Silent House

So I know that the whole "shot in one take" thing is not true, so I wasn't too distracted with figuring out how they did it; I was, however, distracted by how much Elizabeth Olsen looks like her sisters. Aside from that, I watched this movie with the hopes that it would be at least somewhat spooky. I have not seen a movie that actually scared me in so long, I'm willing to settle for being a little spooked. And don't get me wrong, there were a couple of creepy parts, and the fact that it's just one girl wandering around a house that is inhabited by a bad guy who's trying to kill her father gives a sense of isolation and terror that you can identify with, and makes it watchable enough as you wait for something to happen.That's how they get you, building up the suspense while you wait for it to get to the good part.

But as much fun as it is trying to figure out what the heck is going on, in the end I felt the same way I feel about so many of the movies I watch these days... disappointed. I can't say much without spoiling it, but I really feel like Hollywood could do better if they wanted to. Laziness is running rampant in the genre, where the same ending is trotted out over and over again, in the hopes that you've never seen a horror (or any other kind of) movie before. There is so much more that could be done with these types of movies, but they take the easy way out.

Am I recommending this one? I would say it's just OK, one time through. Like I said, it builds suspense and keeps you wondering what's going on until the end, but the payoff is not that exciting.So, watch it if you're looking for a somewhat tense, slightly spooky movie about a girl alone in a big house, but don't expect too much from the ending. Unless you've never seen any other scary movie.

Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil

I'll just come right out and say it... this movie was awesome. I didn't know what this was about at all, but after the first few minutes I was hooked. It's more of a comedy than a horror movie, technically, but it takes all the cliches of horror movies and spins them into an original, funny, violent, ridiculously fun film. The obligatory, attractive college-aged kids head to a remote cabin for some time away from mid-terms and teachers, and of course they run into Tucker and Dale at the convenience store. In these movies there's always some creepy guy at the town store who warns them of the dangers ahead or just stares at them while chewing and spitting tobacco, so as to give the kids the willies; however these guys are just socially awkward, not homicidal. They may be hicks, but they certainly aren't psychotic killers or The Hills Have Eyes-esque mutants. So when the guys rescue one of the kids, her friends jump to the conclusion that they've kidnapped her and are going to start murdering all of them. So they strike first, trying to take the "killers" down before they get them. What follows is ridiculous and would never happen, but it is entertaining. I won't say much more, but just trust me... this movie is awesome.

House on Haunted Hill (1999)

This movie scared me to death when I was younger. I still don't like watching it alone. So creepy. It is based on the old Vincent Price movie, and in fact the production company that made this, Dark Castle, was formed just to remake the old Price horror films (13 Ghosts is my other favorite... review to follow a bit later). A bunch of people get invited to a big, ominous-looking mansion for the birthday party of a rich guy's wife, but the rich guy and his wife both claim they never invited these people. Hmmm... If you don't know what happens next you've obviously never seen this movie and should run out and rent it immediately. You're missing out. Taye Diggs (who should be in more horror movies and less sappy medical dramas on TV) and Ali Larter are two of the guests who end up trapped inside the mansion, which of course was also a mental institution run by a scary doctor at one time. And of course it's haunted. There are so many disturbing images and freaky noises in this haunted house you'll be covering your eyes by the time it's over. Lisa Loeb (the singer) and James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) pop up at the very beginning, and if Geoffry Rush channeling Vincent Price doesn't do it for you, you're much too tough a crowd.. This is one of my all time favorites and I recommend it for the horror fan who likes a bit of polish and a nod to the old days.