Spook Out! Day 17 ~ The Golem (2018)

Netflix Says...
"As sickness spreads throughout the countryside, an infertile woman conjures a living child out of clay and sets it loose on her enemies."

I Say...
An intelligent, grieving mother seeks to protect her village by birthing a creature impossible to control.

Horror Type...
Supernatural

Main Players...
Hani Furstenberg as Hanna (Grieving But Feisty Mom)
Ishai Golan as Benjamin (Steadfast Husband)
Kirill Cernyakov as The Golem Kid (In the words of one of the characters, Heartless Monster)

I liked...

• this wonderful exploration of the dark side of Jewish folklore
• that the 17th C setting is perfectly reinforced by the clothing, the homes, the village--it all really puts you there, if you know what I mean
• that Hanna, who at first turned me off, unfolds as a brave and vulnerable woman. She's not a perfect protagonist, but by the end I was really rooting for her
• that her husband Benjamin, who is also not a perfect husband, is a loving man who stands by his wife
• the supporting cast, who enriched the story with their genuine performances (all the performances were terrific)
• the take on the golem creature--not some honkingly-huge monstrosity but the form of the son Hanna and Benjamin lost seven years before the start of the film. This choice makes for some serious maternal angst, I'll tell you what
• the little Frankenstein hommage of the outfit Hanna sews the Golem

The Meh...

• I could just not be connecting some dots but I don't understand why Hanna seems to've been sort of ostracized by her village for the past seven years. If that's connected to how her son died, it was unclear to me
• it's difficult for 21st C eyes to behold a community in which women weren't permitted to learn (granted, this is true of many historical films). I'm just sayin', that Hanna has to learn in secret, and only bc her husband agrees to help her by smuggling books to her, chaffs my chaps
• maybe the first 40-ish minutes were a little on the slow side--but boy, does the action ramp up!

Would I recommend it...?

Absolutely! The rich storytelling (and the story it tells) should please softer hearts but the judicious use of splatter and monster attacks should satisfy horror aficionados.

Miscellany...

One review I read stated that it's not the Golem but the anti-Semitism of a neighboring community (and, indeed, the world) that's the true horror--and I have to agree.

Ratings...

My Grade: B+
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=88%, Audience Score=43%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched The Golem on Netflix (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

The Golem's IMDb Page

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a Wikipedia Page for The Golem. :-( So instead I'll link to this fabulous review which lays out all the action of the movie (so yeah, it contains spoilers!)

This concludes day 17 of

Spook Out! Day 16 ~ Pyewacket (2017)

Hulu Says...
"When you're dealing with demons, be careful what you wish for... A teenager's death curse plunges her into an unholy occult nightmare."

I Say...
I wish I'd been more careful and chosen NOT to watch this movie.

Horror Type...
Occult

Main Players...
Nicole Muñoz as Leah (Jerk Teen)
Laurie Holden as Mrs. Reyes (Jerk Mom)
Chloe Rose as Janice (Teen BFF and the only person of interest in this hot mess)

I liked...

• the aforementioned BFF, Janice, who was the only one to talk sense and do anything worthwhile and I wish the movie'd featured more of her bc then it might've been tolerable
• some of the tunes from the soundtrack

The Meh...
So much. Leah and her mom are grieving the death of Mr. Reyes, and I know folks in mourning aren't at their best and are struggling to cope. But these two gals...ugh. They're entirely self-absorbed, unlikeable, and do some stupid shit--very unlike the mom and daughter from the movie I reviewed yesterday, who are also still in mourning for their lost husband/father, but have smarts, empathy, and agency. I'm amazed Pyewacket did so well with critics who, I suspect, were either paid to write glowing reviews or high when they watched it. So many referred to this as a "slow-burn"--this was more of a "forgot to turn on the stovetop." It was a boring, tedious watch, with more atmosphere than scares and, I'm sorry, if you're going to have a supernatural entity with a fabulous name like Pyewacket, then you'd better bloody-well show us more of it than just a shadow and a few seconds from a distance.

Would I recommend it...?

No, sir. Didn't like it. Resent that I lost an hour and a half of my life to it.

Miscellany...

• In a 17th C pamphlet, The Discovery of Witches by Matthew Hopkins, a Pyewacket is named as a witch's familiar
• You may be more familiar with Pyewacket the cat from Bell, Book, and Candle

Ratings...
My Grade: D (but only bc of Janice, otherwise it'd be an F)
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=84%, Audience Score=58%

Details, Schmeetails...

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

Pyewacket's IMDb Page

Pyewacket's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 16 of

Spook Out! Day 15 ~ I Still See You (2018)

Amazon Says...
"Several after years after a cataclysmic event, Ronnie's suburban world has mostly returned to normal, except that the world is shared with ghosts, and one of them appears to be trying to kill her."

I Say...
^Yeah, that's about right!

Horror Type...
Sci-Fi, Thriller, Supernatural

Main Players...
Bella Thorne as Veronica "Ronnie" Calder (Gen Z Lydia Deetz)
Richard Harmon as Kirk Lane (Spook-Researching Ally)
Dermot Mulroney as August Bittner (Cool Teacher)

I liked...

