Hostel 2 is better than Hostel?

I hated Hostel with a passion. It's not that I didn't like the nude women or some of the gore, it's just that the whole movie was so ludicrous and stupid that I couldn't fully appreciate the "beauty" of the film. Some critics liked Hostel because it was a "smart satire of American culture" or what not, but I thought that was a load of B.S. Hostel was a cheesy horror movie trying to capitalize on the trend known as torture porn. Nothing more.

And in reality, the gore was a bit goofy at times (the eyeball hanging out of the girl's head looked extremely fake) and, more importantly, the plot was so bad it made most horror movies look like they had Award-winning stories.

So, Hostel: Part II (Hostel 2) is now out on DVD, and having watched it, I must say it's a lot better. That's not saying it's all that good, or that it's reason to make a third one, but the movie is a lot more coherent, features better, more believable characters and its gore is a lot more realistic. There are some pretty lame parts (the opening sequence and the final minute of the movie), but there are a few torture scenes that are quite elaborate and somewhat clever.

All in all, it wasn't too much of a struggle to watch Hostel 2, and that's saying a lot. You can read my full Hostel 2 movie review here.

19 Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween

From 1999 to present day (October 31, 2007), there haven't been that many stand out horror movies, but here's a list of some that either really good, good enough for horror or just plain gruesome. Looking to rent a horror movie for Halloween? Choose from the list below...

1. Wolf Creek
   One of the best movies on this list, Wolf Creek is scary, gory, suspenseful and, worst of all, realistic. Based on a true story, this one will make you nervous to visit Australia. The film follows several young people as they fall victim to a psychopathic killer in the Outback.


2. The Descent
   One of the best horror/monster movies ever, The Descent is about a group of women trapped a mile underground with a bunch of ferocious mutated creatures that like to eat flesh. Awesome film!


3. A Tale of Two Sisters
   Hollywood is remaking this movie, unfortunately. The original, a Korean film I believe, is one of the best and scariest movies I have seen in a long time. Watch carefully, otherwise you'll be lost!


4. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
   This is the film that rejuvenated the zombie genre for the modern age, and it definitely deserves the credit. Funny, exciting and gruesome all at the same time. The director went on to provide fans with 300.


5. 28 Weeks Later
   This zombie film is actually very, very exciting, and a bit scary. While some people hated this film, it's actually better than its predecessor, 28 Days Later.


6. Halloween (2007)
   This movie isn't out on DVD yet, but is a very respectable remake of the John Carpenter classic.


7. Joy Ride
   Yes, it stars Paul Walker, but this is one of my favorite thrillers. It's non-stop action and features a crazy truck driver who stalks three innocent young people all over the place (and tears off one guy's jaw).
   


8. Final Destination
   One of the more original horror movies of all time, the film is surprisingly exciting considering the killer is completely invisible. And if you like Ali Larter on "Heroes", check her out here.
   


9. The Others
   This Nicole Kidman ghost story was a surprising box office and critical hit, and has a great twist ending. This one was creepy enough to feature a spoof in one of the Scary Movies, played by a fake Michael Jackson.
   


10. The Ring/Ringu
    The American and Japanese versions are so similar that I list them both together. If you saw the American version first, like I did, you'll probably like The Ring better, but those who saw the Japanese one initially will think the opposite. Either way, they have a neat concept and scary results. Too bad they spawned a slew of crappy Japanese remakes - and The Ring Two.
    


11. Signs
    This M. Night Shyalaman movie isn't as scary the second time around, but I remember being on the edge of my seat at theaters. This was the last movie where his twist ending was halfway decent.


12. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
    Some people slam this film, but it features Jessica Biel looking super hot, tons of gore and an ultra creepy psychotic family. This was a great remake, yet doesn't take away from the original.


13. Deep Blue Sea
    Sure, it's a cheesier version of Jaws, but this movie about genetically advanced sharks is surprisingly good. There are some scary moments, a few surprises (one big actor gets killed a lot earlier than expected) and... genetically advanced sharks!


14. The Host
    This monster movie isn't very scary, but as far as monster movies go, it is one of the most well done flicks in years. It's funny and serious all at the same time.
    
    
15. High Tension
    If you're looking for disturbing, look no further than this French film. The bad guy gives himself a blow job with a decapitated head at one point in the movie, and that's the soft part of the R-rating. Blood, blood and more blood is splattered on screen, and the movie even takes a very weird, controversial twist near the end.


