Sunday, January 3, 2010
My Silent Hill Shattered Memories Review
Here is the first video review I did just recently for Shattered Memories. Word of warning, there is a spoiler revealed from 9:42 - 12:20. I know that this game has multiple endings, I'm just discussing the one that I unlocked. Either way, I hope you all enjoy.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Lady Ash's Picks: 11 Modern Horror Movies for Newbies
Yes I confess, I am a horror movie fanatic. In fact maybe a little too obsessive but I can't help it. I have lived and breathed this genre since I was about two years old. Ah, the fond memories of grasping onto my baby dolls at night, fearing that the boogeyman was going to eat me. My mom would open the door and tell me that I'd been "watching too many scary movies." 
Of course you can't talk about Night of the Living Dead without mentioning its stellar sequel. Dawn of the Dead ramps up the tension, the gore and the social satire, as we watch four desparate but resourceful characters making their way through the preliminary stages of the End Of The World. From the cinematography to the dialogue to the soundtrack, this is probably one of the most finely crafted movies of its era, let alone horror films. Romero really came into his own as a filmmaker at this point.
3. The Exorcist
While I'm not a major fan of The Exorcist, I can admit objectively that this is an essential film. There are some genuine scares here, and we are given a generous amount of insight into the characters, especially Father Damian Karras -- a man who knows that his faith is being tested, and is terrified that it may not be strong enough to hold. His mentor, Father Merrin, gives an interesting point of advice that future creators and connoisseurs of religious-themed horror would be wise to consider: that whatever is possessing Regan McNeil is not attacking her, but the hopes, dreams, and faith of everyone around her.
4. The Thing
John Carpenter makes his first appearance on the list. Yes this is a remake, but it's worth noting that in terms of content and style it's actually closer to John W. Campbell's story then the original adaptation from the Fifties. The Thing is a masterpiece brimming with tension, terrifying visuals and an incredible cast of actors including unforgettable performances from Kurt Russell, Keith David and Wilford Brimley -- who used to be known for better reasons than his "diabeetus." There is no sensation, in my book, more frightening than paranoia -- the feeling that those you trust are out to destroy you. This film specializes in this variety of fear; from moment to moment, neither the characters nor the audience know whom to trust.
5. Suspiria
Italian horror is a unique phenomenon. They don't care about trivial details, such as the plot; it only matters how they can creep out the audience, and no Italian director has been more consistently creepy than Dario Argento. Suspiria is narrated more like a dark fairy tale than a standard shocker. Argento's trademarks -- bizarre cinematography, odd lighting choices, and extremely messy kills and grossout sequences -- were all turned up to 11 for this story of a young American dance student and the strange academy she attends. The film is also notable for yet another Argento trademark: the extremely unsettling score written and performed by Goblin, one of Italy's greatest prog-rock ensembles (tapes of which were actually played on set to unnerve the cast). If you can accept that the film's story is more like a string of nightmares than a linear 1-2-3 series of plot points, then I believe that you are more than capable of enjoying this film. It's an excellent introduction to the way-out world of Italian horror; if you can take this, then you can take anything Argento throws at you. And Lucio Fulci and the Bava dynasty are waiting in the wings.
6. Martin
Since we are talking about cult classics, I'd like to take this opportunity to mention one of George Romero's more underappreciated films. Forget all you know about Twilight and Anne Rice, Martin is the quintessential modern vampire film. Romero gives the audience a very different, distinctly 20th-century take on the vampire mythos. John Amplas, a sadly underrated yet incredibly gifted actor, gives an unforgettable performance as the title character -- a performance made all the more disturbing by Romero's refusal to come right out and tell us exactly whether his protagonist is a superficially sweet and likeable psychopath... or something even worse. Ultimately, it makes no difference what Martin is; the audience is encouraged to see the world through his eyes. Even while he's breaking into homes to desanguinate the occupants, we are not allowed to view him coldly and objectively; he is very real, very credible, even sympathetic (in ways that, say, Edward Cullen is not)... and for those exact reasons, very scary.
