Soundtracks!

I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack and score.  I firmly believe it can make or break a film.  I often find myself, after a few drinks on the weekend, searching through my favorite movies to find those epic scenes where music and film match so perfectly it makes you cry.  So I've decided to compile a list of a few of those oh-so-special times :) 

 

This soundtrack is so awesome.  I've obsessed over it in my review for The Woman.  Sean Spillane and Lucky McKee are a match made in heaven! 

JH2 plays during the scene where Papa Cleek first encounters The Woman bathing in the river.  Seriously epic.  Other highlights are Patient Satellite and Distracted.  Great soundtrack.

I think I started sweating a little or maybe crying, (or maybe both) when I first watched this scene in High Tension.  The scene is so intense and the song, New Born by Muse, fits is perfectly. I love Muse and I absolutely love this movie.  Epic combo.

Can't really talk horror soundtracks without mentioning Rob Zombie.  Pussy Liquor is the ultimate stripper song in my opinion and one of the funniest scenes in the movie :)  I mean, Sherry Zombie's ass-less chaps??  Come on...  Also really love the title track as well! 

I couldn't find the specific scene this Grandaddy A.M song is in but it's the grocery store scene.  I love it as it's such a fun and joyful moment in movie!  I love the score for 28 Days Later in general.  The theme song by John Murphy spawned a plethora of copycats.  And with good reason, it's so intense and so perfectly fits the post-apocalyptic mood.

And last but certainly not least, my current obsession, The Battery.  For the last 3 or 4 weekends I always turn this on after a few drinks as the music is so awesome and plays such a big part in the movie, it's almost like watching the coolest music video ever :)  I couldn't find any videos either than this Rock Plaza Central one (which is one of the best scenes in the movie!) but there's s link to the film soundtrack below and you can listen to most of them there.  Aside from the awesome Rock Plaza Central songs, El Cantador's Mammoth seriously makes me cry when I watch the scene it's in.  Much like Grandaddy A.M in 28 Days Later, it's the happy part of an otherwise bleak film.  Also love the contributions from Wise Blood.  Here's the link:
                                                                                    http://www.thebatterymovie.com/music/

So that's it for now.  I didn't get into musical scores so I'll likely post about that in the future.  Recently the score for Byzantium was so beautiful and I love the music in The Divide as well.  Anyways, a topic for later!  Enjoy!

Twin Powers: Review of "Dead Hooker in a Trunk"

Finally got around to watching Dead Hooker In A Trunk the other night.  It's the story of four unlikely friends who, after encountering the corpse of a dead hooker in the trunk of their car, are thrown into a chaotic ride dodging violence and leaving destruction in their wake. 

Shot in Vancouver on a tight budget, this is the debut film from twins, Jen and Sylvia Soska, of American Mary fame.  Overall I did like this film however, I do have a lot of issues with it. 

First off, you could really feel the passion for the genre and the excitement to be contributing to it.  The acting was fairly shoddy at times and the plotline kind of ridiculous (some of the decisions of the characters make are frankly, mind boggling) and I had a major issue with the unrealistic treatment (or lack thereof) of injuries (Spoiler: An arm ripped off by a speeding transport just gets stitched back on until a much later trip to the hospital??  No.).  

I read a review somewhere where the reviewer compared this to House of 1000 Corpses as far as ambition and potential goes and I can agree with that.  However, Rob Zombie already had such a specific style and fan base and these gals are just creating theirs so slightly different.  It did show a ton of potential though and real glimpses of great film making talent.  Some of the shots were great and the gore was good.  I, of course, especially liked the use of soundtrack.  You can tell they tried to fit every song they possibly could into the film and I appreciate that but it was almost a bit to much.  And I think therein lies one of the
strengths and weaknesses, so much excitement that they tried to pack to many ideas, to many songs, to much action, to much everything.  At times it also felt a little...narcissistic?  I can see the ease staring in your own movie but it was almost like they wanted to direct their own music video at times.  (Incidentally, these are the same reasons I wasn't a fan of American Mary).  The good and bad twin cliché was in full effect (the Badass character played by Sylvia was a little much at times) but it's almost hard to make a genre film without clichés.

I did like the movie and would definitely recommend it.  Tons of potential and really, anytime you see a director(s) obvious passion for the genre it's hard not love it.  For that reason, I am glad I watched this after seeing American Mary as I think I would have been even more disappointed with it.  DHIAT shows so much promise for the future and sadly, Mary just didn't deliver.  I am going to re-watch it though after seeing this.  Often a second viewing changes opinions (but I'm doubtful on that one).  Still, hopeful the Twins will churn out some good ones in the future.  Maybe See No Evil 2 will deliver?  Here's hoping!!

