The cultural legacy of Freddy Krueger and Wes Craven’s philosophical motives for A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Today is the day and I am filled with horror geekery excitement. A Nightmare on Elm Street and Freddy Krueger are almost single-handedly responsible for my love of the horror genre. As a boy the allure of this franchise dominated my young mind. Spending nights at my grandmother's house, she let me do 3 of the things a little boy loves to do: Stay up late, eat junk food and watch scary movies. I vividly remember going to the local generic video store and ogling all the grotesque 80's VHS covers. I knew all about NOES though and any time the newest one was released I looked forward to watching it in my grandma's living room under the pillow fort while dining on pizza rolls and sherbet ice cream. Yes, those are some of my fondest memories.

Now if we look back on the heyday of the slasher genre in the 80's, I think that most of us can agree that the best film, all in all, was Halloween. John Carpenter created the boogeyman of modern cinema while making a brilliantly minimalistic film. Michael Myers also stayed within the realm of reality and didn't venture into the supernatural until the sequels. The same can be said for the original Friday the 13th.

Freddy, however, is a supernatural boogeyman from the start but was a twisted child murderer before his death. He is also a far more interesting character than the tongue-tied Mike and Jason could ever be, due in large part to the subversive brilliance of Robert Englund. And even though NOES did inspire rip off films in the vein of supernatural talking killers, the real concept of the film and the character are so original that no one has ever really tried to reproduce a villain like Freddy. He is not a creature such as a vampire, werewolf or zombie that can be recreated in film decade after decade. He is not simply a plodding silent killer that stalks his prey through city streets, after prom, at summer camp or any holiday known to man. He is a serial killer though and a demonic spirit that enters the dreams of teenagers whose parents were responsible for his demise. Freddy is sadistic yet playful and charismatic. With his four-bladed glove, fedora and red and green striped sweater, he has a style and look that can't be matched. And hailing from the dream world, the fields of play by which he can choose to torture and kill his victims are endless.

Freddy Krueger is truly a pop-culture icon like no other character in modern horror. In the 80's and 90's he was everywhere and has never faded far from our collective consciousness. The word nightmare cannot be uttered without the thought of him. He has been mentioned or appeared in numerous songs, commercials, video games and TV shows. More figurines, merchandise and Halloween costumes have been created and sold in Freddy's image than any other single villain. And I know I'm not the only one that thinks about him at Christmas whenever I see green and red together.

Enough about the monster though. What about his maker? Wes Craven is the man responsible for bringing the nightmare to life. Craven has said that his idea for NOES stems from several areas. Krueger is partly based on a homeless man that scared the crap out of Wes as a child as well as an elementary school bully. The meaty part relating to the idea of our dreams being able to harm us comes from a series of articles he read regarding the Hmong people. The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Years ago over 20 people mysteriously died in their sleep and they were reported to be having terrible nightmares before their deaths. The deaths remain a medical mystery to this day.

In the original NOES when Nancy is undergoing a sleep study the doctor and her mother briefly discuss the fact that scientists still really don’t know what dreams are all about. There are many philosophies on the subject and one that Craven partly adopts for the mythos of Krueger is the idea that dreams can be a gateway to other dimensions. Craven also hypothesizes that when men, specifically, have nightmares this may be some type of release for the evolutionary male tendency for destructive and violent behavior. All pretty hefty stuff that you’ll have to read elsewhere if you care to know more.

Something else interesting and somewhat highbrow that Craven throws into the equation is a little Shakespeare. This occurs in the classroom scene when Nancy falls asleep and sees her dead friend in the body bag being dragged down the hallway. This all happens as a classmate reads a particularly haunting passage from Hamlet: I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.

This leads me to Craven’s conception of what the parents represent in NOES. Now although all the parents care for their children’s well-being, they are either drunk, narcissistic, delusional, deceptive or all of the above. They are also obviously responsible for Krueger’s death and subsequently their own children’s demise. What we are led to is an example of the sins of the father being sowed upon the sons, referencing Shakesperean and biblical themes.

It’s believed that Craven is also criticizing the era in which the film was made. The fact that the parents rid the town of a murderer to restore a sense of protection but created dark secrets in the process plays on the suburban paranoia of the times. The film is also edited in a manner in which scenes drift between the dream world and the real world and the end of the film also suggests that the entire film could be a dream, playing into the Anti-Reagan view that America was collectively asleep.

