National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Welcome back to our next film in my Christmas movie marathon! Tonight I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989).

The Griswold family is back, except instead of traveling to a vacation destination, this time they're inviting the family over for Christmas! But despite the lack of travel, shenanigans still ensue, turning this Christmas vacation into disaster after disaster!

Chevy Chase defined an era of classic family comedies with his role as Clark Griswold. There are 5 "National Lampoon Vacation" films, with this being the third in the series. It's also one of the most memorable. Due to the season it's set in, it's become well known as a classic Christmas story as well as a family comedy.

Most of the film's humor comes from Chevy Chase's slaptick routines; although it's funny to note that Johnny Galecki, playing Chase's son in this film, performed one of Chase's trademark gags where he looks at his bare wrist and says, "Oh, look at the time!" before excusing himself. Otherwise, the comedy in the film is made up of pratfalls, silly disasters, and awkward situations. And true to its era, it wasn't afraid to have a little drama mixed in there too, to provide a diversity of emotion to the story. Nowadays, comedies tend to lean heavily on the jokes and keep things light. They forget that a bit of sadness or anger can help make those funny bits that much more rewarding in the end.

If you haven't seen this film yet, you're missing out on a classic! I highly recommend seeing it!

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

I'm doing a two-fer tonight! I actually watched this film yesterday, but here's my review of The Christmas Chronicles (2018).

A young brother and sister decide to get video evidence of Santa Claus (Kurt Russell). Instead, they find themselves trapped in his sleigh while he's delivering presents. They surprise Santa, causing the sleigh to fall from the sky and break. Now they have precious hours to help Santa gather his reindeer, find his sack of toys, and get his sleigh back in the air, or else the world will awaken to no presents!

This was an adorable film! Kurt Russell is now my favorite Santa. He's in pretty good shape and complains about the "fat Santa" propagated in advertisements. He claims that him saying "ho, ho, ho" is a myth. And he has no problem being grumpy when two little kids disrupt his once-a-year ritual, proclaiming, "you're on the naughty list for life!" Despite all this, he has a good sense of humor, is willing to help others, and definitely knows if you've been good or bad. He also thinks the best of people and only wants to help them down the right path in life.

I really like that he knows everything about everyone. He'll go up to some stranger, call them by name like they're an old friend, and talk about a specific naughty incident they got into earlier that year, or even back in their childhood! It's always said that Santa know if you've been bad or good, but this is the first film I've ever seen that actually demonstrates Santa having intimate knowledge of absolutely everyone, everywhere. It makes for an interesting tale.

This is also a great film for troubled youth to watch, as the brother is a young teen who is starting a life of crime before running into Santa. Through his late-night adventure, he learns to appreciate his family more and not continue down his dark path. His story arc brings a level of emotion to the film that I wasn't expecting. This just released on Netflix a couple weeks ago, but it's already a favorite Christmas film of mine! What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

Bad Santa (2003)

It's been a busy week for me, but I'm finally back with another Christmas Marathon flick! Tonight I watched Bad Santa (2003).

A washed-up alcoholic conman named Willie (Billy-Bob Thornton) teams up every Christmas with his associate, a dwarf named Marcus (Tony Cox), to rob malls. They spend the season casing the joint as the mall Santa and his tiny elf, then break into the mall's vault and make off with their haul. But this year's heist runs into problems when an 8-yr old troubled kid latches onto Willie.

This film displays rock-bottom at its absolute worst. Willie spends the entire film so drunk he can barely function. He has no interest in anyone but himself, fights with his associate constantly, uses rude and foul language with children, and even attempts suicide when he's not drowning out his sorrows with booze.

Yet despite his repeated attempts to tell off an 8-yr old kid, he somehow finds himself staying at the kid's home, where the kid's alone with his senile grandma. As the movie goes on, Willie never truly becomes a "changed man," but he does have a few moments where he starts to think about others a little.

This movie is about as crude and crass as you can get without renting some degrading porn. It truly is a piece of work. But at the same time, I really like it because it gives you a glimpse into the life of a hopeless asshole. Sure, it doesn't have a solid message about love and goodwill toward others, like most Christmas-themed films. But it's nice to see even the worst dregs of society find a little humanity hidden in themselves. And despite Willie's behavior throughout the film, you find yourself kind of rooting for him by the very end. I'd recommend this to a VERY adult audience. Don't let your kiddies see this one!

Smallfoot (2018)

Welcome back to another Christmas Movie Marathon! Tonight I'll be reviewing Smallfoot (2018).

At the peak of a mountain, high above the cloud line, exists a peaceful village of yetis. But one day, one of them runs across a human on the mountain (known to the yetis as "smallfoot"). He tries to prove their existence to his village, but all evidence vanishes. So he sets off to prove that the elusive smallfoot exists.

This is a classic trope swap, in which the yeti is the common citizen, while humans are the mythical beast. There are also some serious religious undertones in the plot, where the village has unbreakable laws literally written in stone, which they use to guide every facet of their lives. One such stone claims that humans do not exist, which causes conflict when the main yeti character insists he saw one.

