October Horror Movie a Day 2012

[SJP]

By the way, just in case anyone's looking to pick up another SyFy original, there's one tonight involving zombies and Danny Trejo I was planning to watch.  It's airing 9:00 EST, and I'm sure it's going to be terrible.

Though the real horror show is probably going to be who wins the Tigers/Giants game tonight...

[Compound]

Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies

No real review here, but the highlight was the role played by former forum member Kyle Kallgren.



(No, I'm just taunting him.)

[Darth Geek]

Kyle Kallgren, the Brows Held High guy used to be a forum member here? I love that series.

[SJP]

Phantom of the Opera (1943)
I read that a cut scene from this revealed the Phantom in this version is Christine's father, who he had abandoned as a child to pursue his own musical career.  It should've stayed in...since the Phantom doesn't seem as interested in her romantically, but more as a father figure, it would've made more sense and been less creepy (you know, creepy in THAT way, not horrific).  Still, a decent enough adaptation, with a lot of production value.  Certainly better than the '89 one, but without the shock value of the silent version(s).

Dark Shadows
I've heard people excoriate it, but I didn't think it was that bad.  A bit silly, yes, but I didn't think it was boring or anything.  Of Tim Burton's 'flops,' it's one of the more watchable.

Rise of the Zombies
For the Asylum, this was actually fairly well-made.  For a real movie, it was pretty bargain basement, but laughable enough to be entertaining.  I mean, on the one hand it had some decent gore effects (that arm cutting sequence was surprisingly rough), but at the same time, the movie was just stupid in principle (why cut his arm in the first place?  I can understand going psychotic, but that's a little much to swallow...pun intended).  Half the cast dies in the first ten minutes, the survivors go from competent to arms-flailing at the drop of a hat, and, of course, French Stewart.  It was entertaining, but not the complete bullocks spectacle I was hoping it would be.  But, it is memorable for having a pregnant woman running in zombie-infested streets in a side story that goes nowhere and the zombie near the beginning who falls over and dies without anyone shooting at him (it's at the raft scene, to the left side of the screen).  That, and the zombies can't open doors without effort, but can climb straight up a steel girder bridge without any equipment just fine AND swim competently.

Dead Snow
I don't know, I liked it.

[JimJ]

Movie #41: Pontypool (2008)

Really enjoyed this.  A rare original idea, executed really well.  Loved the performance of the main character too. 3.5/5

Movie #42: Leviathan (1989)

Eh, this was ok I guess.  Kind of a ripoff of Alien, only underwater.  Kind of enjoyable with a good cast.  3/5

Movie #43: Satan's Little Helper (2004)

Fun, cheesy movie with some of the absolute dumbest characters I've ever seen in a movie.  Seriously, the family in this movie make those two guys who get lost in Prometheus look like Einsteins.  Their stupidity only adds to the movie's charm, though, and I liked it.  3.5/5

Movie #44: Saint Nick (2010)

A Dutch movie about Saint Nicholas being an evil spirit who comes back every time there's a full moon on December 5th to kill children.  It was OK, but mostly pretty dull.  The only version on Netflix is the dubbed version and, my God, the dubbing is horrible. Some of the worst I've ever seen in a movie with decent production values.  The dialogue isn't much better.  2/5

Movie #45: Halloween Night (2006)

This is the best Asylum movie I've ever seen.  It's completely unoriginal and mediocre, but it looks like a masterpiece compared to their usual output.  It's pretty much your run of the mill slasher film, but the gore effects are pretty nicely done and it's not nearly as bad as I was expecting.  2.5/5 

Movie #46: Blood and Roses (1960)

Decent vampire movie.  Apparently the version on Netflix is a cut version that also adds some voice over narration.  I'm sure I'd like the original version better, but this was OK too.  3/5

Movie #47: Jack Frost (1997)

About as bad as I remember it being.  It's fun at times, so it's not totally terrible, but I think it mostly tries too hard to be funny and fails most of the time.  2/5

[Starman!]

I watched The Blob (1958) last night. One of my favorites.

