Spook Out! Day 5 ~ Arachnophobia (1990)

Amazon Says...
"An unexpected guest causes a web of chaos."

I Say...
More like web of deaths. Also, surprisingly succinct, Amazon. Nice job.

Horror Type...
Comedy Horror, Creature Feature

Main Players...

Jeff Daniels as Ross Jennings (Determined Doc)

Harley Jane Kozak as Molly Jennings (Sensible Spouse)

Julian Sands as Dr. James Atherton (Arachnid Aficionado)

I liked...

• how it engrossed me straight away, and not just bc of Julian Sands being all smoldery British sexy W00F (le rawr freakin RAWR)
• that when we meet Ross and Molly, we learn pretty quickly why everything that's about to go down is the worst possible thing Ross could ever have to deal with, but also,
• that Ross deals with it all like a friggin boss
• the bits of foreshadowing, delicately sprinkled here and there, so subtle you might miss them
• how Ross, et al (once the locals stop crapping on him for being a city-slicking outsider), methodically investigate and process the clues, making this flick almost equal parts small-town drama, creature-feature, and police procedural--leading to disaster-movie-level danger
• the humor--some stuff made me LOL, even if it was patented late '80s cheese, bc...
• the scares! Spiders fixing to drop on you when you're showering? Or climbing up from the toilet just when you've settled in for a good read? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!

The Meh...

• the pacing was mostly good, but it was definitely a slow burn and could've been edited down at least ten minutes or so without losing anything important
• that smarmy, shitty soundtrack. Le suck.

Would I recommend it...?

I would, though I wonder if a lot of my love for this movie stems from nostalgia...perhaps younger audiences wouldn't be too into it? It's heavy on the creep factor and does have a few jump scares (one had me catching my breath and goosebumpy), though if spiders don't wig you out as they do me, you might consider it a bit tame for a horror movie...

Miscellany...

• This is a re-watch for me, and I've always had the warm and fuzzies for Arachnophobia. In the first place, bc I adore comedic horror, but mainly because of the era it captures (despite the crappy music and, I'm sorry, the UGLY dresses on the townies and the boxy tops Molly wears--UGH). I'd pretty much forgotten everything except for Jeff Daniels, John Goodman (hilarious), and spiders. Loved sinking into it again today. 💜
• Curiously, I came upon a spider's web today, in my parents' garden. A big one, spanning across a little path between beanstalks. Something curled up and brown was caught up in that thing, hard to tell what...hmmm...I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

Ratings...

My Grade: A-, though I admit that nostalgia-colored glasses nudged it up from a B+

Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=92%, Audience Score=54%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Arachnophobia on Amazon (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)

Check it out on IMDb

Learn more about it on Wikipedia (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes Day 5 of

Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...

IF YOU DARE

Spook Out! Day 19 ~Mayhem (2017)

Shudder Says...
"Derek Cho is having a really bad day. After being unjustly fired from his job, he discovers that the law firm’s building is under quarantine for a mysterious and dangerous virus. Chaos erupts throughout the office as the victims of the disease begin acting out their wildest impulses. Joining forces with a former client who has a grudge of her own, Derek savagely fights tooth and nail to get to the executives on the top floor and settle the score once and for all."

I Say...
Shudder needs to trim its summaries.

Horror Type...
I'm a little stumped here...the virus element is kind of Sci-Fi, I think? Other sites call this Comedy Horror but I'm not sure that's the best descriptor. I mean, definitely dark humor in this but sooooo much violence. I dunno...

Main Players...
Steven Yeun as Derek Cho (Seeker of Justice)
Samara Weaving as Melanie Cross (Not a Dave Matthews Fan)
Steven Brand as John Towers 'The Boss' (Coked-Up Douche)

I liked...

• the virus premise, although I find the thought of it occurring in reality terrifying
• the chemistry between Derek and Melanie
• the David and Goliath aspect of the little guy squaring off against the big guy with all the resources
• some of the dark humor
• the groovy electronic music in the soundtrack 

The Meh...

• there are some sexist things that crop up here and there, which put me off
• thin, one-note plot
• Dude, brah, it's so violent!

Would I recommend it...?

I dunno! It was entertaining but also disturbing (to me, bc so much violence!) I'm not sure I agree that this is a true horror movie, even horror comedy.

Miscellany...

I don't recall how this flick came to my attention but the only reason I watched it was 'cause Steven Yeun, of The Walking Dead fame, is in it (GLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Ratings...

My Grade: B
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=85%, Audience Score=62%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Mayhem on Shudder (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

Mayhem's IMDb Page

Mayhem's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 19 of