16. Jeepers Creepers
    Sure, it turns out that the killer is a flying creature from Hell, but up until that point, this hit horror film is amazingly suspenseful and disturbing. The sequel really, really sucked, though.


17. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
    This isn't a great film, and the original from Wes Craven is better overall, but this remake, from the director of High Tension no less, is one of the goriest, f**ked up movie ever. Nothing is sacred in this bloody picture.


18. What Lies Beneath
    This Harrison Ford/Michelle Pfeiffer film wasn't perfect, but every time Pfeiffer would walk slowly into the bathroom, you knew a ghost was just waiting to grab her.
    


19. The Blair Witch Project
    A classic in its own right, The Blair Witch Project put indie horror back on the map. If you watch it a second time it's just unbearably boring, but the first time was great. I actually watched this for a second time at Halloween with a bunch of people; it was definitely the lamest party I had ever hosted.
    

The X-Files 2 Begins in December

Yes, you've waited a long time, but it is finally coming. According to Comingsoon.net, a site I frequent quite... er, frequently... The X-Files cast and crew will wipe the dust off the cameras starting December 10th. It's been ten years since the last movie, and many people assumed that David Duchovny was full of crap as he kept suggesting The X-Files 2 would eventually come.

Both Duchovny and Anderson are expected to return (they wouldn't make a movie without both of them, would they?). Yes, I know that the show continued even after Duchovny left, but I think they learned their lesson, right? Series creator Chris Carter is directed a screenplay written by himself and Frank Spotnitz.

The movie has a shooting name of Done One. All I can say is that I'm really, really, really excited, and this gave me an excuse to put a picture of Gillian Anderson on my blog.

Why, audiences, why? Saw IV wins the weekend.

Just when I think American audiences are getting smarter, they go ahead and feed the pockets of Lionsgate by shelling out over $14 million in ticket sales on Friday alone to see Saw IV. If this franchise is ever going to die, it's not going to be anytime soon, as Saw IV will make around $33 million for the weekend, the best opening of the Saw movies thus far.

I'm not surprised that Saw IV won the weekend. With only Dan in Real Life, an indie comedy-drama starring Steve Carrell, opening as competition, it was clear Saw IV would win handily. Still, I was hoping for a $25 million opening and a slow decline that would eventually force the Saw franchise onto a direct-to-DVD release pattern so that I would never have to write about it again.

Damn.

That's all I have to say.

Movie Review: Fido (2007)

Fido, a zombie movie that is quite different from most zombie movies, is now out on DVD, and I have a copy in my possession. As such, I have written a movie review for the film.

I was rather looking forward to this picture, as 1) zombie films are hard to mess up (though Resident Evil 3 certainly proved me wrong with that one, 2) zombie comedies are generally funny and 3) a movie about a boy and his pet zombie just sounds entertaining.

Unfortunately, the film fails to live up to its potential, as it just isn't funny enough. Read my full Fido movie review here.

Hellraiser remake confirmed!

To no real great surprise, the latest horror franchise to get reinvented is Hellraiser, which was originally conceived by writer/director Clive Barker in 1987 and, in my opinion, is one of the freakier and more disturbing pictures of the '80's.

Since other recent remakes have done quite well, most notably the remake of Halloween, Dimension has hired French filmmakers Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo to write and direct the movie. The two recently saw their supernatural film Inside acquired by the company.

The story comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which describes the original as this (because I'm too lazy to reword the synopsis myself): Released in 1987, "Hellraiser" told the story of an unfaithful wife who attempts to assist her dead lover in his escape from hell. The movie introduced viewers to a race of demons called Cenobites, most notably one nicknamed Pinhead -- who became one of the most enduring horror characters of the decade -- who was summoned using an antique puzzle box. As usual, I'm torn here. Hellraiser could definitely make for a cool remake, but, then again, the original still works quite well (I just watched it for the first time a couple years ago). Why remake a good thing other than money? Oh, wait, duh. For money!

Saw 5? When will the pain stop?

How many Saw movies will Lionsgate produce before they let the pain stop? Or, a better question, how many Saw movies will they make before they shift the franchise to direct-to-DVD and I can stop writing about them?

