Category: Movies

Film Review: SILENT HILL REVELATION

11/7/2012

I typically keep my thoughts to myself when I feel a work rates below three stars; however, given the hack job the filmmakers did with Silent Hill: Revelation, I believe it is my duty to share this review.

I had high hopes for this movie, especially given the relatively good job filmmakers did with the film adaptation of the original Silent Hill, so it is with great disappointment that I write this. Anyone who is a fan of the Konami series has likely anticipated a film adaptation of Silent Hill 3, arguably the best game among the group. For those who have not played Silent Hill 3, here's the intro:

The premise is similar: "Heather" finds herself between reality and the hellish manifestations of Silent Hill, which draws her to the haunted town in her desire to end the nightmares. Unfortunately, that is where the similarities in story line end.

The cinematography is good, and much of the set design captures the feel of the game very well, but those are the only redeeming factors I could find--try as I might.

Silent Hill: Revelation is plagued with mediocre acting, awful dialog, and a script nearly completely lacking in structure. It does no justice to the game is is based on, offering instead one pointless visual after the next--creatures and distorted people at nearly every turn--with no real solid story to hold those images together. What results is a mess of a movie, one I must regretfully rate two stars.

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The Five Best Horror Films You've Probably Never Seen

10/30/2012

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Halloween is a day of terror, when we let loose our darkest fears and deepest fantasies. It is a night to watch horror movies, to dream of the undead, and to feed the unidentifiable horror that lies deep within us all. Beyond the fake spider webs, the dry ice fog, and the spooky sound effects, we suspend reality for one day, allowing the dead to live, the fantastic to exist, and the darkness to prevail.

Halloween gets me in the mood for horror flicks. As excited as I am about the most recent releases, I feel the need to pay homage to the films that paved their way. Whether it is because they're outdated or low budget, the following is a countdown of movies many of you have not had the chance to see--or, rather, have not given a chance to make your Halloween.

5. The Stuff (1985)
"Are you eating it, or is it eating you?" Playing upon the genre of films established by The Blob and the The Fog, The Stuff is a low budget '80s horror that needs to be on every horror buff's list. While definitely an outdated b-movie, The Stuff plays upon our deepest fear of becoming a part of the monster terrorizing those around it. Based around a young boy who sees the influence and effects of a "natural" snack found in the Arctic, the story uses basic effects to evoke suspense and horror in its viewers.

4. Nightbreed (1990)
Clive Barker has been, and will be for years to come, one of the handful of true masters of horror. In this film, a young man investigates an area considered off limits to all who fear for their souls and their lives, only to learn the true monster is humanity.

3. Pumkinhead (1998)While both dated and low-budget, this film is a must-see for horror fans. Some of the acting is sub-par, but lead actor Lance Henriksen steals the show. A story about revenge and consequence, this movie is creepy, well directed, and contains some of the best special effects of the '80s. This film is perfect for Halloween.

4. Near Dark (1987)
With good acting, a great script, and amazing special effects, it's surprising this film has not stood the test of time. A classic vampire flick, this movie goes beyond the typical story line, using cliche to its advantage and taking it to a whole new level. If you like vampires and horror, this movie needs to be on your list of movies to watch.

1. Cube (1997)
Likely filmed on one or two hot sets, Cube sets the bar for low-budget horror. It is by far my favorite movie, and I'm surprised so few people have had the chance to see it. Filmed in Canada, with a good cast and an exceptional script, this film is absolutely the biggest must-see for fans of psychological horror. It both is cerebral and gory, psychological and horrifying, and that's what makes it the number one horror movie on this list. See it. You'll thank me.

I might be old-school, a clear product of the '80s, but I know horror. While some of these movies might not live up to the digital standards set by contemporary film, they are true classics. This Halloween, while trick-or-treeters are stopping by for their fill of candy, the jack-o-lanterns are glowing, and the monsters are hiding in the shadows of times past, do yourself a favor and check out one or more of these movies. The effects might not be perfect, and the style might not be contemporary, but the creepiness stands the test of time. Give yourself a treat and watch a timeless horror.

Happy Halloween!

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Film Review: SINISTER

10/15/2012

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Fiction writer-turned true-crime writer, Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves his wife, Tracy (Juliet Rylance), and children Ashley (Clare Foley) and Trevor (Michael Hall D'Addario) into the home at which four family members were hanged and the only surviving child went missing. Intent on writing a novel based on the event, Ellison hopes to piece together missing elements by spending time in the home and sifting through its past.

