Annabelle

When I first saw "The Conjuring" I was supremely interested in the Annabelle doll and it's story. I had hoped that eventually we would learn more about the doll, so when I heard that this movie had been released I was really happy. The good news is that this film really looks and feels like like it belongs in the "Conjuring" universe, and that's a compliment. Although not directed by Wan, this film had a similar tone and pacing to Wan's films, and I appreciated the attention to detail. The acting was fairly good, but I felt let down by the script, which felt very by-the-numbers to me. Plot-wise there wasn't much to this film, and atmosphere alone will only take a horror movie so far. In the end, this was good but not great, but I do hope for more films set in the "Conjuring" universe. 3/5

Annabelle on Netflix

The Childhood of a Leader

I don't even know how this film ended up in my queue, but I'm so glad it did, because it just blew me away. This is the actor Brady Corbet's directorial debut, but it felt like the polished hand of Kubrick more than the the first work of a new director. It was lush and beautifully framed throughout in impressive fashion. But I have to talk about the score for this, because that was the real star. The moment the credits started and the overture began, I was captured. The music is bombastic and cacophonous and just perfect in every way. I was utterly entranced by it, so imagine how stunned I was when I saw that it was none other than Scott Walker who composed it. I only recently discovered Walker in a documentary called "Scoot Walker: 30th Century Man" about his life and career, and, when I saw it, I really disliked his work, rather immensely so in fact. Clearly I need to listen again, because this was amazing. This movie won't be for everyone. It's brash and intense and stylistic and nebulous, and I will say I didn't get the very very end at all, which is why I deducted a half star. But I loved it, really. Highly recommended. 4.5/5

The Childhood of a Leader on Netflix

The Tunnel

HOLY SNOT THIS WAS SCARY!!!! I get creeped out a lot, disturbed by some things, and grossed out only now and again, but I'm rarely actually scared watching a film. I'm such a avid watcher of thrillers and horror that there isn't much that actually affects me in that way. But, after watching this, I don't think I'm going to sleep well tonight. I really felt that this was the true inheritor of "The Blair Witch Project", which, as regular readers know, I feel is the scariest film I've ever seen. "The Tunnel" took all the lessons of "Blair Witch" and made a solid documentary style film that isn't just found-footage, but something far more, and reminiscent of the TV documentaries that preceded the release of "Blair Witch". If you are a fan of that type of horror, you have to see this. Loved it.  5/5

The Tunnel on Netflix

The Hallow

Well, this film just upped the ante on being suspenseful and scary as hell. I did not realize going in how bone-chilling this movie was going to be, but it hooked me fast and the nearly relentless action kept me totally enthralled. The creature effects were some of the best I've seen in years - they were truly outstanding. But it all comes down to the devastating choice the mother must make at the end. It reminded me of the ending of "The Good Son" in a lot of ways, which is a compliment coming from me. I'm glad this got recommended to me, I really enjoyed it. 4/5

The Hallow on Netflix

The Ward

I wasn't really having this film until the last ten minutes, and then everything fell beautifully into place. I literally went "OHHHH!" out loud. I haven't seen a John Carpenter film in ages so it's good to see he still has a good directorial touch. I have been liking Amber Heard's work as of late - this, being several years ago, was still a bit shaky for me, but she was getting there. An interesting film. 3.5/5

The Ward on Netflix

#Horror

This film tries so hard to be edgy and cool and just misfires at every crucial point. The rapid edit style made this hazy and convoluted plot more confusing, and I was never clear about what "game" these girls were supposedly playing. To top it off, the dialogue is about as unrealistic as it gets. I will say that, when the film settles down at points, the visual composition is excellent. I think Tara Subkoff has real talent that was hidden in this - I will be interested to see new work from her. 2/5

#Horror on Netflix

The Gallows

I rented this film solely on the strength of the very simple yet utterly terrifying trailer I saw. Let's just make this simple. This is a short found-footage horror film very much in the style of "The Blair Witch Project" and "Paranormal Activity". If you didn't like either of those films, you won't like this. The acting is somewhat bland, the direction by-the-numbers for found-footage. The plot was fairly straightforward until the end, which I really loved - hence the extra half star. It's a solid film and I was very compelled by it. I enjoyed it - if you like found-footage horror you will as well. 3.5/5

The Gallows on Netflix

Pet

I really thought I knew where this horror film was headed. It seemed so obvious. Inevitable. Boring even - that's how predictable it seemed. And then, about half way through, the film took a HARD left turn and became something very different and far more interesting than I ever expected. The ending was spectacular. This was surprisingly good. 4/5

Pet on Netflix

Split

Well, I never thought I'd be writing these words, but... M. Night Shyamalan has made am extraordinary film that everyone really must see. The story of this psych thriller (I can't call it horror really) is quite well put together. Yes, there are holes in portions of it, but the reviewers who have made those their sticking points are missing the bigger picture. It's a good story well told, and he clearly did some research on popular theory of this subject. James McAvoy is, in a word, transcendent. He should absolutely get an Oscar nod for this. But, in all honesty, it was the direction that grabbed me the most. This doesn't look like a Shyamalan film - it truly looks like something Kubrick made. It's a visual feast, and so much of the story is told visually and through the soundscape. It's the total package, and, yes, there's something unexpected at the end. At least he stayed true to that convention. Seriously, this is amazing. You must watch it. 4.5/5