I really liked the different perspectives you get to see: When you're seeing humans from the yeti's viewpoint, they're a bunch of high-pitched sqeaky creatures. When you see the yetis from the human's viewpoint, they're deep-voiced, growling creatures. Definitely drives home the "we can't communicate" concept, while also letting you experience both of the creatures from their respective shoes.

There were a few musical numbers in the film, most of which felt like an odd choice or awkward timing for a sudden song to break out. But the music itself wasn't too bad. I especially liked when "Under Pressure" started playing and the main human character makes up his own lyrics to the song to explain his unique plight, which worked out pretty decently. And I really enjoyed the musical number where the Stonekeeper brought the main yeti character into the mountain for their little "chat."

I have more I'd like to say about this film, but can't without spoiling parts of the plot. So I'll just say that this was a surprisingly entertaining film. I went in expecting it to be a pretty bland kid's film and was surprised how original and creative it was. I was about to boo the ending, then was pleasantly surprised to see a different ending than I thought it was building up to. I'd recommend this film for anyone to check out!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Merry December! I've decided to do a Christmas-themed movie marathon this year, followed with my own personal reviews each day! Starting with the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).

In the town of Whoville, all the Who's are concerned with getting the perfect presents, creating the perfect decorations, and baking the perfect meals, all for Christmas. All the while, annoying the Grinch in his mountain cave with the bustling noise. A small Who named Cindy Lou Who feels that her family - and the whole town - has forgotten what Christmas is all about and decides to invite the Grinch himself down to the town to celebrate.

This is probably one of the best adaptations of the Grinch to be released. It's loyal to its source material where it counts, but also tries to add a creative twist to the tale. For instance, the Grinch gets an "ugly duckling" backstory. Also, the Who's are consumer whores and have to be spoon-fed the true meaning of Christmas, as opposed to the original where they already understand it. Cindy Lou Who also has a much expanded role, unlike the original where she just woke to find the Grinch stealing her Christmas tree. She's closely involved in helping him become a better person in this live-action version.

My wife hates Jim Carrey, so she has a hard time watching this movie. She claims he "Jim Carrified" the Grinch too much. But if you ask me, I feel like he was born for this role. His physical comedy brings out the best cartoony Grinch in a live-action film. I absolutely love his take on the character!

I haven't seen the new Grinch movie that just came out, but I have a feeling it's not going to be a very good adaptation. Just from the trailers I've seen, the Grinch seems a bit... neutered. He just casually strolls through town, playing mild pranks? He seems like more of a jerk than a frightful terror. Perhaps I'll review it later this month.

But when it comes to excellent adaptations, Jim Carrey's Grinch takes the cake. As someone on the Internet recently said, "Jim Carrey's Grinch says "bitch," ate glass, and threw a whole child in the garbage." He's more faithful to the character than Benedict Cumberbatch's Grinch. This movie gets an excellent recommendation from me!

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Happy Halloween! The final film I've watched for my Halloween Month Movie Marathon is Edward Scissorhands (1990).

A door-to-door cosmetics sales lady named Peg (Dianne Wiest), having bad luck with her sales, decides to pay a visit to the dark gothic mansion on a hilltop overlooking her suburban neighborhood. She finds the place dusty and abandoned, except for a single person - a pale scarred man wearing a leather outfit. Worst of all, Peg discovers he has multiple scissors in place of his hands. The gentle, quiet man calls himself Edward (Johnny Depp). Peg brings Edward out of isolation and introduces him to society. But the strange new man has a hard time adjusting and soon finds himself at odds with the world.

This is a beautifully tragic film. I've always loved this film ever since it came out. It's so good at tugging at the heartstrings and making you feel for Edward's plight. He's spent who knows how long in isolation, and figuring out how society works is not an easy task, especially when you have foot-long razor-sharp scissors for hands. Learning about a variety of emotions, as well as being subjected to a variety of them from others, has to be confusing and terrifying. And when Edward can't cope with the emotions, his reactions scare others and cause him and those he loves pain and sorrow.

The hauntingly beautiful music by Danny Elfman really helps to set the mood for this piece. Re-watching it today, I realized how very similar the music is between this film and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). It's almost like Danny Elfman recycled bits and pieces of it from this film. This is one of those films that wouldn't be the same with any other music.

It's also interesting to see the Tim Burton-ish setting in the gothic mansion. He has a distinct style that stands out today, but in this film, it's a little more subtle. Like the very beginnings of his style coming out; rough around the edges but vaguely familiar.

It should also be noted that this was one of Vincent Price's last film roles. He was very famous for playing villains or spooky characters throughout his life, so it was nice seeing him play a sweet loving father figure in a Tim Burton film. And also very sad to see when his character "didn't wake up," as if foreshadowing his actual passing so soon after. I'm sure if he lived long after this film, he probably would've become a staple of Tim Burton movies, like Johnny Depp did.

This film is more drama than horror, but the tragedy that is Edward's life is dark enough that I'm willing to give it the Halloween pass. Besides, his pale, scarred, leather-bound appearance with long scissors for hands would be enough to send any sane person outside of a Tim Burton film running and screaming.

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon choice is Jeepers Creepers (2001).

