3 days to Halloween now, it’s a perfect time to consider movies to watch that night. I watched many types of drama, comedy and romance. Sometimes thriller. I rarely focus on horror films. So, this Halloween I thought I’d post mini-reviews of some horror films (also inspired by Chris’ Halloween mini-reviews). It’s a compilation mini reviews of all horror, thriller or films with horror elements that I’ve watched and written. Enjoy :
Carrie (1976)
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Insidious : Chapter 2 (2013)
80 percent of this movie have tension and horror, I don’t know if it’s just me who rarely watch this genre, but it was quite a horror ride! Lots of surprises and ghosts appear suddenly, unpredictable. Not much space to breathe a little. But since I didn’t watched the first one, I don’t know if it’s better or not. What I know is this one reveal the background of the whole tragedy and it might turn off the mystery the viewers are searching. Yup, it’s ‘entertaining’. 3,5 Stars
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Pieta (2012)
It’s pretty violent for my taste but it have one of the message that get me thinking for days. I never saw Kim Ki-duk’s movies before, so I have no comparison. Pieta‘s theme is revenge and mother and son relationship, but it’s one of the movies that was pretty painful to see and stayed in your mind. Jeong-jin Lee and Min-soo Jo was really great in this. One favorite scene in it was when a young husband willing to get his hand harmed to have money to pay his child’s birth operation. 4 Stars
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Stoker (2013)
With a regular mind-playing on thriller movies, it lead us to such conclusion that Charlie the uncle is a mysterious and dangerous man. Stoker is actually a simple thriller for its genre and didn’t have many surprises. What made it different is the cinematography and the editing. They aren’t really linear, but it carefully inserted another scene in the present scene, but it somehow worked. It’s hard to edit and combine those for sure. But Mia Wasikowska actually nailed it as the odd teen girl, cold and in the age of finding her own identity. Her chemistry with Matthew Goode is excellent. This is also a stylish movie, loving the outfits! 3,5 Stars
Frankenweenie (2013)
Such gothic animated movie Burton style, pretty sweet how a boy couldn’t get passed on the fact that his loving dog is dead. I’m not too fond of the fantasy plot turned out, but it’s an okay teen movie for Halloween. Movie Score : 3,5 Stars
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Funny Games (1997)
Funny Games was annoyingly amazing, horrifying but excellent. Its way of hostage a person using their psychology, more of like bullying the mind. Actor Arno Frisch was brilliant as the main psycho, with his no-expression face (and he sometimes see to the camera, which he makes eye contact to the viewer). The twists was unexpected, unbelievable but still works. A little intrigued to watch the 2007 Hollywood remake with the same title, starred by Naomi Watts and Michael Pitt. If you love thriller drama, you should see this one. 4 Stars
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Coraline (2009)
Love everything from the stop motion, characters, theme, colors, lighting, music, uniqueness and the main message of the movie are perfect. I already seen ‘Night Before Christmas’ and a bit terrified, but I like this movie better. I like how the sets seem so real and gothic. And Coraline’s character was not a typical happy-nice girl, she’s a bit mischievous and brave. It is a great movie to kids to feel grateful of ordinary life. If you have parents who love you and take care of you, then it is enough. 4 Stars
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Warm Bodies (2013)
Though a little out of logic (zombies have feelings? What the??), it has a big morale message. I wasn’t aware that zombies miss to ‘feel’ and ‘dream’ and ‘express’, but apparently they do. At least with R, the lead character. It kind of reminded me that somehow humans are like zombie at some point, when they ignore using their hearts. Warm bodies have some terrific soundtrack as well. Pretty entertaining and has some profound points. But there were many silly and funny moments combined with thrilling and scary image. I haven’t seen anything like this. This movie introduced me to the band M83, still listen to it until now. 3,5 Stars
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Rare Export : A Christmas Tale (2010)
Entertaining and full of suspense, is the words I choose to explain Rare Export : A Christmas Tale. The lead and my favorite character in the movie, a little boy called Pietari (Onni Tommila) was adorable, silly and at the same time, holding a very true theory of all the weirdness happening in the movie. Though it is a fantasy, I love the master idea of the story. It was a different story about Christmas and Santa Claus, the twist and the thrill was enjoyable to see. You can’t help but laugh all the little humor provided in the dialog and their behavior. But the horror could make children running scared, but at least they won’t be bad anymore. 3,5 Stars
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Mulholland Dr. (2001)
It is a movie that stayed with me even after couple of weeks watching it, tried to make sense it all. But I have to give credits for Lynch, for creating an odd, masterful and genius movie. They categorized this movie as neo-noir psychological thriller, which I’ve never known that such genre exist. I know as an actress Naomi Watts is not just a pretty face, but this movie showed more of her credibility by playing both angelic and self-loathing character. Also showed how Hollywood could change a person, it has the ability to shattered someone’s dreams to pieces. 4,5 Stars
Short films :
The Elaborate End of Robert Ebb (2012)
A story about one security wants to leave the night early to watch movies about monster with his girl, only he ends up being a ‘monster’ himself. The irony is there, quite hilarious, with a little unexplainable sci-fi and horror. Though not a fan of the creepy ending. I love the cinematography, props, costume and oldies setting. 3,5 Stars
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Vincent (1982)
It was Tim Burton’s first stop motion movie, dark and poetic. I discovered that Tim Burton was once worked for Disney and he was encouraged to make his own movie by his work partner. Vincent surely is a promising first movie. I didn’t watch it with subtitles so I find it a little confusing. 3,5 Stars
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Yours Truly (2011)
A short film by Cine Et Cetera. It starts pretty sweet and engaging. I like all about it, but wait until you see the ending. I was fooled. You can watch it online here. 3,5 Stars
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Readers, any thoughts? What are you planning to watch this halloween? Any favorites from the movies here?