7. Black Christmas
You thought I was going to mention Halloween first, didn't you? Black Christmas, however, is the true progenitor of the classic slasher, no matter how many people ripped off John Carpenter. Bob Clark introduced a new variation on the old paranoia theme -- the idea that you're not even safe in your own home. A homicidal maniac takes refuge in the attic of a home occupied by a group of soriority girls. It all starts with obscene and disturbing phone calls from the intruder. Then one of the girls ends up disappearing, and only the audience knows what's happened to her... It's worth noting that amid the chaos of irrational suspicions and false clues, the movie actually manages to tackle a very serious issue; one of our protagonists, having discovered that she is pregnant, is feuding with her boyfriend over whether they should keep the baby -- she wants to have an abortion. And after the killer overhears one of their arguments, he brings it up in one of his harassing phone calls, deftly deflecting her suspicions onto the one man she thought she could trust, and driving a wedge between the two. If you want something different to watch around the holidays, cozy up on the couch with a delicious cup of eggnog and pop in this gem.
8. Poltergeist
I am a big fan of horror films, as I said, and it takes a lot to scare me. That said, Poltergeist scared the shit out of me. Images from this movie reappeared in my nightmares, on and off, for several years after I first saw it; I still don't trust clowns, or closets for that matter. Like Black Christmas, Poltergeist plays on the fear of being insecure in one's own home -- only this time, the menace can't be nailed down to anything material. There may be ways of defeating it, but not the conventional ways; there's nothing here you can shoot, stab or bludgeon, but it can hurt you any time it likes. And that's a million times more creepy than any serial killer.
9. The Evil Dead
... oh come on, like my name wasn't a dead giveaway! I love Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness, but those are more dark comedies than straight-up horror films. The Evil Dead is the most unique of the trilogy based on the fact that, while having some humorous moments, it is far more horrifying than hilarious. Lo-fi campiness aside (give Sam Raimi a break -- look at the budget he was shooting on), Evil Dead keeps it simple; a group of friends uncover a strange book while vacationing in the woods, and accidentally use it to awaken unearthly forces. Our hapless hero is literally put through hell, forced to fight, kill and dismember the entire rest of the party, including his sister and his girlfriend. This is one of the rare horror films where the terrified, victimized "last survivor" turns out to be male. Bruce Campbell is the ultimate scream king! If you don't believe me, watch his reaction after sticking his hand through a mirror made of water.
10. Return of the Living Dead
Dan O' Bannon, the writer of Alien, tries his hand at the zombie mythos with Return of the Living Dead -- and comes up with something truly horrifying. The standard "Romero rules" have been taken for granted since the original NOTLD; O'Bannon and his screenwriters, including John Russo, get most of their shocks out of violating the most important rule -- that an injury to the head is sufficient to kill a zombie. These zombies are the definition of an unstoppable killing machine; they will continue to stalk and ravage their prey no matter how many limbs get blown off -- the heroes discover one "sure" method of killing them, and then discover that it is not guaranteed to work. Another great aspect of Return of the Living Dead is the mile-wide streak of black comedy running down the middle of it; our protagonists are as frightened and panicky as in any zombie movie, but in a way that reminds one more of the Three Stooges than of George Romero... and unlike Romero's undead, these zombies can still think.
11. Halloween
Here's Number 11, just for the sake of going "one step beyond"... and what a step it is. Personally, I feel it's an essential part of the education of any budding horror fan to watch Halloween on Halloween. John Carpenter takes the basic template created by Bob Clark -- creepy house, faceless killer, holiday -- and pushes the envelope, pulling the perfect slasher film seemingly out of thin air. Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis turn in memorable performances, as does Nick Castle, the first man to step behind the mask of Michael Myers; Tommy Wallace's cinematography is quietly eerie, and director Carpenter's musical score drills into your spine. For a such a small budget, Halloween is nevertheless truly one of the most terrifying films ever made.
I have read many comments on numerous horror movie message boards about how much the "older" members hate the newbies, and it saddens me. Yes, there are those newbies that are only familiar with the new crop of crap -- remakes, endless sequels, pointless gorefests, sloppily patched-together stuff that Ed Wood could look down his nose at -- yet seem to think they are horror movie gurus. Yet what if there are people out there, especially pre-teens, who are new to the genre and have profound interest? What movies would you pull out of your collection and say "If you want an intro, watch this"? I say that we need to educate the newcomers instead of slapping an I'm With Stupid sticker on their foreheads.
