Directed By: Rick Bota

Starring: Kari Wuhrer, Paul Rhys, Marc Warren, Doug Bradley

Subgenre: Demons & Possession

Synopsis: Reporter Amy Klein sets off to research a cult that appears to have the ability to resurrect themselves after committing suicide.

Thoughts: The Hellraiser series takes another turn, this time going for a much grittier look and storyline.  The story revolves around a reporter investigating a cult with the ability to resurrect the dead.  The cult is led by Winter LeMarchand, ancestor to Phillip LeMarchand, the creator of the Lament Configuration.  Winter has discovered the secret to resurrection, and is manipulating people into committing suicide and then bringing them back to life, all in the hopes of finding someone that can open the box and bring forth the Cenobites.  Winter has aspirations of controlling the Cenobites and becoming their master.  I think we all can figure out how that is going to end.

I wasn’t a big fan of Deader.  I had liked the approach of the last two installments, but just couldn’t get into this storyline.  It seemed to worry more about the visuals than anything else, and the camera work was reminiscent of Saw.  Everything had a layer of grime to it, and while an effective method, it just didn’t work for me.

I also thought that the acting was uninspired.  One of the strengths of the successful sequels has been the strong leads to play opposite Doug Bradley.  Kari Wuhrer has plenty of genre credits, but she just didn’t do it for me here.  Overall, I would say this has some of the weakest acting of the entire series to date.

The director, Rick Bota, also directed the previous entry, Hellseeker.  Even though I didn’t enjoy this entry nearly as much as the previous one, I still think that Bota has a solid career in front of him.  He seems to be searching for a directing identity and trying different methods.  I mentioned before that Bota only has the three Hellraiser sequels to his directorial filmography right now (Hellseeker, Deader, and Hellworld), but I look forward to seeing what he can deliver in the future.

Deader is really only for the Hellraiser completest.  It’s easily one of the weakest entries to the series, and probably my least favorite (I have yet to see Revelations).  Check it out if you are inclined, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Directed By: James Watkins

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer, Jessica Raine, Liz White

Subgenre: Ghosts and Haunted Houses

Synopsis: Arthur Kipps, a widower and lawyer in the early 1900s, must handle the affairs of the recently deceased Alice Drabow, owner of the Eel Marsh House.  Kipps begins to hear noises in the house and sees a mysterious woman dressed in black, which seems to lead to the death of some children in town. 

Thoughts: Daniel Radcliffe has a pretty steep hill to climb to get away from the role that made him one of the most recognizable characters in the history of film.  Starring in a creepy ghost story from Hammer Films is a great start in my opinion.

Daniel Radcliffe does an amicable job as Kipps, the lawyer that must complete this task or risk losing his job.  It is difficult for him to get away from, but I did see bits of Harry Potter in his character.  The inner conflict and struggles of Kipps parallel Potter in many ways.  On the same note, there was more than once that I was reminded of a young Peter Cushing when Radcliffe was on screen.  Much of that can be attributed to the physical similarities and the fact that this was a Hammer Production, but I think the comparison is valid.

There are some basic tenants that a ghost story needs to be effective.  The story needs to be compelling, the atmosphere must be creepy, and the ghost itself should be frightening.  I think The Woman in Black covers all those areas.

While the story does start out slowly, it really pulls you in once it gets going.  As a parent, I can say that there is not much more unsettling than the death of a child.  It chills a parent to the bone, and that had me on edge from the very beginning.  The atmosphere and locale are also a very important part of the movie.  The town takes place in rural England along the coastline, so it feels dark and dreary, and that is before you even get to the Eel Marsh House.  The house sits in solitude on an island, accessible only by a road that the tide covers at times.  It has been sitting vacant, so it has the typical cobwebs and furniture coverings you expect to find.  One of the creepiest things you will see in the entire house is the toys.  I’m not sure where they dug those wind-up toys from, but if kids in that era played with those things, I can’t imagine them getting a full night’s sleep.

Now, the titular Woman on Black really was scary.  Horror fans have been saturated with ghost stories the last ten years or so with the tidal wave of Asian Horror and the inevitable American remakes, but I think this was one of the scariest I have seen since Ju-On.  Some of the noises the ghost makes here remind me of Ju-On and serve to unsettle the viewer (at least this one.)  There are a few false jump scares, which makes the legitimate ones all the more effective.

I did see this in a very full theatre, which is a mixed bag.  At times, the crowd was a little rambunctious, but there is something to be said about being scared with a large group of people.  The movie was very well received, and actually got an ovation during the credits, which I don’t see very often.  I suggest going to see this, it really is one of the better horror movies I have seen in recent years.

Directed By: Rick Bota

Starring: Dean Winters, Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, William S. Taylor, Michael Rogers, Rachel Hayward

Subgenre: Demons & Possession

Synopsis: A man survives a car accident in which his wife dies and finds himself tormented by the Cenobites.

Thoughts: The theme of Inferno continues in Hellseeker as the Cenobites mentally torture their prey.  Hellseeker does amp up the gore a bit, but still not in excess.  There are a lot of times that, as the viewer, you are not sure if Trevor is dreaming or not.

