Dark Was the Night

So here's the big problem with this movie. It's set in a northern town that sits at the southern end of a great big huge forest. Nearly everyone in this town has livestock, is a hunter, or knows a lot about woods and the creatures in them. So when something large and predatory starts hunting the hunters in the town, you would think these knowledgeable people would make certain very very basic assumptions about what is after them, with one really basic assumption being the key thing. And when I say basic, I mean a really BASIC thing any child would know about animals. The entire end of the movie banks on the fact that no one in the town ever thought about this REALLY BASIC thing. The "twist" of this film requires both the viewer and all the characters in this movie to be idiots and never think of this extraordinarily basic thing which I figured out about half way through. I swear I got hoarse yelling at the TV about what idiots everyone in this movie was. This is a shame because this movie has some great acting and beautiful cinematography, but, I'm sorry, that gaping plot hole was just a bit much for me. 3/5

Dark Was the Night on Netflix

The Collection

I only recent saw "The Collector" and was impressed by it quite a bit. I was interested to see if the sequel would live up to the standard the first did, and, by and large, it did. I somehow missed this when I watched the first film, but these two movies are written and directed by team that wrote the last half of the "Saw" franchise, Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. They even got Charlie Clouser to score "The Collection", so it seems like the "Saw" team may be back together for a new franchise I was also very happy to see Josh Stewart back in the lead role, as his solid acting really helped sell the first film. The direction and pace of the film were excellent again, but I will say I wish this film had a bit more meat to it. I wanted to know a little more about The Collector before this film ended, but, just from the final scenes, this won't be the last we see of him. A solid film, and I hope to see more in the future. 3.5/5

The Collection on Netflix

The Collector

If I'm being very honest, this is pure torture-porn with a premise I've seen before. However, this is some of the best high-violence horror I've seen in a while, and, given how much horror I watch, that's serious praise. Marcus Dunstan's direction is high-octane and creative, with shot-composition and lighting I don't see often in horror. Josh Stewart's acting was pretty damn solid for horror, as was most of the cast. Jerome Dillon's score was exceptional and kept the energy high. The traps were better than the similarly-themed "Saw II", and the premise better executed than in "The Hoarder" and "Don't Breathe", which are also similar plot-wise. I was thoroughly glued to my screen by this - a very impressive film. 4/5

The Collector on Netflix

Wake Wood

I feel like this stylish thriller missed the mark a bit. It's waking the same ground as "Pet Cemetery", but with far less emotional impact. The main characters felt very underdeveloped to me. I didn't feel like I knew them well enough to truly connect with them and their struggle. The biggest miss is that we never get to know the daughter before her death, and not having that point of comparison seriously injured the chances of this film having true emotional impact. The acting was understated, but could have used more passion from time to time. The direction was lovely, but I felt there wasn't enough meat for a proper story. This was just okay for me. 3/5

Wake Wood on Netflix

House at the End of the Street

There was something here with this suspense thriller, but it just wasn't developed enough for me. The first half of the film was completely predictable and by-the-numbers. The second half had real promise as the details of the plot begin to unfold, but, ultimately, it failed to have the impact it should have had. I never cared about the characters enough to get invested in them, and the detail that would have made the "twist" really great was missing. This movie needed to both show and tell more than it did. Just okay for me. 3/5

House at the End of the Street on Netflix

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 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

Goodnight Mommy

I was unsure about this film for the first thirty minutes or so. The eerie blend between reality and fantasy, between waking and dreaming was visually beautiful, but left me a bit confused from time to time. As the film continued and the plot intensified, I grew utterly transfixed, I couldn't look away. And then the last ten minutes happened, and I sat in slack jawed amazement repeatedly whispering "oh my god" over and over again because I was so stunned. Despite what some reviewers said (and please don't spoil this film for yourself by looking around before you see it), I never saw it coming. Not for a second. I loved this, truly. 4.5/5

Goodnight Mommy 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

Train to Busan

HOLY SNOT THIS IS THE BEST ZOMBIE FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. Hell, it's the best action film I've ever seen, let alone the best zombie film. And how many zombie films have you seen that will make you cry from sheer tragic gutwreching emotion on multiple occasions? I swear, a film like this could only be made in Korea. Korean directors have a unique visual and visceral style that lent itself perfectly to this film. The direction was outstanding, and the script fleshed out and perfectly told. The acting was incredible, and so was the music. I can't say a single bad thing about this film. It's just amazing. OMG, rent this. 5/5

Train to Busan 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

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

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

Curve

Well, this was just ridiculous from top to bottom. The science and physical logic of this film falls apart with even the slightest bit of thought, and that's just annoying as hell. Sometimes films like this turn out spectacularly, as was the case with "Wrecked" with Adrian Brody. But, more often than not, you get a badly thought-out film like this. Rent "Wrecked" instead. You'll thank me, I promise you. 2/5

Curve 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