• the really interesting, unique ideas developed here
• how cleverly the "rules" of this world were conveyed to the audience
• the crazysauce of folks adjusting to seeing "spectral remnants" on the regular
• how well the post-apocalyptic dreariness played out (although "post apocalyptic" seems to apply to one city only, and not the world)
• that Ronnie's a smart gal and works to piece things together, wisely seeking help instead of trying to go it alone

The Meh...

• There's a missed dramatic opportunity of "telling not showing" toward the end which cheats Kirk and the audience
• I really liked this but I can't say I found it compelling. Maybe the first two-thirds of the movie felt like an exercise in mood-setting and discovery (which makes sense), but any sense of urgency only kicked in during the third act (as there was a literal deadline). There are definitely some good scares here, and the creep factor is strong, but I just feel like there could've been a little more...intensity. Or cowbell.

Would I recommend it...?

Sure! It was a fun little spook-fest with a satisfying ending, great for a bit of Halloween viewing.

Miscellany...

The title's somewhat misleading; "I Still See You" seems like it'd better fit a slasher-movie. Also, it's disappointing to me that a film with some really good, original thoughts didn't do better with critics.

Ratings...

My Grade: B+
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=8%, Audience Scores=50%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched I Still See You on Amazon (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

I Still See You's IMDb Page

I Still See You's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 15 of

Spook Out! Day 14 ~ We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

Netflix Says...
"The fragile and secretive world of two sisters and their uncle crumbles when their charming cousin arrives with eyes toward the family fortune."

I Say...
If you're trying to cut sugar from your diet but finding it hard to stick with, just watch this movie.

Horror Type...
Suspense, Thriller, Family Drama

Main Players...
Taissa Farmiga as Merricat Blackwood (Witchy Lil Sis)
Alexandra Daddario as Constance Blackwood (Agoraphobic Big Sis)
Sebastian Stan as Charles Blackwood (Grasping Cousin)

I liked...

• Daddario's portrayal of the fragile, shellshocked sister, forced by fate to grow up and assume the always-smiling '50s housekeeper role, was amazing--bravissima!
• the pockets of quirk that pop up now and again
• how well the sisters look after one another, and their debilitated uncle
• the real sense of living in the past, both literally and metaphorically, that the movie conveys
• that the movie was pretty faithful to the book upon which it's based...

The Meh...
...and yet, the movie does something the book doesn't, as far as I can recall: it hints at an answer to the big WHY, which I find unsatisfying as what the film implies doesn't answer the WHY fully (that is, the movie's WHY applies to one person only; however, it doesn't make sense regarding the others who are impacted by the movie's WHY). I appreciate that last bit doesn't make a lick of sense but to explain further would mean getting all spoilery.

Would I recommend it...?

As a fine bit of drama, yes. As a horror film, no (though to be fair, I'm not sure why I thought this was a horror movie when I added it to my list for this little blogfest).

Miscellany...

Crispin Glover steals nearly every scene he's in, as the debilitated uncle, in a quiet but compelling way. (And no, I don't think that just because the man's smoking hot.) (Really.) (But dang, that man is smoking hot!)

Ratings...

My Grade: A for a great dramatic film which horror buffs would likely enjoy if they don't go into it expecting a scary movie. Unsettling and disturbing, yes, but not scary.

Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=89%, Audience Score=57%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched We Have Always Lived in the Castle on Netflix (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle's IMDb Page

We Have Always Lived in the Castle's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 14 of

Spook Out! Day 13 ~ The House at the End of Time (2013, In Spanish w/Subtitles)

Amazon Says...
"A mother imprisoned for 30 years for the murder of her husband returns to her home, but the supernatural events, which led to her crime, come to haunt her and reveal a sinister secret about the house."

I Say...
^The summaries I've read for this film are a bit of necessary misdirection, but to explain further would mean depriving you of the pleasure of discovering The House's mysteries for yourself. (So I won't.)

Horror Type...
Horror, Suspense, Family Drama, Fantasy

Main Players...
Ruddy Rodríguez as Dulce (Badass Mom)
Gonzalo Cubero as Juan José (Loser Dad)
Rosmel Bustamante as Leopoldo (Loving Son)

I liked...

• Rodríguez's portrayal of the harried mom--financial worries and her sometimes annoying sons stress her to the max but you never doubt the love she feels for her kids (actually, she's just masterful in this, period)
• the set design--I've never felt so twitchy watching a deteriorating house as I felt watching this one
• the hot priest who seeks to offer Dulce spiritual solace (that's not a euphemism--he really is just a good guy doing his job)
• how they take your basic haunted-house story and spin it into something wonderfully bizarre
• the sweetness that emerges in the third act; it may seem hard to believe but this movie provides a heart-warming (though not treacly) ending I just love

The Meh...

• the dad of the piece experiences a legit heartbreak but then seeks vengeance against a vulnerable innocent, which is totally believable but ugh
• I feel like knowing something more of the experiences of previous tenants of the house would round out the narrative (but perhaps a sequel's in store that'll provide just that?)

Would I recommend it...?

Definitely watch this award-winning film! It has some good scares that aren't OTT, though there are moments of violence.

