery, no one can deny the powerful phenomenon slasher films are within the horror community and in pop culture. Even if one isn’t a horror fan, they mostly likely know the name of this series, and will know Jason’s mask and his machete and all of that, but none of that would have been possible without the success of this film that knew exactly what shot on the arm the slasher subgenre needed to truly take off and lead to an array of spectacular films that all us slasher fans know and love and have watched time and time again. final thoughtsThis film will always be one of my favorites, and will forever have its place in history as the important catalyst for one of the biggest and most successful franchises in horror. A truly iconic slasher film that solidified the tropes we know and love today, and brought buckets of blood and gore and creativity into the world of scary movies. Friday the 13th has never been the same since May 9, 1980, and I am quite confident that us horror fans will never stop celebrating the pure, badass fun of this series.
Much like the supernatural killer who has become the superstar of these movies, the spirit and love for Friday the 13th will live forever. I hope everyone had a fantastic Friday, and perhaps marked the occasion by kicking back with Jason or Pamela Voorhees to enjoy a particularly bloody Friday the 13th this Halloween season. Happy horror month! Unsure of how to bring some creepy cheer to your October festivities? These are my absolute must-watches for every Halloween season. The Addams Family / Addams Family ValuesStart your spooky season off in the best way with this darkly hilarious double feature. I love to put these on the first weekend of October while I’m decorating the house, or kicking back after a long day with some fun Halloween treats to get myself officially in the mood for the season. These films have the perfect atmosphere for Halloween-time, since our beloved Addams family keeps the spirit 365 days a year. Dance the Mamushka, fall in love with a psychopath, play deadly games with your sibling, and have a ball with these fun, lovable characters and their beautiful gothic lifestyle. Corpse BrideOf course, you have to throw in a bit of romance during the creepiest season of the year. This is one of my absolute favorite horror-romances with its beautifully tragic story, surprisingly catchy songs, wonderful design and aesthetic, and its overall use of the gothic subgenre. It almost feels like an adaptation of a classic gothic novel with how it plays out, the setting, and the odd characters. This is a great one to have on in the background for ambiance at a Halloween party, or to settle in and watch with loved ones on any spooky night. Sleepy HollowAnd speaking of gothic Johnny Depp-Tim Burton team ups, you can’t go through October without this horror classic on the list. A wonderful dark tale with iconic, gorgeous imagery and one of the best and creepiest villains in the headless horseman brutally beheading people left and right, no matter the age (yes, even children). There are a lot of surprisingly disturbing elements in this movie that I really appreciate. It does a great job of establishing a very sinister tone where you don’t know what could happen next, who is safe and who isn’t. A great film to watch on the eve of Halloween to prepare yourself for the scariest day of the year. Dracula / FrankensteinA must have double feature for every single October. I love to watch these two early on in the month to get me into the creepy spirit. Both feature absolutely legendary performances from Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff respectively, who will forever remain the image of these two horror monsters. Though I love many of the Universal Monster films, these two are probably the most iconic and have the best Halloween-time vibe to set your house in the perfect mood for the month of frights ahead. Bake up some spooky treats, turn off the lights, and kick back with these two atmospheric flicks that will turn your house into a creaky, cobwebby old castle on a dark and stormy night. The Phantom of the operaWe cannot go through the month of October without a dark romantic musical either. Fill your halls with the haunting music of Andrew Lloyd Weber and whisk yourself away into the opera house of the Phantom this Halloween to add to your season of murder and terror. There are many versions of this story that are worthwhile, be it the Hammer produced picture from 1962, the Robert Englund-starring slasher-esque flick from 1989, or even the silent one from the 1920s. But one that I’m sure to catch every Halloween is the 2004 version, not only because of the music, but because of the grandiose sets, costumes, and cinematography that paints a gorgeous picture of the opera house and the magnificent lair of the Phantom below. A stunning looking film to have on and douse your home in the gothic Halloween mood. Child's PlayAnd we of course need to include a slasher on this list. Maybe a slightly unconventional one to choose, but something about the first Child’s Play film has a wonderful Halloween-time vibe for me that I love to include in every October marathon. Chucky is a ravenous little villain who will fill your haunted house with the perfect amount of Halloween cheer. It is an equally atmospheric and hilarious time to spend an hour and a half with Brad Dourif’s brilliant performance bringing the murderous doll to life with one-liners that I have found myself quoting religiously. Light the candles and carve your Halloween jack-o-lantern to the tune of slashing, blood, and complicated voodoo body-switching spells. Abbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinAnd regarding horror-comedies, I can not go without suggesting one of the best of all movie history. There is plenty of time for chills and thrills during the Halloween season, but also plenty of time for laughs, for which there are many to be found within this film where the famous comedy duo take on not only Frankenstein’s monster, but Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, and