Halloween Viewing Log 2010

[Barbossa]

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods

Watched the alternate endings as well. The alien is bizarre. It's actually better that they left the alien out.

[Lazario]

Blue Sunshine (1977)



The detective stuff is boring, but the intense, personal moments (of which there are many) are really good. Especially the conversation between the detective's friend and wife (though I cracked up during the pudding interlude). The lead actor Zalmon King is sometimes really good and sometimes a total joke. The music score is quite good too. A lot of masterful sequences- this is Jeff Lieberman's Larry Cohen film. Though not his best.



Prom Night (1980)



This film's true strength is characterization. Sometimes it seems like a parody of Halloween plot devices (no need to list them, you know 'em all already), but damn it all the characters are very well-written. In fact, the whole film pretty much works for awhile. Though the cop stuff isn't interesting or memorable in the least. The thing that really sinks the movie is how utterly stupid the killer looks. Glittery black hood? Skintight cat-suit (okay, they're jeans but you'd never that in most of the running shots)? And the slick gymnast leaps and jumps? What is this- ballet or a slasher film? And that awful whispering...



The Boogey Man (1980)



So bad it's good? It's almost impossible to talk about it any other way. The acting is completely amateur, the writing takes a backseat to all the freakiness, some unnecessary sleaze (the opening scene is one thing, the scissors scene is another). But the pacing, editing, music, and camerawork are all superb and skillful. It's bad but it's entertaining.



Alone in the Dark (1981)



Really interesting, smart, and scary... A lot of good qualities. However, Martin Landau ruins almost every scene he's in. And the quirky, precocious daughter becomes an annoyance. Otherwise, it's a top-notch slasher.

[Ala ad-Din]

Recent additions in BOLD.

Films
30 Days of Night

TV
The Real Ghostbusters - "When Halloween Was Forever" (November 1, 1986)
Masters of Horror - "The Damned Thing" (October 26, 2006)
Disney's Halloween Treat (October 30, 1982)
A Disney Halloween (October 1, 1983)

[Lazario]

Roseanne, Season 2; Episode 7; "BOO!"



If a television show like this could be considered flawed, the weak spot here is undoubtedly Lecy Goranson as Becky. Understandably, after her apple rant, you'll see her onscreen for maybe 3 minutes total in the Halloween episodes for seasons 3 and 4 combined.



Roseanne, Season 3; Episode 7; "Trick or Treat"



"Badda bing, badda boom"? I should imagine that in 1990, that phrase must have been at least 3 years past its' expiration. An amusing enough commentary on bad perceived male behaviors ("what does she want with you when she's got a suitcase full of sex toys?"), though as one of the first gay-referencing progressive episodes of the show I'm not sure Dan's "mess with me" line was very flattering.



Roseanne, Season 4; Episode 6; "Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down"



Undoubtedly, the best Halloween episode of the series. As though I had to say anything, it's the tightest in terms of execution. Everything works and everyone on the crew and cast is at their absolute best. The Roseanne vs. Kathy thing is perfect here (and Meagen Fay is hilarious), all bases covered (favorite moment; "Alls I've gotta do is think... If I were her, what would I do to get even? ...Oh hoah, that bitch!"). Good psycho-killer music at the beginning too.



Roseanne, Season 5; Episode 7; "Halloween IV"



There's just something inherently off about an episode where Roseanne herself is the one who needs an intervention to get her into the Halloween spirit. Ironic though it is, it's also hokey (the whole 3 Halloween ghosts thing really doesn't do that much- the past section is especially lame) and a bit of a downer. Though, Roseanne is still giving an amazing performance (almost good enough to top Season 4's Halloween episode), the lodge party scenes are great, and the scene into Roseanne's future showing her as the complete antithesis of who she is in the show is classic ("Don't leave me, Dan; I try the best I can but I am only a woman!").



Roseanne, Season 6; Episode 4; "Halloween V"



Definitely an improvement over Season 5's Halloween episode. The return of the prank war theme is great (both of the set-ups were perfect), Dan's "the things you have no intention of doing" mini-speech is excellent, the Nancy jokes are great and it's proof of how good an actress Sandra Bernhard is that she can play that whiny little twit (I actually knew several girls frighteningly just like Nancy) without her trademark cynical-aggressive attitude. It's a bit lowkey with not as much actual Halloween antics but it's more fun than "Halloween IV."



