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?

Army of Darkness

Last night I saw Army of Darkness.

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd October 2018

This isn't the first time I've seen this movie - which subsequently disqualifies it as a candidate for the Friday Night Movie. But when i first saw this movie it was my first exposure to the Evil Dead franchise - which in turn left me wondering what the hell is going on. Still, I have since seen it's predecessors, so revisiting this film would make for an even playing field, right?

Make no mistake, this is the silliest of the trilogy - to a point where it no longer has any resemblance to a horror movie. It also is the point where Ash's character solidifies into a sarcastic anti-hero he is best known for - but I've seen him, over the course of two movies, arrive to that point in time and yeah, I'd probably get quite irate too.
I spoke previously about how I'm confused as to how to react to such a horror/comedy hybrid but that doesn't seem to be the case here: Army of Darkness is clearly a comedy but for me, such an clear sense of identity comes at the cost of my interest. Still it was funny to me to see Patrica Tallman in it (wow, Lyta Alexander really let herself go!)

Evil Dead 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Evil Dead 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th October 2018

Well i was warned that the silliness will continue....

I once heard a theory that proposed that: 'Sequels are remakes with bigger budgets'. And you could certainly make a case for that here.
It's >an improvement over it;s predecessor with more humor, more special effects and more fast camera work that makes me wonder if Sonic the Hedgehog was hired to shoot the movie.
But I still find the combination of comedy and horror a strange one: There are times when I am confused as to whether I should be put off or roaring with laughter.
Also, this is clearly the point in the series where Ash makes his mark as an anti-hero: the kind that has been replicated countless times over since (Duke Nukem anyone?). But because of this replication, the original subsequently seems to lack the impact he originally had.
Still this is the strongest of the series so far. Which now brings us to Army of Darkness.....

The Evil Dead

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

Original image located here. Accessed 12th October 2018

Well i once told myself that I would have to watch the Evil Dead trilogy - and in correct chronological order - so October seems a good time as any.

As is my understanding the Evil Dead movies have a reputation of combining humor and horror. That however doesn't appear to be the case here. This? Well, it's bloody. And it does come across as being a triumph of movie making on the cheap. And it's bloody. And it has some decent atmosphere. And it's bloody. And it boasts horrific but inventive special effects. And it's bloody. And it apparently rewrote the rulebook for slashers. Oh and did i mention it's bloody?
But in the terms of being a horror and humor hybrid, it's less of a humorous movie and more disturbing - particularly through the lens of thirty odd years of age.
Tucker and Dale Vs Evil it ain't.....

Still if a horror movie is meant to challenge an audience in a discomforting manner, well this movie succeeded at that end.