Entries tagged with halloween

Current Mood: spooky

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

The Recap!

This year was pretty great for my selections. I didn’t have a single thing below two stars, and even the low rated movies were more “meh, I wouldn’t rewatch” than “I’m angry I wasted 90 minutes on this.”

Top 3
1. A Quiet Place: Day One
2. The Old Ways
3. Maxxxine

Honorable mentions: The Platform 2, Immaculate, and Bone Tomahawk

Bottom 3
Treehouse
Prey
Longlegs

Treehouse and Prey were just derivative movies that I’ve I’ve seen before in much better versions. Longlegs had so much potential and such a good first 30 minutes (along with being just visually gorgeous) that it bummed me out how BAD the rest of it was.

I actually have most of my list planned out for next year already. Spoiler alert - Joe is going to pick my entire list so it’s going to be an 80s and 90s extravaganza!

And now I’m going to enjoy my annual Halloween tradition of watching Trick R Treat with a frosty glass of Pumpkinhead. I’m also going to try to wrestle Crowley into a pair of bat wings for a photo. Pray for me.

Happy Halloween! 🎃

Current Mood: happy

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

31. Strange Darling - I saw how much Nathaniel Jonsson liked this one, so I decided to give it a shot and went in completely blind, like I had absolutely no idea what this movie was even about when I turned it on. I didn’t even watch a trailer, and that was absolutely the right decision. Non-linear narrative that keeps you guessing the entire time with good acting and a satisfying ending. Definitely worth watching but just go in blind and enjoy the wild ride.

🎃🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Sail the high seas

Current Mood: confused

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

30. Tarot - Was the script a pretty terrible pile of plot holes and info-dumps? Yes. Yes it was. Did the acting make up for that? It really did not. Do I still love stupid big budget teen horror movies? Satan help me, I do. Honestly though, the biggest reason my score is this high is because the visuals for the tarot card monsters were just really cool. I regret nothing.

🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Netflix

Current Mood: calm

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

27. Bone Tomahawk - This is one of those movies that I’ve heard was beyond gruesome, and I guess if you haven’t already seen Terrifier THAT scene would be a bit more traumatizing. I’m normally not the biggest fan of westerns but apparently creepy cannibal westerns work for me. Great acting, and definitely worth a watch.

🎃🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Netflix

28. Prey (2021) - No, this isn’t the fantastic movie in the Predator universe. This is a random German movie I found on Netflix. Very meh. The usual “bad things happen when you go camping” movie. This one is a pass, watch “The Ritual” instead if you need reminded why camping is the worst thing in the world.

🎃🎃

Stream - Netflix

29. Never Let Go - Halle Berry was great in this, as were the child actors. A pretty unique take on the “monsters are a metaphor for mental illness” trope that really keeps you guessing for the whole movie.

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Sail the high seas

Current Mood: tired

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

25. Treehouse - Well I guess I was due for a dud. Another one from Hulu’s “Into the Dark” and this one felt really student film-y (in a bad way). The acting was just not great, and it was way too slow at first.

🎃🎃

Stream - Hulu

26. Speak No Evil (2024) - James McAvoy was great in this, and the level of uncomfortable this movie made me was off the charts. The thought of going to spend an awkward weekend with some random people you met on vacation is the true horror there. Worth a watch!

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Sail the high seas

Current Mood: impressed

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

22. Creep 2 - Just like with the first one, this isn’t a movie I’d say I enjoyed, but it was super effective at what it was trying to be. The Craigslist era of the internet really was crazy!

🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Netflix

23. The Old Ways - Oh I LOVED this one. I’ve had this in my Netflix queue for a bit, and I love a possession movie that isn’t the typical Catholic priests versus the devil deal. Also I don’t care how many horror movies do it, the pulling long strands of matted hair out of someone’s mouth always freaks me out. Highly recommended.

🎃🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Netflix

24. The Stuff - This was another 80s fever dream recommended by Joe. It was ridiculous and I absolutely loved it. Evil marshmallow fluff from space takes over the world because of evil corporations. Absolutely awesome, no notes.

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - PlutoTV

Current Mood: happy

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

18. Trap - So I actually enjoy a lot of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies, and Josh Hartnett was pretty great in this. As someone who goes to a lot of stadium concerts, seeing this a venue for a serial killer movie was a lot of fun.

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Sail the high seas

19. Thanksgiving - Don’t judge me but I’ve enjoyed way more Eli Roth movies than I’ve disliked, and I had an absolute blast with this one. All the ridiculous over the top Massachusetts accents were hysterical. (My new go-to insult will be “GO BACK TO METHUEN.”) Honestly, anyone who has ever worked retail on Black Friday is pretty okay with the killer.

