The Purge Review

The Purge Review, for 12 months of every year any crime including murder will go unpunished, all emergency services are suspended.

Director James DeMonaco

Writer James DeMonaco

Cast

Ethan Hawke - James Sandin
Lena Headey - Mary Sandin
Edwin Hodge - Bloody Stranger
Rhys Wakefield - Polite Leader
Max Burkholder - Charlie Sandin
Adelaide Kane - Zoey Sandin

Blumhouse Productions - Running time 85 minutes

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In order to deal with the countries increasing crime rate, the US government stop all emergency services and allows any crime to go unchallenged for a single annual 12 hour period known as The Purge. The purge allows people to unleash their built up anger and frustration, releasing their demons. Also this 12 hours periods helps to eradicate the homeless and the weak.

During the purge a man is being chased and hunted by a murderous gang looking to fore fill their need to purge. The young son of a wealthy family allow the man to seek safety in their house. However the gang are very determined to satisfy their need to purge and they give the family a choice. Give the man back to them or become victims of the purge themselves.

While the whole idea is farfetched, it's a good one and I like it, it has much potential. It's definitely a nice refreshing change to have a relatively original idea like this. Unfortunately the movie is partly ruined by the stupidity of the characters.

It has been awhile since I was so badly irritated by a movie, for example the young boy knows the access code to the house security system causing the whole problem in the first place, and then he lets in a complete stranger during the purge. After that moment of insanity we have a whole lot more stupid behavior and things that just make no sense what so ever. It just ruined what could have been a great movie. I felt like the writing was just rushed and sloppy, with a bit more effort this could of been really good.

There were moments that were enjoyable, the concept itself for example. I like the idea of having house defenses and the survival element. Also the concept of having no emergency services or laws is both scary and exciting. I felt it started and ended well, just everything in between was a bit of a mess.

It's still entertaining, it's just a shame it could of been so much better.

6.5 out of 10

The Lost Boys Review

The Lost Boys Review, classic 80s vampire movie starring Kiefer Sutherland.

Director Joel Schumacher

Writer Janice Fischer

Cast

Jason Patric - Michael Emerson
Corey Haim - Sam Emerson
Kiefer Sutherland - David
Corey Feldman - Edgar Frog
Jamison Newlander - Alan Frog
Dianne Wiest - Lucy Emerson
Brooke McCarter - Paul
Jami Gertz - Star
Edward Herrmann - Max
Barnard Hughes - Grandpa

Warner Bros, Running time 97 minutes.

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A mother (Dianne Wiest) and her two sons move to Santa Clara, the older bother Michael (Jason Patric) becomes fascinated with a girl that hangs out with some mysterious bikers. The younger brother Sam (Corey Haim) meets some strange boys that claim to be Vampire hunters.

This film may be getting on in years now but it's still very entertaining, it has a unique style and charm, and there are some very good comical and memorable moments. This movie is behind and has influenced and set the standard for many recent vampire films.

The Lost Boys visuals are great, perfectly capturing the 80s feel and offering nostalgic value, it captures the best elements of the decade very well, glamorizing the 80s. Most of the characters are likable with solid acting and dialog, Kiefer Sutherland is brilliant and dominates all the scenes he is in with his charismatic performance. The story is very simple and easy to follow, because of the charm and feel of the movie it keeps you very immersed and entertained.

The Lost Boys takes on a more comic approach rather than horror and gore, some moments do create tension and uncertainty helped by the unique and slightly creepy atmosphere, which makes this very enjoyable and it's certainly worth a repeat watch or two.

7.5 out of 10

The Conjuring Review

The Conjuring Review, after a family move into a farm house they soon discover that the house is haunted and they seek help from paranomal investigators.

Director James Wan

Writer Chad Hayes - Carey Hayes

Cast

Vera Farmiga - Lorraine Warren
Patrick Wilson - Ed Warren
Lili Taylor - Carolyn Perron
Ron Livingston - Roger Perron
Joey King - Christine
Mackenzie Foy - Cindy
Kyla Deaver - April
Shanley Caswell - Andrea
Hayley McFarland - Nancy

New Line Cinema - Running time 112 minutes

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Shortly after a family move into a new farm house they begin to experience strange and unexplained phenomena, scared and not knowing what to do, they turn to Ed and Lorraine Warren husband and wife paranormal investigators for help. When Ed and Lorraine visit the family at the farm house, it doesn't take them long to realise that this is a genuine case. Ed and Lorraine must gain proof of the haunting before the Vatican will approve an Exorcism to rid the house of the evil forces that haunt the family.

