Oculus - 2014

Oculus - 2014 - Mike Flanagan

Most mainstream Hollywood horror movies rarely get it right with regards to the level of story they’re trying convey or written for the screen. I've seen too many horror films that try to squeeze in way too much in a 90 minute movie. Oculus is the exception to that opinion.

Tim (Brenton Thwaites) is being released from a mental institution due to a childhood trauma he suffered many years earlier; he's met outside by his sister Kaylie (Karen Gillan) who has been preparing all her adult life for a showdown with the mirror.





Kaylie has gone to the extreme to prepare her and Tim's attempt in destroying the mirror forever.  She has an entire lab setup in the house with cameras, timers and a failsafe object set to destroy the mirror in the event neither of them is available to reset the trap once every hour.  The mirror has the ability to make anyone within a certain distance of it to hallucinate.  So all the while Tim and Kaylie can't be sure what they’re seeing or much less doing is reality.

The directors ability to keep us on track throughout the story as the characters are re-living childhood events while they are experiencing them again in the present was a pleasure to watch unfold.  This could have easily turned out messy but Mike Flanagan does a masterful job of keeping the story organized.  It would have been easy to derail the train if they weren't cautious

I really enjoyed the intersection between what the children were experiencing and what they are seeing as adults in the same location. It’s very difficult to put into words how the story flows from childhood and back to what the adults are experiencing, I have to admit I’ve never watched anything quite like it.

If you’re tired of the same old blood bath and want to enjoy a fresh new suspense filled movie Oculus will not disappoint.

The Sacrament - 2013

The Sacrament - 2013 - Ti West

If you're a fan of Ti West's films House of the Devil, The Innkeepers and Cabin Fever 2 you won't be disappointed with The Sacrament even though technically it doesn't fall into the Horror genre.  Without a doubt the single reason I loved this movie is because of the captivating acting of Gene Jones who plays The Father.

Three junior news reporters Jake (Joe Swanberg) Sam (AJ Bowen) and Patrick (Kentucker Audley) document their journey to locate Patrick's sister Caroline (Amy Seimetz) who has joined a religious cult called Eden Parish located in a remote area of the jungle.  Once they arrive and realize she is safe they make an effort to investigate what the cult is all about.  All of the residents claim they are in paradise and have graciously endowed their faith in the mysterious leader known only as "The Father" played by Gene Jones.  His presence when on on screen is nothing short of mesmerizing.  He captures the profound believability of a cult leader who will do anything for his followers.




The first half of the film builds a tense foundation to the story in a way that indicates that something just isn't right at Eden Parish. While the reporters continue to dig deeper they're approached by some of the followers that want to leave with them.  This sets off a chain reaction which leads to The Father willing his follows to commit mass suicide.  The 2nd part of the film follows the parish members as some of them willingly "Drink the kool-aid" and those that refuse.  While this atrocity unfolds the reporters are taken prisoner and eventually try to escape while the armed guards of the compound ensure that all the followers die.

The Sacrament does fall into the found footage genre but very easily could have been a standard film.  Most found footage movies leave much to be desired with regards to the overall story being told but The Sacrament nails it. It's basically the story of the Jonestown Massacre, so if you are familiar with that event you will know what to expect.

All Cheerleaders Die - 2013

All Cheerleaders Die - 2013 - Directors -Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson
 

At first glance All Cheerleaders Die looks like the  "A"  typical horror comedy, "You know the type" where the jocks and their cheerleader girlfriends are hated by the socially introverted goth chick and her weird friend that have been wronged somehow.

Think Jennifer's Body meets The Craft and Mean Girls.
 
After the death of her childhood best friend Alexis; Maddy (Caitlin Stasey) is angered when Alexis's boyfriend Terry (Tom Williamson) who is the leader of the football team starts to immediately date the next cheerleader on the squad Tracy (Brooke Butler).  Maddy now wants to join the cheerleaders so she can seek revenge against them.  She starts to make them feel that the other is cheating while seducing Tracy herself.  Things go from typical high school drama to down right crazy when all of the cheerleaders die in a car crash (hence All Cheerleaders Die).  Maddy's ex-girlfriend is so overcome by all of their deaths that she invokes a Pagan ritual to bring them all back from the dead.  Now that they're back from the dead they realize they have a thirst for human blood.




Fortunately All Cheerleaders Die has a great twist halfway through otherwise I would have really struggled to find a reason to recommend it. One of my biggest problems is the pacing of the film.  It continually goes off and on track throughout the first half of the film while not allowing to find a character to like or even relate too.  There is a fair amount of gore while the cheerleaders understand they need to feed on human blood, this comes with some decent laughs.

If you're looking for a scarfest you'll have to look elsewhere but if you like whiny MTV dramas with some blood sprinkled in, then your in luck.

mmmm. Tastes like chicken

Do I have anything on my face??