I thought the cast was great, but I admit to being a fan of Dean Winters, so that definitely sways my opinion.  I would like to see him get some more mainstream cinematic roles.  Hellseeker also marks the return of Kirsty Cotton, played by Ashley Laurence, so that benefits Hellseeker as well.  I’m not sure how many times I can say it, but Doug Bradley was great as Pinhead.  It really is a role that he defined, and I just can’t see someone else playing the role (I have yet to see Revelations).

Rick Bota gets his directorial debut, but he is no stranger to the horror genre.  He has been the cinematographer for several genre titles, including Demon Knight, House on Haunted Hill and Valentine.  He would go on to direct three Hellraiser sequels, but has yet to have another movie released.  While he hasn’t set the genre on fire, I would think that his track record would get him some more opportunities.  I actually think that this is the best of the three Hellraiser movies he directed, but that has more to do with the script than the direction.  Oddly enough, the three movies are all very different.

I would imagine that fans of Inferno would enjoy Hellseeker, and I am actually a little surprised that it doesn’t get at least a little love.  It really is a decent flick, especially compared to some of the other sequels.  It’s similarities to Inferno make it a great choice for a double feature.  I suggest giving this one a shot.

Watched this last night…Highly recommended. Review coming this week.

Directed By: Scott Derickson

Starring: Craig Sheffer, Nicholas Turturro, James Remar, Doug Bradley, Nicholas Sadler, Lindsay Taylor, Noelle Evans

Subgenre: Demons & Possession

Synopsis: A detective tries to solve a series of brutal murders involving the Lament Configuration and the mysterious “Engineer.”

Thoughts: Even though this is the first of the Hellraiser sequels to go straight to video, I think it is one of the best sequels of the series.  It takes a unique turn and is much more psychological than the previous installments.  I loved the fact that it shows that the Cenobites can inflict mental anguish just as artfully as they can physical pain.

Craig Sheffer gives a great performance as Detective Thorne, trying to chase down The Engineer and his kidnap victim, a child.  It’s a little crazy that the two best performances in this guy’s career are in Clive Barker stories (Nightbreed being the other).  Nick Turturro also gives a very solid performance as Sheffer’s partner.  Even though he doesn’t have much screen time, Doug Bradley is as awesome as ever as Pinhead.

Director Scott Derrickson followed up this great debut with the very solid Exorcism of Emily Rose and all signs pointed to him becoming a heavy hitter in the horror genre.  His success garnered him the opportunity to direct a high budget Hollywood venture, which turned out to be The Day the Earth Stood Still.  Guess they can’t all be winners.  He has a few projects in the works, and I can’t wait to see what he brings us.

Inferno is a great example that there are some gems to be found in the world of Direct to Video, and it takes it a step further by being the fourth sequel in a series.  I’ve often heard people say that “After the first two installments, the Hellraiser series isn’t worth your time.”  While not all of the sequels are great, there are some pretty good ones, with Inferno being one of the best.  What’s unique about most of the sequels is that they stand alone; you can pick any of them up and watch them without needing to know much in the way of the history of the series.  If you have avoided the Hellraiser sequels, I suggest giving this one a shot, it’s worth it.

It seems like you can’t help but stumble on websites selling genre t-shirts these days, but if you are like me, you tend to be leery on the quality and whether or not you will actually get your product.  Well, I was recently contacted by Don (of the Dead) over at TShirt Bordello and asked if I wanted to check out his website and see what I thought, so over I went.

I would suggest that genre fans check them out.  Not only do they have plenty of great horror related shirts, but they also cover a lot of other genres.  Here are just a couple of the shirts that caught my eye:

In addition to their shirts, you’ll stumble across some other goodies as well.  I just might have to order up some of these awesome glasses:

So, after combing through the site, I had Don send me a shirt to try out.  I went with the “Stephen King Rules” shirt that is right out of Monster Squad and my wife picked the vintage “Amity Island” one.  I gotta say I am impressed with both the quality of the shirt and the design.  The shirts are soft, but still look like they will hold up over time.  The men’s shirt fit well, but it looks like the ladies tees run a tad small.  My wife thought hers was a little tight, but I thought it looked great!  Keep that in mind if you are looking at the women’s shirts.  The prices are great and right now they are running a Buy 3, get 1 free deal. 

I highly suggest you head over to TShirt Bordello and order up some goodness.  I know it will become one of my go-to locations for shirts and more.

Directed By: Kevin Yagher/Alan Smithee

Starring: Bruce Ramsay, Valentina Vargas, Doug Bradley, Christine Harnos

Subgenre: Demons & Possession, Science Fiction-Horror

Synopsis: The fourth installment of the Hellraiser series serves as both a sequel and a prequel, telling the origin of the Lament Configuration, as well as its destruction.

Thoughts: It usually doesn’t bode well for a movie when there are issues between the Director and the studio, and Bloodline is no exception.  I thought that the storyline was there, but it was just never developed.  The editing and pacing is pretty rough, and the cuts were forced by the studio, which then prompted Director Kevin Yagher to disown the film.  Joe Chappelle was brought in to finish off the movie, but it was credited to the infamous Alan Smithee.

