Horror Movies I'm looking forward to this October

[rok]

October is almost upon us, and this is by far my favorite month for movies given Halloween and all the horror marathons and new releases. I'm REALLY looking forward to these movies, which all come out soon either on the big screen or to DVD. Feel free to add any suggestions.

Trick 'r Treat - 10/6/09 DVD
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Paranormal Activity - Now in limited theatrical release
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House of the Devil - Limited release (and on HDNet) 10/28/09
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Zombieland - Wide release 10/2/09
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[REC] 2 - Now playing in Europe, but U.S. release TBD
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[BT]

Trick R Treat has been done and in the can forever it seems. It's been in my netflix queue for quite a while. I think it finally comes out on dvd next week.

I was stunned, really, that you hadn't posted about "Paranormal Activity" sooner. It's got HUGE buzz. I'm definitely in, if it ever comes to Chicago.

The striking thing for me when I watch that "House of the Devil" promo is how old Mary Waranov has gotten. She used to be hotter than poo, and enjoyably naked in most of her movies. Now, not so much.

I'm still cautiously optimistic about Zombieland. Horror comedy is really hard to do. The brilliance of Shaun of the Dead was it's ability to strike the perfect balance between funny and scary. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another movie that was able to do the same thing. So the odds are long that Zombieland comes through.

Rec was astonishingly good, so I am all set for the sequel, but I can't see it coming close to capturing the magic again.

[rok]

I've been keeping an eye on Paranormal Activity for a long long time too, and it actually screened last Friday at midnight here at the Music Box, so I'm hoping to catch it really soon. It's supposed to be extremely scary. What's really odd is that there was talk of a remake (the director is Israeli) already before it even came out here, and the movie was only 1 year old. Luckily the studio quashed the idea.

And, yes Trick 'r Treat comes out Oct 6, and has been talked about forever, getting great reviews even though it has been stuck in movie purgatory. I'm gonna go catch Zombieland this Friday with a bunch of friends, and while my expectations aren't high, I still think it should be worth a few laughs. Speaking of horror comedies, BT, I need to give you that copy of Dead Snow this week.

Finally, regarding REC 2, the reviews so far from all the festival screenings are very promising. It sounds just like the 1st movie, but on steroids.

[Butcher]

Thanks for the heads-up on all of those. I hadn't heard of any of them (except Zombieland) until now...and I need to see all five.

[rok]

Speaking of horror comedies, this one has to be tongue-in-cheek. Absolutely ridiculous, especially if it is serious.

Legion - Coming in early 2010
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[Butcher]

I saw that preview before District 9. The entire theater was laughing at it. Looks pretty lame...

[Andy]

[REC] already has a 3rd episode in contract. I think they're going to ruin a good flick.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=64569:date=Sep 28 2009, 12:31 PM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Sep 28 2009, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->[REC] already has a 3rd episode in contract. I think they're going to ruin a good flick.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, they almost ruined the original just by making that lame U.S. re-make, Quarantine. Totally unnecessary.

[rok]

More on REC 2 from a recent review:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->This time the story is about a group of SWAT team members sent in with a Bio-hazard specialist to see if there are any survivors from the first film and to retrieve some valuable materials. However, there is a lot that the first film didn’t tell us, but appears to have been there all along.

There is nothing in the first film that is superfluous. Everything appearing in RECs final, terrifying moments is very, VERY important. What appears at first glance to be window dressing to make a zombie story seem a little creepier is in fact the set up to a brilliant twist on the story that changes EVERYTHING – making the first film instantly rewatchable. You feel as if you have to go back and see it again through new eyes, with a fresh understanding of a story that is much bigger and better than you ever thought it was. The aspects of the story that are fleshed out here change this series from simply being a creepy as fuck first person Zombie experience and takes it to new, terrifying levels.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=64639:date=Sep 29 2009, 10:17 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 29 2009, 10:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->More on REC 2 from a recent review:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->This time the story is about a group of SWAT team members sent in with a Bio-hazard specialist to see if there are any survivors from the first film and to retrieve some valuable materials. However, there is a lot that the first film didn’t tell us, but appears to have been there all along.