Sinister uses many classic literary and horror elements (the family move into a new home, the whiskey-swilling author, the desperate move to reclaim a past taste of fame and success, the Boogieman in the shadows, the authority on supernatural phenomena who slowly helps to fill the missing pieces to the puzzle), but in a way that is fresh and unique. The story reveals just enough clues to tip off the audience about the true nature of the killer, while offering enough surprises to keep them guessing. It takes a lot to scare me; I started watching horror movies and reading Stephen King in adolescence, and I’m what one might call hard-edged to the genre. This movie actually made me jump a couple of times, giddy with the phenomenal use of dark visuals, sound, and surprise.

The tone is dark (great use of lighting and nighttime settings), the pacing is perfect, and the use of sound in conjunction with visuals is superb. If you’re a classic horror buff, Sinister is a must-see—and see it while it’s still in theaters, because you’ll wish you had if you wait for it to go to DVD. It’s worth the ticket price. I rate this film an enthusiastic five stars.

For more Sinister fun, check out the following experiment on the physiology of fear using Sinister as its medium:

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I Love Horror Novellas Blog Hop Day 2

8/6/2012

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This week, I came across a trailer for an upcoming movie titled The Possession. Here is the trailer:

Marketing itself as “based on a true story,” the movie appears to be a reimagining of the classic horror The Exorcist, only with the spiritual assistance of a Rabbi instead of a Priest. The “true story” is based on the sale of a “haunted Jewish wine cabinet box” that contains a spirit called a dibbuk. Of course, the entity possesses a little girl and the horror begins. For more information on this upcoming movie, which does promise to be chilling (true story or not), check out the official website.

Possession is a common theme in horror, one I actually use as a B-plot in The Hidden Valley: Carrie’s Story. In Carrie’s Story, the creature controlling South Bend—a town that is not at all what it seems—enters Carrie’s body and uses her as a puppet, terrorizing her for its own enjoyment. Unlike other possession plots, however, no one else has any idea she’s been taken over, although her behavior is suspicious at times. Her husband suspects she has fallen victim to early onset Alzheimer’s disease, which claimed her mother. Even she suspects she has lost her mind. Perhaps she has….

Stop by on Thursday for the continuation of The Cerebral Writer’s participation in the “I Love Horror Novellas Blog Hop”. Tomorrow, I’m hosting a very special guest who is the mind behind a lovely cause.

Continue following the blog hop every day this week by visiting Precious Monsters and following the links. Happy hopping!

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The Legacy of Poe

5/6/2012

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With this weekend’s release of The Raven and my recent release, both in Kindle and paperback, of Finding Poe, I thought it might be fun to take a look at the legacy Poe left behind when he died so mysteriously in 1849.

When I originally conducted my research for Finding Poe, I found it interesting how many people had attempted to complete his unfinished work “The Lighthouse”. Upon deeper investigation, I found that Poe was the basis for a good amount of popular fiction (see this link for a lengthy list) and, moreover, that I was not anywhere close to being the first person to come up with the idea of integrating concepts from Poe’s work into an original story about him. The 2006 film, The Death of Poe is a great example of a work offering a similar theme.

I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I was also determined to bring something fresh and unique to the table with Finding Poe.

Though he has been gone for 163 years, Poe has left a lasting impact on both the deductive mystery and the Gothic romance. The Poe House and Museum in Baltimore showcases what we love most about his work, although a lack of state funding may jeopardize the future of that establishment (you can send donations to its curator if you are interested in preserving this historic monument). Poe’s works are readily available through websites such as OnlineLiterature.com, and Kindle versions of his work, many of which are also free, are available through Amazon.

Unfortunately, pre-release reviews for The Raven have been shaky, although the current buzz on Twitter (I could not find the originating link) quotes Stephen King as asserting, “John Cusack is brilliant as Poe.” With that said, David Germain of the Associated Press writes, “Cusack makes a terrible Poe,” adding that the film is a “pile of cinematic bird poo.” According to the Washington Post, “Other than some stylishly gothic visuals crafted by director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), The Raven is an unimaginative mess whose superficial appropriations of Poe’s devilish yarns are deeply unworthy of the author.” Joe Neumaier of the New York Daily News calls it “ridiculous” and a “wannabe Sherlockian thriller.” Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gives it a measly two stars, bemoaning, “The Raven squanders a promising scenario while half-burying Cusack's mercurial skills as a leading man with the wiles of a character actor.”

Did that deter this avid Poe fan from seeing the film? Absolutely not—and I couldn’t disagree more with the critics’ initial assessment. I posted review of my own, setting the record straight. You can read it here.

So, with so many different takes on Poe, his works, and his continued place in pop culture, where does Finding Poe stand? Horror author Dana Fredsti writes, “Atmospheric, lush, and lyrical, Leigh M. Lane's Finding Poe is a haunting Gothic novel which will delight anyone familiar with the works of Edgar Allan Poe, as well as anyone who enjoys an evocative and classic tale of terror.” I’d like to hear from all of you too: What do you think makes Finding Poe stand out among the wave of contemporary Poe-inspired works? Don’t have your copy yet? It’s only $3.99 on Kindle. Don’t have a Kindle? Download this free app to read Kindle books on your PC, Tablet, or Smart Phone. Better yet, get your paperback copy right now, while it’s on sale for $7.91—that’s 28% off the list price.

