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

Spook Out! Day 10 ~ Honeymoon (2014)

Hulu Says...
"Young newlyweds Paul and Bea travel to a remote lake cottage for their honeymoon, where the promise of private romance awaits them. Shortly after arriving, Paul finds Bea wandering and disoriented in the middle of the night. As she becomes more distant and her behavior increasingly peculiar, Paul begins to suspect something more sinister than sleepwalking took place in the woods."

I Say...
You can't say any more than that^ about the film without giving things away, so I won't.

Horror Type...
Supernatural, Thriller, Indie

Main Players...
Rose Leslie as Bea (Ginger Bride)
Harry Treadaway as Paul (Suspicious Groom)
Hanna Brown as Annie (The Gal Ain't Right)

I liked...

• the slow, steady burn of weird
• how close the newlyweds were
• the remote setting--major creep vibes come gratis with a cabin in the woods, as we all know
• the subtle ways in which the bride lets slip that all's not well with her (much to her chagrin)
• how even as he's getting more and more freaked out, the groom's main concern throughout is his bride's well-being and how he can help her overcome whatever's troubling her

The Meh...

• I can foresee some folks being put-off/growing restless with the slowness of this movie's burn (but it kept my attention and interest from start to stop)
• while the couple's still in the first flush of their honeymoon, their schmoopiness* could be a little annoying to some viewers (*that's totally a word)

Would I recommend it...?

Yes, but take note: though it reaches a horrifying conclusion, the bulk of the film is "merely" unsettling, which may not satisfy hardcore horror fans. OTOH, in the third act there's a gory sequence which may not be appreciated by lighter fans of horror.

Miscellany...

• You may recognize Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones, but I remember her from her (short) stint on Downton Abbey
• I first saw Harry Treadaway in the wonderfully creepy Penny Dreadful series

Ratings...

My Grade: B+
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer= 75%, Audience Score=44%

Details, Schmeetails...

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

Honeymoon's IMDb Page

Honeymoon's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes day 10 of

Spook Out! Day 9 ~ Hell House LLC (2015)

Shudder Says...
"In this found-footage gem, a documentary crew visit the site of a haunted house attraction whose opening night ended with 15 unexplained deaths."

I Say...
Documentary crews may wish to consider filming safer spaces. Say, Chernobyl or Death Valley.

Horror Type...
Supernatural, Thriller

Main Players...
Ryan Jennifer as Sara Havel (Token Girlfriend)
Danny Bellini as Alex Taylor (Driven CEO of Titular LLC)
Gore Abrams as Paul O'Keefe (Sweet Sleeper)

I liked...

• the mood, which was palpable and consistently creepy throughout
• that good use was made of lighting to produce feelings of dread
• that some of the most effective scares were the simplest ones
• the last 10-ish minutes of the movie, which were intense...

The Meh...
...but I can't say that they make Hell House LLC worth the watch. Look, I get that found-footage horror is choppy, and often what's most frightening is what you can't see as a result. But I call BS on that being used for long stretches, as happens here--on the ill-fated opening night, bits of tour-goers' recordings are pieced together to show how it all went sour, only they seemed to record mainly the ensuing chaos of freaked out people racing for exits. I watched this only hours ago and I can't say I have any idea what happened. Full disclosure: I have to admit to getting massively bored around the 50 minute mark and reaching for my phone. There are probably chunks of the film I didn't really pay attention to bc all the (long) non-horror bits were filmed with painstaking clarity and I just found large swathes of it tedious. Also, the four dudes of the LLC were heckin' bro-y and if I'd wanted that, I'd have watched Ghost Adventures.

Would I recommend it...?

Only to folks who really dig found-footage horror. Otherwise, pass.

Miscellany...

In the story, Hell House's opening night was October 8, 2009. If I'd watched this yesterday it would've been on the 10th anniversary of the events it depicts! 😨

Ratings...

My Grade: C-

Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=89%, Audience Score=71%

Details, Schmeetails...

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

Hell House LLC's IMDb Page

Hell House LLC's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes Day 9 of

Spook Out! Day 8 ~ Grabbers (2012)

Hulu Says...
"In this comic sci-fi thriller, the inhabitants of a small island discover they must get drunk in order to survive an invasion of bloodsucking aliens."

I Say...
^That executive summary is spot on, and if none of that appeals to you on any level, then I just don't think we can be friends.

Horror Type...
Comedic Horror, Monster Movie, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Indie

Main Players...
Richard Coyle as Garda Ciarán O'Shea (Lush)
Ruth Bradley as Garda Lisa Nolan (Teetotaller)
Russell Tovey as Dr Smith (Wiseass Marine Ecologist)

I liked...