Here, I give my list of Modern Horror Movies for Newbies. These films are in no particular order, since choosing my top eleven horror movies would be about as difficult and pointless as choosing your eleven best orgasms. Some on the list are widely accepted classics, others are cult favorites, but I consider most of them helpful, if not outright indispensable, to an understanding of the horror genre as a whole.
1. Night of the Living Dead
Every modern zombie film owes a debt of gratitude to George Romero. Night of the Living Dead is a tour de force filled with nightmarish imagery, all conveying one essential theme: survival. Here you have a group of ordinary people thrust into an unforgiving world where, after you watch someone you love suffer a horrible death, you may have to fight it out with them as a member of the undead. Things began to escalate once our characters get safely behind locked doors and boarded windows, as two of the main characters, Ben and Harry Cooper, battle it out over whose ego reigns supreme and whose plan for survival is more likely to work. And so we discover that the real problem of a zombie apocalypse lies not with the undead, but with the frightened, panicking, desperate people that are still alive.
2. Dawn of the Dead
Of course you can't talk about Night of the Living Dead without mentioning its stellar sequel. Dawn of the Dead ramps up the tension, the gore and the social satire, as we watch four desparate but resourceful characters making their way through the preliminary stages of the End Of The World. From the cinematography to the dialogue to the soundtrack, this is probably one of the most finely crafted movies of its era, let alone horror films. Romero really came into his own as a filmmaker at this point.3. The Exorcist
While I'm not a major fan of The Exorcist, I can admit objectively that this is an essential film. There are some genuine scares here, and we are given a generous amount of insight into the characters, especially Father Damian Karras -- a man who knows that his faith is being tested, and is terrified that it may not be strong enough to hold. His mentor, Father Merrin, gives an interesting point of advice that future creators and connoisseurs of religious-themed horror would be wise to consider: that whatever is possessing Regan McNeil is not attacking her, but the hopes, dreams, and faith of everyone around her.
4. The Thing
John Carpenter makes his first appearance on the list. Yes this is a remake, but it's worth noting that in terms of content and style it's actually closer to John W. Campbell's story then the original adaptation from the Fifties. The Thing is a masterpiece brimming with tension, terrifying visuals and an incredible cast of actors including unforgettable performances from Kurt Russell, Keith David and Wilford Brimley -- who used to be known for better reasons than his "diabeetus." There is no sensation, in my book, more frightening than paranoia -- the feeling that those you trust are out to destroy you. This film specializes in this variety of fear; from moment to moment, neither the characters nor the audience know whom to trust.
5. Suspiria
Italian horror is a unique phenomenon. They don't care about trivial details, such as the plot; it only matters how they can creep out the audience, and no Italian director has been more consistently creepy than Dario Argento. Suspiria is narrated more like a dark fairy tale than a standard shocker. Argento's trademarks -- bizarre cinematography, odd lighting choices, and extremely messy kills and grossout sequences -- were all turned up to 11 for this story of a young American dance student and the strange academy she attends. The film is also notable for yet another Argento trademark: the extremely unsettling score written and performed by Goblin, one of Italy's greatest prog-rock ensembles (tapes of which were actually played on set to unnerve the cast). If you can accept that the film's story is more like a string of nightmares than a linear 1-2-3 series of plot points, then I believe that you are more than capable of enjoying this film. It's an excellent introduction to the way-out world of Italian horror; if you can take this, then you can take anything Argento throws at you. And Lucio Fulci and the Bava dynasty are waiting in the wings.