The Loved Ones - 2009

The Loved Ones - 2009 - Director - Sean Byrne


Ugly duckling is snubbed and gets revenge.  That's the basic story behind the 2009 indie horror film The Loved Ones.  It's easy to classify this as another Australian torture porn film much like the Wolf Creek movies, but The Loved Ones stands out mostly because of the great pairing of Robin McLeavy and John Brumpton who play the "not pretty enough" daughter and the father with lots of daddy daughter issues. 

Xavier Samuel plays Bret who in the beginning of the movie has a car accident that kills his father.  Brett is never the same again and neither is his alcoholic mother since his fathers death.  He slips into an angry marijuana induced heavy metal rebellious teen mood; that doesn't phase his high school sweetheart who appears ready to save him from the path of self destruction.

Its the last dance of the school year and Brett is  going with Holly (Victoria Thaine) but when the "Ugly Duckling" Lola asks Bret to go with her; he tries to let her down easy by saying he already has a date.  This flips the switch in Lola and we can see she's already plotting her revenge.  Her Daddy played by John Brumpton drugs Brett and takes him back their house.  Brett wakes up tied to a chair and Lola is in her prom dress along with a disco ball hanging in the dining room.  This is Lola's prom and she always gets what she wants...

The Loved Ones has its moments of gore and squirm, especially when daddy is teaching his little princess how to lobotomize their new victim.  If you like the sub genre "torture porn" films like Hostel and Wolf Creek then The Loved Ones should be on your radar.  It has all of the typical torture "love me or I'll chop this off" stuff but its done in a fresh new way that a lot of this sub genre seems to miss.

"'It's just a flesh wound!"

13 Sins - 2014

 13 Sins - 2014 - Director - Daniel Stamm

So.. 13 Sins which is a remake of a 2006 horromedy called 13 Beloved stars Mark Webber as Elliot Brindle a down on his luck salesman / soon to be father who is in desperate need of cash.  To make things a bit more stressful; Elliot's developmentally disabled brother will be forced back to a mental institution and his racist father will be moving in with him.  So needless to say he has alot going on, thats when the phone call comes offering him $1000 if he'll kill and eat a fly.  Yep. "a fly".
Now he's given an option to continue with 12 more challenges that will mean more money deposited directly into his bank account. Each of the following challenges become morally difficult and dangerous with a reward in the millions.

No!! I'm a RIGHTY!!





 
If you liked Would you Rather or Cheap Thrills then you'll like 13 Sins the premise is the same, someone is offered endless amounts of money if they're willing to do some disturbing tasks. There's something about a situation where money is no object if your willing to do anything for it.  We as a society have the all mighty dollar at our focal point throughout our lives, and the idea of completing mundane to horrific tasks to make money can be entertaining. 

13 Sins is an efficient thriller with some good laughs thrown in. Daniel Stamm does a good job keeping us on track following Elliot as he jumps through his hoops.

This isn't the $64,000 question.

Nothing a few Advil couldn't fix.

Hatchet 3 - 2013

Hatchet 3 - 2013  -Director - BJ McDonnell

 So I haven't really been a huge fan of this series for some reason.  I think because the film makers are going for their own version of a campy Friday the 13th knock off that doesn't always work for me.  But for some reason this episode in the series is a lot of fun.  It has some pretty juicy moments for those that like the splatter.  

Victor Crowley is alive and well and still living in the swamp, although after Marybeth (Danielle Harris) turned his head into a pile of goo in the last movie I'm not so sure how.  Who cares lets kill some town deputies!
After turning herself into the authorities Marybeth is locked up in the town jail for MURDER. Eventually with the help from Caroline Harris (Amanda) who is no stranger to slasher flicks (Halloween 2 2009) and Sid Haig who steals the show as a racist crazy they head back to the swamp to finish off ole' Vic.





The pacing in this film is perfect, no slow points trying to explain the unexplainable.  Its also not short on splatter.  If your in need of a good horror fix you could do a lot worse.

 Sid Haig!!!

 

Ouch!!
That's gonna leave a mark

Martyrs - 2008

Martyrs - 2008 - Director - Pascal Laugie

Martyrs is easily one of the most disturbing horror movies I have ever watched.  Lets just say its not for the faint of heart or those with weak stomaches.  
Lucie (Myle`ne Jampanoi) and Anna (Morjana Alaoui) have both suffered a horrifying abduction and escaped and are now seeking revenge upon their captors.  Lucie hallucinates continuously while attempting to hunt down the ones who tortured her.  Afterwards Anna soon begins to face the same visions and torment that Lucie had and eventually uncovers a much larger group that has a very specific plan for her.

This film will keep you on the edge of your seat and will disgust you throughout.  The fun part is that you will never know what direction it's going. There are many turns that will ultimately shock you in the end. 

The acting is totally top notch and some of the best I've seen in an indie horror film.  If your a fan of foreign horror and like to think a little while watching; check it out.

Martyrs is a French subtitled film so for those that don’t like to read while watching a movie (Kevin) this may not be for you.  This movie is easily in my personal top 10 and is available in NETFLIX.