Regardless of whether or not you buy that or even necessarily care about the subtext, NOES just proves the case that slasher films don’t all have to be a purely mindless spectacle of gore. These are some of the hopes that I have for the new incarnation of the franchise. I fear though, that real horror fans such as myself, will walk away defeated and at the time of my writing this, the first reviews are coming in and things do not sound good. I had been warned already that Michael Bay’s involvement signals epic artistic failure and looking over the repertoire of Platinum Dunes productions there is no disputing that assessment. Have no doubt though that teens will enjoy it and it will make a shit ton of cash and ultimately that is all that matters. I realize that when dealing with a remake, creativity is limited but that doesn’t mean any and all sense of drama and originality has to be replaced with pretty people and almost real-looking expensive fake explosions. However, if I’ve learned anything from the majority of today’s dumbed down horror films it’s that the obvious has to smack you in the face at every turn because God forbid that the audience use their capacity for deductive thought.

Now having ranted about the looming probability of this cash cow catastrophe, I will still be front and center tonight. If nothing else, I hope Jackie Earle Haley can muster some sort of novelty and leave the fanboy with a shred of satisfaction. Regardless of its inferiority, part of me is still pleased that a new generation of moviegoers will experience A Nightmare on Elm Street that they can possibly better relate to. Maybe a few of them will actually bother to watch the original and enjoy it…or maybe they’ll just laugh at it and realize how old Johnny Depp is…OMG.

Skullbasher's Top 10 Horror Films, 2000's

I now present you with my 10 best horror fims of the decade. These are my favorite films that I feel best exemplify the decade. Whether they inspired a new sub-genre, rejuvinated an old one, blew our minds with frightening and beautiful visuals and ideas or just simply creeped us out.
Some might disagree, but this decade has been a huge resurgence for the genre. For me, the 90's were a veritable wasteland of failure except for a few shining examples and while the 2000's may have been filled with torturous ripoffs unlike any before it, it also gave us many stunning films and new poineers of the craft.



10) Session 9
Honestly I've gone back and forth on whether or not this was going to make the list or not. I recently saw this slow burning psychological nightmare after hearing about it for several years. See, there are some big horror blogosphere voices that champion this film as the best of the decade. Upon my first viewing I did love the atmosphere of the film but the twist seemed somewhat obvious and I felt like I had seen it before. In retrospect though, it was made in 2001 so I probably have seen it in. Another point deduction against the film came when I discovered David Caruso's presence. I immediately had failed smile, but he actually didn't overact as much as I expected he would. My initial disappointment has waned though. It really has stayed with me more than I thought it would and I find myself reflecting on it frequently. As I was watching Shutter Island recently, I was reminded of Session 9 several times. As it stands right now, I can't bring myself to put it any higher than tenth but it definitely deserves to be placed among the decades best.


9) Dead Girl
This may be the least known film on the list and it might also be the most disputed as being worthy. However, I think it is a daring film. It follows two teenage boys as they wander into the basement of an abandoned hospital only to stumble onto the body of a dead girl strapped to a table. The only thing is, she isn't really dead. The two disagree on how to handle the situation. Where one is morally conflicted, the other feels that the girl is his to enjoy. The film explores the themes of alienated youth and what levels a person will go to if they think there are no consequences. It really is a lurid film and is not for everyone but it is not without purpose. It is beautifully filmed, darkly humorous and comes to a startling finale.

8) The Devil's Rejects
Mention Rob Zombie's name in the horror fanatic world and you're probably going to get a strong reaction. Most horror purists disapprove of the rocker turned director's attempts at film making. For me, House of a 1,000 Corpses, while flawed and cliche, was a cool, campy and sadistic glimpse into Zombie's twisted mind and style of film making. I remember the hype surrounding the film, as they couldn't find a studio brave enough to release the film. That really peaked my interest and even after seeing it I was not disappointed.
Zombie followed Corpses up with The Devil's Reject's. I really don't know if he'll ever make a better film, he certainly hasn't yet. His attempts at the Halloween franchise were ultimately failed. Rejects is truly a brutally, awesome movie. It's a throwback to 70's era grind house films and the real meat of the film is Zombie's maniacal brood of psychopaths, the Firefly family. They take their murderous ways on the road and leave a gruesome scene in their wake. Then the tables are turned as they become the tortured and somehow Zombie has endeared them in some way where the audience actually roots for them to survive.
Rob Zombie is certainly a polarizing figure, especially as a horror director. As a fan of his music and horror in general I fall somewhere in the middle on his movies, but The Devil's Rejects is his personal film opus.

