The Wicker Man

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

Original image located here. Accessed 31st October 2025

It's Halloween night so what better way to see out this year's clutch of horror movies than to go on hard mode?

In a way this movie surprised me: I was expecting to have some dread, the building of tension and Christopher Lee at his freakish best. Certainly I did get that but what I wasn't expecting was some musical numbers. And some bright colours. And some truly bizarre behaviour.
I have to wonder: has time been kind to this movie? True we know how it's going to end (even though it still hits like a truck) and somehow the movie comes across as more comical than threatening. Or maybe this inspired a line of imitators so long that the original's power has faded

I also found myself wondering: is this a movie about being threatened by a cult? Because one may come away with the impression that the cult looks appealing...

Doctor Sleep

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

Original image located here. Accessed 24th October 2025

Well I've seen The Shining. So let's talk about the adaptation of the sequel to that novel.

From the outset, this film is a contradiction: It looks like a horror movie but it is more a thriller. It is marketed as a sequel to the movie adaptation but can't decide whether to be a separate entity or be in reverence. It is a sequel to a movie adaptation but the original was majorly divorced from the source material. It is an adaptation of a sequel to a book that was adapted but this adaptation is still focused on the adaptation of it's predecessor and through writing this sentence I think I have fallen into some sort of singularity here.

But if the above paragraph seems confused then that's exactly the vibe I'm getting from this movie. There are some good ideas throughout but they just seem so all over the place and difficult to connect with. Matters aren't helped with a complete disregard for the subtlety that made The Shining so compelling. 

Black Christmas

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

Original image located here. Accessed 17th October 2025

Its well documented that I have a strong distaste for slasher movies. But, for some reason I will never understand, I still ended up watching this one. 
In this case, this movie has reputation for being one of the earliest entrants in the slasher genre. Some even say that the mighty Halloween owes a considerable debt to.

Watching this movie, there is a lot going for it: The 'dumb teenagers' trope that so frustrates me with slasher movies is thankfully absent. The tension is unbearable. The trick of 'what you can't see' is put to good use. And the killer is nothing less than unsettling.
The real treat however is the cast - in particular there are some names I have seen previously: Olivia Hussey (1968 Romeo and Juliet), Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Margot Kidder (Superman). It is indeed a treat seeing these faces in roles completely different from what I' knew them from. Kidder in particular is a treat to see as a smoking/hard drinking curmudgeon. 

So yeah, a slasher that does things differently is always welcome in my book. 
Still not sold on the genre though...

Weapons

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

Original image located here. Accessed 10th October 2025

Well I saw Barbarian last week so I should be prepared for this, right?
It's well documented that horror movies aren't my favourite genre of movies so it should eb noted that watching this movie was something of a milestone: Its the first horror movie I saw in the cinema. As such it should come to no surprise that I prefer to watch horror movies at home - that way no one can see or hear you jump. Or shriek. Or bite down on one's fingers.

As for the movie itself, seeing Barbarian beforehand was the wise move as it gave me at least some idea of what to expect. And director Zach Creggar is pulling off the same trick: A mystery narrative where each piece of the puzzle slowly comes into place. It is indeed a compelling narrative, with some interesting twists and some unbearable tension. And all accumulating to a truly demented finale. 
It has been said that Halloween was conceived as an exercise of taking the lessons learned from Hitchcock and running with them. I wonder if the same can be said about this....

Barbarian

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

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd October 2025

Yes it's that time of the year again: Time for some horror movies.
I have been hearing some good things about this movie - and it's successor Weapons. Certainly I will watch the latter but I should watch the former to grasp just what I'm getting myself into.

Before watching this movie I was told that I would need to go in blind: Knowing as little about it as possible. Turns out they weren't kidding.
Suffice to say, I will keep that approach going. But what I will say that whilst the horror genre isn't my forte this would have be the most unique horror movie I have seen.

Furthermore, that one of the cast is named Kate Nichols is something that amuses me. 

The Addams Family

This afternoon I saw the Addams Family. 

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

Granted I have already seen it before but consider this 2024's Halloween movie.

