Carrie (1976)

"Carrie" (1976, Brian De Palma, United Artists) is the movie adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.

The story, in case you've been living under a rock, is about Carrie White (Sissy Spacek); a strange and put-upon misfit teen with no friends or social skills who's mother is an abusive and unsupportive religious nut.

Carrie's mother (Piper Laurie) tells her nothing of puberty and thinks of everything to do with anything to be unclean and sinful. And so, when Carrie finds herself bleeding from an intimate place in the girls' shower room at school she panics and is resultantly ridiculed by all of her peers until a well-meaning teacher, Miss Collins (Betty Buckley), intervenes.

Throughout the film timid young Carrie becomes stronger and begins to exhibit telekintetic powers which finally manifest with tragic consequences after the bullies (including John Travolta) get the better of her in the infamous Prom scene.

A great book and an equally great adaptation, I really like this version. Spacek's performance as Carrie is really excellent, especially in that tear-filled slow motion prom scene. Typical of King stories, however, I would say it is not scary in a conventional sense... well, except for that key iconic end scene. That hand coming from the grave always gave me the chills as a kid!

Looking forward to the remake to compare.

[Image: United Artists]

Hani

Evil Dead (2013)

"Evil Dead" (2013, Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, FilmDistrict, Ghost House Pictures, TriStar Entertainment) is the remake/reboot/sequel of the classic 1981 Raimi film.

Finally, I got around to seeing this!

Well, what can I say, as much as I missed Ash greatly, (Evil Dead without Bruce's fabulous on-screen presence is just never going to cut it for me) I have to give credit where credit is due, this film is brutal. Gory doesn't even begin to describe this film.

While gory, though, I wouldn't say it terrified me more than it had me awestruck at the sheer brutality of the special effects. It is safe to say that this film is disgusting, but in that special way that gorehounds love. It's well made, the special effects are brilliant and, while the characters all seem to exhibit some form of the original Ash character in one way or another, they hold pretty well for a splatter film and the actors and actresses' performances are excellent.

Changing the plot slightly to a bunch of friends (and a brother) trying to save their friend/sister from her lethal drug addiction, saved this film a lot. Had they tried to rehash the whole original Evil Dead plot I would have been sorely disappointed. But I rather enjoyed this new plot with its several well-placed nods and homages to the original films. Instead of recreating the first or second films they altered just enough to make this version a film in its own right.

I would also have to commend this film on its sheer energy, which is also reminiscent of the original two films. Truly an unrelenting torrent of blood and insanity, it barely gives the audience breathing space to recover from each scene without losing any of that agitating, squirmy appeal.

While it will never replace the original film for me, and certainly with the straight-faced quality of the storytelling it will never become one of my must-watch-several-times-a-year films, "Evil Dead" really brings everything it promised to the table: gallons of gore, creepy demonically possessed twenty-somethings, a suitably nostalgic cabin, tree rape and a lot of nice jumpy bits. Definitely something to see, even if you're not a gorehound.

[Image: Ghost House Pictures & TriStar Entertainment]

Hani

Bloody Cuts : Lock Up

"Lock Up" (2013, www.bloodycuts.co.uk, Ben Kent, Ben Franklin, Jonny Franklin) is the first episode of the British online horror anthology, Bloody Cuts.

A man is the last at work and has to lock up the offices on his way out, but when the lights go out he begins to feel he may not be the only one there...!

Short, effective and straight to the point, "Lock Up" uses the simplicity of solitude and darkness to make the viewer feel the dread slowly build up. Very organic and nicely put together. An excellent hook for an altogether enjoyable collection!

[Image: www.bloodycuts.co.uk]

Hani

Bloody Cuts : Stitches

"Stitches" (Ben Kent, Ben Franklin, Jonny Franklin, Joel Morgan) is another short from Bloody Cuts' horror anthology.

This one is not for the Coulrophobics out there! A babysitter finds more than she bargains for when sitting for the child of a couple who collect figures and toys.

Nicely set up and only 5 minutes or so long, this one is really a one trick pony of a film, but providing you go in open minded I'm sure you'll be pleased.

[Image: www.bloodycuts.co.uk]

Hani

Bloody Cuts : Prey

"Prey" (Jonny Franklin, Ben Franklin, Ben Kent, Joel Morgan, www.bloodycuts.co.uk) is the third episode of the Anthology online series, Bloody Cuts.

A sexual predator (the rather dashing Fergal Philips pictured below) receives his comeuppance when he rufies the wrong girl's drink in a bar.

It's really a classic monster (short-)movie with a boogie under the bed deal, but with a set up that could be seen as more scary than the monster itself. Nicely put together with some good effects and some very good creepiness in the bedroom before the gore sets in to steal the show.

[Image: www.bloodycuts.co.uk]

Hani

Bloody Cuts : Mother Died

"Mother Died" (Neill Gorton, Ben Franklin, www.bloodycuts.co.uk) is another of the British horror anthology, Bloody Cuts.

A dark and personal kind of film, we meet a daughter (Sarah Winter) who's mother has just died. I advise you do not know any more than that going in, as it makes what the daughter does much more sinister!

Quiet and short, with some nice effects and interesting camera angles, "Mother Died" adds a little something of interest to its genre, which is fast becoming boring with too many film makers going down the same path. Quite inspired.

[Image: www.bloodycuts.co.uk]

Hani

Bloody Cuts : Suckablood

"Suckablood" (2013, Ben Franklin, Jake Cuddihy, Ben Tillett, www.bloodycuts.co.uk) is another short from Bloody Cuts, the British horror anthology series.

Done in a fairytale style similar to Tim Burton with a dash of Dr. Seuss mixed with Edgar Allan Poe and a whole heap of The Brothers Grimm, "Suckablood" is a really artistic piece. It mixes animation, live action and prosthetics really nicely!

A young girl is reprimanded by her stepmother for sucking her thumb. To stop her, the stepmother tells her that she has cursed the child and if she sucks her thumb again, a creature called the Suckablood will come and kill her!

Terrified, the child goes to bed and sits scared, desperately trying not to suck her thumb. But can she really stop herself?

All done in poetic form, I can see why Stephen Fry is such a big fan of this short!

Highly recommended!

[Image: www.bloodycuts.co.uk]

Hani