The Jeffersons, Season 4; Episode 11; "The Costume Party"



Historic show, yes. And the characters are a lot of fun over the course of the first 3 seasons (probably the best). But the 4th season slowed things down a lot- I never thought Marcus (absent from this episode, thankfully) or Leroy (Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning's Vernon Washington) were good additions to the cast. Then, with Zara Cully's passing (I believe her last episode, though she died in '78, was season 4's "The Last Leaf")... I'm not sure the show did enough to keep it fresh or had enough left in it to sustain an entire season. And though season 4 had its' moments (I remember "Florence's Union" being one of the highpoints), there's little going on in "The Costume Party." (Not a Halloween episode, no, but there are costumes and people playing characters all the way through it) Florence's "oh ma' goooodniss!!" routine is a lot of fun and somewhat reminiscent of Marla Gibbs' tour-de-force performance in the final scenes of Season 3's exquisite "Florence in Love."



Garfield's Halloween Adventure



Everyone who's seen this knows it's a masterpiece on the same level as It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Garfield's always a great character but this episode (special) also goes the extra mile to deliver awesome animation (it's like watercolors but it's extremely heady, prime nostalgia factor) and memorable songs (I've been hum-singing "sixty men all lost at sea..." nonstop for days now). The moment at the abandoned house with the creepy old man is the stuff of legends and I wouldn't be surprised to find its' a staple of many of our childhoods. This is just full of amazing scenes but even then, there are at least half a dozen standouts. Love "the one thing I'm not is a scaredy cat" especially (it actually still spooks me a little - and... look at that ghost at the end, looking at the camera blinking at us like he's saying; "what did I do?" - SO FREAKING ADORABLE!). And that beautiful chalk look to the ghosts... Might there be some The Fog influence here?

[Barbossa]

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods
Creepshow

I haven't seen Creepshow since around 1985. If it was '85, I was 6. This scared the crap out of me and my sister. Finally revisited it after all those years. It's more funny now than creepy. Weird thing was I only remembered the first three stories; Father's Day where dad wants a cake, Lonesome Death with Stephen King playing a crazed hillbilly, and Something to Tide You Over with Leslie Nielsen and Ted Danson. The Crate with Hal Holbrook was good, but the creature reminded me of the one they used in the Twilight Zone movie. They're Creeping Up on You with E.G. Marshall was definitely the funniest. It would be great if they could resurrect this franchise.

[Scarred4life]

The Shining
Dreamcatcher
The Uninvited

Well, The Shining was spectacular as always. Dreamcatcher was good, but I wasn't all that into the plot. The Uninvited was alright, but it doesn't compare to Stephen King.

[Barbossa]

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods
Creepshow
Scary Movie

Can't believe Scary Movie is ten years old this year. Still a good one.

[Barbossa]

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods
Creepshow
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
American Psycho
Disney's DTV Monster Hits

DTV Monster Hits, probably my favourite Disney Halloween special. Had to watch it on Youtube though, as it's never been released officially and only aired once or twice due to the music copyrights.

Scary Movie 2 is probably my favourite from that franchise. As for American Psycho, some great lines in that movie. Now excuse me, I have to return some video tapes...

[Lazario]

The Nanny, Season 2; Episode 14; "I've Got a Secret"



It's absurd how obsessed I am of scenes in tv sitcoms that talk about horror films, even if they make up movie titles (Roseanne - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzv6XwcNtKQ , Saved by the Bell, maybe Growing Pains and Home Improvement). Anyway, if you don't remember, this one references The Mummy, Friday the 13th, Silence of the Lambs, and Alfred Hitchcock, as well as having a plotline involving costumes (well, in so far as celebrities and drag queens are concerned) and the creepiness of plastic surgery. As for the episode, The Nanny's 2nd season is probably its' finest. There are almost no Niles-vs-C.C. cracks but this has perhaps Val's funniest moments, especially the office scene, and a rare moment- physical comedy shenanigans with Fran and C.C. working together. They really don't make 'em like this anymore, sadly. A lot of Reba's, Whoopi's, and Kirstie Alley shows may have tried, but The Nanny has the edge on B-list celebrity ensembles. The jokes are both sophisticated and middle-brow, the comic timing and physical comedy is excellent from all, the writing is great, and unlike a lot of badly dated family sitcoms, the early seasons of The Nanny stand up to repeat viewings.



Scrooged (1988)



I'm never in the mood to watch this for Christmas or Thanksgiving (can you blame me?). And there's probably a reason for that- drunken dark humor and coked-up sentimentality do not mix. Frank Cross the villain is a friggin' riot. Frank Cross the humanitarian is silly, ingenuine, and nothing more than a test run for the much better change-of-heart Murray has in the truly uplifting Groundhog Day. However, the supporting cast is to die for (though they could have worked on David Johansen's part a bit), the monster stuff is great, the music score racks up more than a little dread (is this Richard Donner gearing up for Tales from the Crypt or what?), and the look of the film is amazing. If only the damn story could get it together. The ending is an utter meltdown. Absolutely embarrassing, for all invovled.