Clive Barker served as a producer, and this was actually his last involvement with any of the films.  I would love to see him return for another film, but it isn’t looking good with his health and the track record of the series lately.

There are a couple of bright points to Bloodline.  I thought Bruce Ramsay played his multiple roles well and he was a welcome addition to the Hellraiser multiverse.  As always, Doug Bradley is awesome as Pinhead.  I even enjoyed Valentina Vargas in her multiple roles and makes for a pretty bad ass Cenobite.

Like I said, there were some interesting ideas presented in Bloodline, but the pacing and editing was just a mess, and ultimately ruined what could have been a pretty damn good movie.  It just goes to show that Hollywood studios don’t know what they are doing, especially when it comes to the horror genre.

Directed By: Meir Zarchi

Starring: Camille Keaton, Eron Tabor, Richard Pace, Anthony Nichols, Gunter Kleemanns

Subgenre: Exploitation, Revenge

Synopsis: Author Jennifer Hills retreats to the country for some peace and quiet while she writes her novel.  What she finds is the unwanted attention of the locals when a group of four men abduct and repeatedly rape her.

Thoughts: The horror genre has countless subgenres, but the revenge film is often one of the more difficult ones for me to watch and review.  Often times, they are not entertaining, per say, but when done well, they tell a poignant story and evoke emotions that are difficult to summarize.  I Spit on Your Grave is not a “fun” movie by any means.  It can be difficult to sit through some of the scenes, but I think it is an important movie in the horror genre.

The production values are pretty low, even compared to other similar movies, and the acting can be a bit amateurish at times, with one major exception.  I thought that Camille Keaton was fantastic in a very harrowing role.  What she went through on the screen could not have been easy to depict as an actress, not to mention her completely changing direction when it came time for her revenge. 

It is interesting to hear the various opinions of this movie, as some critics refer to it as garbage not fit for viewing and some see it as an extremely strong statement about Women’s rights.  I guess I am somewhere in between.  I don’t see this as a revelation in film making, but it has its place in the genre.    Be warned before watching this though, the rape scene, or scenes, are pretty drawn out, and the revenge that Jennifer enacts is pretty damn cringe worthy as well.

Directed By: Ti West

Starring: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis, George Riddle

Subgenre: Supernatural, Ghosts and Haunted Houses

Synopsis: During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel’s haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay.

Thoughts: Once again, a Ti West horror flick is building a very strong buzz, so I decided to check it out before hearing too much about it.  It is available on pay per view all over the place and comes out on DVD later this year.

I have to say that if you like Ti west’s House of the Devil, you will love The innkeepers.  It has that same slow burn to it, building tension throughout with a tense climax.  This time around, West uses more comedy in the first and second acts, which I thought really helped the movie along.  My chief complaint for House of the Devil is that it was pretty slow at times, so the added comic relief was a great touch.

The cast, although small, was fantastic, especially Sara Paxton, who plays the protagonist, searching for proof that the hotel she works in is haunted.  The rest of the cast is impressive as well, which is essential in the success of a movie like the Innkeepers.

I continue to be impressed with the Direction of Ti West, although this is just the second movie of his I have seen.  His movies have a sense of realism and intimacy that is not often seen in this genre.  I really feel like I am involved with the characters.  I look forward to see what West brings us and how his style evolves and grows.

I highly recommend The Innkeepers, although it probably isn’t for everyone.  Like House of the Devil, it takes a bit of patience to get to the climax, but it is a great piece of storytelling. 

Directed By: Ti West

Starring: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, AJ Bowen, Dee Wallace

Subgenre: Supernatural, Demons & Possession

Love this version of the poster.

Synopsis: A babysitter accepts a job that turns out too good to be true

Thoughts: A couple years back, I heard of a movie that was a throwback to the 70s, both in its style and substance.  House of the Devil was pumped up so much that I picked up the DVD the first chance I got…and was disappointed with what was delivered.  I was pretty bummed, as I was really hoping to like it.  It sat on my shelf for a couple of years before I decided to give it another shot.  I’ll revisit just about any movie, and I figured House of the Devil deserved another shot.

The first thing I noticed was that House of the Devil is beautifully shot.  To look like a film from the 70s Director Ti West used 16mm film and even mimicked the camera work so often seen in that era.  It worked to perfection, and I was already being pulled into the movie the second time around.

The acting is almost voyeuristic at times, as it seems they aren’t acting at all.  I guess that shows that they did a good job.  I know one thing, if I were a babysitter and TomNoonan answered the door, I doubt I would take the job.

Now, I enjoyed House of the Devil the second time around, but it’s not a perfect film.  It does drag in the middle.  As an audience, we can start to see what is happening around Samantha (the babysitter), but I think that West waited a little too long to ratchet up the action.  The finale was pretty tense and I loved the ending, so it balances out.

I look back and can’t figure out why House of the Devil didn’t grab me the first time around, but it just goes to show that you should give a movie a second chance.  I was glad I did, and recommend House of the Devil to horror fans out there, but just keep in mind that it is character driven and works to build tension slowly.