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Netflix

20. The Pope’s Exorcist - Not a terrible movie, but it just felt very meh to me. You never really learned enough about the family to care what happened to them. Russel Crowe was the highlight in this, but I’ve seen way better possession movies.

🎃🎃½

Stream - Netflix

21. Sister Death - A bit slow in the beginning, but all in all a great little movie. The lead actress was fantastic and really brought the role to life. I’ve been having good luck with nun movies this year!

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Netflix

Current Mood: excited

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

16. The Boy Behind the Door - I think this was a suggestion from Aaron, and while the story was a fairly standard cat and mouse game, the child actors were both pretty excellent. Did they make a lot of choices that had me yelling at the screen? Definitely, but they get a pass because they’re 12. However, this is why it is essential to show your children horror movies from a young age because they need to learn the importance of the double tap.

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Shudder

17. Old People- I haven’t really seen that many German horror movies, and I was pretty impressed with this one. The message was pretty heavy handed but effective. (Seriously we do need to give people a humane euthanasia option because pre-murder spree I’d be begging someone for a quick end.)

🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Netflix

Current Mood: awake

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

14. Oddity - Visually I did appreciate this one. The house was gorgeous and a nice change from your typical “spooky” house. (I’d live there regardless of the amount of murders. Ah the true millennial experience.) The story itself though was pretty dull, and coming from someone who rarely figures out plot twists ahead of time, if I see the ending coming a mile away, your script has a problem. I’m not mad I watched it, but this isn’t one I’ll ever revisit.

🎃🎃½

Stream - Shudder

15. DeepStar 6 - Another of Joe’s suggestions, and I do have to give this movie props for the monster. Considering that it was in 1989 and the budget couldn’t have been much, it was pretty badass. But the rest of the movie was a miss for me because basically nothing happened for the first hour. I don’t mind a slow burn, but this went way beyond that. I guess I’m still just chasing that high of “Deep Rising.”

🎃🎃½

Stream - Paramount +

Current Mood: excited

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

12. Saw X - I actually really enjoy the Saw movies. Are they torture p0rn? Sure. Is there a whole lot of suspension of disbelief required for some of the traps? Sure. But there is nothing more satisfying than watching terrible people get theirs, so this was pretty great. “Of all the men to cheat, you pick John Kramer?”

🎃🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Sail the high seas

13. School Spirit - Another entry in Hulu’s “Into The Dark” series, and this was actually one of my favorites so far. I didn’t see the twist coming, and all the characters were likable and realistic enough that I genuinely felt bad for them. Worth checking out.

🎃🎃🎃½

Stream - Hulu

Current Mood: enthralled

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

11. Immaculate - Well if that isn’t a movie that is my literal worst nightmare. I haven’t seen Euphoria yet so this was my first exposure to Sydney Sweeney and she did a fantastic job. I love religious horror as a sub-genre, and this whole movie just really worked for me. The ending was supremely satisfying as well. I kept expecting the camera to pan to IT but it never happened and that feels like the right choice.

🎃🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Hulu

Current Mood: okay

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

10. The Watchers - Decent enough changling movie, but this one didn’t really hit for me. The setup was intriguing and Dakota Fanning was great but the dialogue just had way too many exposition dumps. It gets a few points for the setting though. I love a creepy forest and the human terrarium idea was pretty cool. “The Hole In The Ground” was a much better changling movie though.

🎃🎃🎃

Stream - HBO Max

Current Mood: impressed

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

7. When Evil Lurks - Great movie with a mix of possession and body horror with a smattering of “never trust a child in a horror movie.” Incredibly well acted and with a sense of despair that reminded me of “The Dark and the Wicked.” Don’t miss this one.

🎃🎃🎃🎃
Stream - Shudder

8. Leviathan - Another suggestion from Joe, and while this wasn’t the 90s joyride of “Deep Rising,” I do love ocean horror. The beginning was a bit slow, but I was entertained. The monster reminded me a lot of the creature in The Thing visually. So goopy!

🎃🎃🎃
Stream - HBO Max

9. The Platform 2 - Spanish horror movies really are something special. I loved the first movie, and I was just as enthralled with the second. I love a prequel, I love getting more backstory, and I love a dystopia. I really hope we get a third installment. THIS is my kind of arthouse horror.

🎃🎃🎃🎃½
Stream - Netflix

Current Mood: amused

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

5. Scanners - So I have a few this month that are in the category of “80s and 90s movies that my husband is mildly horrified that I haven’t see .” In all honesty, I really haven’t delved into many older Cronenberg movies. Scanners is something that I really just know about from existing in the horror fandom. Not my favorite, and Steven Lack’s acting felt really wooden, but the old school practical effects of exploding heads are always fun.