Unintentional Connection Night: Reviews of "Jug Face" and "The Woman"

After reading a few positive reviews I watched Jug Face tonight.

"Jug Face tells the story of a pregnant teen trying to escape a backwoods community when she discovers that she may be sacrificed to a creature in a pit."

First off, it was pretty well shot which, with the dawn of the dreaded shakey-cam and general low-budgetness, is very welcome.  And the plot was pretty unique, obviously not the backwoods, cult-like, redneck family part but the whole pit and jug face part.  In a genre where the same idea is done again and again something unique is always welcome so bravo to writer/director Chad Crawford Kinkle for that.  However, it didn't quite do it for me overall.  Perhaps it was a little slow?  The ideas weren't followed through quite well as they could have been?  I did find for the first part of the movie I was constantly asking "what? what's going on?" as things weren't explained well.  I did think Lauren Ashley Carter who played the lead, Ada, was great and I like genre regular Larry Fessenden who played her Dad.  The thing I liked the most is that it reunited Carter with her "The Woman" costar, Sean Bridgers.  I didn't realize it at the time and out of pure coincidence the movie I watched after this was "The Woman"!  I guess I realized it subconsciously?  Either way, I love finding links in this genre!  It's exciting figuring out certain circles.  So the link, aside from Carter and Bridgers, is Lucky McKee who produced "Jug Face" and wrote and directed "The Woman". 

So after that segue, onto "The Woman"!  I'd only watched this once before and absolutely loved it!  Directed by the aforementioned Lucky McKee and co-written by controversial author Jack Ketchum, it's one of my most recommended movies lately. 

"When a successful country lawyer captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast coast for decades, he puts the lives of his family in jeopardy."

First off, I should mention that this is a sequel to the movie the "Offspring" which was written by Jack Ketchum.  The beginning of the movie didn't quite make sense to me to the first time I saw it as I wasn't aware of this.  I have yet to see the "Offspring" but it's number one on my list.  Heard it's a little low budget but Pollyana McIntosh is in it as The Woman so I'm sold already. 

So ok, this movie is so fantastic for so many reasons.  The gore is stomach-churning and frequent, it's shot really well and the acting is awesome.  Pollyana McIntosh, The Woman, is amazing, which is an understatement.  She is tough and piercing and her performance is just flat out amazing.  Seriously, I could write an entire post about her performance.  The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, Sean Bridgers is ultra scary, he plays it so cool and real, it's terrifying.  Angela Bettis, who previously worked with Lucky McKee on May, was perfect as the battered wife.  So fragile and conflicted. 

Also must mention the soundtrack!  I am such a fan of a good sountrack and this one fit so well with every scene.  I've read other reviews were people complained about the music, saying it was such an odd choice but not I.  The scene when Papa Cleek first encounters The Woman?  (It's called JH2)Awesome.  Pure awesome.  And the best part?  The entire thing was scored by one dude, Sean Spillane!  He and Lucky McKee are friends and McKee actually wrote key scenes around the initial songs Spillane sent him.  I LOVE that.  I am definitely going to be adding this to my soundtrack collection.  Not sure why I haven't done so yet! 

So in short, Jug Face was ok but The Woman is absolutely MUST SEE viewing!!!  Seriously, go watch it.  Now.

American Horror Story: Coven. Rocked.

I, like everyone else, am a huge fan of American Horror Story.  I think it's the most unique thing on tv right now and it just keeps getting better and better every season.  I loved Asylum so much.  They power packed every crazy idea they could into that and I loved the insanity of it but this season was much linear, much more driven and I really got into that. 

And I know it doesn't need to be said but man, Jessica Lang?  She is a life force.  Fiona!  She so rocks.  And that's another reason I loved this season the best, the absolutely incredible line up of female characters!  I mean, what other show on tv right now has such fantastic roles for women?  Older, amazing women?

 

  
Angela Basset left my jaw hanging open every episode along with the amazing Kathy Bates.  I loved the usual cast of characters as well (so happy Frances Conroy had a bigger part in this season, she was utterly charming and my new style icon!) and the addition of Danny Huston.  I also thought the opening title sequence was the best yet!  Very creepy imagery and unnerving.  I love that witchcraft is the new big thing in genre.  Supernatural female empowerment! 

