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Our past remains hidden

IN THE EÅRTH

2021 sci-fi/psychological/horror/thriller

🚨 WARNING FILM CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS🚨

This hidden gem indie horror to sum up the plot fairly quick and simple. Is about a scientist and his guide during an unknown pandemic on a mission into the woods to find two of his colleges that went missing studying a phenomenon. In these woods there was this folk lore legend tied to them. They find one of the scientists, Zach who drugs them and starts taking photos of them while tied up. He's clearly not in his normal state of mind and the two escape coming across another camp where they encounter Olivia the other scientist who, using sounds and lights scares off Zach. They're told the folk lore is true this stone is the key and this fog containing mushroom spores that occasionally comes around is the creature speaking to them.

What's interesting about this movie is how quickly the scientists seem to believers of this legend. It isn't given the time frame before hand how long the original two were there. There's no indication they were studying this from a scientific stand point or that they try to use that. When the others come around they don't bring up that they were trying to disprove it's magical properties only to find that science couldn't find the answer and magic and mystical values were the only way.

This doesn't take away from the movie experience however as the madness of the character draws heavier so does your curiosity. From Zach's polite nonchalant happy attitude as he uses thick string to sue a extremely large open wound on the bottom of Martins foot. To having that same optimism when chopping off Martin's toes with an axe after they're infected. Then his shining like chase through the woods as he wants to kill them to the point he's stabbed in the eye by Alma and he says something like whoa that's how accidents happen.

Like the shaman in tribes taking local hallucinogens or other cultures experimenting with drugs of different kinds. We've all throughout time have had God-like encounters. These are what create stories to pass on and build folk lore, legends, religions and more. The world may go through harsh times like plagues and famine. We've always searched for more beyond ourselves. If nature provides that through a fog of mushroom spores well who are we to deny mother earth as the God she is.

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Strike down the system!

Let it be known here and foremost the while I am doing this movie critic/analysis page. I'm not paid or make any money this is just a fun project for me. That said, I still stand by the writers and their fight in the union for better working requirements. At this point I will not be removing any newer movies especially those that seem to be major corporate cash grabs. Indie edge films from 2023 made before the strike will be the newest reviewed ones on here. I do look forward to Oppenheimer and Astrocity etc. As far as that goes I may put those on the back burner until this is resolved to show support. Everyone needs to step in to ensure art stays pure and corporations don't further corrupt this industry.

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BODIES BODIES BODIES

PARANOIA FEAR SUSPENSION

2022 drama/thriller/horror

First and foremost I am a huge fan of A24 films. They typically tend to be some of my favorite movies released when movies are out. So sometimes it can sound like I have biased opinions. In all honesty though not even all A24 film are the cream of the crop. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this movie it's not to say it's without its faults.

When a group of 20 somethings (although I'd like to note at the end of the film it really feels like they're 15-16) gather at a friend's mansion for a hurricane party. Friend being David (Pete Davidson) to drink, do drugs, i.e. mushrooms, cocaine etc and play games. Drama ensues when David during a few games starts showing his jealousy and abusive behaviors. Later when the power cuts out due to the storm the group separates and a dead body is found. Sparking paranoia among the party goers to the likes of John Carpenter's the thing. Having been isolated, trapped in a building unable to escape due to the storm. Not knowing who to trust or whose the killer or killers? The movie ramps up from there in a most teen A24 fashion.

Spoilers from this point on so if you haven't seen the movie I highly recommend seeing it. It is worth the watch, as for buying it for collection I will leave that up for you to decide once you've viewed it. It deserves a viewing for the judgement of that at the very least.

With that out of the way, Alice (Rachel Sennott) while looking for the generator after the power outage finds David (Pete Davidson) bleeding from his neck. The others soon arrive and everyone begins to panic as to wonder who killed David? As earlier David and Greg (Lee Pace) had beef since David was showing his jealousy during the game and punched him. The girls not knowing Greg well, since he was only met recently prior to the party. Suspecting him and confronting him, Greg amongst this gets killed by Alice. This whole thing however doesn't leave them to comfort but instead leads them further down the rabbit hole of paranoia and distrust of each other. The mayhem ensues drawing out the internal drama each girl had with each other leading to death until the last two close friends who were lovers. As the storm ended of course fight over the last evidence to see who's the killer between them. A cell phone from David and thus revealing all along. DAVID killed himself in an accident playing with a sword trying to open a bottle of champagne.

