(Not So) Weekly Review #17: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Greetings, boys and ghouls!

     Optiluiz here for a special Halloween review! Today's film really takes me back, and though it's not particularly "October-ish" like most movies I usually review on Halloween, I still think this is a great addition to whatever seasonal marathons you maybe be planning for the creepiest month of the year! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, today we shall be reviewing our blog's Lord and Savior, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE!
     The first time I got a hold of this film was half a decade ago, as a Christmas present for myself, and I still wish that I could travel back in time and give Past-Optiluiz a hug for it. Tobe Hooper's slasher-masterpiece, originally released in 1974, is by all means my favourite horror film, and I'll try to convey my feelings for it into somewhat-digestible words. On the surface, it's basically just a film about some friends on a road-trip through Texas meeting a deranged cannibalistic family and becoming their next meal. The innards of the movie, however, are much more than that.
     During my initial viewing of TCM, I was conflicted. Although I couldn't take my eyes off the screen (due to masterful direction and incredible photography even when faced with a hideously small budget), the entire experience was so intense that it had me wanting to turn off the DVD and continue another time. This is a true horror film, not just a "scary movie", as some call it. At times it can truly be unpleasant to watch, but to those strong enough to soldier on towards the end credits, it is totally worth it. Once I finished watching for the first time, I actually couldn't decide on whether or not I even liked the film. However, the haunting imagery and visceral themes stayed with me indefinitely, and I eventually decided on loving the film to death.
     Technically, this was the perfect example of how low budget isn't an excuse for shoddy film-making. The sub-par film stock was used to make the screen look genuinely hot, adding to the overall effectiveness of the story-telling  (you will need a glass of water by the end of the movie), and the simple locations and camerawork were real and dirty enough to make the atmosphere truly terrifying. Even the actors did their part well, with a huge part of the film's tension depending on Marilyn Burns' reactions to the horror around her. Leatherface, however, was my favourite (and probably most horror buffs') part of TCM, and I still dream of cosplaying as him on Halloween night in the distant future.
     I think that any further description of the film would be doing the reader a disservice, for this is one experience you should go into knowing as little about as possible. Tobe Hooper has said that this is a just film about meat, while critics argue over its discussion of modern American family values. I, however, think that this is a landmark in horror, that should be experienced by all who aren't squeamish enough to give up before the ordeal's through. 10/10 for me.
     That's all I'll say about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre today, but I encourage our braver readers to check out the sequels as well, which, despite their vastly inferior quality, are quite fun. In any case, I hope you all have lots of fun with candy, movie marathons and general creepy goodness this week! I'll leave you with the trailer to the TCM restoration that came out recently, and which I will someday own.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out...

(Not so) Weekly Review #16: Grave Encounters (2011)

Greetings,

     Optiluiz here once more for another edition of our (not so) weekly movie reviews. Well, let's get to it, then. Today I shall review Grave Encounters, yet another found-footage movie. It's directed by the Vicious brothers and stars... people you've never heard of before. And that's a good thing. It's basically an edit of footage taken by a reality television show searching for paranormal activity in an abandoned insane asylum... or is it?
    I actually do love found-footage films when they're done properly, though so few of them are. I'll probably talk more about this in future posts, but for now you should just know that I think Blair Witch Project is still the only film to fully utilize the concept in a good way.
     In any case, Grave Encounters starts out like any ghost-hunting show. People trying hard to make a seemingly abandoned place seem creepy and off-putting. It's all intentional, and the humor really contrasts with the horrible events to come, but in a good way. The characters are genuinely interesting, so this first half-hour isn't boring or lackluster. Things quickly start to pick up once- Well, I guess I shouldn't spoilt it for you. Let's just say that you owe it to yourself to watch this one to the end.
     Technically, the film really does look like a reality TV show. At least in the beginning. Eventually, however, once things start to go really bad, the filming gets more chaotic and movements become more erratic. The overall atmosphere is impeccably creepy. Stories of the dead patients and Lovecraftian writings on the walls really help to keep you on the edge of your seat during the entire feature. I'll admit that a few found footage clichés find their way into the film, but it's mostly some overused camera angles and some reactions. One thing is for sure, this movie is more The Shining than it is The Blair Witch Project (Though not in terms of quality).
     Alas, as I've repeatedly said before, nothing is truly perfect. Some digital effects look very amateur-ish, and some of the acting is quite stilted. The ending is predictable, but this is a found-footage film, so by this point, that's a given. What really makes it worthwhile is the despair that kicks in after certain events. The actors really conveyed a sense of terror that (ironically) is absent in many horror movies these days. Grave Encounters is a scary film, with great atmosphere working alongside jump scares and unexplainable phenomena. All accomplished with little to no gore.
     Overall, I give Grave Encounters a solid 7.5/10. It may not be a classic, but the memorable chills and intriguing story more than make up for the film's flaws. I highly recommend it. It's not that easy to find, but if you do happen to stumble upon it, watch it. That concludes today's movie review. I hope it's been of use to you, and don't forget to check back for more soon. For now, here's the trailer for Grave Encounters.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out...