A brother and sister are traveling home for spring break across the middle-of-nowhere, America. They witness a terrifying-looking humanoid creature tossing what looks like a body down a chute at an old abandoned church. Intent on helping the supposed person, they sneak into the church, only to find a horrifying scene. They attempt to escape and get help, but it's too late - the creature is on to their scent and tracking them...

This is an excellent horror film! Despite being a low-budget flick, the cinematography is superb. If you pay attention, you see the horrifying things in the background long before they're upon the protagonists. And the creature is exactly the kind of horror that terrifies me - an ancient near-indestructible thing with an unknown origin. Too many films attempt to explain the horror, which takes the mystery and intrigue out of it. Once you understand it, it's no longer scary. But have you ever lay awake in bed, terrified of what scary things might be hiding in your room at night? The fear of the unknown is a strong emotion, and this film uses the unknown to really draw out that emotion in you.

The first time I saw this film was a few years after its release, at the request of my sister. She claimed that the brother and sister protagonists reminded her of the two of us (we even looked kind of similar to them). That connection made this movie even more terrifying for her, as she imagined what it would be like if we were subjected to the same horror together.

Despite its low budget, this film was so popular, it ended up spawning two sequels. I have only seen the first sequel, which adds a little more intrigue to the story - again, without explaining away the whole origin. I'm curious to see what the third film is about, though. It just released last year.

If you enjoy fear-inducing horror without resorting to constant jump scares, this movie is a good choice!

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)

Sorry I've been absent the past few days. I've been catching up on the brand-new Netflix series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018).

Sabrina the teenage witch is about to turn 16. As a part of her witch upbringing, she is required to attend a dark baptism, wherein she'll agree to become a full witch (she's half witch, half mortal). But she discovers that her baptism comes at the price of her freedom. Will she sign away her name to the Dark Lord Himself and expand her magical powers, or will she choose the path of a mortal life?

This is a much darker retelling of the Sabrina the Teenage Witch story. Unlike the previous TV series, which was a fun comedy, this one has death and gore and drama, with little sprinkles of dark humor. In this version, witches lean heavily on the side of evil, with Sabrina being an outlier who prefers to follow a more righteous path (partly due to her mortal half). Her high school friends and boyfriend help keep her true to her beliefs, much to the dismay of the Church of Night (her unholy coven), who would wish she lose all contact with mortal life and accept her "true" place in the world.

This series is actually based on a comic book series of the same name, published by Archie Comics in 2014. I haven't read it yet, but I'm curious how similar the two are.

Personally, I loved this series but hated the ending. I won't spoil it, but let's just say it wasn't satisfying for me, personally, and may prevent me from watching any more. I might watch the second season (if/when it's released next year) in the hopes that they remedy the twist at the end. But if not... I feel like the series is ruined and I can't watch any more. Hopefully you enjoy it more than I did!

Beetlejuice (1988)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon flick is Beetlejuice (1988).

A married couple are enjoying a happy life in the country... until they die. The next thing they know, a family moves into their former home. Being unable to leave their home, they enlist the help of a sleazy "bio-exorcist" ghost named Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) to help them scare away the unwelcome new residents.

This is a classic Tim Burton film! Most people of my generation remember the kid's cartoon TV series that soon followed, which had Beetlejuice and Lydia (the daughter of the new living residents) as spooky partners-in-crime. But in this original film, "Betelgeuse" is actually the bad guy, while the protagonists are two newly-dead ghosts (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin), along with Lydia (Winona Ryder) who is able to see them.

Unlike the fun, energetic cartoon version, this Betelgeuse is crass, slimy, perverted, and totally selfish. He has been banished for hundreds of years and offers to help the new ghost couple in exchange for them freeing him. He is a despicable character and Michael Keaton really went nuts with the role. And yes, his actual name in the film is spelled Betelgeuse, like the red star in the Orion constellation. The "Beetlejuice" title was spelled that way partly as a joke, and partly because it would be more marketable for the film (who can spell Betelgeuse anyway?)

Apparently, this movie was originally supposed to be a very dark horror flick but eventually was re-written to be more of a dark comedy. It's a good thing too, as this comedy has stood the test of time. I still can't believe it's 30 years old this year! But be on the lookout - a sequel has been planned and may be coming one day soon...

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Halloween Month Movie Marathon continues, with Pan's Labrinth (2006).

In 1944 Spain, a civil war is just ending and a Captain and his entourage are clearing the forest of the resistance. He invites his new pregnant wife and her daughter, Ofelia, out to his post in the woods so that his new son can be born alongside him. Ofelia, meanwhile, discovers a labrinth nearby and meets a faun and his fairies at its center. The Faun insists she's the long-lost princess of a magical underground kingdom and gives her 3 tasks to carry out to prove she's worthy of reclaiming her throne.

This film is absolutely brilliant! Guillermo del Toro wrote and directed this masterpiece in his native language. (If you don't understand Spanish, ensure you have subtitles!) It's really two stories in one. On one hand, you follow a cold-hearted Captain and those around him as they fight a battle against resistance members intent on staying free from the oppressive government. On the other hand, Ofelia is caught up in a fairy tale where she has to perform tasks in order to prove her worth as a princess.