The Witches (1990)



Those childhood favorites are usually never as great as you remember them. It's just a little too light and simplistic throughout, and the music doesn't always hold up its' end. But; Luke is refreshingly less obnoxious than most kid characters from fantasy films, the camerawork is very unique and fun (this is, criminally, one of two Roeg films I've seen), the cast is incredible (especially Anjelica Huston, who almost sadly looks so much younger and sexier here than as Morticia in either Addams Family film), and the infamous (should be, by now) boardroom scene earns its' freaky reputation.

[Barbossa]

^The Witches - I haven't seen that one since it was in the theaters. I haven't even seen it anywhere on DVD.

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods
Creepshow
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
American Psycho
Disney's DTV Monster Hits
Scary Movie 3

Definitely can see the difference in style of Scary Movie 3, from the Wayans brothers to David Zucker. Still good though. The Michael Jackson scene cracks me up each time I see it.

[Lazario]

^The Witches - I haven't seen that one since it was in the theaters. I haven't even seen it anywhere on DVD.

Gotta go online.

http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Keepcase- ... B002GOAH10

Maybe it's going out of print, though. I don't know.

[Ala ad-Din]

Recent additions in BOLD.

Films
30 Days of Night
8213: Gacy House

TV
The Real Ghostbusters - "When Halloween Was Forever" (November 1, 1986)
Masters of Horror - "The Damned Thing" (October 26, 2006)
Disney's Halloween Treat (October 30, 1982)
A Disney Halloween (October 1, 1983)

[PeterPanfan]

Suspiria
Dreams in the Witch House
Inferno
Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Repo: The Genetic Opera
The Mother of Tears
Shock Treatment
Idle Hands

[Barbossa]

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods
Creepshow
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
American Psycho
Disney's DTV Monster Hits
Scary Movie 3
Van Helsing
Scary Movie 4

Van Helsing - Mindless fun.

Scary Movie 4 - funny, but seriously, how many times can you watch a person get hit in the face or kicked in the balls.

[Lazario]

Jaws 3 (1982)



I genuinely hate Jaws. And back in the VHS days, I remember rather liking this sequel. Times have changed. I doubt anyone would have to explain what's wrong with this one. It's not always complete crap but it's often so dull, you won't care if anything's working. Some of the acting is painfully bad (likely making a change for the series- I never made it all the way through Jaws 2), the dialogue is trash, and the characters aren't interesting. Some of the Sea World stuff looks cool and the widescreen makes it slightly attractive but it's, very much like the first film, a sentimental puddle (the final freeze-frame is one of the most ridiculous things in the history of the genre and easily the most nauseating thing in the film).



(A) Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)



Excellent music score. Great camerawork. Usually flawless special effects. Visually breath-taking. The story, the acting, and everything else on the other hand? Worthless.



Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland



Conceptually, this is easily superior to the truly shitty Unhappy Campers. Now, that film may have been a little scarier and had better "kills"... but think about it. The special effects are so bad, the writing is garbage, and the acting is horrid. What exactly do better death scenes really add? Not to mention, both Pamela Springsteen sequels were hacked to ribbons on home video anyway. All these movies have left are the quality of their concepts. And that's why this panned sequel is much better than the crew's previous try, which amounted to a z-grade copy of something by Troma. We have an actual plot here instead of just a string of 'outrageous' novelty killing set-ups (and on that level, Serial Mom beat the everloving shit out it 6 years later anyway), Angela has some real character development, as do the film's token lovebird couple, the "name every character after pop culture figures" gimmick ties in to the concept (the "privilaged" kids named after The Brady Bunch offspring), and there are some seriously clever turns along the way (from the payoff to the one-liners to the final scene with Marcia and Tony) to help balance out the sleaze (again; Troma did it better), the cheap quality to the effects, and the bottom-of-the-barrel acting.



Evil Clutch (1988)



I haven't come across anyone with a serious opinion on this film yet. So, I doubt I have anything to lose when I say this is a real gem in the Euro-horror trash heap. As a matter of fact, as far as consistency goes, this is like the Fulci film that never was. The gore effects are nothing to take your breath away and Cindy is pure cliche, but the schlocky stuff here never distracts from the dirty, dingy, nasty mood or the hypnotically buzzy camerawork- I was so completely engrossed in this highly freaky thing. I loved every minute of it!! It's cheap, yes (especially in terms of plot), and it rips off any number of other movies (The Shining, Phenomena, Evil Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Demons) but it's so damn effective. Mostly due to the stellar music score and various sound effects. Which truly elevate the other bizarre elements, that could be ho-hum in another movie, to a fever pitch of insanity.