7) Frailty
Bill Paxton not only starred in this film but he also directed it. From Near Dark to Big Love I have been a fan of his and I think Frailty is a very underrated horror thriller. When I began putting this list together, I didn't really think of this film as one of the best of the decade but the more I went back and considered it, I realized that it definitely belongs.
It's a fascinating study of religious fanaticism and another demented spin on the serial killer sub-genre. Even Matthew McConaughey is convincing and creepy in the film and that is really saying something. He guides us through the chilling back story of his father's belief that they were chosen by God to rid the earth of evil demons disguised as humans. Once the story is told we are hit with a holy revelation that brings the truth to light and earns the film a place in the horror hall of fame.

6) Saw
For many horror fans, Saw started a revolution in American horror that many of us could have done without. It created the popularity of the "torture porn" sub-genre. It has cranked out about 6 sequels by now and countless other films in the same vein. While there is some value in the endless spin-offs, especially if you are into seeing the next inventive avenue in which someone can be dismembered. I mean I love a good kill as much as the next horror geek but I'm not just not interested watching movie after movie just to get a gore fix.
That being said, the original Saw was a great low budget warped morality test of a film. We are introduced to an interesting character by the name of Jigsaw. He has created these deadly games where he tests his victims. He makes them prove their psychological worthiness by forcing them to harm themselves in order to survive. Saw creates an original premise with an iconic villain that blurs the lines between right and wrong.

5) REC
REC follows a reporter in Spain as she rides along with a squad of fireman for the night. We see only through the eyes of her camera man. While shaky cam can be really irritating in trying to view a film, this one succeeds on all levels. The firemen enter an apartment building to come to the aid of an old woman and they quickly realize something is very wrong. She is extremely violent and an infection is spreading throughout the building. Everyone is sealed inside the building and chaos ensues.
REC is an intense roller coaster ride and the POV style filming brings the audience right into the action as we fight for the survival of our protagonist and her camera man. REC bred the American remake, Quarantine, which is basically a carbon copy of the original, but skip the imitation and see the real deal instead. It's infinitely superior.

4) The Descent
This is the follow up film to British director Neil Marshall's first film, Dog Soldiers. (Which, incidentally, might be the most interesting werewolf movie in 20 years.) The Descent takes claustrophobia to a whole new level with a terrifying subterranean landscape and offers us an original monster in the form of cave dwelling albino humanoids. And they are absolutely freakin' frightening!
Once our group of female explorers enter the cavern, the intensity of the film ratchets up and never stops until the credits roll. The Descent is probably one of the biggest box office hits on this list and I think it's universally accepted among those who have seen it that it's a great original work of horror cinema.

3) Martyrs
If Saw is the film that spawned the so-called "torture-porn" sub-genre of horror, then this is the film that perfects and transcends the medium. You can read my previous review of Martyrs here, but I have to say more about this French gem. I think maybe more than any film on this list, Martyrs is the one that people will find the most disturbing.
On the DVD of this film the director actually added a foreword, apologizing to the audience before they watch it. By the end of the film I wasn't in need of an apology, I was in awe of the finale. For most of the film it's hard to figure out what makes it so special but during the final 30 minutes you will, hopefully, begin to realize the potency of it's message. Are you a victim or are you a Martyr?

2) 28 Days Later
This is the film that jump-started the zombie genre, bringing it back to the mainstream by actually taking the tried and true zombie formula out of the equation. Horror purists will tell you this is not a zombie film because the infected aren't actually undead. Call them whatever you want really, but this film is a raw, hard-charging stroke of terrifying brilliance. It's brings us face to face with the bleak reality of a virus that causes an ultra-violent reaction and it's a tragic look at what humanity can be reduced to in perilous times. It's also delves into disturbing issues regarding what some people will do for sexual needs in a survival situation. It should be considered the most significant zombie film since 1968.