Leave your thoughts on Finding Poe for your chance to win some fun SWAG. Up for grabs are sets of refrigerator magnets, signed Finding Poe postcards, and a signed paperback copy of the novel. Thanks for stopping by!

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Film Review: THE RAVEN

4/30/2012

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Disclaimer: I went to see The Raven with low expectations based on pre-release reviews. Moreover, given the integration of Poe-inspired themes (similar to my novel, Finding Poe), I almost wanted this film to fail, my fears of the story being too similar to mine creating in me a petty (and highly unnecessary) sense of competition. I have to say I’m humbled by what I saw—and also very happy to report that the differences between The Raven and Finding Poe are delightfully vast, the intellectual choices made by its writers having taken the idea in a completely different direction than that which I took in my novel.

Premise: A serial killer has turned some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most popular stories into inspiration for murder in an attempt to push the struggling writer back into his art.

My Review: It seems to me that the scathing reviews for The Raven had to have been written by people who are unfamiliar with Poe, as I cannot see any fan of his work not enjoying this film. The story cleverly integrates Poe’s work, meshing story and content in a meaningful way; the self-aware reference of fiction meeting reality is both bold and artful. The acting is excellent (John Cusack and Alice Eve are brilliant), the use of tone stunning, and its personal take on Poe’s death and the enigmatic “Reynolds” well done. There were some issues with the pacing, with not enough tension in some places and short lulls in others, the villain is a little predictable, and Poe starts off as far too unlikeable a character, but such issues are far from fatal. I had hoped the writers would have found a way to integrate Poe’s unfinished work, “The Lighthouse,” instead of pushing Poe to finish his life writing other, fictitious works, but all in all, the film is a solid must-see for Poe fans. I rate The Raven four out of five stars.

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Film Review: BLACK SWAN (contains spoilers)

12/26/2010

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Nina (Natalie Portman), a talented but disturbed ballerina, finds herself in a bittersweet position when her director retires the company’s star (Winona Rider) and puts her in the leading role of a revised version of Swan Lake. The taxing requirements of the role—the technical differences a dancer must master in order to play both the innocent white swan and her evil alter ego, the black swan—immediately begin to affect Nina’s already fragile character. When new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), begins to sabotage Nina, intent on stealing her role, Nina begins to lose her grip on reality, and the results are both horrific and profound.

Black Swan is an artful visual work, the direction (Pi’s Darren Aronofsky) both beautiful and stylistic. The dance scenes are amazing, particularly those in the opening night performance, the camera taking one out of oneself for the moment and into the dancer. Aronofsky’s portrayal of Nina’s descent into madness is well done, the visual portrayal of her slow self-destruction both disturbing and absorbing. With that said, the tension that goes along with her torment does not build so much as it does remain unsettlingly constant until nearly the final moments of the film.

hematically, Black Swan is brilliant. Aronofsky show’s Nina’s transformation from innocent and anxious “white swan” into the confident and sexy “black swan” with phenomenal use of black and white imagery. Nina begins in white: her clothing is white, the cinematography is mostly white, and her character is naïve and innocent. The scene in which she stands on the white marble staircase, wearing all white, with white marble predominantly in the background, the show’s director (Thomas Leroy) in a black suit, is a remarkable shot. As the film progresses and Nina slowly gives up more of herself to her art to perfect the “black swan,” she begins to wear grey with her white. As she loses her innocence—both as the result of her director’s sexual advances and Lily’s destructive rivalry—Nina’s clothing, as well as the cinematography, increasingly include more predominance of black imagery.

Even more beautiful, however, is the depiction of the artist’s symbolic giving up oneself for one’s art. Nina’s sacrifice reflects the sacrifice all artists experience in refining their creative endeavors—and also how all-consuming one’s art can become if taken to too dark of a place. Her mother (Barbara Hershey), who had given up dancing due to her pregnancy with Nina, is key to understanding Nina’s character, as her mental illness and need to continue expressing herself artistically (both clearly depicted by her childlike paintings) reflect Nina’s own journey as the troubled artist. Nina’s final scene is both beautiful and profound, and her performance is amazing.

My only two complaints are the pacing of Nina’s anxiety, which I already noted, and the erotic scene between Nina and Lily. While I appreciate the symbolism of Lily’s character, and the concept of her character thematically making love to herself is sound, the actual character motivation seemed a little lacking to me. The fact that Lily had dosed Nina’s drink with ecstasy only makes the scene partially forgiving, but without any prior indication that Nina might have homoerotic fantasies, the scene, as beautifully executed as it is, just didn’t work for me.