The story may sound familiar, it sounds like something that we have seen before, and as over used as this story is I still love it and I still haven't got bored of it yet. Plus I had been hearing some good things about The Conjuring so it was always going to be on my watch list.

Even though the story is not exactly original, The Conjuring tells the story very well with good pacing and timing, there is enough differences during this movie to give it a fairly unique feel. James Wan has brought his own style to The Conjuring especially noticeable in the cinematography making this feel fresh, or relatively fresh anyway.

The acting is good throughout, especially Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) which are likable characters and they did a great job of capturing and drawing me into the movie and keeping my interest.

So how scary is it? of course this is just my personal opinion, it's definitely scary however I personally didn't find it as terrifying as I was expecting. Perhaps I was expecting too much, there are a few chilling moments and scares but it's not the scariest movie that I have seen in the last few years. I think that crown goes to Insidious.

Overall The Conjuring is a well made horror movie, if you're a fan of the haunted house style movie then this should be on your watch list.

7 out of 10

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 Review

Review of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 version. Great remake of the 1974 classic?

Director Marcus Nispel

Writer Kim Henkel - Tobe Hooper

Cast

Jessica Biel - Erin Hardesty
Jonathan Tucker - Morgan
Erica Leerhsen - Pepper Harrington
Mike Vogel - Andy
Eric Balfour - Kemper
R. Lee Ermey - Sheriff Charlie Hoyt
Andrew Bryniarski - Thomas Hewitt / Leatherface
David Dorfman - Jedidiah Hewitt
Lauren German - Hitchhiker

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A group of travelling friends get stalked and murdered by a deformed killer. The story starts off with 5 youths passing through Texas, during their journey they come across and pick up a traumatized girl, while in the back seat she pulls out a gun and shoots herself.

Lets start with the cinematography which is very effective creating an effective atmospheric feel, which builds tension nicely during the movie. The killing scenes themselves are very brutal and gory, they're some of the most graphic murder scenes I have witnessed in a movie. So many times I have been disappointed by horror movies, many turn out to be not very gory or even scary, so it's refreshing to watch a movie like this that doesn't hold anything back.

The actors give good believable performances especially Sheriff Charlie (R. Lee Ermey Hoyt) who is brilliant, offering some funny but disturbing comedy. He manages to be charismatic and terrifying at the same time.

Even if you have seen the original, this version tells the same story but in a very different way. This film is well made, it's graphic, gory and creepy. It's one of the best recent horror films and a great remake, some may argue it's better than the original, it's certainly a scarier film. I can highly recommended The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to anyone that enjoys a good gory horror film.

7 out of 10

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Review

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Review, set before for the first film, very gory slasher movie.

Director Jonathan Liebesman

Writer Sheldon Turner

Cast

Jordana Brewster - Chrissie
Taylor Handley - Dean A. Hill
Diora Baird - Bailey
Matt Bomer - Eric Hill
R. Lee Ermey - Charlie Hewitt
Marietta Marich - Luda Mae Hewitt
Allison Marich - Young Luda Mae
Leslie Calkins - Sloane
Andrew Bryniarski - Thomas Brown
Lee Tergesen - Holden
Kathy Lamkin - Tea Lady

New Line Cinema, Running time 91 minutes

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On August 7, 1939, after a mother dies giving birth to a deformed child and the baby is disposed of into a dumpster. A homeless woman discovers the baby and takes her to shelter. This deformed child becomes Leatherface.

In 1969 two brothers are going to enlist to fight in Vietnam, traveling through Texas with girlfriends they end up being cased by a biker with a shotgun. during the chase they crash into a cow and lose control of their car, this is when they come across the Sheriff (R. Lee Ermey). Things soon get a whole lot worse for the travelers.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Beginning has a very similar feel to the 2003 remake, so if you liked that you'll like this. I think it's fair to say that this film is even more brutal and gory than the first film, they have taken things a step further with this movie making some of the scenes difficult to watch. I found myself turning away from some of the most brutal scenes.

R. Lee Ermey - Charlie Hewitt has a bigger part in this film which is definitely a good thing as he was one of the best things about the 2003 remake. He manages to be even more charismatic and even creepier then he was in the first film which is a great achievement. The rest of cast also provide good performances.

The cinematography is again brilliant, really adding to the atmosphere and tension. Combined with an effective score which really sets the mood and creates a great feel.

Overall this is a well put together movie that will scare and disturb you, if that sounds like your kind of thing then you'll definitely enjoy this.

7 out of 10

Good Slasher Films

Slasher films are a particular type of horror film, what are the greatest and most well known slashers including movie information.

