Horror in Films: A Month of Macabre Movies

Since October will probably always be my favorite month, and horror maybe my favorite film genre, thought I'd go ahead and try this. This thread will look at horror as it is depicted on film, whether it be a zombie gore fest or a psychological attack vehicle. I'll be watching several different classics of the genre and we will discuss them as I go. First, lets start out with a lesser known work.

1. RepulsionDir: Roman Polanski,(1965)

Watched this one for the first time last night and have to say this is one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen. By the way, before we get going, know that all movies will be spoiled so run away if you haven't seen these films.

Catherine Deneuve stars as Carol, who is a bit mentally ill as our movie begins. She lives with her sister in an apartment in London. Her sister takes a trip to Italy with her boyfriend and Carol is all alone now. She slowly starts to lose her sanity.

This movie is just maddening in it's visuals showing you the strangest things I've ever seen from a film. One night, Carol lies awake and sees a shadow cross the floor in the hall outside her bedroom. There is another door to her room which is blocked by a dresser. Suddenly, that door is repeatedly hammered until a man descends upon her and rapes her. All we hear during this is the tick-tock of a clock. Fabulous film making but terribly upsetting and horrifying in it's implications. Anybody seen this one?

 

Very well named film. I'll admit to not getting all the way through it, because as you say, it's plenty disturbing.

 

Great idea for a thread. I'm always on the lookout for good horror movies.

Two links: Ty Franck on horror as a cultural window, and a list of the 50 best horror movies, many of which are not really my cup of tea, but a very interesting list nonetheless.

Anyway, Repulsion is a very creepy movie indeed. Not my favorite Deneuve performance, but once things get going, the whole affair is disturbing in a way movies rarely are anymore.

 

Splatter flicks and torture porn are not horror flicks, IMO.

 

See my first link above, and especially the last comment, for some commentary about where torture porn may be coming from.

 

Great thread! Horror is the most underrated genre, it can truly be art, unfortunetly most people like and want to see movies such as the Saw Franchise and it gives horror a bad name.

I have not seen this Polanski film, so I have nothing to say...yet.

 

I very much see where torture porn is coming from. I really think it started as an aversion to what Bush was doing. The Saw films have lost almost all of their popularity now that Bush is out of office and we haven't seen an attempt at a Hostel III(Thank goodness). I think what's hurt horror more than anything recently is the romanticism involved with vampires. Anne Rice did it the best and even she wasn't great at it. Twilight and all these other fictions have taken the most ennduring horror mythology annd robbed it of it's substance.

 

I blame the "Blade" movies for giving people the idea that vampires have their own culture.

I prefer the vampires of Salem's Lot and Thirty Days of Night. Vampires are essentially a plague virus with a brain.

 

Horror seems to have lost originality over the years. These days it's either remakes or endless sequels, with very few new and original horror films coming through.

Paranormal Activity was different, but there hasn't been much else for a while.

The idea for some time now seems to be that extreme gore must preside over genuine shock. If audiences are harder to scare, making them freak out or feel sick supposedly will work just as well for the studios.

 

I blame Anne Rice for ruining the vampire genre. All these vampire stories are rip offs of her

 

A local theater is showing a different 'classic' horror flick every weekend this month.

They are:

A Nightmare on Elm Street - hadn't seen it, saw it, found it vastly overrated.

The Craft - haven't seen it, didn't see it, don't plan to.

Candyman - saw it years ago, went and saw it again, it holds up; one of the great forgotten horror classics of the nineties in my opinion.

Interview With the Vampire - saw it once, which was at least three times too many; I give this one a great big pass.

Friday the 13th - actually never seen it, may go and see it.

 

2. The Exorcist, Dir: William Friedkin, Starring Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, and Lee J. Cobb

Wow. I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is a perfect film. Entertaining, thought provoking, and scary as heck, I could not turn my eyes away from this story of demon possession. Everyone should watch this movie, weather it is Halloween or any other time.

The story is so well known and cliqued that you'd think it would lose its power after 40 or so years. You would be wrong. Scenes like Ellen Burstyn walking in to find her daughter's bed flying off the floor, or Father Merrin facing the statue of Pazuzu in one of the most beautifully shot scenes in film history, or Father Karras seeing his mother in an asylum, they will never lose power for me. Friedkin, who sort of fell off the map after this, shows that he could have been one of Hollywood's greatest directors, as this film is enhanced greatly by some iconic shots, such as Father Merrin standing in front of the Gerogetown house in the fog.

A classic, one of my absolute favorite films. This is more then horror, it is a movie about faith and good vs. evil.

Edit: Must make mention to Lee J. Cobb, who, on one of his last film performances, manages to put in one of the best character actor roles of all time in Lt. Kinderman

 

Fabulous film.

Be sure to check out Vortigern's excellent retrospective.

Also, just out of curiosity, did you watch the theatrical version or the version you've never seen?

 

Theatrical, I'd heard that the Never Seen version was just twenty minutes of filler, though I'd be interested to check it out if you've heard good things.

 

I've seen bits and pieces, but never sat down and watched the whole thing. Maybe this Hallowe'en...!

 

I think the thing that often gets overlooked about The Exorcist is how fabulous Jason Miller's performance is. Easily one of the greatest horror film performances. Exorcist III is also one of the few decent horror sequels because of him

 

3. Don't Look Now, Dir: Nicholas Roeg, Starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie

This is movie has quite the reputation, but I didn't consider it that great of a film. The direction is superb by Roeg, easily the highlight of the film, and the final twist is brilliantly perverse and shocking. But Christie's performance was rather flat, and Sutherland didn't exactly deliver his greatest performance.

I felt they had a lot to work with, showing the grief these parents were experiencing, but Christie and Sutherland struggled, and I felt very little for them. I'd recommend you watch it for Roeg's direction, which is quite brilliant.

 

This is one of DuMaurier's best short stories. It's just weird as all ****. Haven't seen the movie, but I'd say Roeg is a good match for the material.

 

I can never really get into the modern horror/slasher stuff. I'd rather watch an old Universal from the 30's/40's or an old Hammer film. Those are much more fun to me.

 

I think Don't Look Now is pretty excellent. One of my favorite horror movies. I know I wrote a bit about it in the last movie thread, but a quick search turns up nothing.

 

4. Alien, Dir: Ridley Scott, Starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skeritt, Ian Holm, Yaphett Kotto, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt

This is a masterpiece of suspense that Hitchcock would have greatly appreciated. I'm on edge the whole movie from the arrival to the planet, through the Ripley's final confrontation with the Alien. I still consider it Ridley Scott's masterpiece. One of my absolute favorite movies.

 

Thanks for the kind word, Mastadge. I haven't really kept up with that thread because of the low turn-out, but it's good to know people have been reviewing it, even if it gets relatively few posts.

Here is the summation paragraph from my rather lengthy OP in that thread:

I'll post my thoughts on Dominion and The Beginning there later this evening, for those who care to read them during this season of spookery.

 

5. Psycho, Dir: Alfred Hitchcock, Starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin and Martin Balsam

Another perfect film, maybe my favorite of all time. In my opinion, Hitchcock's, all the actor's and Hermann's best film. There is so many elements to this film, it isn't just horror, it's a comedy, a mystery, and a drama. Incredibly well acted, directed, scored, and written. The master of suspense's best film.

 

I know the entire plot, which doesn't bother me when I rewatch it, because Hitchcock's command is everywhere evident.

 

It's a very well acted film too. Tony Perkins is brilliant in it.