Shocktober Day 7: The Other

The Other (1972)

Movies like this are the reason I continue to do Shocktober. Just when you think you’ve scraped the bottom of the horror barrel you find something so good you’re baffled its been hiding away for all these years. The Other is one of the most disturbing movies I’ve ever seen for a Shocktober entry. There are no throwaway, “Gotcha!” moments here. The Other instead goes for that slow burn of uneasiness that when finally extinguished still leaves you shaking in the dark like a frightened child. Who could be responsible for such a hidden horror classic… The director of To Kill a Mockingbird? That’s right. But let’s talk about Robert Mulligan’s “other” classic.

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Shocktober Day 6: Frogs

Frogs (1972)

I don’t know how many times in my life I have walked into a Blockbuster, or a Video Update or a Hollywood Video only to come face-to-face with the VHS cover for Frogs. Did I ever think to look at the back? No. Did I ever read up on it? Heavens no. All I needed was to look at the cover with a frog chomping down on a human hand and I was content. Why did I have to ruin that memory by actually watching the movie? I don’t know but let’s find out.

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Shocktober Day 5: Tales From The Crypt

Tales From The Crypt (1972)

When I chose my first two films to review for this year’s Shocktober, it was more or less random. So it’s only by some weird coincidence that I am once again reviewing a movie directed by Freddie Francis, a guy who I had never heard of before sitting down to watch Trog and now Tales From The Crypt. But I’m kinda glad I was forced to become aware of Francis, since he had a somewhat unique career, as he started out as a cinematographer on films like 1961’s The Innocents and 1960’s Sons And Lovers (for which he won an Oscar), before making the jump to director on horror movies for the British production company Amicus, like The Deadly Bees and Torture Garden (which I can only assume are as good as they sound). And then after getting sick of being labeled as merely a “genre director”, he made the switch back to working as a cinematographer on prestige pictures like The Elephant Man and Glory (for which he would win another Oscar). So it’s been interesting to see the contrast in what Francis could bring to the table on a campy trainwreck like Trog, and then also to a more well-made and enjoyable piece of camp like Tales From The Crypt. Continue reading →

Shocktober Day 4: Willard

Willard (1971)

At first glance I thought this film may have been made-for-TV after every copy I found online appeared to be taped off of your Uncle’s VCR. Though research tells me this film was a theatrical release and a bonafide box office hit in the summer of ’71. Can you believe there was a time when a movie with no star power about a young man and his rat pals could be a hit? Let me introduce you to Willard.

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Shocktober Day 3: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

Initially, I was going to review the Vincent Price thriller, The Abominable Dr. Phibes for Shocktober Day 3, but I had a change of heart because I wanted to show that the 1970s were more than campy monster movies and splatter films. So instead I proudly present the directorial debut from Italian Giallo director Dario Argento “L’uccello dalle plume di cristallo” or in English, “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.” What is “Giallo” exactly? Apparently, “Giallo” is Italian for “Yellow” which gets me nowhere. Digging a little deeper I found that in Italy you used to be able to purchase pulp murder/mystery novels with unique yellow covers. Though what makes a film distinctly Giallo? Let’s find out with my take on The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.

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Let Go Your Earthly Tether

The Legend of Korra Season 3

There’s nothing like The Legend of Korra on TV, and now that sadly includes Korra itself, which transitioned to online-only midway through its third season after Nickelodeon massively dropped the ball at marketing the show. You see, the first three episodes of “Book Three: Change” (the series calls seasons books) leaked, forcing the network decided to rush the season out, announcing the premiere just a week before it aired and with almost no fanfare. Not surprisingly, Korra experienced series-low ratings, and before the show could recover it got bumped into cyberspace.

For a big fan, this transition has been bittersweet. On the one hand, this is exactly the show I wish kids were watching. It’s truly all-ages entertainment, smart, beautifully made, and an action series with a kickass female lead, there aren’t a lot of those going around. But on the other hand, it’s been six weeks since “Change” ended and the new season, “Balance,” is already available to stream. It undoubtedly will be the last, and it’s kind of crazy to think that the world will be without Avatar again before 2015.

I first got into this franchise is college, when some YouTube videos inspired me to check out The Last Airbender, which was cursing into its excellent final season. I was aware of the show before that, it was something my brothers watched, but Nickelodeon stigma kept me away. I’m glad I gave it a chance, because that show ended up being among my favorites of all time, and now its successor is finally getting to be at that same level.

“Change” is all about the ramifications of the last season, “Spirits,” which ended with Korra deciding to leave the portal between the worlds open, allowing spirits and humans to live together. This has caused at least two major shifts in the world: Republic City is overrun with spiritual greenery and people all over the world are discovering they can airbend. This allows Korra and the rest of Team Avatar a chance to finally get out of the city and travel the world as they begin rebuilding the Air Nation.

There are obstacles along the way, none of which is more dangerous than Zaheer, a dangerous, philosophical anarchist who is fittingly played by Henry Rollins. After discovering he can now airbend, Zaheer escapes from prison and reunites his own team featuring an armless waterbender, an earthbender who can create lava, and a firebender with combustion skills like that guy from The Last Airbender. Together they set out to capture Korra, and prove to be the most dangerous and exciting villains the series has ever had.

Probably the greatest thrill of The Legend of Korra for me is how exciting and amazing it is to get beautifully animated and choreographed magical kung fu fighting on a weekly basis. Having enemies that are capable of each kind of bending meant that every fight this season was interesting and different from the last, especially the final battle of the season, which, because of spoilers, can’t be explained but must be seen.

I couldn’t get as invested in this show as I am if I just watched for the fighting, however, and “Change” is also the strongest season of the series in terms of character development. Previous mistakes are undone and turned into opportunities for growth, insights into hidden pasts are given, relationships are shifted, broken, and strengthened. For the first time, I’m starting to really care about this Team Avatar the way I did about Aang’s Team Avatar. No easy task considering every season of Korra has been about half as long as one of The Last Airbender.

Look, I know I’m not winning anyone over by writing about how special this franchise has become to me. It’s probably too late anyway, given the digital death sentence Nickelodeon has given the franchise. But I had to write something, and if you are interested at all, you can stream the whole series at Nick.com right now and catch up in time to be on board this sinking ship before she’s completely underwater. I have the utmost confidence “Balance” will be amazing. And I know I’m going to miss her a whole lot when she’s gone.

Shocktober Day 2: Trog

Trog (1970)

Hey there, shocktoberphiles! Yes, it is true that I’ve agreed to partake in this year’s Shocktober by reviewing a few “classic” horror films from the ’70s. Now to be clear, I am by no means a horror movie expert, and especially in the last few years I’ve found myself shying away from horror movies more and more when it comes to the genres I choose to spend time with. But, I figured John could use a friend to help him out with the Herculean task of reviewing 31 movies in 31 days, and this blog is nothing if not about friendship. So though I may not be a horror buff by any means, I would say I have a fair bit of expertise when it comes to Hollywood’s golden age, and perhaps it’s fitting that the first film I’ll be reviewing stars one of old Hollywood’s consummate tough broads, Joan Crawford. And not only that, but the British horror flick Trog also served as Crawford’s final film, and thus let her go out the way any legendary actress would want to — by getting upstaged by a guy in a shitty caveman costume. Continue reading →