6. Martin
Since we are talking about cult classics, I'd like to take this opportunity to mention one of George Romero's more underappreciated films. Forget all you know about Twilight and Anne Rice, Martin is the quintessential modern vampire film. Romero gives the audience a very different, distinctly 20th-century take on the vampire mythos. John Amplas, a sadly underrated yet incredibly gifted actor, gives an unforgettable performance as the title character -- a performance made all the more disturbing by Romero's refusal to come right out and tell us exactly whether his protagonist is a superficially sweet and likeable psychopath... or something even worse. Ultimately, it makes no difference what Martin is; the audience is encouraged to see the world through his eyes. Even while he's breaking into homes to desanguinate the occupants, we are not allowed to view him coldly and objectively; he is very real, very credible, even sympathetic (in ways that, say, Edward Cullen is not)... and for those exact reasons, very scary.7. Black Christmas
You thought I was going to mention Halloween first, didn't you? Black Christmas, however, is the true progenitor of the classic slasher, no matter how many people ripped off John Carpenter. Bob Clark introduced a new variation on the old paranoia theme -- the idea that you're not even safe in your own home. A homicidal maniac takes refuge in the attic of a home occupied by a group of soriority girls. It all starts with obscene and disturbing phone calls from the intruder. Then one of the girls ends up disappearing, and only the audience knows what's happened to her... It's worth noting that amid the chaos of irrational suspicions and false clues, the movie actually manages to tackle a very serious issue; one of our protagonists, having discovered that she is pregnant, is feuding with her boyfriend over whether they should keep the baby -- she wants to have an abortion. And after the killer overhears one of their arguments, he brings it up in one of his harassing phone calls, deftly deflecting her suspicions onto the one man she thought she could trust, and driving a wedge between the two. If you want something different to watch around the holidays, cozy up on the couch with a delicious cup of eggnog and pop in this gem.
8. Poltergeist
I am a big fan of horror films, as I said, and it takes a lot to scare me. That said, Poltergeist scared the shit out of me. Images from this movie reappeared in my nightmares, on and off, for several years after I first saw it; I still don't trust clowns, or closets for that matter. Like Black Christmas, Poltergeist plays on the fear of being insecure in one's own home -- only this time, the menace can't be nailed down to anything material. There may be ways of defeating it, but not the conventional ways; there's nothing here you can shoot, stab or bludgeon, but it can hurt you any time it likes. And that's a million times more creepy than any serial killer.9. The Evil Dead
... oh come on, like my name wasn't a dead giveaway! I love Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness, but those are more dark comedies than straight-up horror films. The Evil Dead is the most unique of the trilogy based on the fact that, while having some humorous moments, it is far more horrifying than hilarious. Lo-fi campiness aside (give Sam Raimi a break -- look at the budget he was shooting on), Evil Dead keeps it simple; a group of friends uncover a strange book while vacationing in the woods, and accidentally use it to awaken unearthly forces. Our hapless hero is literally put through hell, forced to fight, kill and dismember the entire rest of the party, including his sister and his girlfriend. This is one of the rare horror films where the terrified, victimized "last survivor" turns out to be male. Bruce Campbell is the ultimate scream king! If you don't believe me, watch his reaction after sticking his hand through a mirror made of water.10. Return of the Living Dead
Dan O' Bannon, the writer of Alien, tries his hand at the zombie mythos with Return of the Living Dead -- and comes up with something truly horrifying. The standard "Romero rules" have been taken for granted since the original NOTLD; O'Bannon and his screenwriters, including John Russo, get most of their shocks out of violating the most important rule -- that an injury to the head is sufficient to kill a zombie. These zombies are the definition of an unstoppable killing machine; they will continue to stalk and ravage their prey no matter how many limbs get blown off -- the heroes discover one "sure" method of killing them, and then discover that it is not guaranteed to work. Another great aspect of Return of the Living Dead is the mile-wide streak of black comedy running down the middle of it; our protagonists are as frightened and panicky as in any zombie movie, but in a way that reminds one more of the Three Stooges than of George Romero... and unlike Romero's undead, these zombies can still think.11. Halloween
Here's Number 11, just for the sake of going "one step beyond"... and what a step it is. Personally, I feel it's an essential part of the education of any budding horror fan to watch Halloween on Halloween. John Carpenter takes the basic template created by Bob Clark -- creepy house, faceless killer, holiday -- and pushes the envelope, pulling the perfect slasher film seemingly out of thin air. Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis turn in memorable performances, as does Nick Castle, the first man to step behind the mask of Michael Myers; Tommy Wallace's cinematography is quietly eerie, and director Carpenter's musical score drills into your spine. For a such a small budget, Halloween is nevertheless truly one of the most terrifying films ever made.