Both stories flow seamlessly together and Ofelia's story is just ambiguous enough to leave you guessing whether her magical world is real or just a figment of her imagination. The ending is beautiful and sad and satisfying all at once. It's such a wonderful movie that makes you feel for all the characters and their plight. This is definitely a must-see. I wouldn't necessarily list this as horror, but it doesn't shy away from violent deaths (especially at the hands of the Captain), plus at least one of the fantasy creatures was horrifying enough, my wife couldn't sit still while he was pursuing Ofelia. So it gets a horror pass from me.

Igor (2008)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick is Igor (2008).

In the town of Malaria, dark storm clouds roll in, killing all crops and livestock. In an effort to save themselves, the citizens choose to create evil inventions to blackmail the world with. The town is quickly filled with evil scientists and their hunchbacked assistants, the Igors. This is the story of one Igor, who has dreams of being an evil scientist himself. And he plans to earn his way out of Igor status by being the first person to create life!

This is a cute film. It's a kid-friendly film with a surprisingly large cast of familiar people (e.g. John Cusack, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Eddie Izzard, Jennifer Coolidge, Jay Leno, Molly Shannon). Still, it earned controversy among parents for one of its characters - an immortal rabbit who spends the entire film attempting to commit suicide á la Looney Tunes style.

This isn't a cinematic masterpiece by any means. There are plenty of awkward scenes and lines, and more than its share of cringey moments. However, if you can look past all that, the overarching story is one about defining one's character and trying to do what's right, even at the cost of your hopes and dreams. It's an interesting take on the Frankenstein tale, and one that's suitable for all ages (as long as you view the rabbit's suicidal attempts more like Wile E. Coyote pratfalls). If you want something rather light and comical for your family to watch, you could do a lot worse than Igor.

Happy Death Day (2017)

Hey! Sorry for the few days off. I've been real busy and haven't had a chance to watch movies. But I'm back! I'll make it up by reviewing a few films a day, maybe this coming weekend.

Anywhoo, tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon review is on Happy Death Day (2017).

A sorority girl goes through a pretty routine day of college life, until that evening when a person in a hoodie and college mascot facemask violently murders her! But to her surprise, she wakes up... that same morning. She quickly discovers that she's reliving her "death day" over and over again. Will she be able to break the cycle by identifying her killer?

This was a pretty cool film! It's essentially Groundhog Day, but with a murderous twist. It's also an interesting look at introspection, as the main character gets a chance to re-evaluate her choices every day and see the consequences of her actions. She starts to realize she's not exactly proud of the person she's become. But every day is a chance to start over, and she has quite a few of them lined up!

If you like murder mystery stories and are looking for a unique take on it, this is your kind of film!

A Quiet Place (2018)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick is A Quiet Place (2018).

In a post-apocalyptic world, a family tries to survive in absolute silence because monsters with ridiculously sensitive hearing lurk everywhere.

This movie was amazing! It was strange to watch a horror flick where the most tension-filled moments were not when it was completely silent, but when it was loud. This wasn't a completely mute film, though. There were plenty of ambient noises going on. If you pay attention, you realize there's rarely a completely mute moment in the film. Going to see it for the first time, I wondered if it was just going to be a completely silent film, except for a few loud jump scares and I was pleasantly surprised to find it filled with background sounds and hardly any jump scares. Even still, you'd shift uneasily in your chair every time someone stepped on a groaning floor or had to quickly rustle through bushes or tall grass.

This film was also brilliant in its use of sign language. The family communicated with sign language for most of the film (with subtitles for the uninitiated), which explains why they're one of the few survivors of humanity, as their eldest daughter was deaf. So they probably already knew sign language, which helped them communicate effectively for survival.

I also like that the parents (John Krasinski and Emily Blunt) are married in real life, so it was cool to see a real husband-and-wife duo playing the same roles on film. Some of the intense moments between them felt real genuine, probably because the two were imagining what it would be like in real life with each other.

The only complaint I have is with the creatures. No spoilers, but I feel like their weakness would've been easy for someone to figure out long before humanity was decimated by them. Maybe it was just sheer numbers that took humans by surprise. I dunno. But I do enjoy how you slowly piece together what happened to humanity. You're not just exposited upon with narration or a series of flashbacks. You have to pay attention to catch the minor details if you want the full story. But even if you miss the entire backstory, it's not necessary to enjoy the main story. You should definitely check this one out, for a unique take on silent horror.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Tonight's Halloween Month Move Marathon review is on Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).

Gizmo, an adorable fuzzy little Mogwai, ends up homeless after his keeper passes away. He's captured by a scientist who works in a New York skyscraper and held against his will. Gizmo eventually escapes, but not before getting wet. And when Mogwai get wet, they involuntarily reproduce, spreading evil mogwai intent on mischief. The new mogwai eat after midnight, which starts a metamorphosis process, growing them into fully-developed gremlins! The gremlins keep reproducing until they've filled the entire building. They must be stopped before the sun goes down, or else they'll run loose on New York City, devastating the city!

I usually review the first movie in a series, so as to give you an introduction to the franchise, but this is one of the rare cases where the sequel far surpasses the original. It's the same general plot as the first (even has a lot of the same characters), except this time it takes place in a modern skyscraper in New York instead of a small town.