Lon Chaney Jr.’s Wolf Man. Could there be anything better? This is a great one for the whole family, and a fantastic way to throw in some light-hearted laughs into your spooky holiday. There is a perfect balance of a creepy atmosphere and hilarious shenanigans. Highly recommend this loveable little movie to throw on one cozy night this October. The Addams Family SeriesApart from the iconic 90s films, you can’t forget about the series that started it all. If you’re looking for some sitcom content to have on and add to your October atmosphere this season, spend some time with our favorite family, where endless hijinks abound as they try to navigate the oh so strange world around them. This show adds the perfect mood to conclude any fall evening, any Halloween-decorated living room, or to send you off to sleep with delightfully gothic dreams. Each character is fun, charming, and charismatic in their own way, and after a few episodes, you’ll feel like you simply belong in this odd little mansion with this creepy kooky family. HalloweenAnd finally, what is any Halloween without Michael Myers? Always be sure to have time for a Myers marathon within your 31 days of horror to get you fully into the spirit of our favorite holiday. Whether it’s in the week leading up, or all on Halloween night, I find there are no better movies to get me into the perfect mood for candy, costumes, party games, and nights filled with delightful frights. So start up that classic John Carpenter score and get ready to survive 13 Halloween nights (or however many of the movies you actually like) with the reigning king of all slashers and the worthy holder of the title that is the best part of the Fall season. Conclude your spooky celebrations in the best way, by bringing us all back at the mercy of the embodiment of pure evil. Have a fun, frightening, and safe Halloween season!
Just as a way to give a little introduction to myself, I thought I’d share my absolute favorite movies of all time that have shaped my love of film and storytelling. These eleven movies had a tremendous effect on either my childhood or recent adult life (or both) and will continue to stay with me until the end of my days. And yes, there are eleven because I'm always awful at choosing just ten of anything. 1) Return of the jediThis is far from the first Star Wars film I ever saw in my life, but I remember it was the one I was most excited about. I caught it on TV when I was very young and was instantly captivated as I watched the characters of Han, Leia, and my personal favorite, Luke Skywalker, going through the final battle to finally win the war against the Empire. I am a sucker for finales, and this is by far my absolute favorite. From the entertaining opening at Jabba’s Palace, the revelation of Luke’s new abilities as a Jedi Knight (including the revelation of the green lightsaber, my favorite lightsaber in all of Star Wars), all our main characters getting to be together on a mission again, and of course, the heart-wrenching redemption of Anakin Skywalker... there's nothing here for me not to love with all my heart. And the Ewoks are awesome. One of my favorite battle scenes. I can’t apologize. To this day, this film gives me that spine-tingling surge of excitement and power, watching the finale to this grand trilogy and the (temporary) conclusion to the Skywalker saga. 2) The Man who killed don quixoteIt was about a month or so after seeing The Last Jedi when Adam Driver quickly became my favorite actor. And that is to make a very convoluted story short. I remember watching the trailer for this before it came out and expecting it to be mediocre at best. But what I found was a movie that affected me in a way no film had in a long time before that. This is a grand tale of old-fashioned adventure and romance, mixed in with modern filmmaking, comedy, and action. There was a certain childlike excitement it awoke in me that I really hadn’t felt with a movie in years. Everything from the gorgeous music, to the surreal set design and camera angles makes it an exhilarating dream-like experience. I could go on for pages and pages about why this movie is so special to me. Unfortunately, I believe it might be a very specific experience. I can understand, seeing as this is a very strange and out-there film that is tailored to a very specific kind of audience. As I said, I usually am not able to connect with movies like this myself. In my opinion, it’s a movie made for fans of those old-style adventure tales, but fans of modern fairytales as well, since the film combines the two into one story. And yes, Adam, as always, is great in it. 3) sleepaway campFor the first half of my life, I promised myself on multiple occasions that I would never arrive at a point where I would punish my sanity by viewing a horror film. But it only took until I was thirteen for me to begin to want to quench my curiosity. Sleepaway Camp is a wonderful little film that utilizes a very low budget to create an unforgettable atmosphere, memorable characters, and particularly brutal kills. This film in particular (given its standout ending) is one where I think you can take the intellectual/analytical route and find some really interesting things to theorize if you read into some of the subtext and deeper workings of the story. On the other hand, it’s also just a fun, hilarious, so-bad-it's-brilliant movie that you can enjoy anytime. The camp atmosphere and setting is utilized perfectly and the characters are an absolute blast to spend an hour and a half with. There are a handful of lines (most from the character of Ricky) that I quote pretty much daily. It is also interesting that despite this movie being pretty tame in what you actually see on screen, the deaths in this are some of the most uncomfortable to imagine. This movie gives the perfect amount of on screen terror to show some fun practical effects, but also its budget restrictions really add to what the horror genre is best at in the first place: the suspense of imagining something horrifying rather than seeing it. Sleepaway