So there you have my list; I could have done a list of 'honorable mentions,' but that alone would have probably doubled (if not tripled) the length of this article. I'd like to hear your opinions as well -- what do you think are the most important horror movies of the last few decades?
,Buio Omega (Beyond the Darkness)
It was many years ago (back in '03) that I caught a trailer to Buio Omega (English title: Beyond the Darkness) on my dad's DVD of Zombi 3 and it intrigued me from the beginning. I spent years trying to find this film and then 5 years later the search ended when I stumbled upon it at Fry's Electronics.
I'll start this review off by asking this bizarre question, if someone near and dear to you dies... would you go as far as "preserving their memory," by means of taxidermy? Well apparently the main character is insane enough to do the unimaginable.
Buio Omega is a dark and twisted tale of bereavement gone over the edge. Frank Wyler had everything a women would desire; good looks, sensitivity and money. Unfortunately he has some deeply disturbing issues.
His girlfriend Anna has succumb to an unusual illness caused by voodoo magic. Unable to resist the unspeakable temptation, he exhumes his companion's corpse. After returning home, he removes her organs, sews her back up and keeps her around the house like a life size doll. With the assistance of his house keeper Iris, he disposes innocent young women who stumble upon his morbid secret.
There are very few movies that disturb me but Beyond the Darkness burrowed deep underneath my skin. It is a little weak in the plot department since there's not a lot of room to expand with a story like this. However what it lacks in substance it certainly makes up for in a creepy atmosphere and graphic images. The gore in this film appears so genuine, rumors sparked that real cadavers were utilized in this film.
Even if director Joe D'Amato denies the use of real corpses, I want to know how they made the gorrific effects appear so authentic. I couldn't help but be fascinated the cheesy, over the top acting from the cast. I was also captivated by Kieran Canter, the actor that portrayed Frank. He truly came off as a sexy yet sadistic bastard. It's a shame that his career didn't take off. With his sex appeal, he could have easily lived the life of a successful leading man.
Many of you may recognize the actress that played Anna and her sister Tiadore. Cinzia Monreale would later go on to star as Emily the blind girl in Lucio Fulci's gory masterpiece The Beyond.
Buio Omega had a great soundtrack performed by the incredible Italian rock band Goblin.
7/10
I'll start this review off by asking this bizarre question, if someone near and dear to you dies... would you go as far as "preserving their memory," by means of taxidermy? Well apparently the main character is insane enough to do the unimaginable.
Buio Omega is a dark and twisted tale of bereavement gone over the edge. Frank Wyler had everything a women would desire; good looks, sensitivity and money. Unfortunately he has some deeply disturbing issues.
His girlfriend Anna has succumb to an unusual illness caused by voodoo magic. Unable to resist the unspeakable temptation, he exhumes his companion's corpse. After returning home, he removes her organs, sews her back up and keeps her around the house like a life size doll. With the assistance of his house keeper Iris, he disposes innocent young women who stumble upon his morbid secret.
There are very few movies that disturb me but Beyond the Darkness burrowed deep underneath my skin. It is a little weak in the plot department since there's not a lot of room to expand with a story like this. However what it lacks in substance it certainly makes up for in a creepy atmosphere and graphic images. The gore in this film appears so genuine, rumors sparked that real cadavers were utilized in this film.
Even if director Joe D'Amato denies the use of real corpses, I want to know how they made the gorrific effects appear so authentic. I couldn't help but be fascinated the cheesy, over the top acting from the cast. I was also captivated by Kieran Canter, the actor that portrayed Frank. He truly came off as a sexy yet sadistic bastard. It's a shame that his career didn't take off. With his sex appeal, he could have easily lived the life of a successful leading man.
Many of you may recognize the actress that played Anna and her sister Tiadore. Cinzia Monreale would later go on to star as Emily the blind girl in Lucio Fulci's gory masterpiece The Beyond.
Buio Omega had a great soundtrack performed by the incredible Italian rock band Goblin.