1) Let the Right One In
I don't really feel the need to dissect this film because no glittering generality can do it justice. I do believe it's the best horror film of the decade and it's one of the my favorite films of all-time. I loved the film so much I read the book and it's just as powerful.
Go rent this film but make sure you get the regular DVD with the correct subtitles. Unfortunately, the current Blu-Ray release has inferior subtitles that take the nuance out of the film. I'll begrudgingly give the American remake a chance just because it's such a sad and beautiful story but it will always pale in comparison to this Swedish masterpiece. It is stunning, haunting & mesmerizing!

Top 5 Horror-Comedy Films, 2000's

Today's list is for my top five horror-comedy of the 2000's. I've decided to not just include strictly slapstick horror comedy flicks but the films that fall into the dark satirical realm as well. This decade has been quite a resurgence for the horror genre in my opinion and specifically for the zombie sub-genre with three of these top five falling into that category. Please enjoy...


Honorable Mention
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
This is the ultimate satire of the slasher sub-genre. Evoking the characters of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger as if they were real people, the film follows a film crew following a serial killer preparing himself for his first murderous ramage. He is finding his "final girl", creating his mythos and sharpening his killing skills.
I knew nothing about this movie when I found it on Netflix but I'm so glad I found it. It's a must-see movie for anyone who appreciates horror, specifically the slasher medium.




5) Fido
Fido is a brilliant film that takes the genre back to the halcyon days of 1950's suburbia. Pleasantville is the film that instantly comes to mind when I view this movie. What is unique about this film is that this isn't the end of the world scenario almost every other zombie film depicts. Instead, the apocalypse was avoided and the remaining zombies have been integrated into everyday life, becoming the pets and servants of humans.
The cast is really tremendous. Carrie Anne Moss and Dylan Baker are two recognizable names while the title role is filled by Scottish actor Billy Connolly. He is nearly unrecognizable and barely speaks in the role but he is absolutely fantastic. Like no other zombie before him, he makes the audience feel his emotions and sympathize with his plight. Fido embodies the spirit of Lassie and Old Yeller. I'm not going to go into any in-depth analysis of this film but I will just say that it is very smart and very entertaining.



4) Trick 'r Treat
Well I already wrote about this film several weeks ago on my Top Five Indie/Foreign Horror films of 2009. Originally I was going to put this film on my list of straightforward horror films of the decade. The more I think about it though, it belongs among these films.
It is actually quite a dark film in view of several unforgiving deaths suffered by children, but it's really best seen as a tongue in cheek satire of Halloween and the ghosts and monsters associated with it. It's an instant classic that I will watch for years to come.


3) Zombieland
Again, I previously wrote about this film on my Top Five Mainstream Horror Films of 2009. I will say again how much this film benefited from the wonderful cast. It doesn't have quite the same satirical elements as the other movies but it's just tons of fun and it keeps its light-hearted tone throughout. I can't wait for Zombieland 2 in 3-D.




2) Shaun of the Dead
Co-written and starring British actor Simon Pegg, this film is a genre blending masterpiece. It created the term, Rom-Zom-Com. What differenciates this film from Zombieland is that it is an homage to George Romero's style of zombie film making. It's not just the fact that we get the classic slow zombie, but we also get the unconcealed allegories to societal zombification.
It's obvious that Shaun of the Dead is spoofing the zombie blueprint but it really embraces the genre too. It starts out leaning toward the comedy vein but as the film progresses it takes a more serious tone as the violence and chaos increases. It's the cream of the Rom-Zom-Com crop and will likely never be topped.



1) American Psycho
For some, this film might seem out of place but there is a reason I put it on the list with these other films. That's because I laugh my ass off every time I watch it.
Like Trick r Treat, it's not a horror comedy, but it is a dark satire. It's horrific tale told in an intelligent and darkly humorous manner that exposes truths about the yuppy culture of the 1980's as well as the narcissistic male self-image, in general. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, it's an epic and horrific cult classic that made Christian Bale into the star he is today.

TUESDAY TOP 5: Skullbasher's Top Five Indie/Foreign Horror Films, 2009

As advertised, I bring you my personal list of the best independent and foreign horror films released in 2009. Unless you are tuned into the horror hot lines you may not have caught the buzz about these films since they weren't brought into the mainstream consciousness via a big US release. Of course, films don't need a big release to be worthwhile and that is especially true of the horror genre. Plus, the rest of the world has continued their assult on the horror arena and they are killing it, as evidenced by the last decade of quality scares from outside our borders. Japan, South Korea, France and the UK have primarily led the pack into battle and this year is no exception as 3 of my top 5 come from outside the US. Okay here they are....