On a side note, I'm also really excited about Jamie Lee Curtis's The Final Girls.  It's ABC Family so I'm sure it won't be anything boundary pushing but I like the idea of it.  It revolves around a group of girls who have, survived to be the "final girl" and are brought together by a mysterious older woman (Curtis) to become some sort of survivor super league of justice.  Cool :)

The Written Word: Zombie Edition

So yes, I watch a lot of movies but I like to read a lot too and I love a good zombie fiction :)  The best beach reads!  Unfortunately, it's an oversaturated market with a lot of duds so here's a list of a few recommended ones....

First up, the As the World Dies trilogy from Rhiannon Frater.  I LOVED this trilogy.  I wasn't sure at first, it was a bit cheesy but The First Days was also one of the first zombie novels I'd ever read.  After reading others I realized how great these books are.  The main thing I appreciate about Frater's writing is that she really takes the time to describe her characters so you have a really clear vision of them in your head.  The 2 main characters in the book are women as well :)  The zombie action is intense and believable and you really get involved in the story.  I devoured these books and highly recommend them.  I've heard via Frater's facebook page that the series has been optioned for television (or a movie series?  can't quite remember) which I think would be fantastic!  This would make a great mini-series!  (I'm all about mini-series and don't think it's an option that's utilized nearly enough!)

Next up, one of the more recent zombie novels I've read: Fiend by Steven Larson.  This one is a bit unique as the survivors in the story are junkies and apparently their respective habits have enabled them to be immune to whatever outbreak has affected the rest of the world.  It's a bit of a mash up of Breaking Bad and Walking Dead.  I thought it was refreshing and fast paced and completely entertaining.  I read that Larson was actually a junkie himself so also an interesting take on a biography of sorts?  Again, highly recommended!

 

 

Next is the Autumn series by David Moody.  I'm actually reading the last book, Aftermath, right now and it's pretty good.  I definitely don't think these are the best the genre has to offer but they're entertaining and the action and descriptions of the dead are really good.  However, now that I'm on the end the descriptions of the liquid, putrefied remains are starting to get a little much.  One major beef I have with Moody is one of the things I like about Frater, character descriptions.  He hardly describes any of his main characters (which change throughout each book, converging in the last one) and I hate that.  It helps to have a description to keep characters straight in your head, bring them to life visually and his writing falls very short of that.  Regardless, it's enjoyable and I recommend for the die hard zombie lit fan.  The first book was actually made into a low-budget movie in 2009.  I started to watch and please, spare yourselves!  It's terrrrrrrible.  To bad as it could have been done better. 

 



And lastly (for now) we have Joe McKinney.  Another Texan zombie writer (Rhiannon Frater is also Texan).  Something about that state and the dead...  His Dead City series are still ongoing, the latest being The Savage Dead, 2013).  I really like this series.  McKinney is a former Police Detective and his stories are mostly based around military and police involvement during a zombie outbreak which occurs during a string of hurricanes in Texas which destroys the land and thus, the dead rises.  The stories, while not linked directly at first, are all in the same world.  He does a good job with character building and you do become invested in each of them.  I haven't read the entire series yet (I like to stretch things out so I don't run out) but I've enjoyed the first four very much and am sure the next will be just as good.  I like that the storms and the resulting chaos are just as scary and dangerous as the zombies.  The dead are almost an after thought, a cherry on top of a post-apocalyptic shit sundae.  Love them!

That's all for now!  I'm planning a post on different horror/thriller books later :)

Rare Treat: Reviews of "You're Next" and "The Battery"

First part of an epic movie watching weekend!  Night one began with the long awaited "You're Next" and indie darling, "The Battery".  I, for the first time in a long time, was completely impressed with both movies.  THANK GODDESS!  It so rarely happens lately!

So first up was "You're Next", the newest offering from writer/director team Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett (A Horrible Way to Die, V/H/S).  This one got great reviews and did really well at the box office this summer.

"When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back. " 

So honestly, the first part of the film had me worrying.  The usual cast of Wingard actors were involved (AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg ) which I love.  (Side note: Ti West in his short but pretentious role, so funny!).  I love a good film pack (a la Rob Zombie and Tarantino).  The characters though, SO annoying.  Typical family stuff, fighting and bickering but man, aside from our oh-so-obvious-heroine, not many redeeming characters.  The plot starts out as a pretty standard home invasion.  I just kept thinking, "This is Strangers but much less scary", right down to the masks.  Must also make note of the swaying camera work.  As you all know, I'm not a big fan of found-footage and this style of camera work leans dangerously close to that territory.  I know it's supposed to mimick eye contact and make things seem more intense/chaotic but nope.  Not a fan.  Hold the camera relatively steady please.
Thank god the second half threw a twist and really brought the movie alive.   Another female empowerment role!  Sharni Vinson was awesome and totally kicked ass!  I wonder if Adam Wingard purposely made the first part of the movie a little ho hum in order to win you back and shock you a bit in the second portion.  Hmmm... 

