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I will be reviewing every movie featured on my Podcast on IMDB. On the show the listeners score the movies, so this is my outlet!
I will not give spoilers and offer the best guidance I can to help you select horror movies that will keep you entertained and scared.
As my listeners select the movies each week I can't guarantee what movies I will be reviewing but I can guarantee my opinion is my own and may not reflect that of the listener scores or of anyone else.
If you find my reviews helpful then please let me know. You can always reach out to me on the show too.
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Older Gods (2023)
Dark & Unsettling
Cosmic horror is not really my thing and the prospect of a low budget version of this did not fill me with joy but...
This movie is about so much more, internal battels with guilt, the confusion that surrounds the events. Is it actually happening? Is the main protagonist just losing his mind?
Older Gods surprised me on may levels. The one that took me by complete surprise was the quality of the direction and the visual effects.
This movie is a slow burn and I have seen many comments mention that as a negative, it really isn't! This movie takes time to develop plots and themes and gives you payoffs for each.
If you like unsettling horrors that leave the ending to your own interpretation then Older Gods is 100% for you.
Beetlejuice (1988)
It could be noting else than a 10!
This movie is so quirky and original. It can be enjoyed by everyone and is a triumph in cinema.
Tim Burton delivered a movie that in my opinion will be forever his best work. Introducing so many amazing characters into one movie is difficult but Burton does this without missing a beat.
The visuals are intentionally bad, only adding to the charm of the movie. The performances across the board are exceptional, none more than Michael Keaton who delivers his best performance.
This is one of the few 80's movies that I believe has a real need to have a sequel. The possibilities are endless and if the original cast could be acquired this would be a huge success.
In short if you haven't seen Beetlejuice add this to your watch list now. You are in for a treat from start to finish in this one of a kind unique look at the afterlife and removal of the living from haunted homes.
It (1990)
Not as good as I remembered
When I settled down to watch IT i was expecting to have the same feelings as when I watched this as the 2 part mini series it once was.
Unfortunately I was sadly disappointed, it is drawn out in to many places and beyond Tim Curry the acting is terrible.
For the most part the effects are still tolerable but this movie has some of the worst Claymation I have ever seen in aby movie.
Having for a long time believed that this was the best version of IT I find myself now swaying to the 2017 remake as the best of the bunch.
The only reason to watch this movie now is for Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise, beyond that this movie has noting to offer in my opinion.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Found footage gold
This movie induces fear almost better than any other found footage film!
They stick with a very basic premise and keep the monster (Witch) hidden throughout that only heightens the tension.
When this was first released it marketing was outstanding. They fooled the world into believing that this was real found footage. So convincing that some of the casts family received condolence letters after its release.
Despite us now knowing this is not the case this film still holds up and will for years to come. The reliance on only the actors ability and practical effects makes this almost a masterpiece.
Sharknado (2013)
The worst movie I have watched to date
I really do not know where to begin with Sharknado?
Do I start with the terrible acting, the dreadful visual effects or do I focus on the awful plot and story??
I love B style silly horror movies and am happy to embrace, plot holes and even bad effects due to low budget but...
I can honestly say there is not a single redeeming quality about this movie! That coupled with the blatant rip off of lines from the best ever shark movie JAWS made this almost unwatchable.
All of that being said, with a group of friends and some drinks this movie will give you lots to talk about and will defiantly generate some laughs.
This movie is only for the most hardcore of bad movie fans, if that's not you then I would recommend you avoid this movie at all costs!
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Classic, Horror that changed everything
I don't dish out 10/10 scores easily but Nightmare on Elm St can score nothing else.
This movie redefined what a horror movie can be and brought one of the most iconic villains ever created. Robert Englund's portrayal of the infamous Freddy Kruger is faultless. He is scary and sinister with one advantage over other slasher villains of the time... He Speaks!
No silent kills from a super strong killer who can't be hurt. This is a killer who toys with his victims adding an element of terror that the likes of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees lack.
The script is unique and original taking us away for the basic formats that are the back bone of slasher movies. Adding the element of dreams no only made the whole concept scarier but it allowed complete creativity for the film makers which is apparent right from the off.
I had expected the visual effects to look poor by todays standards but the reliance on practical effects have allowed this movie to hold up if not better many modern movies. The scene with Freddy over Nancy's bed is noting short of spectacular.
All in all this is the perfect horror movie and Wes Craven's masterpiece. A must see for any fan of horror!
Child's Play (1988)
Original, classic
When I sat down to watch Child's Play my expectations were low. Having revisited numerous movies from this time and finding them lacking i was pleasantly surprised.
Child's Play is a well constructed plot with an original story. The acting from the cast as a whole is also solid adding to the strength of this movie.
Some of the visual effects have aged badly, The CGI lightning is shocking (Excuse the pun) but everything else is as good today as when it was released.
A mixture of good practical effects and puppeteering make Chucky creepy, scary and lifelike.
I would recommend this movie to any horror fan that has not had the pleasure of the evil dolls debut outing. You will not be disappointed!
1BR (2019)
Gripping, intense and all round great movie.
I have read a lot of reviews on this movie prior to watching and am starting to think that people just give bad reviews for the hell of it.
Having never been inducted into a cult I can't speak from personal experience however I believe this movie is pretty close.
The performance by Nicole Brydon Bloom as Sarah if outstanding and delivers similar depth and range as that of Sissy Spacek in Carrie or Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween. She truly is an underrated actress and a future scream queen.
That being said she did not deliver this great movie single handed. The supporting cast were also superb adding to the uneasy tone the movie sets and keeps throughout. Special credit to Clayton Hoff and Naomi Grossman who despite very few lines in the movie have influential roles in the character curves.
I can understand that this movie is not for everyone but, if you like a well thought out story and a steady pace of build and a anxious feeling throughout then this could be for you.
1BR is without a doubt under discovered and had this had a large theatrical release would have been a roaring success. Having found this by chance it has quickly jumped into my top horrors of recent memory and easily the best horror I have seen this year.