The last Horror Movie (2003)

'You see that there...?' *points to camera* 'We're making a film of this.' 

Directed by Julian Richards

Starring: Kevin Howarth, Mark Stevenson 

Released: 24th August 2003 (London Frightfest Festival)

Concept

This film has very little plot, but is an underrated gem nonetheless. Max Perry, a wedding cameraman with psychopathic tendencies and his unknown accomplice videotape themselves murdering innocent and naive people. The film is entirely in a first person point of view and is approached as a self made documentary on the murderers...well murders. 

From slow, drawn out killings that torture the victims as well as the viewer to quick, emotionless murder Max Perry is clearly unhinged. Not only is he unhinged, you makes you the viewer believe you yourself are not in the right state of mind either, constantly questioning your morality and ethics. Why did you watch that scene? Did you wish to see that particular kill? These kind of breaks in the fourth well are unsettling and leave you feeling guilt.

The ending explains the title of the film, I was so intrigued I began peering out my windows behind my curtains, this flick brings you in and makes you feel at your most vulnerable. Don't let anyone explain the ending to you and if they did it would sound a little disappointing, you must see for yourself.

Review

This is a true definition of 'hidden gem'. It's a British, low budget film but like me  hope it will stick in your mind long after you've watched this film. The acting is satisfactory, the plot is almost non-existent (like I said, it's in a documentary layout) and it has an ending that should remain with you. 

Despite being released in 2003 the film itself didn't make it's way onto DVD until 2014, nine years later. The film itself won several awards in Festivals in 2003 and 2004, eleven in total. Julian Richards drew inspiration from Dense Macarbre by Stephen King. 

If you like psychological, slasher and found footage films I urge you to watch this underrated gem. I hope it will leave a lasting impression on you as it did me.

Creepshow (1982)

Directed by George A Romero

Starring: Leslie Nielson, Hal Holbrook, Stephen King, Adrienne Barbau

Budget: 8M           Box Office: 21M

Concept

Wow. Just wow. The idea of Stephen King bringing forward five terrifying stories, even writing the screenplays himself and teaming with the master of zombie horror George A Romero is a grateful treat. But wait, the entire film is in a comic book format and is so eighties cheesy you'll have a perm or a mullet by the time the credits roll. 

There are five stories in this film that all take place inside a comic book. Billy, a young boy is punished by his father for reading a comic book named 'Creepshow' and justifiably throws the book into the bin. As young Billy wishes hate onto his father an unexpected visitor awaits for him at the window. And thus the comic opens and we dive deeper into the horrors of Creepshow.

1) Fathers Day

'Where's my Fathers Day cake Bedelia?'

An old rich patriarch named Nathan is murdered by his own daughter Bedelia, who at his hand, suffered terrible emotional abuse including being involved in the loss of her lovers life. She murders him when she is at the end of her nerves on fathers day when he constantly demands for a fathers day cake, like a screaming toddler. Now Bedelia is aged, and feels remorse for her crime, and visits the grave on the anniversary as the other relatives have a party. Nathan's corpse soon returns to exact his revenge... will he get his fathers day cake?

2) The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill 

'Please God. Let my luck be in, just this once...'

Stephen King himself plays the character of Jordy, a not-so-bright redneck who has the astonishing luck of having a meteorite crash into his own backyard, this could help him with that bank loan! Realizing it is too hot to touch (leaving blisters on his fingers immediately) he pours water over the space rock. It then cracks open and a glowing green substance gets onto his fingers. Things then go from bad to worse, as plants start to grow on him, on everything he touches in fact. And he is left running out of time and vegetation consumes him. 

3) Something to Tide You Over

'I can hold my breath a long time! A long, long time!'

An unfaithful wife and her lover are buried up to their necks in sand by her psychopathic, egotistical husband Richard.. At gunpoint, explaining that the tide can loosen their sandy prison if they hold their breath long enough as it rolls in. During the evening Richard finds himself having two unexpected visitors enter his beach house. Looking for vengeance...

4) The Crate

'Wake up! Wake up! Dinnertime! Wake up!...'

A janitor at a university comes across an old storage box that is around one-hundred and fifty years old. Dexter Stanley, a professor of the University is called and arrives. Upon opening the crate the janitor is murdered by a creature within, and not too soon after the monster feasts upon a sceptical student. And now Dexter has ran to his friend Henry Northrup for help. Now the two must rid of this creature once and for all, and we're not just talking about Henry's wife here.

5) They're Creeping Up on You

'How many men have you killed you monster?!''

- 'Only the stupid ones. Only the ones who handed me the knife and then stretched out their throats. Only the ones- if you pardon the expression...fucked up.'

A ruthless businessman named Upson Pratt is living like a hermit in an apartment with the best security looking over New York. During a storm Pratt soon finds himself in a nightmare, as his top-notch secure apartment is soon run with cockroaches. Can he manage to get out?

Epilogue

Two dustbin workers come across the comic book, and discover an advertisement coupon for a voodoo doll is missing. Little do they know that at that very moment, Billy's father suffers pains in his body and dies quickly, Billy, is sat on his bed...holding a voodoo doll. 

Review

There is no way of getting around this, you have to see this film.  I have only spoken briefly about each one they are not spoiled in any way. It's now up to you to discover how each story ends. This film is great and is great fun for any fan of horror and you'll come back to it several times because it's so enjoyable.

The fact we have a team of horror author working with a great horror director make this the perfect match in Heaven...or should I say Hell? The stories are great, the acting is great, the use of puppets and animation is fantastic. The cast is unpredictable and fun and it's filled with so much eighties cheesiness it's like a time capsule of the times. While slashers were a big thing back in the early 1980's this still breathes a fresh, rotten air mixed with enjoyable visuals. 

The film itself lasts for ninety minutes but it's ninety minutes well worth your time. Give it a look if you haven't already, See you around for Creepshow 2 in the near future!