Directed by Bob Clark Starring Olivia Hussey, Kier Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon Budget: $620,000 Box Office: 4.50M
Concept
This Canadian cult classic takes homage to the 'babysitter and the murderer upstairs' urban legend and takes inspiration from real life murders in Montreal. This film has an unknown man clamber into the attic of a sorority house, and then begins calling the landline telephone downstairs. Our protagonist Jess, a young woman at the sorority house is increasingly disturbed by the calls, and has been naming the unknown man 'the moaner'.
The moaner calls, and all the girls gather around the phone when Jess notifies them, as the moaner begins moaning, screaming, laughing and telling perverted things to the young women. When provoked by one of the girls he stops his act and calmly says 'I'm going to kill you'.
Soon several girls go missing, and now Jess is stuck at the frontline with an unknown enemy she doesn't know. The police try helping her and each call can become a life or death situation, seeing as the killer is so frightfully near.
Review
This became a cult classic over the years and is accredited to being an early slasher, possibly the earliest slasher film created. It is also known this film did become one of the first to have an antagonist who we the audience do not know. It is hidden by another first... as in you do not see the killer, you do not know the killer, you do not know of his motivations except for the fact he is just the bad guy murdering young women.
Instead from POV you see everything the murderer sees, putting you into the shoes of the psycho killer, again this is before John Carpenter's classic Halloween arrived and had the infamous POV murdering opening.
This film is nothing horror fanatics or even overly casual fans haven't seen or at least heard of, it is a cult classic after all, but nonetheless in the general public eye and horror's beginners this truly is a horror gem that needs earthing up.
'The purpose of today's experiment, is to prove that the object behind me is responsible for at least forty-five deaths, in the four centuries of its reported existence'.
This is a recent film but it is criminal that it is so underrated and unseen by the masses. Oculus follows the story that occurs several years after a horrific homicide. Where the father went on a murderous rampage, murdering the mother in cold blood and in self defence, his son killed him in front of his daughter.
Fast forward a few years and those children have now grown up. The daughter, Kaylie has met up with her brother Tim after he is discharged from the psychiatric hospital. In this time she has managed to track down an old antique mirror, a mirror which she claims is the reason their parents are dead.
Determined, Kaylie arms herself in their childhood home with several cameras, lights, etc. Oh and a killswitch to shatter the mirror in case anything goes wrong.
The mirror is black, is four-hundred years old and has a deliciously gruesome past with it. Specifically death. You follow them on an horrifically dark journey as they fight against the mirror.
Review
This film will leave you scratching your head, it has a shocking ending and all the while you will need to see this film more than once simply because it makes you think. There are so many factors in this movie it is unbelievable and everything contradicts the facts.
Tim has grown up being told blaming the mirror is in his mind, and he used it as a scapegoat to deal with the trauma, so he's level headed at first. Kaylie however has had no psychiatric help and has been driven to destroy the mirror, and behaves erratically.
As the film goes on we see different patterns emerging, the film is told using flashbacks both hopping back and forth and even blending together. It is a great tale that must be seen by anyone who says they have a love for horror. Check out this film, do not skip this film for your own sake.
Also this film is based of a short film from 2005 of the same name. But director Mike Flanagan put it off because of fears it may become a dreaded found footage film.
For your displeasure I have placed a link below where you can watch the short film if you wish.
Starring: Rider Strong, Noah Segan, Alexi Wasser, Rusty Kelly
Released: October 24th 2009 (Screamfest Horror Film Festival)
Concept
In this sequel to the bizarre gorefest the original was, this time the infection has spread rapidly. Taking place after the first Cabin Fever the disease has spread from the desolate woods into a small town via the water supply, a company has bottled the water and it is now distributed at the local high school.
It follows a roughly new set of characters aside from the creepy strange policeman from the first film (paarrty man). It contains the usual quirky guy trying to get the girl who's with the unflattering jock boyfriend and that obese friend who somehow manages to score with the popular girl.
It is a lot more claustrophobic specifically because it is in a school soon locked down by authorities, there's no running through trees from wild dogs and hermits this time, but it does have that style with it.
A strange headmistress, a janitor that does something unforgivable to the punch, jock boyfriend who is a complete... well. And a scene in which uses a prosthetic penis that made me threw up in my mouth. Amputation is involved and diseased breasts. Oh boy, you best not eat before watching this.
Review
I watched this film before I watched the original Cabin Fever. And let me tell you, in terms of making your stomach churn, this is worse. This film is so grotesque I wouldn't be surprised if you felt uncomfortable watching it throughout. The trailer itself might put you off.
However if you are a gore fanatic you will enjoy this crude, ridiculous film. It is in no way a bad film in my opinion but it is not the best. It has the same elements as before, aside from a different crew working on it and just two members of the original cast this film is a good ride for gore seekers.
I recommend this to anyone who likes the original, or the Human Centipede franchise, oh and zombies.
If you have any suggestions please feel free to comment below, i would also appreciate if you followed me and shared me. Take care fiends.
'There was someone out there! That strange man was out there!'
Directed, Produced and Written by: Herk Harvey, (co-writer John Clifford)
Starring: Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sidney Berger, Art Ellison
Released: September 26th 1962
concept
This film, is considered a cult classic. It has built up quite a fan base over the years and frankly if you watch it you yourself will see why. A great classic just two years after Psycho when horror started shifting to the more bizarre and psychological instead of the usual giant aliens and monsters of the 50's.
This tale Follows a young woman named Mary Henry. Due to a drag race she and her friends tragically plunge into the murky depths of a river. After several hours Mary somehow resurfaces from the water, thick with mud and soaking wet. After this traumatic event she moves to Utah to be an organist in a church.
But she cannot evade her troubles, and soon sees a man constantly stalking her wherever she goes. Hallucinations of frightening nightmares, a pushy lodger who wishes to get acquainted with her more and the fight for her own mind in front of specialists. A great psychological and supernatural thriller rolled into one.
Review
I adore this film. I adore it so so much. Considering at the time I was watching recent shoe-string budget horrors this independent cult classic breathed hope into me from an era I have never known. You will see why this is a classic, and I hope you fall in love with it the same way I did. I could watch this any day of the week.
Don't dishonour yourself and miss out on this absolute beautifully dark story that seems ripped straight out of a classic horror book. It is fantastic on all levels. Add this to your horror collection. You can thank me later.