The irony of this movie really drives the message that we always look for someone to blame. Our own paranoia that somebody must be responsible for, is what destroys us at the end of the day. We ruin more friendships and family relationships over the fact that something as simple as an accident. For crying out loud people will turn to blaming ghosts when the wind blows knocking over something. Literally in the movie a girl fell down the stairs and died and they jumped to somebody had pushed her without reason to believe it. You may walk away mad that the ending was stupid, there was no killer. It was an accident, but think about it. Millions of people die of accidents all the time and there are paranoid people who believe somebody was responsible for that.

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Destroying yourself in the Infinity Pool

2023 sci-fi/thriller

Director Brandon Cronenbreg most definitely is following in his father's footsteps. In that disturbing mind bending story telling with deep underling social commentary way. Although in no way is he just like his father, Brandon is for sure, a beast of his own.

For context I will begin to dive into his most recent movie infinity pool. Which if you haven't seen it was an excellent film and I highly recommend watching it. I will go into some spoilers here to discuss overarching and underling themes I feel are important in this movie. So again if you haven't seen this movie I highly advise you go see it and come back to this article.

Plot: Guided by a seductive and mysterious woman (Mia Goth), a couple on vacation (Alexander Skarsgard, Cleopatra Coleman) venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism and untold horror. A tragic accident of hitting a local with their car, soon leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you'll be executed, or, if you're rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.

At first James (Alexander Skarsgard) is pretty shocked and disturbed by the reality of being cloned and watching himself die. Then he's accepted into this club in which he starts to forget his anxiety over the experience of what had happened. Being convinced this is a get out of jail card, a path way to be invincible almost. James slowly begins getting high on this power, not realizing that those he's surrounded by what are not the best people. Again and again he watched himself die and loses any empathy that had been there before. Finally Gabi (Mia Goth) sets him up thinking he's attacking someone else with a hood on their head. When she reveals he was about to kill his own clone and he begins to panic realizing it's not the same. Trying to leave the group stops him forcing him to fight his clone with a final blow and he kills his own clone.

I feel that this is commentary on joining the IN-GROUPS. More specifically wealthy or rich class, although it could apply to any popular In-group. I feel like he's saying that when you join these groups a little piece of you dies. The further in you become the more you die and to become the full fledged member you have to kill off that last remaining piece that is you. We get peer pressured into this through society. By the groups themselves wanting us to join. By the systems giving us the options to do that or face consequences that may be damaging or harmful. Society always pushes us to destroy ourselves to be part of the upper class, the popular groups. Even if that means shooting out a bus window and stopping the car in front of the bus screaming come out James!

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TROLL

1986 fantasy/horror

One of the funnest low budget indie cheese factory horror fantasies of the 80s. Playful idea on traditional stories from the past while being creative as something in the horror genre of its time.

While not exactly for children it does have an appeal to the preteen generation as it doesn't go too far in its adult themes. The horror, violence or anything else is low enough to be approved with parental guidance. It has a family feel to it as well as if it was intended to appeal to multiple age groups.

It's important to note there was a sequel, a famous one that most people remember due to a famous scene. Out of entertainment value it can be said part two is better than one but not to say one is not good. In honesty it would depend on the viewer.

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Watching horror is only for those willing

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Can radiation turn you into a gay monster?

The hideous sun demon is a 1958 sci-fi horror movie but what can I say about this? Well I mean it's one of those cheesy movies you've probably seen on MST3K or Svengoolie. So what does IMDB have say for the synopsis? Well let's take a look!

"A scientist, Gilbert McKenna has an accident where he is exposed to high levels of radiation. Surprisingly this does not kill him but instead leaves him unable to be exposed to sunlight. Whenever exposed to sunlight, McKenna devolves into a lizard man with homicidal tendencies. After having a brief fling with a nightclub singer, and killing her boyfriend, McKenna is on the lam from the police which culminates in a one on one battle on top of a tower. Great monster costume and Shatner type acting from Clarke are the most memorable parts of this great 1950s creature feature."—Campbellnator

I find this synopsis interesting because for anyone who has watched the movie; it's not an accurate description. If I were to write it I think I'd say "A scientist, Gilbert McKenna has an accident where he is exposed to high levels of radiation. Surprisingly this doesn't kill him but whenever he's exposed to sunlight it causes him devolve into lizard humanoid creature. Terrifying those around him he had to remain in hiding and only come out at night. After encounters with a nightclub singer who's tied in with a monster, his exposure to the sun causes his to defend himself and kill the mobster and go on the run from the police."