The studio got a blank check to do whatever they wanted with the movie, and Stephen Spielberg didn't even want to make it, so unlike the more serious tone of the first film, it's silly, over-the-top, and constantly breaks the 4th wall. They even have a scene where a guy is reviewing the first film, calling it garbage until Gremlins attack him. Then he changes his review, saying, "it's 10/10! 10/10!!"

I also love the genetically altered gremlins. They raid a genetics lab and drink a bunch of potions, changing them. One turns into a bat gremlin, another a vegetable gremlin, one becomes insanely smart and then spews narrative at audience members, talking about his species and what their culture is truly striving for in this world. Along with a bunch of other genetically mutated gremlins. This is a hilarious and absolutely ridiculous film, with only a few gross slimy scenes between all the fun. I highly recommend it!

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon review is on 10 Cloverfield Lane.

After a car accident, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up to find herself being held underground in a bunker by two men, Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.). Howard claims the air outside his bunker is unbreathable, from an unknown source of nuclear or chemical fallout, and that he saved Michelle. But she fears that he may have kidnapped her and is keeping her locked away under false pretenses. With little room to move around, Michelle has to play along. Was she truly rescued? Or has the gruff, cold Howard abducted her and trapped her in his underground lair?

This is an excellent film! Unlike its predecessor (Cloverfield), this is not a "found footage" style film. 90% of the film takes place in Howard's bunker, with Michelle struggling with the idea of either being an unwilling captive or a thankful rescuee. Howard's demeanor throughout the film is just sociopathic enough to keep you guessing his intentions throughout. You truly feel the tension and anxiety Michelle goes through as she tries to figure out the truth without setting off her "rescuer." Because he's willing to kill anyone who poses a threat to his happy little bunker.

I won't spoil the ending, but you do get a definite answer to the lingering question throughout the film, and the decision by Michelle at the very end is a very powerful one. Her character development is wonderful; she begins the film as a weak, injured, helpless girl and by the end, she's a strong, confident, reliable woman. If you enjoy seeing women come into their own strength and overcome great odds, this is a good film for you. Jackie loves it and she's the one who insisted I see it.

Stranger Things (2016)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon choice is the TV series Stranger Things (2016).

After a lengthy session of Dungeons & Dragons, a group of young kids depart for the night. But on the way, one of them disappears. His mother enlists the aid of the small town sheriff to help track him down, but all signs point to him vanishing into thin air. But while the young boy has disappeared, a young girl with special abilities suddenly appears, with government agents hot on her trail...

This series is a love letter to the 80s. Set in the 80s, it perfectly encapsulates all the horror/thriller tropes of the time period. You have government conspiracies, otherworldly creatures, D&D, scientific experiements, and supernatural abilities. And the opening theme perfectly sets the tone for the show you're about to watch.

The story is very well put together, too. You get to know all the characters in depth without feeling like the show is dragging on. If you grew up in the 80s (like I did), you'll get waves of nostalgia watching this show. They've completed 2 seasons, with a 3rd releasing next year. If you haven't seen this show yet, now's the best time to watch it! It's on Netflix.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Since it's decided to snow today, in mid-October, I figured it was a good time to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, is tired of the same old routine every Halloween. But he stumbles across a doorway leading to Christmas Town, where he learns of a completely new and fascinating culture. Jack takes it upon himself to take over this new holiday, giving it a scary twist!

This musical is a classic favorite of my wife and I. It was the first full-length stop-motion animation film that Disney made (released under their Touchstone Pictures brand, for fear it'd be too scary to include in classic Disney tales). It was also the second animated Disney film to receive a PG rating, after The Black Cauldron (1985).

The Nightmare Before Christmas stands the test of time very well. Even compared to modern stop-motion animated films, you don't immediately notice much difference. Despite being a Tim Burton film, Tim Burton actually had very little to do with it. He wrote the original poem it was based on, and Danny Elfman essentially wrote the film as he created music for it (as well as voicing the singing Jack Skellington). Tim Burton was too busy directing Batman Returns and Ed Wood to direct this film, so he hired Henry Selick to direct instead. Henry estimates Tim Burton only showed up to production 8-10 days out of the 3 years they spent filming.

Overall, it's an excellent film with catchy music. My wife has been singing them non-stop since October started, so this was a long-requested film for us to watch!

Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon flick is Freddy vs. Jason (2003).

Freddy Krueger, the dream demon who haunts children's nightmares on Elm Street, is upset that everyone has forgotten his name. When no one remembers him, he can't come back to terrorize and butcher children in their dreams. So he enlists the help of Jason Vorhees, the mute disfigured ghoul who haunts Crystal Lake, to bring terror back to Elm Street so Freddy can take credit and be reborn. But before Freddy can regain full strength, Jason starts massacring everyone in sight. Without any living people to remember him, Freddy will be back where he started. So he turns on Jason, planning to end his murder spree once and for all.

This wonderfully campy flick pits two classic horror monsters against each other: Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and Jason Vorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. I love how well they blended the two franchise's themes. When tensions would rise, you'd hear Jason's theme and know he was about to strike. When you saw warped camera angles, you knew somebody had just slipped into a dream and Freddy was about to get them. Despite sticking to its campy roots, it actually did a decent job combining two separate series.