There is nothing in the first film that is superfluous. Everything appearing in RECs final, terrifying moments is very, VERY important. What appears at first glance to be window dressing to make a zombie story seem a little creepier is in fact the set up to a brilliant twist on the story that changes EVERYTHING – making the first film instantly rewatchable. You feel as if you have to go back and see it again through new eyes, with a fresh understanding of a story that is much bigger and better than you ever thought it was. The aspects of the story that are fleshed out here change this series from simply being a creepy as fuck first person Zombie experience and takes it to new, terrifying levels.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That final sequence in [REC] was really well done -- I still get creeped out when I think about it. I'm looking forward to the sequel...I hope they don't mess it up.

[Butcher]

Trick 'r Treat looks a lot like the original Creepshow. That was such a kickass movie. I remember seeing that for the first time with my dad (I think I was about 8 years old when it came out)..."The Crate" scared me shitless. I don't think there has been a horror movie in that same style (intertwining stories with dark, comic book humor) since the original Creepshow that has even come close to it. This one looks like it might have some potential...

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=64647:date=Sep 29 2009, 10:27 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 29 2009, 10:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Trick 'r Treat looks a lot like the original Creepshow. That was such a kickass movie. I remember seeing that for the first time with my dad (I think I was about 8 years old when it came out)..."The Crate" scared me shitless. I don't think there has been a horror movie in that same style (intertwining stories with dark, comic book humor) since the original Creepshow that has even come close to it. This one looks like it might have some potential...<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed. I loved Creepshow. That was probably Romero's last great effort. Anyway, Trick 'r Treat has actually gotten glowing reviews from the time it was first screened almost 2 years ago. Supposedly the studio didn't know how to market it as a series of interrelated short stories and they didn't want to compete with the super-lame Saw franchise, so the planned wide release kept getting pushed further and further back, to the point where the only option was to go direct-to-DVD. I've been watching this drama for a long time now, and it's quite confusing. Even the DVD release was in doubt.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=64650:date=Sep 29 2009, 10:43 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 29 2009, 10:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=64647:date=Sep 29 2009, 10:27 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 29 2009, 10:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Trick 'r Treat looks a lot like the original Creepshow. That was such a kickass movie. I remember seeing that for the first time with my dad (I think I was about 8 years old when it came out)..."The Crate" scared me shitless. I don't think there has been a horror movie in that same style (intertwining stories with dark, comic book humor) since the original Creepshow that has even come close to it. This one looks like it might have some potential...<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed. I loved Creepshow. That was probably Romero's last great effort. Anyway, Trick 'r Treat has actually gotten glowing reviews from the time it was first screened almost 2 years ago. Supposedly the studio didn't know how to market it as a series of interrelated short stories and they didn't want to compete with the super-lame Saw franchise, so the planned wide release kept getting pushed further and further back, to the point where the only option was to go direct-to-DVD. I've been watching this drama for a long time now, and it's quite confusing. Even the DVD release was in doubt.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow. Seems like they dropped the ball on this one. They should release it in theaters now to ride some of Anna Paquin's star power from True Blood's popularity.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=64652:date=Sep 29 2009, 11:01 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 29 2009, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=64650:date=Sep 29 2009, 10:43 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 29 2009, 10:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=64647:date=Sep 29 2009, 10:27 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 29 2009, 10:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Trick 'r Treat looks a lot like the original Creepshow. That was such a kickass movie. I remember seeing that for the first time with my dad (I think I was about 8 years old when it came out)..."The Crate" scared me shitless. I don't think there has been a horror movie in that same style (intertwining stories with dark, comic book humor) since the original Creepshow that has even come close to it. This one looks like it might have some potential...<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed. I loved Creepshow. That was probably Romero's last great effort. Anyway, Trick 'r Treat has actually gotten glowing reviews from the time it was first screened almost 2 years ago. Supposedly the studio didn't know how to market it as a series of interrelated short stories and they didn't want to compete with the super-lame Saw franchise, so the planned wide release kept getting pushed further and further back, to the point where the only option was to go direct-to-DVD. I've been watching this drama for a long time now, and it's quite confusing. Even the DVD release was in doubt.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow. Seems like they dropped the ball on this one. They should release it in theaters now to ride some of Anna Paquin's star power from True Blood's popularity.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I believe that her recent popularity actually helped get this released to DVD sooner than the studio intended. A few months ago, there was no release date in sight, and there was even talk of the film being shelved indefinitely.

[bz]

Zombieland was great. There is a pretty fuckin sweet cameo that's 1,000 better than Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder. It does the intentional horror/comedy thing pretty well.