Now I would like to compare this movie to wolf man. Wolf man was written by German Jewish screenwriter Curtis Siodmak of polish descent that fled during the Nazi occupation of WW2. So it's very much got ties Jewish persecution, going into hiding, being hunted etc. This movie has parallels with wolf man rather in the full moon it's in the sun. He's in hiding and on the run and seen as a monster which leads me to the crux of my thesis.

I think it's an allegory for being gay, so please hear me out. As you watch the movie you'll notice he goes to shady night clubs. Back in the 50s-60s gay men didn't have open options, you had to be secret and quiet. A lot of shady night clubs owned by monsters were the place to go for the queer community. His romantic interest is treated like a fling and even afterwards she acts as though he's a friend, his other lady friends are just friends he's not your typical ladies man for a 50s movie especially a B movie. Like usually for these movies it's a build up and they fall in love and it's special. Here is a strange happy accident but things go bad because of her pimp but she's like it's not like that between them? Then there is one part where he's hiding in a closet because he's ashamed of himself. There's a part where he's thinking of suicide by jumping off a cliff. For an age of the 50s when sexual freedom was still highly repressed and homosexuality was widely unexpected. This seems like it fits the stage of someone who feels like they were seen as a monster in society. I enjoyed this and found it great hopefully I can go further into depth later on.

I rate it at a sun demon out of a gay allegory, thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed.

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Is trauma the gateway to insanity?

Narrator: "The Screaming Skull" is a motion picture that reaches its climax in shocking horror. It's impact is so terrifying that it may have an unforeseen effect. It may *kill* you!

This suspenseful and haunting thriller/horror opens up with the line you read above. Promising to bury you without charge if you happen to die of fright during the movie. As entertaining as that may be to some or cheesy and silly to others. It is a great way to start the movie by getting one's attention, for their interest or laughs. Fun fact the tuba music during the opening credits is the "Dies Irae" section of Hector Berlioz' "Symphony Fantastique." A different version of the same piece was later used during the opening credits of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980).

So the film begins with newlyweds Eric and Jenni Whitlock who retire to his desolate mansion, where Eric's first wife Marianne died from a mysterious freak accident. The first act seems a bit of a slow burn for this movie, slightly dull. Mostly it's an introduction to the main character's such as Jenni, who has a history of mental illness. It seems though her mental illness was trauma related but it's not fully clarified. Eric the husband who cares for her and who has lost his wife due to a tragic accident. Then Mickey, the estate's mentally challenged gardener, who was seemingly very attached to his former mistress. Jenni seems to begin seeing strange things including a mysterious skull, which may or may not be a product of her imagination. Suspicion then falls on Mickey being the strange outcast.

This movie follows the classic tropes of women with a traumatic past seeing things therefore everyone thinks she's crazy. Then the mentally challenged or physically deformed side characters are outcast and strange therefore must be guilty. Only to distract audience members from the true villains of the films so the twist ending can be revealed. All in all the plot was decent and the cinematography was good. Sets for the most part let something more to be desired though the tombstone with the death mask on it was interesting. The sound and music was ok but not the best for a movie called the screaming skull, not much of it was a screaming skull. For the nerds out there this was on the intro to Ernest scared stupid movie, anyways it's a decent thriller worth checking out.

I rate this movie a screaming skull out of a mental illness trope. Thank you for checking out my reviews I hope you enjoy it.

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Spoofing the Spoofs!!!

Night of the terror trains!!! Well this isn't a movie I'm aware of at least, I haven't looked it up. I was visiting a train museum and taking photos upon my visit. I also love editing, I'm a photographer and editor as a hobbyist. Also a big fan of old sci-fi horror 50s-60s B movies.

