Horrorphile's BLOODY BEST of 2007
January 17th 2008 23:25
I’ve decided I should narrow the top bunch down to horror horrors, excluding a few of those movies that I’ve reviewed that wouldn’t be described as horrors per se by the majority, but which I’ve labeled either a post-modern horror or a kind of horror hybrid.
There are others I’m gonna have to disallow too, despite them rocking my world. Three films I saw in the Sydney Film Festival didn't recieve a theatrical release; the searing and blistering, lurid and macabre, surreal black comedies that were Taxidermia, Ex Drummer and Teeth. Again the first two are more scathing social satires than strict horror, and the third is more of a nightmarish coming-of-age flick, but hell, they barked and bit like horror movies, that’s fer sure! Good news is Siren Visual have released Taxidermia on DVD, with Ex Drummer coming soon, and fingers crossed, Teeth also.
Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof was more unabashed exploitation than horror, and unfortunately Australasians were denied the pleasure of Robert Rodriguez’s zombie onslaught Planet Terror on the big screen (let alone the original Grindhouse experience, although I’m checking that out next week so stay tuned …)
And then there’s David Lynch’s Inland Empire. I saw that at the Sydney Film festival also, but like Taxidermia, it was first screened overseas in 2006, and so can’t really be included.
So, what does that leave us with?
1. Rogue
Talented Aussie Greg McLean, whose debut Wolf Creek slapped a few people in the face, delivered a sensational follow-up in the form of a massive croc terrorising a bunch of tourists in the northern territory. Jaws in the Outback came the cry. It featured solid acting, stunning scenery, and awesome special effects and editing.
This re-vamped undead flick seems to have polarised audiences, but personally I think it’s one of the best in years, and I’m not just saying that ‘cos my dad’s in it (not that he lasts very long). Based on a graphic novel, and yes, as the last third kicks in it gets very graphic! Basic premise executed with style and verve to die for. And those vampires were genuinely frightening.
3. 28 Weeks Later
I’m not much of a sequel guy, but this continuation from 28 Days Later is a superior movie. It’s a more relentless and terrifying experience, fusing Zack Snyder’s remake of Dawn of the Dead with Resident Evil and coming up trumps, and it delivered much more on the plate for the hardcore horror fans.
4. Hostel: Part II
Like I said, I generally don’t dig sequels, but Eli Roth’s second part surprised the hell out of me. I loathed the first movie, it really annoyed me and I found the mood and special effects unconvincing. Part II captured more of a creepy Euro-style and shifted the tone into a more surreal realm, plus the specials were alot more special. This torture porn pisses all over the Saw series.
I’m a Kiwi, I gotta love this. Channeling the low-budget ingenuity and splatstick (not really my cup of tea, but hey) of fellow Wellingtonian Peter Jackson, director Jonathan King throws caution to the wind and gets down and dirty on the farm, embracing the butt of New Zealand jokes abroad (ie sheep) with bloody gusto. It had to be done. Actually this movie was first released in NZ in 2006, but fuck it, I’m holdin’ the hoof high.
As for the worst, the less said the better. The prequel Hannibal Rising was bitterly disappointing, the sequel Wrong Turn 2: Dead End was even more so, despite word on the street. I found The Host tedious and entirely over-rated, despite the massive hype. And then two remakes that failed miserably; The Hitcher and Halloween. Why did they bother? They ruined any mystique and inherent malevolence that exudes so effortlessly from the originals. And Saw ad nauseum? Like I mentioned, the less said about these pieces of crap the better.
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Slow year for the genre, lots of remakes and sequels...I'm surprised I didn't see more foreign ones. Over the last few years its usually the Spanish and Japanese who deliver the goods.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Anonymous
Just to clarify one point, we released Taxidermia on DVD in August last year. The product page is Your here.
As for Ex Drummer, that's coming out on DVD in March. You can pre-order it here.
There's still hope for Teeth getting a local release. It's opening in the US soon. Though I imagine it will go straight to DVD in Australia. Shame, I loved that film.
Comment by sirenvisual
Comment by Damo
Yet we rarely agree on what is a good horror flick.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
my apologies for not researching fully. That's great news, although a theatrical first would've been even better! And Ex Drummer too! Excellent! I'll be purchasing those too!! Have you seen either of them? I'll keep my eyes peeled for Teeth too ... Will Ex Drummer have any extras?
Cheers for registering, see you again some time!
