A Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

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'There were seances. People not only made contact with the dead...but they made things appear'. 

Directed by Peter Cornwell

Starring: Virginia Madson, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Amanda Crew

Released: 27th March 2009

Budget: 10M        Box Office: 77.5M

Oculus (2014)

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'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'. 

Director Mike Flanagan 

Starring: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Rory Cochcrane, Katee Sackhoff.

Released: April 11th 2014 

Budget: 5M                              Box Office: 44M

Concept

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxZuop1d3hc

Tormented (2009)

'It started out as...a joke'.

Directed by Jon Wright

Starring: Alex Pettyfur, Calvin Dean, Tom Hopper, April Pearson

Released: 22 May 2009

Budget: £700,000          Box Office: £280,000

Concept  

This BBC film that obviously bombed is a classic take on the revenge slasher. This time the premise is a social look at bullying, suicide and teenage social pressures. It is about an unpopular, overweight pupil named Darren Mullet, who by the time this film begins as already taken his own life.

He took his own life due to the extreme bullying he recieved from a certain group of people as well as the attitude and social neglect of the other students. And now he's come back back from the dead to take them out. One by one. 

This is an incredibly sad tale and as a slasher you really are on his side despite him barely speaking let alone not much screen time throughout. Each murder seems like a victory and it drives you as you hope he completes his conquest and receives the results of his bloodcurdling campaign.

Review

This film coincidentally came out on my 14th birthday, and at that time in my life I really identified with Mullet. This film is not a perfect film granted, but it's a fun film to watch if you want a cheap laugh, gory kills and a heart rendering side to it as well. It might take yourself back to a time where exploring sexuality, parties and other activities where your thing, or keeping your head down in the corridors. 

If you love slasher movies or quirky Brit films or anything to do with what this film is giving you I urge you to check it out. Watch it just the once and you will be amazed at this sad black comedy horror film. (Phew that was a mouthful).

Ghost Train (1941)

Ghost Train (1941)

'They know no train runs on these lines past 10 O' clock. Only one thing can come from looking at the ghost train- death!'

Directed by	Walter Forde
Written by	Marriott Edgar (dialogue) Val Guest (dialogue) J.O.C. Orton (writer)
Based on	play The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley
Starring	Arthur Askey Richard Murdoch
Release dates	3 May 1941 (UK)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United Kingdom

Concept

In this fantastically thrilling black comedy a group of passengers on a train are trying to get to Truro. Unknown to each other they all find themselves in a similar situation where they miss the last train and are then forced to stay at the station during a heavy storm. They are told the legend of the ghost train by the reluctant stationmaster. He tells of the old tale where Forty-Three years prior a man named Ted Holmes died of a heart attack before he could close the bridge, plunging it into the river. They then spend the night together trying to get to morning without little incidence.

Review

This black comedy is pure hilarity with a good few spooks thrown in. Certainly a film for horror novices, there are so many elements that make this a brilliant film. The characters are unique and perfect, everyone has a role to play. There is a lot of suspense of the  ghost train itself that cuts into your mind and frightens you as the film climaxes. There are plenty of twists in this flick to keep you guessing and great spooky add ons. From the thunder and lightening, to a suspicious death, a young delusional woman, the apparent mad man thrown clear of the train itself and even Nazism. You should watch this film the comedy is cut finely and will make you chuckle at least once, the suspense is curdling and the plot never bores. Even when it seems the set is moving it keeps you locked in its gripI give it a great 10/10.

Here is a description for where you can pick up this clumsy masterpiece.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Train-DVD-Arthur-Askey/dp/B000BSQR0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464023679&sr=8-1&keywords=ghost+train+1941