Honorable Mentions:

2) The House of the Devil - Okay so I'm going to throw this on as an honorable mention for a couple of reasons. It is a pitch perfect throw back to the late 70's and early 80's horror film atmosphere. The look and feel of it are spot on. It is also a well done slow burn type of movie in which the impeding doom builds until finally releasing the terror in the last 20 minutes. This is the last movie on this list that I watched and I had high hopes for this from some of the things I had heard. It's possible I had too many expectations going in and unfortunately it didn't quite meet them.

This is a film about the 1980's paranoia surrounding Satanic cults supposedly performing human sacrifice rituals in the US. By the time the payoff finally rolled around I had already figured out how it was going to play out and I think the film makers spent way too much time on orchestrating the look and feel and not enough time on a more fulfilling climax. It was enjoyable though and it's worth watching, but if you're feeling like you want to watch a truly great demonic thriller that builds tension throughout and leaves you completely satisfied then go rent Rosemary's Baby instead. 3.5 skulls bashed




1) Carriers - This post-apocalyptic thriller was filmed in 2007 and got put on the shelf by the studio for two years until finally getting released on DVD. Better late than never I guess. I didn't even realize that this movie was PG-13 when I watched it. It doesn't rely at all on violence and gore, and it's not necessarily a zombie movie either, but it is bleak and agonizing at times.

This is a film about the attempt of two brothers and their girlfriends to survive and avoid a deadly virus that has ravaged the planet. They are heading south, struggling to get to the abandoned beach getaway they vacationed at as children. Chris Pine delivers a strong performance as the alpha-male brother and brings some comic relief to an otherwise distressing flick. Along the way they come across a father and his infected daughter. The group is forced to use their vehicle and the younger brother who acts as the moral compass to Pine's transparent, survivalist mindset lets the pair travel with them to a town where a cure is rumored to be developing. The film continues onward and the brothers face off as the group begins to turn on each other.

The film becomes a tense and commendable character study about what extremes people will or won't go to for survival. That may sound like a worn out bit that's been depicted too many times in cinema history but Carriers is a legitimate addition to the narrative. 4 skulls bashed




Top 5:

5) Pontypool - Let me start by saying this is a Canadian film and Pontypool is the name of a small town in Southern Ontario. This is really a difficult film to explain. In technical terms it is a zombie film or at least a film where people become infected and become extremely violent. Where this film differs from anything ever presented is in the manner in which the infection is spread.

Almost the entire film takes place in a church basement that doubles as the local radio station. Our main character is a DJ named Grant Mazzy. He is working at this podunk station after apparently getting fired from a major market for being too controversial. Think Don Imus, but less racist. Our other two characters are his female producer, Sydney, and a young female engineer who recently served the military in Afghanistan. The focus remains on these three characters who serve the film well by developing an intriguing family dynamic. Strange reports begin to come in throughout the town, that mobs of people are forming and committing violent acts. The audience is trapped in the basement along with our protagonists for the duration of the film and Grant begins to wonder if this is all just a big hoax being carried out against him. This is obviously done in homage to Orsen Welles' famous War of the Worlds radio play. We learn that this is no hoax though as the violent outbreak soon expands to the basement.

Pontypool undeniably has several interesting ideas to present, dealing with some heavy thoughts about the power of language and how we communicate with each other in today's society. The presentation of the film is smooth and mesmerizing at times. It's also rife with darkly humorous moments as well as a number of glaring horror cliches and a couple of convenient plot twists. It is a cerebral film that attempts to dissect some serious concepts, though I feel like it may be done in vain because the message gets convoluted near the end and loses some of it's effectiveness. However, I definitely suggest that you all watch it for yourselves so that you may come to your own conclusions. 4 skulls bashed




4) Grace - This film could be considered as the ultimate illustration of what lengths a person can go to in protecting someone they love. Specifically what a mother will do to protect her child. Grace is not only about the bond between mother and child but it also focuses on several ongoing relationships between strong female characters.