• the island-off-the-Irish-coast setting--it's gorgeous, folks, and I've already gushed about how much I heart the sea
• straightforward, well-paced, creature-feature plot
• the bristley, bouncy chemistry between O'Shea and Nolan
• the monster(s)--good mix of CGI and practical effects, IMO, and the full-grown mac daddy of the creatures is genuinely freaky
• the quirky locals & how they band together when the chips (and tentacles) are down

The Meh...

• it's standard movie length (1 hour, 34 minutes) but I think it could've simmered just a little longer to give the romance between the two leads some room to breathe
• I'm really ticked at myself for not having any popcorn around when I watched this, it's the sort of flick that demands it (and a bigger screen than my laptop). But that's not the movie's fault 

Would I recommend it...?
Heck yeah, I'd recommend this Irish romp! If you liked Shaun of the Dead and/or Slither, I think there's a good chance you'll dig Grabbers. But be sure you've got popcorn! (And I reckon some Guinness wouldn't go amiss. You know. Just in case.)

Miscellany...

• Richard Coyle's a fine-looking fella whom I luuuuurved in the hilarious Britcom Coupling. (Oh, Geoffrey...)
• Russell Tovey co-starred in the original (British) version of Being Human (both Being Human and Coupling are eminently binge-worthy)

Ratings...

My Grade: A
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=72%, Audience Score=51%

Details, Schmeetails...

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

Grabbers' IMDb Page

Grabbers' Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

And just 'cause I heart it so danged much, here's just a wee bit of a teaser...

This concludes day 8 of

Spook Out! Day 7 ~ Ghost Stories (2017)

Hulu Says...
A man looking to debunk a series of paranormal events falls into a world of terror.

I Say...
If only it were that^ straightforward.

Horror Type...
Supernatural, Psychological, Thriller

Main Players...
Andy Nyman as Professor Phillip Goodman (Naysayer)
Alex Lawther as Simon Rifkind (Nervous Wreck)
Martin Freeman as Mike Priddle (Weirdly-Aloof-Father-To-Be-Kinda)

I liked...

• the actors' performances, which were excellent throughout
• the framing device's opening premise
• the jump scares that let you see long enough to understand what was happening

The Meh...

• the Mike Priddle character impresses upon the audience how much he wanted kids, but when his wife's in labor at the hospital, he's at home doing work (and given how rich he is, it doesn't seem necessary, so this just doesn't ring true for me)
• the jump scares that were too short to let you understand what you were seeing (which rather killed the second "ghost story" for me)
• about that second ghost story--there was a weird moment with the main character's parents that misdirected my attention, making me think they were a pivotal part of that story when they weren't (well, not in the obvious way)
• the framing device's "closing bracket" really pissed me off

Would I recommend it...? (Beware, thar be SPOILERS in this bit!)

Ugh. This one's hard. There's great talent in this, and the internal stories are pleasantly creepy. But as the "closing bracket" of the framing device thoroughly undoes the entire film, I just don't see the point of it. Well, I guess I do, as there's a conclusion to be drawn from how the thing ends (which is horrifying in itself). But I just generally hate this kind of--IMO--cop-out ending, so I can't recommend anyone becoming emotionally invested in Ghost Stories. On the other hand, lots of critics and viewers enjoyed the ending, so YMMV. All I can tell you is that it's been several hours since I watched it and I'm still simmering.

Miscellany...

• Enjoyed seeing Andy Nyman in this serious role, as I've only ever seen him being ridiculous(ly funny) in the excellent, original version of Death at a Funeral. (I think the American remake is excellent, too.)
• You may remember Alex Lawther from Black Mirror's third season Shut Up and Dance episode.
• And if you don't know the magnificent Martin Freeman from all the great things he's done, then what hope is there for you?

Ratings...

My Grade: C
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=83%, Audience Score=59% 

Details, Schmeetails...

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

Ghost Stories' IMDb Page

Ghost Stories' Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes Day 7 of

Spook Out! Day 6 ~ Gerald's Game (2017)

Netflix Says...
"When her husband's sex game goes wrong, Jessie -- handcuffed to a bed in a remote lake house -- faces warped visions, dark secrets and a dire choice."

I Say...
^That about sums it up.

Horror Type...
Psychological Horror

Main Players...
Carla Gugino as Jessie Burlingame (Reluctant Wife)
Bruce Greenwood as Gerald Burlingame (Let's-Spice-Up-Our-Marriage-with-Handcuffs!)
Chiara Aurelia as Young Jessie (Survivor)

I liked...

• how Carla Gugino carried this movie--brava, lady!
• the way it depicts how our minds contain a lot more information that will help us out than we know
• the teensy bit of the supernatural sprinkled in, in the form of "The Moonlight Man"
• good suspense, satisfying resolution
• Roach, who played the feral dog Prince (who's a good doggie, isn't he? yes, he is! yes, he is!)

The Meh...