Even now this movie is still pretty funny. Yes there are some that will complain that there is little to no plot to speak of but the acting and the jokes are right on target ("But I didn't hate my mother! It was an accident!!"). 

It seems that in recent years Gomez and Morticia seem to be held up as the ideal couple - can you argue given that Raul Julia and Angelica Houston are going above and beyond to their commitment to these roles. And the one-liners are still funny and I'm still seeing new visual gags I missed the first time around.

Ife you told me that this movie was the genesis of the goth subculture I wouldn't doubt it.

The Exorcist

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

Original image located here. Accessed 27th October 2023

And so we reach the end of this year's clutch of horror movies. And what better way to see it out then to go on Hard mode.

So yeah, approaching this movie, it is a given that it bears the label of one of - if not the - scariest movie ever made. That's all well and good but at the same time, it is difficult for this movie to shake off such a tag. So much so, it may be intimidating for a newcomer like myself. What I do know however is that movie has been referenced and parodied so many times that it provides a degree of familiarity as I head into uncharted waters...

First up, I do like how this movie relies on the atmosphere and the sense of creeping dread. And I will favour such movies over those that rely on jump scares.
Having said that though, it seems that this movie's reputation relies heavily on it's final half hour. It is gripping indeed but for me that's when the movie feels like a horror movie. That's not to disregard the build-up beforehand but it's odd that The Exorcist's status only applies to a quarter of it's running time.
I suppose I could put this down to the many references (as mentioned above) but also to the notion that this movie threw down a gauntlet that numerous film-makers have picked up since.

So yeah, not bad but I was left wanting more...

Van Helsing

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

Original image located here. Accessed 20th October 2023

And with this post we have reached 400 posts on this blog - and what better way to acknowledge such a milestone then to finally have a movie reviewed for every letter in the alphabet (Thanks The Quiet Family and X-Men First Class!).
Once again we have a movie that I have been putting off for a long time. This can attributed to the fact that I recall when this was released, it was mauled by the critics. Still, may be the distance of nearly two decades may give way to a more fresh approach.

It is interesting to see this movie in the wake of the failed 'Universal Monsters' shared universe. Because I can see a lot of said monsters present. Was this an attempt to get a film franchise going? Perhaps - but it does mean I have to assess this movie as it's own entity as opposed to being part of something larger. 
Certainly there is a lot working against this movie: The CGI is practically lifting this movie entirely on it's shoulders, Richard Roxborough is completely ridiculous and the whole thing is kinda silly.
But was this movie dull? Of course not. It may be all style and no substance but there are some great action sequences and keeps an exciting pace throughout. And that is enough.

Student Bodies

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

Original image located here. Accessed 13th October 2023

I hate to sound like I'm repeating myself but this movie got viewed through a number of familiar threads: 1) October is the time to watch horror movies, 2) the tradition of watching horror movies at October may also include some shlock 3) I like horror movies that mock both the tried & tested tropes and the acts of idiocy and 4) It had been on my watch list for so long that I'd forgotten why I put in on there to begin with. 

It would be fair to say that Scary Movie wouldn't exist without this movie, as it tells the same jokes: Mocking tropes in slasher movies all through a rather puerile eye. That being said, this movie is amateurish (at best) and completely stupid (at worst) with many jokes range from the obvious to the cringy and the complete misfire. But there are some moments that got a decent chuckle out of me (ie the R-18 rating announcer, the on-screen body count tally). 
My cup of silliness? Well since you put it that way....

Get Out

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

Original image located here. Accessed 6th October 2023

It's October and with it comes the tradition of watching horror movies. And we're starting this year's clutch of horror movies with a doozy. 

Clearly the strength of this movie lies in the unease that it brings. I've spoken previously how the best kind of horror is the kind that relies on atmosphere over jump scares and this one delivers in spades. I found the movie was at it's best when it showed  just how freaky it is to wander into a situation where everyone is acting strangely and something funny is going on (but you can't put your finger on it).
Indeed, a lot has to be said for the execution, balancing tension that would've done Hitchcock proud with some very dark humour. 