The movie begins as Madeline is involved in a car accident resulting in the death of her husband and her unborn child. Traumatized by the event, she refuses to terminate the pregnancy and insists on carrying her baby to term. Much to the chagrin of her mother-in-law, Vivian, who is a dominating sorceress of a woman, Madeline doesn't waver in her decision to have a midwife deliver the child and not Vivian's family doctor. We learn that the midwife, Patricia, is actually Madeline's former lover, who clearly still carries a torch for her. Everyone believes the baby is stillborn but suddenly Grace is alive and begins feeding from her mother. Once Grace is brought home the nightmare begins as Madeline discovers there is something "special" about her baby. She must feed on human blood to survive and some of the most disturbing scenes occur as the breast feedings turn into blood lettings. As the film progresses Madeline becomes more desperate and reclusive. At this point, Vivian who is unaware of the true circumstances surrounding her behavior, sets in motion a devious plan to have Madeline committed so that she may bring her granddaughter home. Of course, all of Vivian's plans go awry which sets off a deadly chain of events.

Grace is the only true low budget indie movie on this list but that does not hinder it at all and it is a beautifully shot film. As a whole has it a few cliches and quirks that keep it from achieving a higher status but it is an intelligent film that deserves recognition. There are many thought provoking elements to this film, but what really carries it is the effectiveness of Madeline, played by Jordan Ladd. She gives an authentic and unsettling performance. I don't believe the director had only one specific message to express in this film but if he had only intended to make a statement about the demands of motherhood and then present that proclamation in an original and shocking manner, then he has succeeded. 4 skulls bashed




3) Thirst - In 2008 a Swedish vampire film called Let the Right One In came along and melted my horror heart. This past year, another wonderful film, this time from South Korean director Chan-Wook Park of Oldboy fame has added Thirst to the upper hierarchy of the vampire genre. It's really a beautifully made film, full of eroticism and pitch-black comedy.

The narrative follows a priest who becomes a vampire after he volunteers for an experiment and is given a blood transfusion. As he learns of his new affliction he has to come to terms with his unusual craving for blood and an unexpected desire for sex. He soon becomes involved with the beguiled wife of a childhood friend and his odyssey into sin and moral dilemma begins. As his life unravels, our priest must deal with the consequences of his actions and he chooses to atone for his sins in the hopes that he can redeem himself in the eyes of his God.

While there is not a ton of action in Thirst, there is plenty of drama and tension supplemented by a good deal of subversive humor. This film is visually stunning and seductive and Park has put his and South Korea's signature stamp on the vampire brand. 5 skulls bashed




2) Trick r Treat - A Halloween anthology. How has this not been done until now? Well, like Carriers, this film was actually made in 2007 but sat in distribution limbo until getting dumped onto DVD in 2009. It's really a shame that this movie wasn't released in theaters around Halloween in the last couple of years.

The film takes place in a small Northern town on All Hallows Eve as four dark tales intertwine in fun and fearful fashion with monsters, ghosts and serial killers coming out to misbehave on the most mischievous of nights. It also features a devilish little character named Sam that has a penchant for punishing those who don't embrace the pleasure of the holiday. Plus there are some familiar faces like Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker and Brian Cox that bolster the film's quality.

There aren't very many movies that really embody the spirit of what Halloween is all about in American culture, but Trick r Treat offers a cheerfully wicked adventure that left me wanting more. My only real complaint is that it ended too abruptly. Nevermind that though because this is the quintessential Halloween holiday film that is sure to become a cult classic. I urge anyone who even remotely catches the festive spirit of Halloween each year to add this movie to your collection and watch it every October, as a companion piece to John Carpenter's classic. 5 skulls bashed



1) Martyrs - This is the best pure horror film of the year. It's a French film and in the last few years the French have really proven that they can create substantial horror pieces with films like High Tension and Inside. Martyrs, however, is in another league. Some people may watch this film and see mindless violence, however well done it may be, and feel that it is pointless but in my opinion it is a journey that is necessary to appreciate the impact of the film.

The film starts out as a story about a young girl, Lucie, escaping the torturous ways of unknown captors. She is placed in an orphanage where another young girl, Anna, befriends her and they bond as Anna tries to help her recover from the trauma she has suffered. Flash forward 15 years as Lucie has tracked down her abductors and seeks revenge upon them with Anna's help. We soon discover that Lucie has been left with extremely deep rooted psychological issues and Anna is not sure she can trust her friend any longer. At this point, the film shifts focus and Anna becomes our rightful protagonist.