If I had to choose a franchise that this belonged to, it would be A Nightmare on Elm Street, as it's pretty much Freddy's story. Jason could be swapped out with any supernatural monster and the plot would be the same. Heck, it even continues the storyline from previous Elm Street movies, bringing back several familiar characters. Still, it was fun to watch two immortal evil creatures duke it out while screaming teens did their best to get out of the way. If you want to watch a franchise crossover fight-to-the-death, put down that copy of Alien vs. Predator and pick up this movie! It's a lot more entertaining to watch.

Red Dragon (2002)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick is Red Dragon (2002).

A brilliant detective for the FBI, Will Graham (Edward Norton), manages to discover and catch the elusive cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), at nearly the cost of his own life. Several years later, the FBI approaches Will about tracking down a new serial killer (Ralph Fiennes) who is butchering entire families. Will finds himself reluctantly returning to Dr. Lecter for aid in this latest case. But Dr. Lecter, a genius psychologist, enjoys testing the intellectual prowess of others. Will he help Will find the killer, or will he lead Will directly into the killer's open hands?

The Hannibal Lecter quadrilogy is my all-time favorite book series, and Red Dragon, being the first of the series, introduces the infamous cannibal to the world. However, the film version was released as a prequel after The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Hannibal (2001) got their movie debuts.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself is a captivating character. A cannibalistic serial killer, yes, but also highly intelligent, extremely cultured and proper, and choosing only to dine on others who are rude or a burden on society. I was fascinated with human psychology as a teenager, which led me to read Red Dragon, a book all about analyzing human behavior and how mental abuse can lead someone to become a serial killer. These books are brilliantly written, and gave me a better understanding of the human mind, which is why I am so extremely patient with everyone I meet.

This movie captures the novel exceptionally well. Ralph Fiennes portrays a tortured soul so incredibly, you truly believe he's the "Red Dragon." Anthony Hopkins continues to terrify audiences with his cryptic Hannibal character. In all, an excellent film. Not horror, persay, but more of a psychological thriller/mystery that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Corpse Bride (2005)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon film is The Corpse Bride (2005).

Set in the Victorian age, a young man name Victor (Johhny Depp) finds himself betrothed to a young lady named Victoria (Emily Watson). But while practicing his vows in the woods, Victor accidentally marries a buried corpse bride (Helena Bohnam Carter), bringing her back from the grave...

This was the next big claymation project of Tim Burton's after the Nightmare Before Christmas, and you can see the improvement in the style. Granted, they included limited CGI to help with ghostly apparitions and some smoothly-gliding movements. But overall, an amazing feat for the time it was released. Even modern claymation movies like last year's Kubo and the Two Strings still took over 5 years to make, so Tim Burton's studio was way ahead of its time.

I love the contrast between the two worlds depicted in this film. The living world is so bleak and dreary, while the land of the dead is bright, energetic, and colorful. These contrasting settings really help to draw you in to its world. The story is well done too. Both women are trapped in their respective situations, and even today, after watching this film many times over, I still don't know if the woman that Victor ultimately chooses to be with is the right choice. An argument could be made for both sides, which is a sign of a good plot - one that makes you think instead of blindly leading you to a foregone conclusion.

This is the perfect family-friendly Halloween film, with a little bit of spookiness, some good laughs and great music, and an enjoyable story to tell. I'd highly recommend it!

Misery (1990)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick is Misery.

Renowned author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) had just finished writing his latest book and was driving home through the Colorado mountains when a snowstorm caused him to wreck his car. He awoke to find himself being cared for in the country home of a self-proclaimed "number one fan." (Kathy Bates) But his sweet savior has a dark side to her, and Paul soon realizes she's not planning to let him leave anytime soon.

This is one of my favorite Stephen King novels. And the movie, although not as brutal as the novel, is still terrifying. You can feel the fear of the author as he realizes he's trapped in a small room with a psychotic person as his only companion. He's unable to move as his legs are broken from his accident. He's constantly fed pain meds that keep him fuzzy and unable to plan an escape. And who knows what comment might set off a violent mood swing from his captor?

This film comes highly rated by me. It was the first movie I ever saw Kathy Bates in, and no matter what role she plays, I always get a little bit of anxiety seeing her in other films. That's how superb her acting is in Misery. This is a must-see if you like tension-filled stories.

The Witch (2016)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon film is The VVitch.

In Colonial America, a family is excommunicated from the local village and has to build an isolated farm out in the woods. But there is an evil prescence in the woods that torments them, turning them on one another and testing this Christian family's faith in God.

One of my favorite things about this film is how accurately they tried to portray it. It was made using written legends and folklore of the early 1600s, so everything about this film is as accurate to the time period (1630) as possible, right down to the dialogue and dialect. Even the title is spelled with two "v" letters, as Colonial Americans didn't yet have a "w" letter.

This isn't a traditional horror film. You spend most of the film engaged in the lives of these people and how they deal with the unknown, with very little actual horror going on. You're on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next unexpected surprise to hit, but not sure when or if you'll see something confirming the evil the family suspects. So if you're looking for a slasher/survival film, this is not the film for you. However, if you're interested to see a period film that tells folklore of witches roughly 60 years prior to the Salem Witch Trials, then like me, you might really enjoy this.