• the movie told us Gerald was kind of a jerk but didn't really show us--I saw a somewhat arrogant, condescending husband, but not a villainous one
• some of the practical effects could've been better
• Jessie seemed to devolve into a hot mess faster than I thought likely (not that I want to put it to the test myself, thanks)
• toward the end there was a huge info-dump, more telling and not showing, that I thought was a missed dramatic opportunity

Would I recommend it...?

I think folks who don't like darker horror flicks would be able to enjoy Gerald's Game, but I find it unlikely to impress a serious horror devotee. I mean, I think it's a good film, just not the most intense horror movie.

Miscellany...
Gerald's Game is based on the Stephen King novel of the same title.

Ratings...

My Grade: B
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=91%, Audience Score=72% 

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched Gerald's Game on Netflix

Gerald's Game's IMDb Page

Gerald's Game's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

This concludes Day 6 of

Spook Out! Day 5 ~ The Eyes of My Mother (2016, In English and Portuguese w/Subtitles)

Netflix Says...
"At the remote farmhouse where she once witnessed a traumatic childhood event, a young woman develops a grisly fascination with violence."

I Say...
Dudes. I don't even know what to say, except that the Netflix blurb doesn't prepare you for what you're about to experience when you settle down to watch this movie. It's disturbing af and it'll stay with you a while.

Horror Type...
American Gothic, Indie/Arthouse Horror (A.A. Dowd's review for avclub.com says, "If Ingmar Bergman had helmed The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it might look something like this exquisite nightmare." That's exactly right. You can read the full review here but beware, thar be spoilers.

Main Players...
Kika Magalhães as Francisca (She only wants somebody to love, is that so wrong?)

Olivia Bond as young Francisca (Handy with a needle)

Will Brill as Charlie (Nope. Just nope.)

I liked...

• how beautifully this is shot, in hushed black and white, lending it a dark-folktale quality
• the boldness of writing a female character who performs horrors typically considered within the purview of men (in fiction and in reality)--but in a completely believable way, given how her formerly-a-surgeon-mother was raising her
• how it engrossed me throughout, even as my gut churned with dread and disbelief
• that it features Portuguese folk, y'all! My peeps, my language, my tribe--Viva Portugal!
• the sparse use of dialogue, especially as it made reading subtitles without coming out of the story a breeze

The Meh...

• it's slightly shorter than a standard feature (1 hour, 16 minutes) yet at times I wondered whether it'd ever end...probs due to the sick feeling in my stomach every time some new, darker horror emerged
• the narrative's a wee bit choppy--when I read the Wikipedia plot summary I realized I'd utterly failed to connect a particular set of dots so I had to rewatch that portion to grok it
• I don't know whose fault this is but two important sentences were mis-subtitled: at one point, one subtitle reads, "What am I going to do?" when what Francisca actually said was, "Eu preciso de alguém, mãe." ("I need somebody, mom.") Another time, the subtitle reads, "I wanted to make you proud," though Francisca said, "Isto é tão difícil sem ti, mãe." ("This is so hard without you, mom.") For each mis-titling, the actual dialogue is far superior to the bad translations, and so vital to the story! Ugh.

Would I recommend it...?

It's a brilliant, visually gorgeous, and unique take on a story often told and I highly recommend it to mature lovers of horror and film. I don't understand how this flick didn't totally blow up when it was released, but it's extremely worthy and deserves a lot of attention. NB: If you're of a sensitive disposition, as I am (I know, you wouldn't think it, considering some of the stuff I like) maybe try watching it the way I did: on a sunshiny Saturday morning, so you have time to process it and, if necessary, go do some fun stuff so you can sleep that night*.

Miscellany...

• For a gal who's lived her entire life in isolation, probably not even going to school or having any other females in her life to talk about makeup and whatnot, Francisca's eyebrows are remarkably tidy
• The guy who played Charlie looked so danged familiar! Turns out he also plays The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's brother, Noah Weissman, who's secretly working for the CIA. Fella's got some serious acting chops--he utterly terrified me during the brief moments he was onscreen in The Eyes of My Mother

Ratings...

My Grade: A-
Rotten Tomatoes Scores: Tomatometer=78%, Audience Score=57%

Details, Schmeetails...

I Watched The Eyes of My Mother on Netflix (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other host sites)

The Eyes of My Mother's IMDb Page

The Eyes of My Mother's Wikipedia Page (Contains Spoilers)

*One way I process disturbing movies or TV shows is to read others' reviews. Here I've linked a few for The Eyes of My Mother but be warned, as in the link up top, thar be spoilers (aplenty). Please note: I agree with some, though not all, thoughts expressed in the following reviews.

Don’t be fooled by the artfulness: The Eyes Of My Mother is deeply f*ck*d up (I linked to this earlier in the post)

Eyes of My Mother review: a horror film about unimaginable response to unimaginable tragedy

'The Eyes of My Mother': Sundance Review

The concludes Day 5 of