The last portion of the film is what sets it apart from the normal fair. Martyr literally means "to witness" and after enduring this type of horror and brutality for an hour and a half, Anna and the audience are given their reward for surviving. I implore you to see this film, it's more than just another torture & gore fest. Martyrs delves deep into the rabbit hole of fear and pain and comes out the other side to an awakening of epic proportions. 5 skulls bashed





Special Addition:

REC 2
I feel that this film would have been high on my list had I been given the privilege of seeing it yet. It is the highly anticipated sequel to REC, which is an awesomely original Spanish zombie film released in 2007 that is widely regarded as one of the best horror films of the decade. It also spawned the underwhelming American remake, Quarantine. Unfortunately, no US DVD release date has been announced for REC 2 but when they do release it....it will be mine....oh yes it will be mine.

In the coming weeks I will be presenting my lists for the top horror films and horror comedies of the decade.

The Movie Snob

Okay if you want to see my work just go to http://www.moviesnobsblog.blogspot.com/

My Top Mainstream American Horror Films of 2009

These are obviously the films that were lucky enough to get a wide release in US theaters. There are many other horror films out there that never get the exposure they deserve, therefore I'll be making another list in February featuring the best American and foreign horror films of the year that you probably haven't seen. Horror gets a bad rep for so many reasons I won't go into but when big studios are still pushing out regurgitated teen slasher flicks that burned out in the early 90's and shitty remakes like Sorority Row and The Stepfather it's no wonder people are turned off.
These five films are unique for different reasons. One welcomes the reemergence of an old master returning to his true love. One is a remake that actually doesn't suck. One is a bargain basement ghost story that struck gold. One is the next chapter in the storied cinema history of evil children. And finally, one is an ass kicking zombie comedy with a soul.

Drag me to Hell

For those of you that aren't familiar with Sam Raimi's work before Spiderman, in Drag Me to Hell Raimi goes back to his horror roots. In 1981 he made The Evil Dead on a shoestring budget creating a cult classic and a signature brand of horror. Like Evil Dead, DMTH is driven by curses, evil spirits, unseen terrors, flying objects, sudden gross out violence and the ability to frighten you, creep you out and make you laugh at the same time.
Alison Lohman plays Christine, an unassuming bank officer that falls victim to a gypsy's curse after she denies her an extension on her home loan. She is told by a psychic that she has three days to remedy this curse before she is well, dragged to hell. Raimi doesn't waste any time jumping right into his shocking shtick and we watch Christine endure attack after attack in all manner of wacky fashion from flying furniture to a possessed talking goat. It's been almost 20 years since Raimi left the horror genre and he comes roaring back with this big budget, old-fashioned, slap stick, scary story. It's fun for the whole family...well maybe not but it's fun nonetheless.

4 skulls bashed

Last House on the Left

Best. Horror. Remake. Ever. Wes Craven's original film in 1972 was ground breaking and shocking but it lacked cohesiveness and was really a mess in many aspects. The best thing about the film was not just Craven's brilliant idea of an original revenge story but most of all, the fact that Craven really focused on the psyche of the antagonists. You could see their childlike emotions wrestling with the conflict in their minds, between gleefully torturing two young girls and the trace of sanity and remorse that crept in as they committed these despicable acts. One scene I did miss that was left out of the remake is when the killers silently tried to wash themselves clean in a pond they found in the woods. It illustrated their shame and gave the audience a chance to absorb what had just occurred along with the characters.
Still, in this remake that symbolism is not totally lost and the real essence of the film lies between the clash of the family of murderers and the parents of one of the young girls. The storyline has been sorted out and updated wonderfully and the cast that was chosen to portray the killers is tremendous. Garret Dillahunt plays, Krug, the leader of the merry band of psychos. If you've not seen his previous work as a crazed lunatic you should watch the HBO series, Deadwood. His brother is played by Aaron Paul, also known for his Emmy nominated work as Jesse Pinkman in AMC's Breaking Bad. With these two setting the tone for the film everyone else falls into place to make this the year's most tension filled horror film. To me, the ending comes off a little cheesy which keeps it from being higher on my list but overall the acting is fantastic. The violence is brutal and yet almost never unnecessary and the storyline, even though it's a remake, doesn't always lead you where you might expect.
4 skulls bashed.