Freaks of Nature (2015)

Happy Halloween Month Movie Marathon! I'm back with another review... Freaks of Nature.

This film takes place in a world where humans, vampires, and zombies all coexist peacefully. Or they did, until an alien spaceship turned up and sent the town into a panic. Now it's up to a human boy, vampire girl, and zombie nerd to team up and overcome this invading alien force!

This horror/comedy is highly entertaining to watch. It's a very creative spin on the classic zombie/vampire/alien tropes and has plenty of humor to inject between all the blood and gore. It's a well put together story and I would highly recommend it for viewing!

Oculus (2014)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick is Oculus.

A man is released from a psychiatric hospital after being locked up for 11 years. He believed that a haunted mirror possessed his parents, causing them to attack him and his sister when they were children. He now believes his mind was playing tricks on him, but his now-adult sister is anxious for him to return so they can together prove to the world that the mirror truly is haunted.

This is one of those movies that plays mind games with you. You don't know what's real and what's fake, and you don't know if the characters are really fighting a possessed mirror or just losing their own minds. It definitely keeps you on your toes.

It also bounces back and forth between the past and present, slowly revealing what happened in their childhood while at the same time, having the characters remember and re-live that horrible night.

The premise was excellent and the movie was great... until the end. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say that the ending was not satisfying for me personally and I felt it ruined the film. I've heard lots of praise for this film and was anxious to watch it, but the ending really turned me off to it. If you like psychological horror/thrillers, though, this may be the movie for you.

The Shining (1980)

Welcome back for your daily Halloween Month Movie Marathon! Tonight I'll be watching The Shining.

Jack Torrence (played by Jack Nicholson) is hired to manage an isolated hotel over the winter and he brings his family along, as they'll be snowed in for the season. However, the hotel has a haunting presence that slowly corrupts Jack's mind, turning him on his family. Meanwhile, his young boy learns he has a psychic ability and uses it to see horrific visions of past and future events.

I'm actually posting this review before seeing the movie, as my wife and I are going to be seeing a very late-night screening of it at our local theatre and I didn't want to post tonight's review tomorrow morning. But I've seen it many times before, so if anything of interest happens that I didn't remember, I'll add it to the comments below.

This film was made by the insane director, Stanley Kubrick. The guy was so OCD, he would re-shoot scenes a hundred times over until he felt it was perfect. As such, a lot of his works are considered important pieces of art in the film industry. However, Stephen King didn't like this movie version of his book.

The Shining also introduces "shining," a trope in Stephen King novels that describes psychic abilities. It would be revealed in other novels of his that random characters also have the shining. And it would even play a part in his magnum opus work, The Dark Tower series, which is a collection of novels that tie the various works of his other novels together into one massive multiverse.

Personally, I'm with Stephen King on this movie. I'm not a huge fan. It takes forever to build up to anything, and it feels like little happens throughout most of the film. And when things do happen, it's confusing and not quite explained. If you know the source material, it's easier to understand what's going on. Kubrick was always more interested in the art of filmmaking than making a coherent plot.

Stephen King made his own version of The Shining in 1997 as a 3-part TV miniseries. It was more true to his book than the Stanley Kubrick version, and in my opinion, the better of the two. In 2020, a sequel to The Shining is due to be released, starting Ewan McGregor as an adult Danny Torrence, Jack's boy from this old movie. It will be called Doctor Sleep, based on the 2013 novel of the same name. I'm interested to see how it plays out on the big screen.

Little Evil (2017)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick is Little Evil.

This horror/comedy follows a newly-married man named Gary (Adam Scott), who learns his new wife's (Evangeline Lilly) 5-yr old son just might be the actual Antichrist. He has to decide whether to be a supportive husband and father, or throw it all away to save the world from the End Times.

This is a good movie for new or expecting parents to watch, as it takes the "my child is the antichrist" mentality to its utmost extreme. When you feel like you're in over your head, do you give up on the child, or buckle down and attempt to be a loving, supporting parent no matter what? It was highly entertaining and I'd recommend it!

Life After Beth (2014)

Tonight's Halloween Month Movie Marathon pick... Life After Beth.

Zach (Dan DeHaan) is mourning the death of his girlfriend, Beth (Aubrey Plaza) after she was bitten by a venomous snake while hiking. But soon after her funeral, she turns up at home totally fine, minus a hazy memory. Zach is so relieved to have his girlfriend back! Until she starts acting strangely violent... and hungry.

I really enjoyed this film. I don't like how it just kind of opens with people in mourning and you have to spend a while slowly piecing together what happened. But once it gets going, it gets interesting. You get to see a man in love, given a second chance to say all the things he wanted to say to his woman before she died. And it's heart-breaking when he has to come to terms with the fact that the Beth that's returned is not quite the same Beth who left.

This is a horror film for people who hate horror films. You get to watch a supernatural love story without fear of jump scares. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story as it unfolds before you. Definitely a unique type of horror, but one I can appreciate.

It (2017)

Next on the Halloween Month Movie Marathon... IT.