Camp helped introduce me to these little independent movies that can somehow be a million times better than the most prestigious Hollywood films. I can’t say why it affected me so much more than any other 80s slasher movie, but it somehow did, and is easily my favorite horror film of all time. 4) Sleeping beautyI grew up watching all of the Disney princess movies, all that I adored. But this was always my absolute favorite. Maybe it was because I loved Aurora’s pink dress, or or that I was absolutely in love with Prince Phillip. I had such an imagination with this movie, which would continue all throughout my life and eventually lead me to want to become a writer and create my own world of magical stories. I think the particular drawings in this Disney film stand out to me amidst all the others, the way the castles look, and the woods, and the stunning shade of Aurora’s pink and blue dresses. There’s just something so stunning about the way the hand drawn animation makes everything look on the screen. "Once Upon a Dream" I think is one of the most beautiful and romantic songs from any Disney movie. Maleficent is one of the scariest Disney villains ever, and the fact that she doesn’t have a villain song somehow makes her even more sinister. I always thought the fairies were great characters as well, with them being the catalysts that move the story along, all the way to them helping Phillip defeat Maleficent at the end. This also has one of the more epic and action-packed finales of the earlier Disney films. I’m so glad movies like this were such a big part of my life very early on, because this movie especially was a big influence on me wanting to create, and always keeping that wonderful princess magic in my heart. 5) Revenge of the sithThis was the first Star Wars film I ever watched all the way through at the ripe age of six, and it terrified me for years to come. I can’t tell you how many nights I spent lying awake in terror, remembering the oh-so lovely scene where Anakin Skywalker is burned alive beside a river of lava. For years to come, I refused to come near another Star Wars film. But after finally watching A New Hope and Attack of the Clones, the only two Star Wars films I watched repeatedly for a good chunk of time, I began my journey of growing into the franchise that would soon become one of the most important things in my life. After I had watched and loved every other film, when I finally sat down to give this one another try, I was left in shock at just how gut-wrenching this chapter of the story is (beyond the visual terror). Perhaps it was all of the years I spent watching Attack of the Clones over and over again to the point where I knew every line and felt as if I knew Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padmé like they were friends I’d had for years. So to see their lives all fall apart and eventually lead into what is set up in the original trilogy is an awful, yet magnificent experience I can’t quite put into words. And yes, the memes in this one are the best too. I know that the prequels are a controversial topic, but I am overjoyed to see them getting the love they have always deserved over these past few years. And I grew up with them, so Star Wars has always been the original six films for me, rather than just the three. As I said before, I am a sucker for epic finales, and this film is definitely that. A tragic, yet thrilling conclusion to a trilogy I think is every bit as fantastic as the originals. (Is that safe to say out loud yet?) 6) Sorority RowSleepaway Camp was not the first slasher I ever watched. That prestigious title goes to this movie, which might seem like an odd choice for a favorite film. It’s a remake with a pretty typical premise and somewhat predictable twist and plot points. However, being the first slasher I viewed over the summer of seventh grade, my thirteen year old mind found the movie to be cinematically epic and exhilarating. The characters were fun to watch, and the kills were absolutely shocking, at least they certainly were to me back then. I remember watching it on my phone and holding the screen far away from me anytime I was afraid a jump scare would be coming, and I’d squint my eyes closed whenever the graduation-cloaked-killer appeared on screen to slaughter another sorority sister. When the three final girls walk triumphantly in slow motion away from the burning sorority house, I felt like a survivor as well, having successfully lived through my first slasher film. I think it has a neat, sharp style, good atmospheric music, and the modified tire iron makes for a very unique slasher weapon. I also absolutely adore Briana Evigan and Rumer Willis especially in this film as two of our badass survivors. It’s certainly not for everyone, but an incredibly important film to me. I actually think it is a damn good remake, and I did soon find the original film after and gave it a watch. It's a standout film as well. Oh and also… Princess Leia is in this movie. So, automatic ten out of ten. 7) CarrieI will never forget seeing the gorgeous, classic original poster for this film for the first time. My eyes jumped between the two pictures showcasing the before and after of the pig's blood drop, my mind aching to know what in the hell happened to this girl! This film has a wondrous style, an atmosphere that feels beautiful and yet tragic at the same time, and a chilling story. Everything from the smoky cinematography, the haunting soundtrack, and the unforgettable performances makes my heart just flutter with joy for this masterpiece of a film. It inspired me even further to want to write stories like this that can affect people the way this story and character affected me. I constantly rewatch this film and am entranced by it every time, getting goosebumps at almost every scene. It gives me a very special feeling, despite the depressing subject matter. It is a tragedy that is done so perfectly, I can’t even feel hopelessly depressed by it. Also, any movie with the main character in a gorgeous pink gown at the end will always be a