PS: I'll eventually post a review about the sequel, which I also enjoyed.

(Not so) Weekly Movie Review #15: Insidious (2010)

Greetings,

     Optiluiz here again for another movie review. Today's movie is Insidious, as suggested by our reader Amy. Insidious is directed by James Wan, the creator of the Saw franchise, collaborating with Oren Peli, the creator of the Paranormal Activity franchise. 'Tis a so-called independent horror film about... Well, Poltergeist on steroids, basically.
     Haunted house films are all very similar. Especially ones dealing with families. With tropes such as the skeptic dad, the psychic with pages of expositional dialogue and the kid that communicates with supernatural forces, it's easy to see that this is a very innovative genre (Sarcasm, ha-ha!). Insidious promises to be different, boldly claiming that it's not the house that's haunted! That kid must be the hell-spawn of Satan himself right? Could this be the breath of fresh air that horror films desperately need? In short, yes and no. Mostly no.
     The film does innovate in some aspects, such as the, rarely explored in film, astral projection phenomena, and some truly insidious creature designs (See what I did there? Ha-ha!) The general atmosphere is ultimately very unsettling, with production value not at all hinting at this being an independent film. However, bits of mediocre story-telling and an almost unsatisfying climax come close to ruining the experience. I still found it to be better than Saw, though.
     The acting is great for a horror film, though the character arcs are predictable. The special effects department definitely deserves a pat on the back for the great work with creature and set designs. The reptilian-spider-monkey-demon-thing was pretty much constructed purely out of nightmare fuel. This is a scary film, no doubt. That's a trait that, oddly enough, many horror films lack these days, though it doesn't always guarantee quality.
     If you think of the film more as a thrilling theme park ride than a visual story, it succeeds in everything it sought out to do. It scares and shocks you, leaving you a bit dazed by the end. In general narrative terms however, it feels lacking. With some more polish, specially in the third act, it could have been a genre classic. As it stands, it's still good, but not as much as it should have been. Overall, 7.5/10.
     That concludes today's review. Thanks for the suggestion, Amy. I hope you've enjoyed reading, and stay tuned for our next review of... Grave Encounters! I'll post it soon. For now, I leave you with the trailer for Insidious.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out...

PS: So many 7.5s in a row... Could it be a mere coincidence? Actually, yes.

PPS: I actually do love most of James Wan's work, just not the Saw franchise.

(Not so) Weekly Movie Review #14: Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D (1999/2012)