🎃🎃🎃  

Stream - HBO Max

6. Lisa Frankenstein - We all know I love a horror comedy, and while this wasn’t as amazing as Totally Killer it was still an absolute blast. Over the top 80s and it was fun to see Kathryn Newton outside of Supernatural. Definitely one I’ll add to my roster of horror comedies.

🎃🎃🎃🎃  

Stream - Amazon Prime

Current Mood: tired

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

4. Maxxxine - My favorite of the trilogy by far! I did really enjoy Pearl, but this one was just fabulous. I’m so impressed with the way all three of the movies really perfectly captured the decade they took place in. The saturated 80s color palette and the whole Satanic panic plot line really worked. Can’t wait to see where the horror world takes Mia Goth next.

🎃🎃🎃🎃  

Stream - Sail the high seas

Current Mood: enthralled

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

3. A Quiet Place: Day One - I absolutely loved this movie, which will probably be a shock to most of you considering the ratings I gave the first two. (I definitely had to pause the movie in the first few minutes for a quick detour to doesthedogdie.com though!) The idiotic choices that plagued the first two movies were largely absent. Lupita Nyong'o was spectacular as always, and Joseph Quinn was fantastic as well. And Frodo the cat deserves an Oscar. The ending was perfect and genuinely had me tearing up. Will absolutely revisit this one.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃  

Stream - Paramount +

Current Mood: content

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

2. They Come Knocking - All the movies in Hulu’s Into The Dark series sort of remind me of filler episodes of TV shows, and I mean that in a good way. None of them are life changing, but sometimes you just want something that is the equivalent of watching the cast of Buffy go to the beach. Nothing too deep beyond some low stakes entertainment (see what I did there). This was the ever popular troupe of “the monster is an allegory for the family’s grief” with decent acting and likable characters. Not my favorite in the series (Pure and Culture Shock definitely take that mantle), but worth a watch.

🎃🎃🎃  

Stream - Hulu

Current Mood: determined

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

The greatest month of the year has finally arrived! I’m busting out the pumpkin spice and flannel even if it still hits 90 degrees most days because it’s time for 31 new scary movies!

OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 16 - SWEET 666TEEN

A quick refresher for my rating scale -

  🎃 - Who the hell greenlit this? Utter garbage, not even worth rewatching for the LOLs. 
🎃🎃 - Failed potential. Could have been great but something was missing. 
🎃🎃🎃 - I was entertained. Cs get degrees, and some Cs even get rewatched.  
🎃🎃🎃🎃 - Genuinely good, permanent space on the rewatch roster. THE GREAT PUMPKIN IS PLEASED. 
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 - God Tier. Wouldn't change a thing, wish I could erase my mind to watch it the first time. 
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 - Trick R Treat. That's it. It gets its own category.

1. Longlegs - Visually this movie worked so much for me. The color palette, the way it was shot - I loved that aspect. Even the font choices for the title screens of each chapter just scratched some itch in my brain of YES. And the first 20 minutes or so had a lot of promise with giving me gritty serial killer vibes à la Seven. The rest of the movie though. . . not it for me. Whenever Nic Cage was on the screen it took me way out because rather than being frightening his character was just annoying.

🎃🎃½  

Stream - Sail the high seas

Current Mood: excited

Entry tags:

OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 15 - THE PUMPKINING

The Recap!

I actually did pretty well this year. There was really only one movie I considered garbage, and a couple that I just felt were really overrated. Lots of solid movies that I enjoyed and a few that will definitely make the rewatch file.

Top 3
1. Totally Killer
2. The Dark and The Wicked
3. Cobweb

Honorable mentions - Dark Harvest, The Invitation, and Renfield

Bottom 3
No One Will Save You
Lake Mungo
A Quiet Place: Part 2

No One Will Save You was just a gimmick that couldn’t sustain a whole movie. Lake Mungo was boring, and everyone was so stupid in A Quiet Place 2 that I was cheering for the monster.

I’m ending Halloween with my annual tradition of watching Trick R Treat and sipping a cold glass of Pumpkinhead by the fireplace.

Happy Halloween!

#octoberorgyofviolence

Current Mood: happy

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OCTOBER ORGY OF VIOLENCE 15 - THE PUMPKINING

31. Circle City Supernatural - I try to pick something that looks special for Halloween every year, and this year I decided to try this no budget anthology horror movie I saw recommended on the Horror Reddit community. My love for anthology horror has lead me to watch some real crap over the years, but this was a fun little movie. With no blood, no gore, and no swearing it felt a lot like Are You Afraid of the Dark with adults instead of kids. They used practical effects for everything and while it was very apparent they had no budget there was just something very charming about the movie. I always say that the Halloween season lives in our spooky hearts all year round, and a movie like this that’s pretty obviously a labor of love was a great way to end this year’s countdown.

🎃🎃🎃

Stream - Sail the high seas

#octoberorgyofviolence