IT is a Stephen King classic about a shape-shifting creature living under the town of Derry, Maine. When IT awakens, children start to go missing. A band of kids who call themselves the Loser's Club decide to stand up to IT... or else they might go missing themselves...

There are actually two movies based on this novel. Stephen King's IT (1990) was a 3-hour made-for TV movie that brought the horrifying novel to life. Last year, IT (2017) was released, being only chapter one. The second and final chapter will release in Sept 2019. Unlike the original movie, which bounces back and forth between the characters as kids and 30 years later as adults, the new film tells the children's tale, while its sequel will take place 27 years later.

I watch a lot of horror movies (can you tell?) so I've become very desensitized to horror. But I saw this movie in theaters and I have to say, this is the first movie in over a decade that has actually frightened me. I daresay this is my all-time favorite horror movie. The original 1990s film is like a comedy flick compared to this. (Seriously - Tim Curry's Pennywise the Clown is hilarious to watch!)

If you want a truly terrifying experience, you can't miss this movie. And keep an eye out for its sequel a year from now!

Murder Party (2007)

Halloween Month Movie Marathon continues with the film Murder Party!

A lonely pathetic man finds an invitation to a murder party on Halloween and decides to dress up in costume and attend. Unbeknownst to him, though, the party consists of a small group of artsy friends looking to murder their surprise guest in the most creative way in order to win a grant.

This film felt like a movie about art people, made by art people. It was pretty low budget and spent a lot of time trying to build a mood instead of doing anything meaningful. It was entertaining to watch, mostly because I was interested to see how this loser of a protagonist escapes (or IF he even escapes).

This film was advertised as a comedy horror, but there were only a couple chuckle-worthy scenes. It didn't drag on and on, but it also didn't have much happening for 90% of the film. If you like your movies slow-paced, this might be of interest to you.

Scream (1996)

It's Halloween Month Movie Marathon! Kicking it off with a classic horror flick - Scream!

Scream takes place in a small town where a serial killer starts killing people close to Sidney Prescott (played by Neve Campbell). And it just so happens to be the one-year anniversary of her mother's brutal murder. Coincidence? With the aid of her best friend's deputy brother, Sidney has to survive long enough to figure out who the killer is and why he wants to kill her.

This is a classic Wes Craven mystery horror that will keep you guessing until the end. And it is very self-acknowledging, constantly talking about the rules of horror movies. One character is even a fanatic of horror films and is constantly pointing out the obvious next move the film should take, which it typically does. All in all, a very fun slasher film.

Trivia: One of the main characters was left for dead near the end of the movie. Wes Craven decided last-minute to add in a scene of the character being carted away in an ambulance. It proved a good move, as that character would go on to become very important in future sequels.

More trivia: There are some big celebrity cameos in this film, like Drew Barrymore being the first victim at the beginning of the film, Liev Schrieber as the man on death row for Sidney's mother's murder, and Henry Winkler as the principal. Also, Wes Craven did some of the costumed shots and also was the janitor "Fred" who dressed like Freddy Kruger.

Marvel Zombies Franchise

Halloween Month Movie Marathon starts on Monday! But i'm giving you a review a few days early, since it's not a movie (or video game). Hmm... Maybe I should change the title to Halloween Month Media Marathon.

Marvel Zombies is a collection of comic mini-series involving an alternate reality where all the Marvel superheroes become zombies and end up terrorizing the world instead of saving it.

In this universe, a random super-powered man appears and falls from the sky in New York. When Captain America and his team of Avengers arrive to the scene, he ends up bitten by the man and immediately suffers an insatiable hunger for flesh. He turns on his own Avengers, infecting them as well. With superheroes rapidly turning into zombies, the planet quickly falls to their craving for flesh and blood.

Marvel's version of zombies are not the brain-dead type; on the contrary, they maintain their original minds, memories, and superpowers, able to essentially "live" the same as they did before becoming infected. They are considered undead, as they no longer need to breathe or eat. And they don't suffer if/when their bodies rot or are torn apart. However, they suffer an insatiable hunger that overpowers all rational thought, causing them to binge on living flesh before coming back to their senses. They are only free of the hunger for a few moments before the pain and desire start gnawing at them again.

This is a very dark universe in the Marvel continuity. You experience the story from the perspective of the super-powered zombies as they deal with the horror of their new-found cravings. Superheroes become the plague that ends the world, and they won't stop until they've consumed all flesh in the entire multiverse. The end to the original storyline explains how it all started, which is a shocking and sad revelation.

I absolutely love this series of comic books! They're well worth the read. Definitely a unique take on the concept of zombies. If Marvel made a live action movie out of this story, that would be the greatest thing ever!

Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)

I just finished watching Pacific Rim: Uprising. It was way better than I expected! And I went in with some pretty high expectations too.

When the first Pacific Rim came out, I thought, "Finally! Giant mech/monster movies have progressed to the point where a live-action Neon Genesis Evangelion can finally be made! (That project's been on indefinite hold since 2003, by the way)

With this movie, all I could think of is, "This looks like it borrowed a lot from NGE. I mean, A LOT." No spoilers, but if you've watched NGE, you'll get a very familiar vibe watching this movie.