Miscellany...

The Spanish title is La casa del fin de los tiempos, which means "The House OF the End of Times." Not to split hairs but once you've seen the movie, you feel the difference.

Ratings...

My Grade: A
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=Not Available, Audience Score=72%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched The House at the End of Time on Amazon (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

The House at the End of Time's IMDb Page

The House at the End of Time's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 13 of

Spook Out! Day 12 ~ I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016)

Amazon Says...
"Christopher Lloyd stars in this thriller about a troubled teen who must hunt down a supernatural killer while battling his own inner demons."

I Say...
Kid fighting his own homicidal tendencies desperately tries to save the people he loves.

Horror Type...
Thriller, Serial Killer(s), Supernatural

Main Players...
Christopher Lloyd as Bill Crowley (Neighborhood Old Guy)
Max Records as John Wayne Cleaver (Budding Psycho?)
Laura Fraser as April Cleaver (Clueless Mom)

I liked...

• the tension and suspense that totally kept me on edge wondering where this would all end (spoiler: somewhere I'd never have imagined)
• the complex feelings evoked by worrying that Socio-Teen might snap while at the same time I grasped for the straws of humanity in his actions
• being completely surprised by Christopher Lloyd in this role...and yet not
• how cleverly the teen fought to keep from giving in to his darker urges (which had to be extra hard, given how his mom let him assist in the family business--a funeral home...the family that embalms together stays together?)
• how Socio-Teen has the stereotypically-serial-killery three names (two of which belong to an actual serial killer--John Wayne Gacy--and one which the average American may recognize from the wholesome '50s sitcom Leave it to Beaver)
• the Fargo-esque feel of the flick, from the snowy landscape to at least one character's broad midwest accent
• the crazysauce twist at the end

The Meh...

• the crazysauce twist at the end. I mean, I did actually enjoy it, but I didn't see it coming. (I defy anyone who didn't read the book this film's based on to say they did.) The full truth of Lloyd's character felt like it came out of nowhere. And also...
• the mom went along with her kid's wackadoodle idea without coherent, or very much, explanation from her son (which was a refreshing change, in a way, from parents who just wave away when their kid's telling them about some grave, looming threat...but still...). Anyway, it didn't seem an organic progression, given what the movie shows of their strained relationship, as well as her concerns for his mental state

Would I recommend it...?

Dang right, and I can't wait to watch it again! (SO GOOD!)

Miscellany...

Christopher Frickin Lloyd, man. Uncle Frickin Fester!!!

Ratings...

My Grade: A
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=93%, Audience Score=61%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched I Am Not a Serial Killer on Amazon (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

I Am Not a Serial Killer's IMDb Page

I Am Not a Serial Killer's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers and some inaccuracies)

This concludes day 12 of

Spook Out! Day 11 ~ Little Monsters (2019)

Hulu Says...
"A film dedicated to all the kindergarten teachers who motivate children to learn, instill them with confidence and stop them from being devoured by zombies."

I Say...
Man-child is surprised by zombie uprising while on a field trip with a group of five-year-olds and the baddest, ukulele-playing Kindergarten teacher Down Under.

Horror Type...
Comedic Horror, Zombies

Main Players...
Lupita Nyong'o as Miss Caroline (BAMF Teacher)
Alexander England as Dave (Man-child)
Josh Gad as Teddy McGiggle (Lewd, Crude, and Socially Unacceptable Kids' Show Host)

I liked...

• Dave's character development--to me, it seemed natural and genuine, and I like the Dave who emerges in the third act
• Miss Caroline's integrity and determination to protect her charges from the zombie horde (which I'm pretty sure was not in her job-description) while doing everything she could to make the kids feel safe
• how Miss Caroline shed the sweetness-and-light persona (which is a true facet of her character) to wield a rake and a shovel, respectively, with deadly force when necessary
• that, somehow, in addition to being a zombie movie, this is a feel-good romantic comedy...a Zom-Rom-Com!

The Meh...

• about the first 20 minutes are a pretty straightforward exposition of Dave's hot-mess-life which, while interesting enough to watch, fails to give any hints as to how a zombie apocalypse is brewing
• one of the ways Miss Caroline teaches the kids is through music. It becomes apparent that the zombie horde, amazingly, is still capable of responding to her singing--but this realization doesn't go anywhere meaningful. I thought it such an interesting idea for this kind of film that I was disappointed they didn't develop it further
• I've got a feeling that "One-two-three, eyes on me!" will be my ear-worm for at least a week

Would I recommend it...?

Yes, it's a good time with a pretty satisfying resolution. It's light enough for folks who don't dig hardcore horror to enjoy (though there are some quick flashes of gory violence, as can be expected). Hardcore horror fans of a mind to be charmed may get a kick out of it as well.

Miscellany...

Can Lupita Nyong'o be my teacher? Please? I'll wash up before dinner without being told and eat ALL my veggies, I promise!!! (Seriously, she's fabulous in this.)

Ratings...

My Grade: B+
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=84%, Audience Score=100% 

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Little Monsters on Hulu 

Little Monsters' IMDb Page

Little Monsters' Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 11 of