Razorback

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Razorback!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th October 2021

Yep, we conclude this October's clutch of horror movies with one about a killer pig. Yay.
For those who don't know, this was an Australian horror movie that came out in the mid-eighties. And it comes across as being a product of it's era as I can't help but see it taking more than a few cues from earlier Australian movies. We have stunning shots of scenery (Walkabout); we have a guy contending with the both the Australian outback and hostile locals (Wake in Fright); and we have uses of ramshackle technology (Mad Max). And if that isn't enough, this movie replicates the most crucial aspect of Jaws: the less you see of the monster, the less silly and more frightening it becomes.

First up, there's a lot working against this movie. It has a derivative nature (as indicated above). The pig effects look awful and the acting is all over the shop.
However! Perhaps the most strongest aspect of this movie would have to be the cinematography: It is beautifully shot with some stunning use of color. Compared to other Australian movies of this era, this movie certainly looks different and is all the better for it. And hey, it makes the movies flaws somewhat easier to forgive.
And somehow, the idea of Pumbaa on steroids can not be underestimated...

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd October 2021

Anyone heard of this? This has been sitting on my watch list for some time, waiting for a moment like this. I was initially sold on the promise it is atmospheric horror (ie the best kind of horror) so now's a good time as any.

Talk about a slow burner: It took a while before the movie showed it's hand. Before then I was worried that it wasn't a horror movie and i had picked up an arthouse flick by mistake. Well, that wasn't the case: The slow burn does indeed help the movie that when the horror comes in, it makes you sit up and take notice.
From a horror movie standpoint, this movie does indeed play the atmosphere card. Which works for me. But what is notable is that it;s horror is derived from the scenario of walking down the street at night and then suddenly seeing an ominous figure. It's indeed a potent scenario and I haven;t seen it utilized enough in cinema -= but again, horror movies aren't my forte so what do i know?
But getting past the horror angle, I realise that this movie is indeed coming from another angle: one of a drama movie, about lost souls and the need to find connection. In fact such moments seem to outweigh the horror moments. So does that make this movie a true horror movie?
Maybe but I reiterate: horror movies aren't my forte so what do i know?

Don't Look Now

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Don't Look Now!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th October 2021

I was looking forward to seeing this as it has a reputation as being a real scary movie. Well, I'm up for a challenge.

Ironically however, this movie didn't really do much for me. What should possess a creeping sense of dread (always a winner in my book) comes across as being dull. The climax should be horrific but somehow it comes out flat.
If anything, this is less a horror movie and more a movie about two parents dealing with grief. Okay that's still not a bad idea for a film but did they have to make it so monumentally DULL? Okay, so there's nothing wrong with a slow burner but there's a difference between that and testing my patience. And if a horror movie is looking boring then something has gone horribly wrong.
Seems next week, i should address something with a lot more bite...

Next of Kin

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Next of Kin!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th October 2021

Anyone heard of this? It's an Australian horror movie from the early eighties. I guess if people know this movie it is through it being talked up by one Quintin Tarantino (in more than one source) as being the Australian "The Shining'. Well I saw The Shining last week so seeing this would seem like a natural progression.

It seems Tarantino's observation was quite accurate: Much like The Shining, this movie relies heavily on mood and a mounting sense of dread. Which is exactly what i want from a horror movie. The 'haunted house' theme is well done and whilst there a jump scares, they still take a back seat to the afore-mentioned mounting sense of dread (and quite rightly so).
Yes this a very low budget movie but, as is often the case, a low budget horror movie means it's makers were creative in what they did with what they had.
Plus it's fun to see a young John Jarrett.

The Shining

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Shining!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st October 2021

Well it's October and, as is tradition, it's my cue to have a month watching horror movies. And for 2021, we're coming out swinging.
This may surprise some people but I have never seen The Shining. Sure I have seen bits and pieces ("Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!") but I have never sat down and watched the whole movie the entire way through. And, as one may gather from this blog, is proof that the honest approach is the best one.

I have previously stated that the best kind of horror movie is the kind that eschews jump scares in favor of mood/atmosphere/a sense of creeping dread. That being said, Kubrick clearly thought same as he does indeed apply the same trick - along with a fear of the unknown (the other greatest tool in the horror filmmaker's possession). But at the same time, he throws in long takes, rapid zooms and a traumatized cast. These may sound like some odd methods but they work wonders (although the last one may be debatable). As such, it is startling how effective one turn around a corner can have freaky effects.
I will certainly say this is more effective on technical level than it functions as a horror movie. Is that what Kubrick was going for? Was he intent on reinventing the horror movie? Maybe he was, giving the number of movies since that take the atmospheric approach.