No, I'm not talking about Saw IV, which comes out this October. I'm talking about Saw V (Saw 5 for you Roman numeral illiterates) that is now scheduled to be released in October 2008. Saw IV production designer David Hackl has been tapped to direct the next installment based on a screenplay by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton.

None of the Saw movies have been especially good, and it's amazing they still get as much traction as they do. At what point in time will audiences give up on the Saw movies to abandon them in theaters altogether, forcing Lionsgate to turn to direct-to-DVD releases? I'm sure the theatrical releases are just a promotions for the DVD releases, but audiences are still giving Lionsgate its Saw budgets back in theaters on opening weekend.

Why do this to yourselves, people? The Saw franchise is one of the lamest long-running horror franchises to come along, so just stop going.

Take a horror movie survey - win 6 DVDs

As Halloween is fast approaching, I figured I'd get rid of some DVDs I had lying around (most, if not all, are unopened), but don't think I'm going to give them away for nothing. No, I require just about 60 seconds of your life to take a horror survey, which allows you to rank the best and worst horror franchises and dictate what the most anticipated horror movie of 2007 is.

The horror movie survey is now closed, but you can see some of the horror movie survey results here.

Movie Review: Wind Chill (2007)

Believe it or not, Wind Chill actually came to theaters in early 2007, though zero marketing effort amounted to what was probably negative business for the forgettable horror movie. It's a real shame that the movie isn't just a little better, as it offers two very good performances from the leads.

Wind Chill is about a college girl (Emily Blunt, best known for The Devil Wears Prada) who hitches a ride with a fellow student only to find that he might not be as innocent as he seems. When they decide (well, he decides) to take a short cut across a snow-filled road, they find themselves at the center of their own worst nightmares. After a car crash, the two bear witness to all kinds of strange activities, namely several nasty ghosts who lurk around the dark and freezing highway. Can they survive the night?

Wind Chill works as a psychological thriller, mainly thanks to the quality performances from Blunt and the resilient Ashton Holmes, whom you'll recognize from a few things. The two, who spend the first half of the movie arguing and bickering, have great chemistry together, and their "relationship" comes off as very real.

Unfortunately, the horror aspect plays like a weak version of The Shining. Director Gregory Jacobs clearly wanted to go the psychological route and deliver a trippy journey into Hell, but the ghosts come so sporadically and with so little climax that you almost forget that you're watching a ghost story. When the ghosts do appear, they are a bit creepy, but the movie never really feels even remotely scary.

Respect Wind Chill for its performances, but a little more horror could have made these a sleeper hit. As is, it will quickly be forgotten.

Movie Review: Halloween (2007)

Halloween was a tired franchise. Started nearly thirty years ago, the adventures of silent killer Michael Myers had become trite. Some of the many sequels were okay, even entertaining, but none even came close to living up to the creepy simplicity of the original John Carpenter film. That is, until Rob Zombie took over.

I'm no Zombie lover, even though I respected House of 1,000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects for being absolutely f**ked up movies. The announcement that he would be directing Halloween, a remake, brought excitement among some, trepidation among others, and an optimistic skepticism from me. Could Zombie succeed in making something fresh?

Of course, "fresh" is relative. How can someone make a "fresh" horror movie that is a remake of a timeless classic? Here's how...

This new version of Halloween starts off with Michael Myers as a child. He's an ugly kid, and as such has resorted to his comfort zone behind one of many masks that he has either purchased or bought. Unlike in Carpenter's original, where we are given a minute's teaser before his family is filleted throughout the house, Zombie explores Michael's origins in depth, spending a good thirty or forty minutes before the killer finally and permanently dons his final mask. Some were worried that Zombie's exploration of Michael's roots would take away from the eerie coldness that has made Michael one of the best movie villains ever, but that just doesn't happen. While Zombie does drill into the life of Michael Myers more than ever before, he succeeds in making the killer even more chilling and creepy.

The rest of the movie is more of a straight remake of Carpenter's original, as Michael Myers goes on a bloody rampage. I don't remember much of the original, but even if Zombie's remake is just that, a remake, it's an impressive one. 2007's Halloween is gore-filled and action-packed, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It isn't scary per se, but Zombie certainly maintains a high level of tension.

The only real weakness in the film is the supporting cast. Malcolm McDowell is excellent as Dr. Loomis, but the unlucky victims aren't given enough development to make us care much about them. Scout Taylor-Compton turns in a pretty decent performance as the leading female Laurie Strode, but she's certainly no Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course, it's pretty cruel to make comparisons to the horror queen, so I'll add that she does an adequately good job.