Comment by sirenvisual
I have seen both Taxidermia and Ex Drummer many times over. Wonderful films. Superb cinematography in both. They blew me away.
Ex Drummer will have a selection of extras which are being finalised at the moment.
LT
Comment by sirenvisual
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Damo
Have you ever tried to tell a teenager what they do not know?
Good luck trying to get a response.
That is the true horror.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Gotta see Rogue too. I missed so many movies this year! All my movie watching time is taken up with movie blogging now! It's a catch 22. And a half. Lol.
Great post.
Michaelie
Comment by Wayne F
Bucket Movies
Bucket Snipets
Death Proof was terrible. I am a big Quintin fan but that movie really sucked. I thought Planet Terror was a good remake of an old school zombie movie.
I watched the Halloween remake and it was bloody awesome. I'm a fan of horror myself and I think the remake done the original a lot of justice. It was really good getting an inside view of Mike Myers' childhood before his adult-hood killing spree began.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Wayne, chances are if you loved the remake of Halloween, then you'll hate 30 Days of Night ... That you loved Rob Zombie's ill-conceived remake, and for the reasons why, makes me shake my head I'm afraid ... You're a Y Gen, right? By depicting Myers mental institution experience the whole "boogeyman" element is destroyed, which is what made the original so brilliant. In Carpenter's original Myers is more just The Shape, an almost supernatural presence, which adds an integral atmosphere of creeping dread. We see one shot of him as a young boy, that's all. When Myers escapes and steals the car and the police ask how on earth he knew how to drive, and Loomis simply states he was doing a fine job of it, it's implausible, yet it works. You believe because of the sustained mystery already in place.
Zombie's whole dysfunctional family was all too familiar and predictable.
I'm curious, you say you're a horror fan, and I understand you prefer horror movies that are more suggestive, based on a post of yours I read, so its curious you should like the remake so much, as it doesn't suggest much at all, it hammers everything home.
I might sound a tad protective here, but the original Halloween is one of my top two all time favourite horror films, and in my opinion (and, yup, it is just an opinion) Rob Zombie dropped the ball completely.
Armenta, I'm wid ya. And a curious question as to how impressed you'd be seeing the remakes having not seen the originals ... I imagine there'd be quite a few in that camp. The Hitcher remake was just too gung-ho, and the Halloween remake was just simply not convincing.
Comment by Wayne F
Bucket Movies
Bucket Snipets
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I thought Malcolm McDowell was a bad decision being cast as Loomis. I didn't think the kid actor was good enough either. And I felt no real menace from the actor playing Michael ... and way too tall too. Sure, he's meant to be imposing, but Zombie went over the top. He's always over the top.
But hey, each to their own ....
So what are your favourite horror movies then?
Comment by Wayne F
Bucket Movies
Bucket Snipets
"No tears please, it is a waste of good suffering!"
I also love the old school Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. The Psycho (original) movie is also another favourite. The Dawn of the Dead series were awesome and I think the remake was pretty awesome. It could have been a bit darker I think it was probably up there with one of the best zombie movies. the 1st Halloween movie was good as was the first Friday the 13th movie.
Dracula 2000 was one of my favourite vampire movies as it stayed very true to the vampire mythology (like powerful vampires having the ability to summon dark clouds to block out the sun is completely forgotten in today's movies).
I agree with using CGI instead of going old school with the effects. I'm pretty sure the director of the Dawn of the Dead remake used the old school effects and his zombies were so damn real it was freaky. Since you hate that CGI crap I'll take it you hated the "zombies" in I Am Legend, or you probably will if you haven't seen it. They are completely too unreal.
I can understand why you were so defensive which I am cool with. As an old school fan of Halloween you were disappointed. I'm probably not as much of a hardcore fan of Halloween but I did enjoy the remake though I agree the original was better. I think Rob Zombie could have developed his own horror character had this movie not been a remake. I think the build up and the development of Mike Myers was well done however if it were a new character I think it would have lead to better things. Of course he would have to had changed the storyline, title etc. for it to work.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I love Hellbound, a friend and I sometimes quote it ...
A remake of Hellraiser is happening ... oh dear.
I love the Dawn of the Dead remake also, a rare example where I think the remake actually improves upon the original ...
I've not seen Dracula 2000, I'll check it out ... It looked dodgy, I must admit ...
I haven't seen I am Legend yet, I love the novel, and am very reticent about what the movie will do with the book.