I decided to divide the October Challenge entries up by week (and post one entry for each week) so you don’t have to come back, forget where you left off, and pretend to not notice I made changes to some entries. Okay, you'll still have to do that if I'm updating this semi-regularly, but you will have less to wade through. As an aside, I could really go for a steak right now.
October 8th
13. Cherry Falls (2000)
The weird family situations and reversal of every parent’s fear made this good as a dark comedy. The slasher genre gets turned upside down when this killer is hunting virgins, so naturally every parent wants their child to lose it. Underage orgies were the least of the odd when you look at the creepy closeness shared by the mom and daughter. And this is coming from someone raised with northern European roots, so be warned and not ashamed when you have to shower afterward.
14. Hidden 3D (2011)
There was no shortage of direct to DVD horror in 2011 and films like this explain why. Typical, nothing special, and… CGI… ugly, horrible CGI. However, if you go into this expecting to see Cousin Larry from that show Perfect Strangers, you’re in for at least half a treat. Had Bronson Pinchot been cast to star, alongside the Mark Linn-Baker lookalike, I’d have been impressed.
October 9th
15. Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic (2010)
I had this for about three years and finally decided to watch it, since it was on Netflix. Most people didn’t care for it, I assume because it’s based off a game and not a successful one at that. But with a circus of animators, writers and directors, there’s a bit of something for everyone and I thought the overall film had great cohesion for such an undertaking. It felt like an animated 300, minus the homo-erotic elements and excess screaming of every male voice, or maybe an extended Spawn cartoon, minus a stoned anti-hero. I enjoyed it and it’s certainly cool to see hell in all its graphic glory.
16. Sam’s Lake (2006)
Typical urban legend story, mixed with a little incest, and perhaps a killer who’s not as guilty as one might think. If there is one thing you cannot trust, it’s a ginger that battled Pipi Longstocking in the past. Fay Masterson and lady friends perform well doing women justice in this film. You won’t get boobs and screams here and you won’t even get the new dumb male cohorts we see on television. Instead, it’s a straightforward story with enough twists to keep you entertained. Not a perfect film, but take note of a few scenes that purposely avoid the shocking, last minute, clichés. If you like smarter women, this is a decent watch.
17. The Woman in Black (2012)
A lot of people hated this one. And they can go on and hate it for their various reasons. Most cried because it had the chills instead of thrills (that they always complain about anyway.) Others thought the previous television adaption, play, novel, Chick tract, etc. was far better, but I had no clue any of them existed until after seeing this, so I was lucky enough to approach this unbiased. First, I’d like to say that I never once thought of Harry Potter while watching this and that says a lot about an actor who has played him 37 times. Second, the story was just enough traditional and classical, and didn’t feel like it was trying to go against the modern expectations. Third, I really enjoyed it, even the ending, and felt like it was a true ghost story, one that comes alive and devours all of those who gave it scathing reviews. Die.
October 10th
18. Cravings (2006)
Some films hold together really well, until completely screwing it all up with a "shock" ending that has been done before, but with this type of story, doesn't make any sense. That being said, the first 95% of this film is really good, moving slow enough for you to explore the characters and get a taste for what they're doing, but not so fast that it's done and over with and makes you feel like the ending is crap. Sorry. The one weird thing about this was the competition between mother and daughter for the male lead. The film was originally titled Daddy's Girl, and I think it was switched to make it less of a jailbait film. I could be wrong.
October 11th
19. Jug Face (2013)
I think this one takes the lead for best film so far. Echoing back to the old days when gods seemed to abandon their worshipers and a new, more improved one, took up residence, Jug Face is about a rural community that revolves around a supernatural pit, it’s prophet a jug maker that reveals it’s desires. Should a face of someone appear, then they must be sacrificed to it in order to keep its healing powers going. But when the pit is lied to and betrayed, it’s vengeance knows no bounds, and the community is turned upside down, waiting for order to be restored. There are many levels to this: incest, social expectations, poverty, hell, the list goes on. Since I just ramble and offer a few thoughts instead of reviewing, I can only recommend you watch this if you have to pick one from any of my films so far.
20. The Woman (2011)
I’ve always seen Jack Ketchum’s screen work as more of shock for shock’s sake, but with this one, I felt the balance he really needed to deliver the macabre worked, probably thanks to Lucky McGee. You know right away that the creepy father’s plans to help the feral woman in the woods hide other intentions, and the emo-depressed daughter is a sure sign that depravity is lurking somewhere. However, I felt the overall message here was about female survival, and more importantly, rising to the occasion, standing up, enduring what you have to for the end result, and that’s exactly what the Woman does. Of note, two cast members from Jug Face star here as well.
October 12th
21. The Road (2011)
No, not the one with the guy from Lord of the Rings. A cop is given a medal that his boss doesn’t think he deserves and tells him to earn it by solving a disappearance. This Philippine ghost story is told in three stories, each jumping back ten years (2008, 1998, 1988), and acts almost like an anthology, only, well, it’s not and it’s about the same characters. I can’t think of another film off the top of my head that shows you the ghosts, and then shows you the origin stories, backward. While it doesn’t read like literature, it’s still very enjoyable and had a several scenes that freaked me out. Additionally, if you like murdering young women, this film is certainly for you.
October 13th
22. American Mary (2012)
The storytelling in this was messy and the pacing in the final act messier. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, but there really wasn't much of a rise to power for the lead. She's raped and then becomes this ruthless and sadistic bitch in five minutes. I get it was revenge, and that deep down she's always been this way, but people don't turn into Mengele over night. If you're anywhere near the body mod community (yeah, you lightweights who think your tatts and piercings are something) you should enjoy it.
October 14th
23. The Burrowers (2008)
October 14th
23. The Burrowers (2008)
It was Columbus Day and hundreds of years ago my forefathers were slaughtering my forefathers. I sided with the slaughtered. The Burrowers brings forth a weird western horror film about the gross mistreatment of native peoples by the United States and the consequences of putting an end to native life. Proud to be American, but not proud of how we came to be. We killed a lot of Burrowers to get here. This movies was one of my faves and I recommend it (as well as the prequel, Blood Red Earth, on Fearnet.)