Slashers normally involve a psychotic killer that uses a blade or sharp object of some kind to do the killings, usually no supernatural forces are at work.

Slasher movies have a wide fan base and are a favorite for many. One of the reasons why so many people find slasher movies so scary is because the bad guy is normally just a human with no special powers or abilities, just a crazy or vengeful person who wants to hurt others. Many find this more believable and therefore scarier because it could actually happen. Some slasher movies are actually based on true stories like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

There have been some truly great slashers that have resulted in many sequels and imitators, even a series of spoof movies. While slashers are not my favorite type of horror, I have really enjoyed some recent releases. Personal favorites include the Scream movies and the remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Good Slasher Films

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974

Director Tobe Hooper

Stars Marilyn Burns - Edwin Neal - Allen Danziger

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003

Director Marcus Nispel

Stars Jessica Biel - Jonathan Tucker - Andrew Bryniarski

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Beginning 2006

Director Jonathan Liebesman

Stars Jordana Brewster - Matt Bomer - Diora Baird

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Scream 1996

Director Wes Craven

Stars Neve Campbell - Courteney Cox - David Arquette

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Scream 2 1997

Director Wes Craven

Stars Neve Campbell - Courteney Cox - David Arquette

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Scream 3 2000

Director Wes Craven

Stars Neve Campbell - Courteney Cox - David Arquette

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Scream 4 2011

Director Wes Craven

Stars Neve Campbell - Courteney Cox - David Arquette

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I Know What You Did Last Summer 1997

Director Jim Gillespie

Stars Jennifer Love Hewitt - Sarah Michelle Gellar - Anne Heche

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I Still Know What You Did Last Summer 1998

Director Danny Cannon

Stars Jennifer Love Hewitt - Freddie Prinze Jr - Brandy Norwood

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Halloween 1978

Director John Carpenter

Stars Donald Pleasence - Jamie Lee Curtis - Tony Moran

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Halloween II 1981

Director John Carpenter

Stars Jamie Lee Curtis - Donald Pleasence - Charles Cyphers

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Halloween 2007

Director Rob Zombie

Stars Scout Taylor Compton - Malcolm McDowell - Tyler Mane

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Halloween II 2009

Director Rob Zombie

Stars Scout Taylor Compton - Malcolm McDowell - Tyler Mane

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A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984

Director Wes Craven

Stars Johnny Depp - Heather Langenkamp - Robert Englund

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A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge 1985

Director Jack Sholder

Stars Robert Englund - Kim Myers - Mark Patton

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A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors 1987

Director Chuck Russell

Stars Robert Englund - Heather Langenkamp - Craig Wasson

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A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child 1989

Director Stephen Hopkins

Stars Robert Englund - Kelly Jo Minter - Lisa Wilcox

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A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010

Director Samuel Bayer

Stars Jackie Earle Haley - Kyle Gallner - Rooney Mara

Silent Hill Revelation Review

Silent Hill Revelation Review, Heathers father Christopher disappears, shortly after disturbing events begin to happen.

Director Michael J. Bassett

Writer Michael J. Bassett

Cast

Adelaide Clemens, Heather Mason
Sean Bean, Christopher Da Silva
Malcolm McDowell, Leonard Wolf
Radha Mitchell, Rose Da Silva
Deborah Kara Unger, Dahlia Gillespie
Kit Harington, Vincent
Carrie-Anne Moss, Claudia Wolf

Davis Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

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Heather and her father are on the run from dark forces, suddenly her father Christopher goes missing. Shortly after his disappearance strange things start to happen. Heather starts being transported to a dark new world, she also begins to discover the truth about herself.

It has been along time coming, a sequel to Silent Hill was planned years ago but director Christophe Gans pulled out preferring to work on other projects. Now we have a new Director and lead Writer, Silent Hill Revelation is scheduled for a release on the 26th October (US) - 31st of October (UK).

Silent Hill Revelation starts off well enough, Heather Mason is a likeable character with a disturbing past, unfortunately she is the only memorable character from the movie. Sean Bean has a relatively small part so there is not much influence from him. At times the dialog is a little poor with forgettable lines. The whole story feels weak and it feels rushed. There are things happening in this movie which just do not make much sense, with some scenes feeling out of place. Revelation has less than half the budget of the first Silent Hill movie which is probably partly responsible for many of these faults.

At times there are some good tension building scenes going on, and a few shock scares that are nicely executed. Despite the smaller budget Silent Hill Revelation has some nice visuals and effects which equal the first Silent Hill.

Overall Revelation is an unimpressive sequel. It has a similar look and feel to the first movie which is a plus, however almost everything else is disappointing.

6 out of 10