Split on Netflix

The Bye Bye Man

I've been waiting for a while to get this film, and it didn't disappoint me. What I find interesting is the complete dichotomy of the Netflix reviews. People either love this or hate it, but I've noticed that, if they loved it, like me, they were observant. There's a lot going on in the background of this movie. Things just slightly out of frame, in shadow, blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of things. The more I noticed, the creepier and more effective the film was. The direction was quite well done in this way, and it paid off for those who look for the little things like I tend to do. I bet if I watched it again and again, I'd still not catch them all. The acting was fairly solid, and the script compelling and well-paced. I enjoyed this, and I will be trying not to let "don't think it don't say it" live in my head for very long. 4/5

The Bye Bye Man on Netflix

The Eyes of My Mother

This is, by far, one of the most profoundly disturbing and deeply horrific movies I've ever seen. I'm honestly still stunned by what I just saw, and I can watch pretty much anything without flinching. This film had very minimal dialogue, which it really didn't need to convey it's message. I'm incredibly thankful it was also in black and white, as I really don't know if I could have watched it in color. I really can't stress how dark and troubling watching this was, I really can't. Yes, it's very violent, but it's not the gore that makes it so difficult to watch. It's everything you don't see, all that you mind has to fill in, that tipped it over the edge. It's a very powerful film, and if you like this kind of horror, I recommend it, but don't say I didn't warn you. 4/5

The Eyes of My Mother on Netflix

Visions

From the trailers, I thought this would be very much in the "Rosemary's Baby" wheelhouse, but it wasn't. It had more of a supernatural flair, with a plot I found pretty interesting and a climax I didn't expect. The acting was decent, but not great, It was entertaining, but it lacked character and story depth that could have sold it much better. Just okay for me. 3/5

Visions on Netflix

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

This fifth installment in the PA series exists in the same universe as the first four but is a separate story with new characters. There are several tie-ins with the first films, most notably the reappearance of Ali from the second movie, about whose fate I had been very curious. There are other things as well, best left unsaid and unspoiled in a review. The root of the story isn't as compelling to me as the story of the previous films, with less inspired acting as well. Still, this proved an interesting way to extend the PA universe, and I will be curious to see the (currently) final chapter later this week. 3/5

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones on Netflix

Paranormal Activity 4: Unrated Edition

I don't know why this was unrated. There's nothing extreme or unusual about it that would cause it to be unrated - maybe it was never theatrically released? This fourth installment of the PA series is not quite as strong as numbers two and three, but it still compelling nonetheless. I did rewatch the first film the other day, so the complete story of Katie and Hunter was very fresh in my mind. This was an interesting way to continue their stories, and that last shot of the film did in fact freak me out quite a bit. I have no idea if the last two films are set in the same universe, as they have different names, but I have to say this series was much much stronger than I expected it to by. It's a rich story in an interesting world, and I would love to continue to watch more of it unfold. 3.5/5

Paranormal Activity 4: Unrated Edition on Netflix

Paranormal Activity 3

Okay, this series is getting interesting for me. What I didn't realize until I finished this film was that the first film, which I remember only sparingly, is a part of the same story. For some reason I had thought it was unconnected to the rest of the films, but apparently I was very wrong about that. I'm clearly going to have to rewatch the first film after having seen this. This third installment is more-or-less a prequel story, and it sets the stage for understanding more about how the first two films came to be. It's a really interesting fill-in-the-blanks story, and I'm completely intrigued about this series now. Hopefully I can get my hands on the first film before I set out to watch the fourth. I'm totally invested and really need to know more about this story now! 4/5

Paranormal Activity 3 on Netflix

Paranormal Activity 2

I've only ever seen the first in this series, so this was the next up on my list of horror franchises I've missed over the years. The second installment of this series was pretty solid. I normally spook easily with films like this, and I did jump a time or three during it. The acting was very solid, which helped propel the story along, and I liked that the script only hinted at motives to the haunting without really drawing them out. The half-knowledge of why this was happening made it more thrilling in my opinion. A solid film, I will be interested to see number three. 3.5/5

Paranormal Activity 2 on Netflix

In Cold Blood

This intriguing drama is a revered classic for a reason. It gives equal time and compassion to the killers, the victims, and those involved with solving and reporting the crime. This makes the film quite interesting because this type of storytelling allows us to see the motivations from all sides, which keeps a roundness and humanity to all the characters. The solid acting bolsters this view, and the direction is tight and unflinching. I greatly enjoyed this - highly recommended. 5/5

In Cold Blood on Netflix

Sinister 2

I didn't feel this sequel was as strong as the original, and I didn't think the original was that great already. The acting by the kids in this film was strong, and the direction compelling. The story doesn't really hold water though, and I found myself lapsing in and out of attention through most of it. Just average for me. 3/5

Sinister 2 on Netflix

The Haunting in Connecticut

This isn't a particularly compelling supernatural thriller, although it is decently acted. The direction and effects were pretty good, although the story seemed stale and very by-the-numbers. Supposedly this is based on a novelization of a true story, so I guess I have to forgive the plot clunkiness a bit, but this was really only average for me. 3/5

The Haunting in Connecticut on Netflix

Willow Creek

Bobcat Goldthwait tries his hand at horror and does a decent job of it in this found-footage Bigfoot flick. This is a better version of a "Blair Witch" movie than that god-awful "Blair Witch" sequel was. Just one couple camping in the woods, looking for Bigfoot, and all hell slowly breaks loose. There's a long, extended shot that lasts for several minutes without moving the camera at all towards the end. I thought I would end up being annoyed with it, but the tension build so nicely during it that I was genuinely impressed. I do think that there is a two-second shot at the end that simply doesn't need to be there, but that may be my personal preference for this type of film, which I truly do love. All in all, a good horror film. 3.5/5

Willow Creek on Netflix