Halloween isn't perfect, and in the end, it is just a remake, but with plenty of bloody violence and a psychological exploration of the boy who becomes Michael Myers, Rob Zombie's version is certainly one of the best of the franchise. In terms of slasher pictures, it is one of the best I've seen in years.

Red band trailer review: 30 Days of Night

Wow, has anyone watched the previews for the upcoming movie 30 Days of Night? The red band trailer for the vampire movie is online over at the official site, http://www.30daysofnight.com/, and all I can say is this movie looks pretty damn freaky.

Josh Hartnett and Melissa George star in the movie about a sheriff and some other people who live in a northern town where night spans for thirty days. Unfortunately for them, there happens to be vampires in the area, and those vampires have decided to feast.

The movie looks bloody, gory and exciting, and provides a slightly new slant to vampire mythology. Who knows - maybe 30 Days of Night will end up just like any other slasher/monster flick - but the marketing team has definitely assembled a very violent and intense trailer which will have me heading to theaters when this film arrives on October 19th.

For more information, visit my 30 Days of Night preview page.

I Am Legend 2???

I Am Legend, the Will Smith-starring sci-fi thriller, could be getting a sequel... and the first one hasn't even come out yet.

Apparently, original screenwriter Mark Protosevich, who originally wrote the adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 horror/sci-fi novel ten years ago, has pitched a sequel to Warner Bros., according to The Los Angeles Time. Protosevich originally wrote the screenplay for Ridley Scott and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was hired over the years to tweak the script for other directors.

However, Akiva Goldsmith was brought on in 2005 and re-tooled the film and moved its setting from Los Angeles to New York. Director Francis Lawrence's version is now coming to theaters in December.

I guess this means that Will Smith survives the first movie. I don't know what a sequel would entail, but the upcoming movie I Am Legend definitely looks cool. The movie trailer kicks butt, and Will Smith hardly fails in films like this.

Cloverfield to be titled Overnight?

Empire Movies, whom I read quite frequently, is reporting that a law firm that J.J. Abrams does business with has trademarked the name Overnight, and some are speculating that the unofficially titled monster movie Cloverfield, apparently about a monster attack on New York City over a single night, may be getting such a name.

If that is a case, all I have to say: what a stupid name (hence agreeing with Brendan at Empire Movies). Maybe I've just grown used to Cloverfield (not saying that that would make a good final title, either), but Overnight sounds like some tweeny comedy destined for direct-to-DVD. Other names that have been tossed around by speculating blogiots such as Colossus, Monstrous, and Slusho all fall flat to me as well.

Personally, I would go with one of the original rumored names, The Parasite, or, preferrably, the simple title of 1-18-08 (or some variation). After all, if the movie does indeed take place on one night, why not give it an eerie "Remember that day" kind of name. Of course, if the movie takes place in the summer, then that might be a problem.

The Host DVD Review

The Host, the hugely popular critical success out of Korea, is coming to DVD on Tuesday. The movie, about a monster that kills bystanders along the Han River and causes a harsh reaction from the U.S. military, is a very entertaining and surprisingly "believable" monster movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and laughing, for most of the picture.

If you're a fan of the film, the 2-disc Collector's Edition is certainly something you should consider purchasing, as it is loaded with tons of great bonus features, most of which are interviews and featurettes about the making of the film. I didn't watch everything, but what I did see was quite interesting. There is an interview with the writers of the film, who provide some insight into what inspired them - this includes a real case about toxic chemicals being dumped into the Han River (the birth of the creature), the movie Signs (how the alien invasion was more about the family than the creatures) and one other movie I can't recall at this moment. Another focuses on the set design and shows how most locations in the movie, including the food stand, the bridges and even the creature's lair, all really exist.

Other featurettes include a look at the special effects, sound effects, creature design, creature animation and more, while there are also casting tapes, cast interviews, actor training, the Korean trailers, a director's commentary and, the only really disastrous part of the DVD, a blooper real that is about as funny as a dead relative.

All in all, a great movie packaged with a great DVD makes for an excellent purchase opportunity...

Read my Host movie review or learn more about The Host at: http://www.movie-source.com/movie_page.asp?movieID=2700