Also, much mention the sountrack!  I loved the original score.  Kind of 80s electronic and totally worked (reminded me a bit of "Drive").  You will become very familiar with "Looking for the magic" by the Dwight Twilley Band.  It's great and really works.  Also great, the gore!  Some really good death scenes (blender, all I'm gonna say).  Definitely didn't scrimp on that aspect, thankfully :) 

I really enjoyed this movie!  The 2nd half made it and the twists, although not overtly original, felt fresh and modern.  Loving Adam Wingard's work so far and looking forward to seeing what he'll churn out next!



And next, The Battery.  I must admit, I actually watch this 2 nights in a row.  It was that good.  I'm actually surprised I loved it as much as I did as it is a bit of a slow burn for a zombie film.  It's such a perfect combo of good, writing, film making, acting and soundtrack that it just works beautifully.  They don't come along like this to often.  And filmed on a $6,000 budget?  Impressive.

"The personalities of two former baseball players clash as they traverse the rural back roads of a post-plague New England teeming with the undead."

The movie really threw me for a loop.  It was very understated but it hit a lot of emotional cords.  It was funny and heart breaking and scary and just...real.  I think the (very well done) low budget feel really added to that feel of realness.  You could truly picture yourself in the scenario.  The acting was great.  Writer, director, and star Jeremy Gardner was so fantastic.  His dance and song scene was like the best music video I've ever seen.

The soundtrack kind of deserves its own reviews.  The music is so important to the film, it's like another character.  Each and every song fits perfectly into it's scene.  I'm usually not a fan of complete soundtracks, I like a good musical score but this one of the better couplings of modern music and film I've seen in quick a while.

So indie genre film makers take note!  This is how it's done!  With heart and honesty.  Just goes to show, the budget doesn't necessarily matter, you can still turn out a fantastic film.  And to go back to my previous found-footage ranting, this movie could have easily been, but it wasn't.  All in all, this gives me hope for the future of the genre!!  Goes without saying but I abso-fucking-lutely loved it.

Nights like this make me realize why I love this genre so much :)  Happy place!!

Reviews of "Black Rock" and "Oldboy"

Wow, rare weekend indeed!  First time in a while I've two double features and not one of those movies disappointed!   

 

 

So Oldboy is first up this time.  I've been wanting to watch this movie for ages but just never got around to it.  Now with the Spike Jonze remake looming, I made it a priority. 

"After being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in 5 days. "

The first bit of the movie, I was a little hesitant.  I sometimes find Korean horror/action a wee bit cheesy but as this movie progressed my opinions quickly changed.  Min-sik Choi (I Saw The Devil) is THE genre actor in his world.  And rightly so.  He brings intensity and honesty and humour to his roles.  The rest of the cast were great as well.  Chan-Wook Park is such an amazing director.  His shots are incredible and his blending from one scene to the next really unique.  And the action and gore will satisfy any horror fan.  And that ending??  Oh, man, without giving anything away, I literally yelled "NO!" at the screen!  Just brutal.  Brutal!  I am very much looking forward to seeing the other two that complete the trilogy.  Now after that said, I am curious to see what the American version holds.  Having read numerous disappointed reviews, I'm not expecting it to match the original in any way but am still curious.  I do like Josh Brolin so we'll see! 

 

 



And then we watched Black Rock:

"Three childhood friends set aside their personal issues and reunite for a girls' weekend on a remote island off the coast of Maine. One wrong move turns their weekend getaway into a deadly fight for survival."     

This totally ties in to my bit about feminism and horror.  Katie Asleton wrote, directed and starred in this awesome indie film.  Along with Kate Bosworth and Lake Bell, it was a great story of survival and female bonding.  I think it really showed true the complexities of female relationships.   Lake Bell was exceptional in this.  Both she and Katie Asleton put forth really raw performances.  The film was intense and real and scary to watch, especially if you're a girl.  You can imagine all to easily how someone could get into that situation.  My only complaint is that they threw some full frontal nudity in there.  I don't know if it was really necessary.  It didn't help the story out at all.  I imagine it helped the actresses get into their roles more, feeling more vulnerable in the cold, dark woods, but still....   All in all, an awesome thriller I highly recommend!