Seems the success this movie has garnered happened for a very good reason.

Carnival of Souls

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Carnival of Souls!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th October 2022

And so this years clutch of October/horror movies comes to a close with this lesser known movie from the early sixties. Personally I knew of this film through it's reputation as a precursor to a lot of horror movies that followed in it's wake.

Watching this movie now, six decades later, it is interesting to see what it does. It is clearly made on a small budget but such limitations work in it's favour: It relies heavily on mood, atmosphere and suggestion. There is a freaky-sounding organ score running throughout and the scares are genuinely frightening. And this works in my book as I will take atmosphere/mounting-dread over jump scares any day.
Still this movie is showing it's age and the slow parts do prove to kill the momentum. But when this movie hits, it hits hard

An American Werewolf in London

And this week's Friday night movie has been... An American Werewolf in London!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st October 2022

I do believe it's safe to say that I'm not the first person to know this through the Michael Jackson connection: He liked this movie so much he hired the people who made it for the music video for Thriller. So may as well take a look at the source material then...

It can't be denied that this movie has an identity all of it's own: It's not just the werewolf effects - which still look incredible forty one years later - but also the odd combination of horror and humour. Sure there is some moments of suspense and gore but there are some actually genuinely funny moments. But compared to other horror/humour hybrids (like the Evil Dead trilogy), the humour doesn't come across like it's going out of it's way to be funny. As a result the humour hits harder - a prime example being the cinema scene.
So yeah, great movie and it's amazing how some of the effects haven't aged at all. Practicality, amirite?

Roadgames

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

Original image located here. Accessed 14th October 2022

From one Australian horror movie to another. This was made in 1981 and tells the story of a truck driver being put through the wringer by a potential serial killer. However it should be noted that this has been noted as a favorite by one Quentin Tarantino.

Thing is, I don't feel this is really that much of a horror movie. Sure it relies on the Australian landscape as hostile (much like Long Weekend) and barren, and sure there are some jump scare moments and sure there is a building of tension to rival that of a Hitchcock flick. But I feel this is more a character study: Our protagonist is constantly fighting not just against the driver menacing him but also his paranoia and somewhat fragile mental state. I suppose it is impressive that this film can stand up as something that took the lessons imparted by Hitchcock but somehow this seems more dull then frightening.
Maybe next week I'll try something with a bit more bite...

Long Weekend

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Long Weekend (1978)!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th October 2022

It's become something of a tradition with this series that whenever October rolls around, I watch horror movies. It may be cliche but normally I don't watch horror movies so there's something to be said about stepping out of the comfort zone for a month - and stepping out of one's comfort zone is something that horror movies thrive on, amirite?

So we have this: An Australian movie from the late seventies where a couple go on a camping trip and, through a number of irresponsible acts, end up earning the wrath of Mother Nature who mounts a revenge...
This movie is a classic case of the slow burner: The first two thirds is dedicated to get to know the couple. It may soon dull and slow paced but there is a slow sense of creeping dread. And this pays off in magnificent fashion in the final third. I've always praised horror movies that rely on dread and unease over jump scares and this one delivers. Of course, it may be easy to joke that this reaffirms the observation that the Australian flora and fauna is trying to kill you but here it works.
So we start this October's clutch of horror movies with a bang. What would be coming up next...?

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.

Eyes of my Mother

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Eyes of My Mother!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th October 2020

Behold: the final entrant in this year's clutch of October horror movies.
Now in my view, there are two kinds of horror movies: There's those with the jump scares and there are those that rely on mood and a creeping dread.
Guess which type i find myself gravitating towards.

And in the terms of creating mood, this movie has it in spades. The black and white imagery is effective and use of atmosphere, quiet, and a slow build up prove to be the most potent things going for this movie.
Granted there are moments that don't work (ie, the abrupt plot developments, the use of torture, a middle section which seems to lag and the vibe of this movie being the bastard lovechild between a horror movie and an art-house movie) but as a depiction of trauma, loneliness, being cut off form the real world and being warped a young age, when this movie hits, it knocks it out of the park.