Tag Archives: killer

Cyrus (2010)

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Some times a movie comes around that is just so dark you can’t help but watch it with a light on, snuggled up with your favorite pillow, and prepare yourself for the nightmares that will come. I love it when that happens.

Cyrus follows the story of serial killer Cyrus, as told to reporter Maria, played by Danielle Harris, by Emmett, played by Lance Henriksen. Cyrus starts his murderous ways when he catches his wife cheating, and offs the pair, follow shortly by the very dark killing of his infant child. The movie has balls, very big balls, and it will continue to show it throughout the next hour, only letting up for you to gasp for breathe before submerging you back in to it’s twisted world.

I will watch anything with Danielle Harris, I’m an easy sell where she’s concerned, but I won’t like everything with her in it. This has quickly become one of my top five Danielle Harris movies, and while her roll is done with the same grace you would expect, it’s really Lance Henriksen’s performance that shines. Lance plays the role of the narrator throughout the film, and the way he says some of the lines are just haunting.

The camera work is also really well done, but it can be hard to appreciate because of the low budget look the film has. Thankfully the film it’s self makes up for the appearance, and it’s something that will quickly be overlooked as your drawn into the depraved world of selling ‘Roadkill’ burgers.

This one gets a flat out 10 when it comes to goes, not just for what is on screen, but what we hear happen off as well. When the gore is on screen, it looks disgusting, in that good way we bidites swarm over. This film is not for the weak of heart, there is always something, from infanticide, to rape, and plain out misogyny. It’s a film that is going to offend, but when your main character is a serial killer who starts to slip into the same delusions associated with serial killers as they start to indulge in their fantasy.

Cyrus went from just being another film I watch for my Danielle Harris obsession into one that I recommend with the highest regards. There’s only a few things that really upset me about it. I found the actor who played Cyrus, while doing a good job, went with some odd choices in his performance in a few scenes that didn’t seem to fit the atmosphere. The other is simple. Danielle Harris needs a larger role.

So guys, check this one out, it’s On Demand #here at least# and it’s worth every penny. The atmosphere in the movie rivals that of Murder Set Pieces and Anti Christ, in tone, yet unlike Murder Set Pieces, the movie is a great watch, and not a waste of ninety minutes.

Score – 90%
Gore – 10/10

Horror Taglines

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When it comes to advertising film, everything is important, from the poster art, to how much of the story is conveyed in the trailer. Advertising is about getting your product seen, but more importantly remembered. Tag lines are a kind of branding slogan that creates a (hopefully) memorable phrase, expressing the central theme, and feel of a movie. If popular enough, some even live on to become part of popular culture, such as ” In Space No One Can Hear You Scream”-Aliens. When it comes to horror, you will find tag lines ranging for captivating, to just plain cheezy. I thought I’d take a look at some of my personal favorite tag lines used in horror over the years. Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.- Army Of Darkness Death doesn’t take no for an answer. - Final Destination Don’t go in the water. – Jaws In space, no one can eat ice cream. - Killer Klowns From Outer Space It takes all kinds of critters to make farmer Vincent’s fritters. - Motel Hell Buy a bag, go home in a box. - Popcorn Man is the warmest place to hide. – The Thing So there’s a few of my favorites, what are some of yours?

The Last Horror Movie (2003)

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Today’s pick was awesome. It’s a good break from the crap I’ve been watching since I got home from vacation. This was a gem I picked up in a bulk purchase that I had forgot I even owned, now it’s going to be one I show everyone who comes over.

The Last Horror Movie starts out the same way as The Signal. That’s to say, showing us ‘another’ movie before it jumps into the real movie. During this false film though you’ll catch references to Halloween, Friday The 13th, and even The New York Ripper. The effects during this part are also purposely bad.

But then the real film kicks in. It would seem that serial killer Max has recorded over the tape we got from the store, to show us what he would consider a much better film. The film in question would be a documentary about his life, as a serial killer. It follows him around his day by day, as he talks about, and shows us, murders and violence.