Finally, I must applaud the filmmakers and producers involved with this film for such a provocative ending. Black Swan offers hope that there still exists a market beyond the high demand for the happily-ever-after, and I give huge kudos to the people responsible for that. Because of such artistic choices, like so many of Aronofsky’s films, Black Swan is like fine literature on screen and I highly recommend it to fans of art house and alternative film.

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The Five Best Vampire Films and Shows You Might Not Have Seen

6/28/2010

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A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with my friends and peers at Un:Bound, when we got on the subject of vampire television shows and movies. The chat proved to be quite inspirational. Fellow author C. M. Kempe beat me to the punch in blogging about some personal favorites, but after sitting on this for several days, I’ve decided I’m going to go ahead and post this.

Following is my list, in chronological order, of five vampire films and TV shows that are must-sees. If you are a fan of vampire fiction, then you might be familiar with everything on my list. If not, but you still enjoy a good horror, check out these five greats:

Near Dark (1987)

A man gets pulled into a group of vampires—and their very dark world—after getting bitten. He struggles to survive, the moral dilemma of “kill or be killed” weighing heavily on him. He falls for the woman who turned him, learning that she is as much a hapless victim as he, while he works against the clock to reclaim his humanity.

Near Dark is a rare gem, with good dialogue, great acting, and an ending that will leave you with goose bumps. The special effects are great for 1987, and the vampires’ mythos and lifestyle are both well conceived. The story gives a terrifying look at the vampire’s point of view, without romanticizing or glorifying it. These vampires are hard, gritty, and as evil as they come. They can’t fly or control minds, but they are nonetheless scary.

Near Dark won’t leave you with nightmares, but it will haunt you.

Forever Knight (1992-1996)

An 800-year-old vampire attempts to right the wrongs of his life by swearing off murder and becoming a police detective. He becomes close friends with the medical examiner, who learns his secret and researches a way to make him human again.

Forever Knight is one of those rare guilty pleasures that I looked forward to every week. The special effects are on par with other early ‘90s television shows: minimalistic, but effective. The character dynamics are fun, the story is provocative, and the progression of the series is well crafted. The lead character’s struggle to interact with and “be” human is fascinating. I still can see in my mind’s eye the recurring scene in which he watches the sunrise through live camera feeds while drinking blood from a wine bottle. Brilliant!

Kindred: The Embraced (1996)

A Police detective stumbles upon a vampire underground while investigating mob activities, finding the five secret clans on the brink of war. He and the leader of the clans, who slowly falls for a human reporter, work together to keep order and prevent the truth about the “Kindred” hidden from the mainstream. The series is based on the role-playing game, Vampire: The Masquerade.

It is unfortunate that Kindred: The Embraced only lasted for one season, as it had amazing potential. The characters were well developed, the acting very good, and the storyline intriguing. Tragically, the lead actor died in a motorcycle accident before another season could be shot.

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

This has got to be one of the most novel vampire movie concepts I’ve ever seen: A vampire plays a human playing a vampire in the silent film, Nosferatu. The director finds it makes for a realistic horror film—but he also loses most of his cast and crew during the filming.

Shadow of the Vampire is artfully dark and delightfully smart. The acting is phenomenal across the board, the character progression flawless (particularly the director’s descent into madness as he sees the repercussions of bringing a real vampire onboard accrue), and one of the best endings I’ve seen. This movie is highly disturbing and equally provocative.

Let the Right One In (2008)

A little boy befriends a little girl, who turns out to be a vampire temporarily living next door with her adult caretaker. As the town becomes plagued with murders, the boy slowly learns his friend’s secret.

Let the Right One In has so many amazing qualities, it’s hard to know where to begin in describing it. The dynamics created between the perceived childhood innocence in both lead characters and the bloodthirsty monster the little girl truly is makes this story both creepy and genius. The friendship that develops between the two lead characters is deep and touching, but the moral dilemmas posed through the story’s progression are equally poignant—while also, at the same time, being absolutely horrifying. Let the Right One In may be the last on this list, but it is probably one of the greatest vampire films ever made.

What do you think? Is there a movie you think should be on this list and/or removed? Do you think any of the more popular vampire movies are better? If so, why?

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Film Review: SILENT HILL REVELATION

The Five Best Horror Films You've Probably Never Seen

Film Review: SINISTER

I Love Horror Novellas Blog Hop Day 2

The Legacy of Poe

Film Review: THE RAVEN

Film Review: BLACK SWAN (contains spoilers)

The Five Best Vampire Films and Shows You Might Not Have Seen

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