On top of that I'm also a fan of MST3K so I thought it'd be fun to edit the photos to have that black and white sci-fi movie appeal. Throw on some titles, make it cheesy and add in our favorite trio.

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Well it’s a double feature kind of day and what better movies to kick off this week then #Feed and #thegreasystrangler when I say these movies are not for the weak stomach. I mean it. Disgusting, entertaining and comical. #horrormovies https://www.instagram.com/p/ClPsYjfsg4A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Day 22 of horror movies to watch in October. I saw the devil. Probably one of the movies from my all time favorites. The most beautiful revenge movie you’ll see. Gore, violence, drama and the true meaning of cinema. #isawthedevil #31daysofhalloween #horrormovies https://www.instagram.com/p/CkCZepqM8Hl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The lesson I want you to learn is it doesn't matter what you look like, or that's what Rob Zombie's hoping for at least?

The year is 1964 and everyone's television was taking them down to 1313 Mockingbird lane for the first time to meet a wholesome new friendly family. The Munsters, although this wasn't your typical family; be it Herman Munster played by the late great Fred Gwynne who some may recognize as the judge in my cousin Vinny (1992) or as Jud in Stephen Kings Pet Sematary (1989). Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster who also started in the Ten Commandments (1956). Al Lewis as grandpa Munster who was in used cars (1980) Rock 'n' Roll highschool forever (1991) and yes Ramones: raw (2004) because Al Lewis knew how to party. Also featuring Pat Priest as Marilyn and Butch Patrick as Eddie. It was simple really, a normal family like any other except the father was a Frankenstein monster, the wife was a vampire and grandpa was Dracula, the son was a Wolfman leaving Marilyn (the niece) a human to be the ugly duckling of the family so to speak. It would have wholesome family moral values discussed in episodes with occasional cheesy gags throughout the show. The show was moderately successful with 2 seasons, 2 movies, a mini cartoon movie, a reboot movie and today this.

When Rob Zombie took this opportunity I wasn't sure how I felt. Sure he's a fan and he'll treat it with care as everyone around me said; but I didn't feel that way especially when the first thing I heard was his casting. Now first I'm not trashing on the acting abilities of any actors here I enjoy the movies each of them do and their parts. The thing is directors typically cast the part by who's the best fit and actor for the role. Try outs are held and they go through processes. Yes sometimes they pick their friends for certain parts but he seems to do that a lot. His first choices were his wife of course, and his friends that have been in other movies of his. Another thing is he does a great job at directing and cinematography in my opinion but he needs others to help if not take over the script writing. We all enjoyed the white trash bits in devil's rejects because it fits in that movie, but once he did Halloween and added in his white trash touch, it just ruined it. That's an article for another day so let's move on to the new trailer.

Rob Zombie's newest movie, a love story, the first he's done. Has dropped and it's a reboot of a classic, one of my all time favorites, The Munsters. Being hailed by the internet as one of the worst trailers ever released I've watched it several times now. To begin I will say when the teaser dropped, the black and white remake of the opening of the original. I was excited and had some mixed feelings. The characters looked pretty decent although grandpa had some extra liberties taken making him seem off, which was fine. For the most part everything seemed ok I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Then the new trailer hit and like most of the viewing audiences watching it I was very concerned as a fan what was done to the property I so dearly loved. The money put into making this movie does not reflect on the trailer and it looks like a "made for TV" cheap knock off movie done in a hurry. The voice of Herman is awful and he doesn't fully look the part in every aspect but it hits worse when that voice pierces your ears. The effects and lighting looks horrendous. Although the color looks fun and unique it shows it would be better in black and white. Now it still looks somewhat cute and fun in a way if this were not to be a big budget movie that was a reboot of a beloved classic I would be on board totally.

That being said after watching it a few times I've come to my final conclusions to give the movie a chance and here's my words of hope. In the trailer Grandpa makes Herman who later meets Lily and falls in love. My belief is that bc Herman was just made a.k. born he's going through a form of puberty and that's why his voice is not low and weird. Also this may be a way to keep the story at bay, by not revealing everything in the trailer. I think this is a flashback of how Lily and Herman met and married and moved to 1313 Mockingbird Lane. That the rest of the movie looks good and it's going to be a different all great film but the memory is hooky because it's a memory. That's theory and I'm hoping it'll go in that direction.