Poltergeist III (198?)



The drama is seriously flawed, to say the least. The story is clogged (though the "mass hypnosis" idea is good for a lot). Several pieces of the dialogue are needlessly lifted from the first film. And some of the acting is downright insufferable (someone please shoot Kip Wentz). But this is such a professionally made spookshow with so many spectacular FX sequences and set-pieces, that it shames nearly all other weepy ghost flicks from the 80's to today. Not to mention that, finally, the safe feeling to the previous films is gone. This is no Spielbergian adventure thrill-ride. It may easily be the weakest of the original trilogy, but it has the strongest dark mood and feels the most like a horror film. Also, the big budget makes it look so damn good. Though it's still not nearly competition for the criminally underrated Jason Takes Manhattan, they share many similarities.



After Midnight (1989)



Not as much fun as it used to be, and not nearly as full-bodied as it should be (the music is very good for a long while, but every now and then they'll stick in those awful cheap drum-&-symbals sounds you hear on late 80's/early 90's TV shows). But it's definitely above average for its' type. The stories are good, plot wise, and the acting is mostly very good. Though it's got that TV-quality sheen to it (this was a decade that could get away with that), Remy Zada and Marg Helgenberger are sensational.



The Phantom of the Opera (1989)



Very good for the first half. Surprisingly good, actually. Much better than you'd expect- highly skilled acting (great cast and they're trying to be better than most people in a B-horror film). But the second half drags a lot. Basically, there's too much Robert Englund and the guy is best when he's so demonic, you can barely recognize him. Since the film focuses a lot on the killings it's important to note that, after awhile they get really stupid. Especially the body in the dresser scene. But the final scenes start to slowly redeem it.

[PeterPanfan]

I watched Sleepaway Camp for the first time yesterday, and I really liked it. Angela was so creepy, even before the big reveal (which I had unfortunately already been spoiled about ) Still, very atmospheric and eerie, as well as campy. Perfect mix.

I'm planning on watching the three sequels sometime soon.

[PixarFan2006]

New entries are in bold (sorry, barbossa, if I stole your concept)

MOVIES
The Howling
It Came From Beneath the Sea
The Curse of Frankenstein
Grindhouse
Ed Wood

TV SHOWS/SPECIALS
Tales From the Crypt: The Man Who Was Death
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror V

[Barbossa]

Recent viewings in bold:

Ghostbusters
The Black Cauldron
Zombieland
The Watcher in the Woods
Creepshow
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
American Psycho
Disney's DTV Monster Hits
Scary Movie 3
Van Helsing
Scary Movie 4
The Fly (1986)
Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Fly (1986 - Cronenberg's) - The first time I saw this movie I was about 12. It made me sick to my stomach then and to this day it still makes me nauseous. Having said that, it's a masterpiece! This is a true sci-fi horror masterpiece. The effects in this are amazing. Not one trace of CGI present. The make-up, the Brundle Fly costume, the Brundle Fly puppet - it really does look realistic and makes you think the telepods actually work. Jeff Goldblum delivers a great performance while he transforms into the fly, losing various bits of his face along the way and putting them into his medicine cabinet "museum". His wise-crack lines actually help you to stomach the situation. Everyone should see this one at least once in their lifetime. Great stuff.



Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp! First time I saw this I think I was around 14 or so, and I thought, what the hell? I saw it on Much Music here in Canada and it was aired with one of those 'live' auditorium tapings where the audience was cosplaying and throwng toast at the stage. The 2nd time I saw it I was paying more attention to the music and was really digging it. I guess this is the fourth time I've seen it now, and this time I was paying a little more attention to Susan Sarandon - wow, she was cute back then . No wonder Justin Timberlake picked her for his Mother Lover SNL sketch. This movie is wacky, but it's fun. Great performance by Tim Curry. Could've maybe used another song by Meatloaf though. Definitely a cult classic. Now I got to go clean up the toast off the TV room floor.

[dvdjunkie]

Be sure to keep tabs on my list of Horror Films I am watching. On another site I am participating in the 100 Horror Films in 31 days. I will just add movies on the dates watched and edit the post on page one on a daily basis.

I wish I had time to participate in this thread, as I noticed quite a few of you are watching old television shows with a Halloween theme and there are some really good ones from back in the 50's and 60's that I don't think anyone here will be posting.

Anyway, it's back to the movies for Halloween. I can't get too far behind because I am going out of town next weekend, and I have to get ahead of the chain of films, so that I reach 100 by October 31.

[Lazario]

Be sure to keep tabs on my list of Horror Films I am watching. On another site I am participating in the 100 Horror Films in 31 days.

I think I'm up to 31 movies so far...