movie for me. 8) PsychoDuring my journey through horror, the time was soon upon me to watch one of the greatest movies of all time. So, my sister, my mother, and I were all huddled up on a rainy evening and settled in to watch this movie for the first time, and I was quick to be captivated by the clever, entertaining, and unsettling story. I love how the black and white adds so much atmosphere to this film, making it more sinister and unnerving with all of the crisp shadows. There really isn’t much I can say about this movie that hasn’t already been praised a thousand times over. The classic score, the brilliant and famous shower scene, and of course the terrifying twist at the end. Janet Leigh is outstanding as our would-be lead for the first half of the film, becoming an iconic honorary Scream Queen. And I have always been absolutely entranced by the flawless performance from Anthony Perkins, who would soon become one of my favorite actors after I sought out more of his films. This is another movie that I’ve watched many times and will watch many more times because it holds such a special place in my heart. An absolute classic that I think deserves every bit of continued praise it gets. I even like the three sequels that came after. 9) The hunchback of notre dameI always loved this movie and watched it all the time as a child, but I think because I could not really comprehend the subject matter, it made it all the more frightening to watch. I knew extremely dark and unsettling things were happening, I just didn’t really know what they were. Obviously, getting older and understanding the depth of this story made the film even better, and I still am so pleasantly surprised at Disney actually making a movie about this story in the first place, let alone keeping in a lot of the dark topics from the original story, like genocide, Catholic guilt, lust vs. love, religious violence, persecution, and so on. There is also some serious death and peril in this film that even rivals some R-rated films as far as tone. I think the only other Disney movie that can compare to this amount of violence would be Mulan. Esmeralda and Quasimodo are two of my favorite Disney characters, and Frollo is by far one of the most terrifying villains. This film also has some of the best songs and scores of any movie, let alone Disney movies. Full body chills every single time for “Hellfire”, “God Help the Outcasts”, “The Bells of Notre Dame”, and “Paris Burning”. Chills for the whole soundtrack, if I’m being honest. (Yes, even the gargoyles' song. It’s nostalgia, ok?) This film led me to seek out the other movie versions of this story, and most importantly, led to my discovery of the gorgeous, haunting, breath-taking French musical, Notre Dame de Paris, a musical that has been tremendously important to me in far too many ways than I have time to describe. Ultimately, this film has been a monumental point in my life as far as immersing myself in such stunning and entertaining storytelling, and remains in my opinion, the best film adaptation of Notre Dame. 10) pirates of the caribbean: the curse of the black pearlThis movie can pretty much sum up my entire personality from kindergarten through third grade. This is one of the absolute best adventure movies out there. Nothing can compare to the legendary characters, the epic sword fights, the adrenaline-pumping music, and the stunning sets. This film, even at such a young age, made me feel like I could do anything. Nothing in the world could be bad as long as Jack Sparrow exists. With these characters in my head, I never felt alone. It eventually led into how passionate I became about Star Wars, but this was truly the movie that began my fascination with escaping into another world, finding solace with fictional stories and characters that could comfort me in a way nothing in the real world really could. I try to remain in touch with this childhood version of myself, not only to remind myself that there is always a version of home that I can take with me wherever I go in life, but also to keep that flow of confidence in knowing that everything is going to somehow turn out ok. So long as Jack Sparrow exists, that is. Everyone at school and in my family knew me as the crazy girl obsessed with pirates and Jack Sparrow. And I don’t regret a thing. 11) A Nightmare on elm streetWell, finally, I had to include at least one choice from the Core 3 of slasher films. And while Halloween and Friday the 13th will forever be special to me in their own unique ways, this is probably the most important simply because it was the one I saw first.
Something about the sheer creativity of this movie is just endlessly wonderful. In horror, we can watch characters go down a dark alley or go check the generator alone or decide to sneak around the site of an old massacre and easily say “Yup. I’d survive. I’d never do that.” There is comfort in that. It’s why I love horror movies, to be honest. I can experience the thrill of the most terrifying things imaginable, and know that I am safely beyond the screen, far out of reach from any real danger. But the thought that something intent on making you suffer and die can come after you in your dreams? One of the most horrifying and creative ideas in horror history. Even more nauseating when you find out it is based on a true story (highly recommend looking that up). The characters in this are some of my favorites in horror, especially Nancy Thompson, who is one of the most resourceful final girls of all time. And of course, there is Freddy Kruger himself. Legendary look, and legendary performance from Robert Englund. Interesting that this first movie was before they started deepening Freddy’s voice, so it is much more raspy and completely unsettling. Such an iconic, badass, wild slasher movie that was yet another important staple in my discovery for my love of horror. And I had to cheat and include this extra one on the list because of that. |
AuthorCertified non-professional who just enjoys giving her random thoughts on movies and books. Archives
June 2024
Categories |