7/10
Deep Red (Profondo Rosso)
Three words come to mind when I think of Deep Red, bloody fucking brilliant! I understand the admiration for this gleaming jewel in the giallo treasure box. Deep Red (Profondo Rosso in Italian) is an incredible work of art filled with dark surrealism, driving characters and an unsettling atmosphere. The film starts of with an audience participated discussion with a German psychic named Helga. While in the middle of the lecture, Helga envisions a virulent presence in the auditorium. "You," she cries in distress, "Have killed... and you will kill again!" A few hours later, Helga is viciously attacked in her apartment by an unknown entity.
Marc, an English jazz musician and the protagonist of the film (played by David Hemmings), is walking home from a session when he notices Helga's attack. He immediately rushes up to her apartment and lifts her off of a broken fragment in the window. Unfortunately it was too late to save poor Helga's life. Hours later, Marc is interviewed by the police about the murder. Accompanied by a tenacious and perky reporter named Gianna (an unforgettable role from the beautiful and captivating Daria Nicolodi), Marc investigates a string of grisly homicides and gets tangled up in the killer's twisted mind.
Deep Red will leave you breathless, especially the ending. Besides the gruesome murders, this is the first Argento film I have seen in which it isn't serious all the time. There are scenes of great comic relief between Marc and Gianna. Plus these two characters have incredible chemistry. I would call David Hemmings and Daria Nicolodi the Bogey/Bacall of Italian cinema.
Of course Argento is the mastermind of surreal and incredibly disturbing yet stunning imagery and Deep Red is certainly no exception. You get a sense that every shot, every scene is tied together in the film... and there are a lot of creepy images in this film. I normally don't scare that easily but Deep Red had me on edge and Jake can tell you that. So I will conclude this note by saying to check out Deep Red, you will not be disappointed. Oh and...
Thank you Mr. Argento for filling my head with nightmarish images of this ghastly looking doll.
Phantasm
What if the line between nightmare and reality were completely blurred? What if the inability to interpret fact from fiction is what leads to one's own demise? Before Wes Craven created the monster that mercilessly slaughtered teens in their sleep, Don Coscarelli created a nightmarish world about death with 1979's Phantasm. Phantasm has got to be one of the creepiest movies I have ever seen! I am not easily frightened but there were a few moments in the film where I almost pulled the sheets up over my head. Coscarelli certainly knew how to use ominous appearing corridors and darkness to his advantage to create an intense and eerie atmosphere. Phantasm is definitely a dark masterpiece that will have your skin crawling by the time the end credits start rolling.
Mike Pearson (played by A. Michael Baldwin) is an unlucky teenage boy who is having a hard time in coping with the death of his parents. Mike's older brother Jodi (played by Bill Thornbury) has taken Mike under his wing and took on the duties of raising him. Both brothers are hit with another blow when their other brother Tommy dies of "apparent suicide." Fearing that Mike would not be able to cope with the loss, Jodi leaves Mike to attend Tommy's funeral.
Mike decides to follow Jodi to the cemetery and view the funeral from behind the scenes. After the funeral ends, Mike witnesses something very strange. A tall gangly older man is seen lifting up Tommy's casket all by himself and driving off... then all hell breaks loose!
Mike, alongside Jodi and Jodi's best friend Reggie (played by Reggie Bannister), are thrusted into a world of bizarre hallucinations, a floating sphere that drills holes in peoples heads and midget zombies in hoods that try to kill them. Within the eye of this chaos stands the gangly older man known as The Tall Man.
The Tall Man has got to be the creepiest villain I have ever seen. This man does not need eclectic weaponry and catchy one liners to make you hide your eyes. The Tall Man embeds fear in people's eyes just by his slow saunter and horrifying gaze. Freddy Kruger I can handle but I would not want to run into The Tall Man in a dark alley... or more like a corridor of a mausoleum.
Fending off the demonic beings; Mike, Jody and Reggie must ban together to defeat the forces of evil that surround them. Despite an incoherent plot and acting that's a little below par, Phantasm is quite an entertaining movie. What I especially love about this movie is the deep bond between the three protagonists. Mike,Jodi and Reggie have a strong connection with each other. Jodi would do anything to protect his little brother. Mike would gladly put his life on the line for his heroic older counterpart and Reggie considers both boys to be his family. Think of Stand By Me meets Hellraiser.