Greetings,

     Optiluiz here once more for our (not so) weekly movie review. It's no secret that I love Star Wars. George Lucas may tinker too much with the saga, but I enjoy all the films in some way. However, I've always regretted not being able to see any of the them in theaters. I finally had the chance today. The Phantom Menace, written and directed by George Lucas and originally released in 1999, is the first film in a trilogy of prequels to the original Star Wars trilogy. Now, in 2012, it's being re-released in 3D.
     I've seen all of the Star Wars films, and The Phantom Menace is, by far, not the worst of them. George Lucas is a real visionary, but sometimes the human themes behind the story get lost amongst the stilted acting and over-used visual effects. There is an underlying theme of demystification of the Star Wars universe throughout the film, with thorough explanations of political themes and even the biological nature of The Force that were only hinted at in the original trilogy. This kind of exposition ends up only hurting the film, though it is clearly meant to attract a different, more modern, kind of audience.
     At the same time, the first film of the new trilogy doesn't show the same elegant manner of story-telling which, in the original films, reached out to kids, adults and everyone in between. It all seems a bit childish, to say the least. Not that the original films were hard-boiled, gritty tales of war, but a little subtlety goes a long way. Even so, I can understand what Lucas intended here. The prequels were never meant to only please fans of the original films, but to make new ones with a younger generation. With that in mind, I believe this film was a success.
     There have been many in-depth reviews of Episode 1, and I guess there's only so much the internet can say about it. Sure, there is no true protagonist in the story, sure, the slapstick humor gets old really fast, and sure, the pacing is off coupled with a tone vastly different from the older films. But it works. Not as well as it should, but it does, in its own way. It's not the horrible movie many hardcore fans make it out to be. It doesn't make the older films any worse either. It just exists in its own little bubble of the Star Wars universe, despite me joking about how bad it was in previous posts.
     The Phantom Menace also has its merits, with a really great villain and a really cool climactic battle. John Williams is as brilliant as ever, sometimes bringing life to what might otherwise have been just CG cut-scenes in some sci-fi video game. Liam Neeson was great, and there were actually some deep themes surrounding the story. The 3D was the best post-converted kind I've ever seen, although, sadly, that doesn't say much. If you've never seen Star Wars in theaters, or haven't seen The Phantom Menace in a really long time, give this one a go. Bring your kids too, if you have 'em. It'll be worth it in the end. Overall, 7.5/10.
     That concludes today's movie review. The original trilogy is still miles better, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the prequels. I hope you liked this review, and keep an eye out for my future reviews of both Insidious and Grave Encounters. One of these I loved, the other I thought was pretty lackluster. Guess which is which. I leave you with the best scene of the film. This made me forget most of the film's faults. Duel Of The Fates indeed.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out...

PS: People still cheer when Darth Maul appears for the final battle.

PPS: Making Anakin the same age as Padmé would have fixed 60% of this film's problems.

PPPS: Jar-Jar was less annoying than Anakin, but this film sucked less than Attack Of The Clones as a whole.

PPPPS: A New Hope is the only perfect film in the Franchise. Yeah, I said it!

(Not So) Weekly Movie Review #13: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

Merry Christmas, Epic Clubbers!

     Optiluiz here once more for our (Not So) weekly movie review. So, what movie would be better to review this holiday season than the Finnish horror/comedy/fantasy/yuletide film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, directed by Jalmari Helander. It chronicles the adventures of a boy and his father, having discovered what may be the real life Santa Claus, and he isn't as nice as we think.
     Christmas movies come in all shapes and sizes, but this is a very peculiar one. An evil Santa Clause may not be unheard of, but what really makes this movie good, with lots of original fun is the tone; at times horror, at times a family film. In theory, this would make it very inconsistent, but somehow, it works, making it a unique story told in a unique way.
     Child actors can easily ruin films, but every now and then, there is one that has a real vocation for acting, and actually makes the film better. Such is the case with Onni Tommila, playing a lonely, but brave child caught in the middle of things. The acting in general in this film is fine, but Onni really stands out. However, it must be noted that I don't speak Finnish so I can't judge the acting as accurately as something in english or portuguese.
     In any case, no film is perfect. The script gets pretty hammy at times, especially towards the end. Something about it just doesn't click with the rest of the movie, and not just tone-wise. However, it's easy to overlook these details because, at heart, it's a fun little family film which might give your naughty kids some well-deserved nightmares on Christmas Eve. It's a queer little movie, but a nice one at that. Overall, I give it an 8/10. It could have been better, but then again, most movies could.
     That concludes today's Christmas movie review. There will be more special christmas reviews this week, so stay tuned. Also, prepare for a special Christmas banner as well. I leave you with a trailer for Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

Chainsaw cheers,

-Optiluiz out...