Change Your Image
scarytalesthemovie
Reviews
Scary Tales (2001)
Just previewed the two pack...
Our film review website was sent a screener of the "Scary Tales Collection 2 pack", which is set for major release later this year.
Having read some reviews for both films, I was interested in seeing what each entry in this low budget series had to offer.
To my surprise, both films moved at a quick pace and each offered their form of "entertainment". Now, why is entertainment in quotation marks?
Well, these little low budget features were oddities. For starters, despite being irrational with their narratives, they seem to intentionally tread familiar ground only to push a cliché so far before completely turning it in your face. Of course, the entertaining factor is the oddness of the production.
SCARY TALES
A review by Justin Dyer
5-24-2005
Part 1 in the series, captioned "Volume 1 - Warped Realities" - is much different than the 2nd entry in the series. While it technically is a horror anthology, each tale is centered around one individual who visits a job finding agency. Here, he is told 3 stories dealing with different jobs, and what his future would hold if he took each.
While the wrap-a-round is a good idea, the idea is underutilized. While Joel D. Wynkoop has a fun, campy presence as Mr. Longfellow - this low budget series' version of the Crypt-Keeper, his being confined behind a desk lowers the fun level (he is much more animated in the sequel).
Technically this entry falls within the "anthology format", yet, each tale deals with the same character - making it almost a feature cut into vignettes as opposed to a typical "trilogy" of horror.
SCARY TALES is extremely similar in tone to the television anthology series of the 1960's and 70's; somber, paced with deliberate intention, stories focused on one individual - yet, there are some campy scenes mixed within. It's odd that the creators took the campier level with the sequel - as this is a fairly straightforward series.
Each tale is decently acted and well photographed - but blood is a scarcity as, again, these are more reminiscent of something you would see on television.
There is an effective sex scene thrown within, upping the level of exploitation, but this is still a more "mainstream" feature that is appropriate for 13+.
What should you expect from SCARY TALES?
It is entertaining with fairly solid stories, attractive women (with a decent amount of nudity) and a straightforward narrative. Would I recommend it as much as it's sequel? No.
However, it does lead into THE RETURN OF MR. LONGFELLOW quite well, and there's an inside joke that's bound to make any fan of this film chuckle once they watch part 2.
Camp Value - 7 out of 10 Production Value - 8 out of 10 Acting - 6 out of 10 Screenplay - 6 out of 10 Entertainment Value - 7 out of 10
Overall
6 out of 10
Recommended
Scary Tales: The Return of Mr. Longfellow (2003)
Just previewed the two pack...
Our film review website was sent a screener of the "Scary Tales Collection 2 pack", which is set for major release later this year.
Having read some reviews for both films, I was interested in seeing what each entry in this low budget series had to offer.
To my surprise, both films moved at a quick pace and each offered their form of "entertainment". Now, why is entertainment in quotation marks?
Well, these little low budget features were oddities. For starters, despite being irrational with their narratives, they seem to intentionally tread familiar ground only to push a cliché so far before completely turning it in your face. Of course, the entertaining factor is the oddness of the production.
SCARY TALES: THE RETURN OF MR. LONGFELLOW
A review by Justin Dyer
5-24-2005
Part 2 in the series, captioned "The Return of Mr. Longfellow" - is a welcome return to campy horror. Instead of taking itself seriously, the film wisely plays itself for clichés and camp factor. Unlike other moderately budgeted independent features, this film doesn't try to "push the envelope", so to speak, in terms of brutality or tasteless imagery. To call this exploitation would be inane. This is clearly a case of a campy film suitable for all ages of the horror spectrum.
While the blood flows nicely and the special effects are well above par for a film in this budgetary range - the unusual array of stories create an arsenal of creativity rarely seen on this production level.
In closing, while this is by no means a perfect film, it does have something for every horror fan. Like most anthology features, it features three tales within a connective tissue - or the "wrap-a-round story" - and which you like best probably depends on which genre of horror you prefer.
It's funny - from all the reviews I'd skimmed through, certain critics were eager to trash the first story while praising the third - and vice-versa. However, the fact none can decide which tale is best would probably best describe how I feel. There is no good or bad tale. All are entertaining. Which you enjoy the most or dislike is clearly dependent on your taste in horror - and, isn't that what a horror anthology is supposed to be? Different?
Camp Value - 10 out of 10 Production Value - 8 out of 10 Acting - 6 out of 10 Screenplay - 8 out of 10 Entertainment - Value 10 out of 10
Overall
10 out of 10
Highly recommended