I would highly recommend putting Phantasm on your "Must watch," list on Halloween. It is definitely worth the watch... oh and did I mention that the theme to Phantasm is epic!
7/10
Phenomena
I will start this off by expressing how much of an avid fan I am of Dario Argento. My first Argento experience was watching Suspiria at the age of 13 on the Sci-Fi channel back in 1995. Just last year I had the pleasure of viewing another stunning piece of work from one of Italy's greatest exports since Chianti, Argento's dark modern fairy tale Phenomena.
What a brilliant masterpiece this film is. As much as I love Dario Argento, his films tend to be on the incoherent side. Phenomena is one of the few films Argento has done that actually has an understandable plot.
Jennifer Corvino (played by the great Jennifer Connelly) is a teenage daughter of a famous movie star, who is transferred to a boarding school for girls in Switzerland. Jennifer is a shy, timid girl who possesses an extraordinary gift; the ability to telepathically communicate with insects. While residing at the school, Jennifer has to endure cruel ridicule from her peers and the headmistress particularly treats her with contempt and despise. Of course, teenage growing pains is the least of Jennifer's worries. There is a madman loose in the countryside who is murdering innocent young girls her age. Jennifer, with the help of Professor John McGregor (played by the late Donald Pleasance,) must use her power to stop the killer from striking again or she could be the next victim.
If you love horror/mystery movies, I would highly recommend viewing this gem. Phenomena truly is a remarkable dark fairy tale with a courageous heroine. Jennifer Connelly was only thirteen years old when starred in this film and I must say, she gave a spectacular performance for a girl her age. I'm not a pervert and I'm not a lesbian but Jennifer Connelly was absolutely stunning to look at in this film. She truly is the definition of a beautiful starlet. Of course Connelly wasn't the only great star power, strong performances were given by Donald Pleasance and Daria Nicolodi as well. Besides the visuals and storyline, Phenomena is incorporated with an incredible soundtrack by Goblin member Claudio Simonetti (along with tracks from Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones.)
4 out of 5.
What a brilliant masterpiece this film is. As much as I love Dario Argento, his films tend to be on the incoherent side. Phenomena is one of the few films Argento has done that actually has an understandable plot.
Jennifer Corvino (played by the great Jennifer Connelly) is a teenage daughter of a famous movie star, who is transferred to a boarding school for girls in Switzerland. Jennifer is a shy, timid girl who possesses an extraordinary gift; the ability to telepathically communicate with insects. While residing at the school, Jennifer has to endure cruel ridicule from her peers and the headmistress particularly treats her with contempt and despise. Of course, teenage growing pains is the least of Jennifer's worries. There is a madman loose in the countryside who is murdering innocent young girls her age. Jennifer, with the help of Professor John McGregor (played by the late Donald Pleasance,) must use her power to stop the killer from striking again or she could be the next victim.
If you love horror/mystery movies, I would highly recommend viewing this gem. Phenomena truly is a remarkable dark fairy tale with a courageous heroine. Jennifer Connelly was only thirteen years old when starred in this film and I must say, she gave a spectacular performance for a girl her age. I'm not a pervert and I'm not a lesbian but Jennifer Connelly was absolutely stunning to look at in this film. She truly is the definition of a beautiful starlet. Of course Connelly wasn't the only great star power, strong performances were given by Donald Pleasance and Daria Nicolodi as well. Besides the visuals and storyline, Phenomena is incorporated with an incredible soundtrack by Goblin member Claudio Simonetti (along with tracks from Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones.)
4 out of 5.
Introduction
Greetings and salutations. I am Lindsey aka Lady Ash and there may be a few of you that remember me from Live Journal. Lately I have been feeling the need to express my love and devotion of all things horror related. So I thought I would dedicate this blog to posting all of my film reviews, both horror and non horror. Some are exported over from Live Journal. However I will be writing new reviews in the new future. So sit back, grab a glass of the finest wine and enjoy.
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