Any RS film list that doesn't bother to draw on the inane (bought and sold?) rhapsodizing of Peter Travers is already ahead of the game, but I've seen only half of these, and, sadly, most are Not Quites...AUDITION is perhaps closest to fully successful, while still a little too pleased at its own cleverness. THE DESCENT has Serious Dumb marring it, etc. Amusing to see the byline James Rocchi, which means that guy is not too unlikely to be a distant cousin of mine.
Oh, yes. FUNNY GAMES is Michael Haneke's intentional insult to anyone who's ever enjoyed a suspense film. Because, of course, we only watch them so we can get off on slaughter. Right? YES? YOU KNOW YOU DO! screams Haneke throughout, stamping his widdle feet as he does so. No, actually, some of us, probably most of us, identify with the characters who are having the horrible things inflicted upon them, NO YOU DON'T! SHUT UP! replies Haneke.
The US remake manages to be even worse, mostly due to Michael Pitt, one of the most off-putting actors I've seen.
I don't think I've seen any of them either-- although, as you see, that is not stopping me from making a comment. I just can't watch overly gory movies of any variety, no matter how critically lauded. For my money, the scariest scene in cinema is the scene in "The Conversation" where Gene Hackman flushes a hotel room toilet and a head comes bobbing up. Gets me every time. The last ten minutes of "The Innocents" (an adaptation of "The Turn of the Screw") always has me on the edge of my seat. But they can keep this gore-for-gore's-sake stuff. Blech!
Well, most of these aren't grossests...INSIDE is enough of one, and it's pretty stupid. But most aren't. AUDITION is pretty excruciating in how it teases the viewer, much as the murderous lunatic (or is she? blah blah blah) teases her victims. As I mentioned, AUDITION comes close to being a fully successful tilm (and many insist it's a work of genius) but not quite, no.
And, yes, the subtler films tend to be the better ones. Even "extreme" elements can be used with restraint, as in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD or MARTYRS. I recently heard an interview with the screenwriter for WRONG TURN 7 (yes, the sixth sequel) and he was intelligent and otherwise interesting, but the first major bit of action in that film, after a young couple have sex they of course need to be punished for, is a pointlessly excruciating torture/capture of her by inbred geeks, and that was more than enough of that.
My lovely spellchecker is about to die a gory death. Gorefest remade as grossests above, which doesn't make sense, but I guess it tried to "correct" me even before I finished typing the word. Apple products, not to put too fine a point on it but to uses some restraint of my own, are Very Overrated.
Not my favorite, that, but I haven't sat through all of it yet. DELIVERANCE has its points, among suspense films. But WRONG TURN 7 is just wrong, indeed. But can be seen on Netflix! And, I think, even on YouTube.
Jeff--I have seen REPULSION and, I agree, it is creepy and scary, but it doesn't grab me in the same way as "The Conversation" or "The Innocents", but there are definitely some jump-out-of-your-seat moments.
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I saw DEATHDREAM, a Monkey's Paw ripoff/homage. Most of the others don't appeal to me though back in the '80s I would probably have watched them.
Jeff
Any RS film list that doesn't bother to draw on the inane (bought and sold?) rhapsodizing of Peter Travers is already ahead of the game, but I've seen only half of these, and, sadly, most are Not Quites...AUDITION is perhaps closest to fully successful, while still a little too pleased at its own cleverness. THE DESCENT has Serious Dumb marring it, etc. Amusing to see the byline James Rocchi, which means that guy is not too unlikely to be a distant cousin of mine.
Oh, yes. FUNNY GAMES is Michael Haneke's intentional insult to anyone who's ever enjoyed a suspense film. Because, of course, we only watch them so we can get off on slaughter. Right? YES? YOU KNOW YOU DO! screams Haneke throughout, stamping his widdle feet as he does so. No, actually, some of us, probably most of us, identify with the characters who are having the horrible things inflicted upon them, NO YOU DON'T! SHUT UP! replies Haneke.
The US remake manages to be even worse, mostly due to Michael Pitt, one of the most off-putting actors I've seen.
Have never seen either original or remake. In fact, I'm not sure if I've seen a single one of these.
I don't think I've seen any of them either-- although, as you see, that is not stopping me from making a comment. I just can't watch overly gory movies of any variety, no matter how critically lauded. For my money, the scariest scene in cinema is the scene in "The Conversation" where Gene Hackman flushes a hotel room toilet and a head comes bobbing up. Gets me every time. The last ten minutes of "The Innocents" (an adaptation of "The Turn of the Screw") always has me on the edge of my seat. But they can keep this gore-for-gore's-sake stuff. Blech!
Deb, as a guy whose favorite horror movie is THE HAUNTING (original version), I agree.
Well, most of these aren't grossests...INSIDE is enough of one, and it's pretty stupid. But most aren't. AUDITION is pretty excruciating in how it teases the viewer, much as the murderous lunatic (or is she? blah blah blah) teases her victims. As I mentioned, AUDITION comes close to being a fully successful tilm (and many insist it's a work of genius) but not quite, no.
And, yes, the subtler films tend to be the better ones. Even "extreme" elements can be used with restraint, as in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD or MARTYRS. I recently heard an interview with the screenwriter for WRONG TURN 7 (yes, the sixth sequel) and he was intelligent and otherwise interesting, but the first major bit of action in that film, after a young couple have sex they of course need to be punished for, is a pointlessly excruciating torture/capture of her by inbred geeks, and that was more than enough of that.
My lovely spellchecker is about to die a gory death. Gorefest remade as grossests above, which doesn't make sense, but I guess it tried to "correct" me even before I finished typing the word. Apple products, not to put too fine a point on it but to uses some restraint of my own, are Very Overrated.
Not that I object to a little bit of over-the-top violence by inbred geeks now and then. I had fun with THE HILLS HAVE EYES, for example.
Not my favorite, that, but I haven't sat through all of it yet. DELIVERANCE has its points, among suspense films. But WRONG TURN 7 is just wrong, indeed. But can be seen on Netflix! And, I think, even on YouTube.
Deb, if that scared you, check out REPULSION. I guarantee there are scenes that will make you shriek.
Any list that doesn't include KING OF THE ZOMBIES (Monogram, 1941) is meaningless anyway.
Jeff--I have seen REPULSION and, I agree, it is creepy and scary, but it doesn't grab me in the same way as "The Conversation" or "The Innocents", but there are definitely some jump-out-of-your-seat moments.
REPULSION isn't as grounded, which is both by intent and a bit of a fault. Polanski clearly has had women issues for quite some time.
REPULSION isn't as grounded, which is both by intent and a bit of a fault. Polanski clearly has had women issues for quite some time.
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