Max is very well acted in this, as is everyone else, but since he’s on screen 99% of the time, I feel I need to single him out. In movies that fake a documentary feel, it’s very important that the main character not only not look familiar, but also to be acted like some one who isn’t acting at all. This is harder to pull off than many hollywood roles.  But Max feels real.

The effects in the movie are done very well. Be it a hammer to the head, or being stabbed repeatedly, it looks real enough. The camera work is excellent, and even chilling at some points. As Max is killing some one’s wife in front of her husband, the camera stays on the husband. When he’s being killed, it stays on the dead wife. The camera work and the violence in that scene is very profoundly moving.

The messages being passed on through the film are quite disturbing when you think about it. Do we really believe this is fake? If we don’t why are we still watching? There’s many more questions asked by the film, but I think you owe it to yourself to sit down for a viewing and see it yourself.

Score – 90%
Gore – 9/10

When remakes go unnoticed.

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We all know about remakes. They take movies we love, make a re-telling, or a modern day version, etc. If there’s anything that can make a horror fan upset, it’s a bad remake, hell, sometimes it’s just hearing that there will be a remake. But what about when you didn’t know a film was remade and it slips through the cracks? What about when you didn’t even realize the movie you watched was a remake? Do we judge them differently the less we hear about them?

I’ve picked out four remakes that didn’t get the attention most remakes get, and I want to know, does the lack of conversation about them change the way you feel?

 Piranha.

Right now everyone is saying ” hold on a second, we all seen the Piranha remake”, and while this is true, I have to ask, did you know that Piranha 3D was the second time it was remade? This remake produced by Roger Corman in 1995 is nearly identical to the original, they just took out the humor. In fact, it is so identical, instead of shooting new special effects, they rehashed the old ones.

It’s Alive.

Not many people I know have seen Larry Cohen’s 1974 killer baby film, It’s Alive. Even less people I know have heard about the 2008 remake. The story is pretty much the same, killer baby, committing murders, etc. The only real big change is the fact the mother defends the baby in the end, instead of the father. When asked about it Larry Cohen told fans of the original, ” anyone who likes my film should cross the street and avoid seeing the new”.


Thirteen Ghosts

Thirteen Ghosts is a remake of the 1960 film, 13 Ghosts directed by  William Castle. Coming out two years after another of Castle’s film remakes ( House On Haunted Hill), this one quite a bit better. The story goes in different directions, but you’d be hard pressed to see any of Castle’s films remade with the same story. A lot bloodier and just as much fun as the original,  it seems to go under the remake radar.

Day Of The Dead

Normally when we think Day Of The Dead, we think Romero, we think shambling undead, and political undertones. This time we have fast zombies, and action heroes. There’s none of the undertones that made Romero a legend, and there’s none of the great special effects and tension that made the Dawn Of The Dead remake in 2004 so enjoyable.

Guest Review By Faith – High Tension (2003)

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It seems as though I get to write a review for the lovely Zack and his amazing review site. :D

So I shall be reviewing ” High Tension”, or as I like to call it ” When crazy masturbating lesbians attack.” I know this movie has gotten so many mixed reviews, not going to say why because I don’t want to ruin the ending of anyone. But I rather enjoyed the story even with it’s huge plot hole.

So we start off in an asylum type setting with a badly tortured girl rocking back and forth, mumbling some french shit. Rewinding a little bit, the movie takes us to Alex and Marie, two young college girls wanting to get away from the city to do a little studying. After a smoke, some tunes, and fapping to her best friend’s tits, Marie hears the whole family get brutally murdered and attempts to help her best friend Alex as she was abducted by the random serial killer that just off’d the whole family.

Now overall I liked the story, or more so the idea of the story and all the possibility’s they had with it. Sadly it seemed that the ending was a bit rushed and just thrown in there because they were pressed for time.

The acting was decent though, and a rather well made film. I would say it’s worth seeing this movie once, after seeing the ending it kinda takes away from ever seeing it again. You know you wanna see  someone get fucked over by a barbed wire pole. Not to mention Marie could save me anyday. ;D

So I give this movie a :
Score – 76%
Gore – 8/10

( and before anyone asks, yes there is a tv in the kitchen)