[Darth Geek]

Movie #45: Halloween Night (2006)

This is the best Asylum movie I've ever seen.  It's completely unoriginal and mediocre, but it looks like a masterpiece compared to their usual output.  It's pretty much your run of the mill slasher film, but the gore effects are pretty nicely done and it's not nearly as bad as I was expecting.  2.5/5 

Was it made by the Asylum? SOmetimes SyFy shows stuff that is independantly made, rather than Asylum dreck, and it's good. Minotaur pleasantly surprised me, and that's the reason why. Check that one out, you may like it.

Movie #47: Jack Frost (1997)

About as bad as I remember it being.  It's fun at times, so it's not totally terrible, but I think it mostly tries too hard to be funny and fails most of the time.  2/5

Still, miles above the sequel. Now THERE's a movie that tries way too hard to be funny, and fails miserably. And looks cheap as hell.

[JimJ]

Movie #45: Halloween Night (2006)

This is the best Asylum movie I've ever seen.  It's completely unoriginal and mediocre, but it looks like a masterpiece compared to their usual output.  It's pretty much your run of the mill slasher film, but the gore effects are pretty nicely done and it's not nearly as bad as I was expecting.  2.5/5 

Was it made by the Asylum? SOmetimes SyFy shows stuff that is independantly made, rather than Asylum dreck, and it's good. Minotaur pleasantly surprised me, and that's the reason why. Check that one out, you may like it.

I don't know if it was shown on syfy or not.  I watched it on Netflix to help me finish up the holiday movie achievement. The first thing it shows in the opening credits is "The Asylum".

[Compound]

Things that I never expected to hear in a horror film-

"I make it rain. I make it rain on the ghost."

Okay, a Little Wayne reference in a horror film. Huh.

[JimJ]

Movie #48: Bigfoot (2012)

Terrible asylum/syfy movie. 1/5

Movie #49: It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958)

Pretty good, though kind of cheesy. I would've liked it better if they had shown the monster less, as it looked pretty goofy. Still, an enjoyable film. 3/5

Movie #50: Altered 

I wasn't crazy about how the alien looked in this one either, and the spaceship looked downright ridiculous. Still, a pretty good movie. 3/5

Movie #51: Rise of the Zombies (2012)

Surprisingly decent for an Asylum/Syfy movie.  Not great, but watchable.  Asylum seems to do practical gore effects very well.  2/5

Movie #52: Zombie Apocalypse (2011)

Another Asylum/Syfy production, this was much worse than Rise of the Zombies.  Just as dull with much worse effects.  On the bright side, there's ridiculous CGI tiger at the end that's worth a laugh.  1.5/5

[ScottotD]

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinally able to update my list, will do it tonight

[JimJ]

Movie #53: Day of the Dead (1985)

I forgot how completely annoying some of the characters are in this.  Still, the great effects and one of my favorite villains in all of horror, Joe Pilato as Captain Rhodes, make this a really fun watch. 3.5/5

Movie #54: Fire in the Sky (1993)

Another one I'm kind of surprised I never watched before.  It was pretty good.  Some of it was kind of dull, but the flashback to the abduction was really well done.  3/5

[Starman!]

Finished up the month by watching Rifftrax Live: House on Haunted Hill and Halloween (1978). Since trick or treating has been delayed to Saturday, Halloween is sort of extended, so I'll be watching scary movies for the next couple of days (it's my way of cheating since I hardly watched anything this month).

[Starman!]

My small final list:

Horror movies watched:

October 7: The Cabin in the Woods 5/10
October 13: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial 9/10
October 28: The Blob (1958) 9/10
October 31: House on Haunted Hill (1959) 5/10, Halloween (1978) 10/10

[SJP]

Well, congrats to however many you get to watch.  I did have to forgo a haunted house this year to try and fit in all the watching (which used to be an annual thing, but my attendance has been spotty the last few years), so it's not without its drawbacks, but I still had a good time.

Just wish I had a little certificate or something to award to everyone who got at least 31 days in...or a couple of challenges...or something.  I'm just not as Photoshop-savvy as I'd like to be.