Paranormal Activity

Hello break out indie film of the year. The buzz on this one swept across America like a trucker with a hot load all hopped up on crank. Made for only $15K, this little gem brought first person home-video horror back to the big screen. I can't resist a good ghost story and this one really brings the chills. I watched this in the theater and it was a great experience feeding off of everyone's energy but I have a feeling that watching this one at home could be just as hair-raising. This film is really a great example of the power of suggestion and if you let it, you'll be scared out of your skin.
The entire film takes place inside the new home of a young couple, Katie and Micah. The unique thing about the film that separates it from other classic ghost stories like The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist is that the spirit activity is not tied to the home. We are told that Katie has experienced these visits on and off for most of her life. The spirit or demon in question happens to have an obsession with Katie specifically and that in itself makes for a nightmarish tale. We pick up as Micah has purchased a video camera to try and document these occurrences. As the film moves forward the layers are peeled back night by night and the tension builds to a terrifying climax. It's not a perfect movie by any means but it succeeds where many fail. Each paranormal episode is more intense than the next creating a slow escalation of fear, that will keep you captivated and glued to your seat.
4.5 skulls bashed

Orphan

Talk about your bad seed. The wicked child narrative is something that I think has always fascinated people. The Exorcist, for example, became one of the most frightening and popular films ever made while single handedly ending any veil of innocence that cinema might have had left the moment Linda Blair masturbated with a cross. Since that time some other greats like The Omen, Pet Semetary and The Good Son have kept audiences gritting their teeth with the added anxiety of a demented child.
This movie starts out with a particularly gruesome dream sequence, reminiscent of another great film from 2009 called Grace that I'll talk about next time.
The film continues on with a fairly routine storyline of a family coping with tragedy, alcoholism and infidelity but bolstered by the acting chops of Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard. As they struggle to move forward, they decide to adopt. Enter Esther, played by Isabelle Fuhrman as who is formidable in her first big role. She presents herself as an intelligent, artistic and well-mannered Russian girl, orphaned by a house fire that killed her family. However, she is not at all what she seems and things quickly turn when Esther is brought home as she wages psychological warfare on the family. She reins in the two children with the fear of death and castration. Then she manipulates the father, expanding the already existing distrust between him and his wife.
I'll stop there with the synopsis and just say that I was riveted by the 3rd act of this film for it's inventiveness. I probably should have seen the twist coming but I was too caught up in the story to bother with looking ahead. If you haven't seen the movie but you already know what the curveball is then that sucks for you but see it anyway, because it's worth the ride.
4.5 skulls bashed

Zombieland

Enjoyment is the word that comes to mind after viewing this movie. Pure enjoyment. This is undoubtedly the American equivalent to Shaun of the Dead which is not only the greatest zombie comedy ever made but the greatest horror comedy in general. Zombieland really has something for everyone. It's a post-apocalyptic road trip comedy with loads of blood, plenty of action, a touch of romance and the greatest cameo in recent history. In all the films so far on my list, acting has been the one constant. I've said myself in the past that you sometimes have to overlook bad acting in a horror film to enjoy it properly. Well this year, for the most part, good acting has helped propel these movies to the top of the genre. Zombieland benefits greatly from perfect casting. Harrelson is the epitome of bravado with more than a hint of a lunatic's gaze, Eisenberg is Cera-esque in his awkward lovable performance and together they play the ideal zombie killing odd couple. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play the cunning and cute con-artist sisters and as a foursome they flit across the countryside in search of the zombie-free "Pacific Playground" amusement park.
More than most people I know, I love and appreciate a bleak, terrifying and psychologically disturbing horror film but when a film can mesh those fearsome qualities of horror with affable humor, charming wit and a tender moral it makes for a truly a rare occurrence. Zombieland may have been intended as a parody of the genre but, for me, it really became something all it's own. If you haven't seen it then run out and get it on DVD on February 2nd. If you don't like it then there is really something wrong with you. You are a flawed person...seriously.
5 skulls bashed

I hope you enjoyed my maiden voyage into the blogosphere. Stay tuned next time for my list of Best Indie and Foreign Horror films of 2009.