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Kelper99
Reviews
Black Christmas (1974)
Simply one of the best -- and most underrated -- horror movies ever.
A brilliant work of terror and suspense which predates Halloween. It's the simplest of stories: a psychopath holes away in a sorority house attic and makes shockingly obscene and bizarre phonecalls to the unwitting housemates, who he proceeds to knock off one by one. Sound like old hat? SEE THE MOVIE. This film understands that what we HEAR is scarier than what we SEE -- and what is hidden is more terrifying than what is revealed. The sick phone calls, in which the killer assumes about a half dozen personalities (crying baby, nagging mother, twisted sexual deviant, scared little boy, abusive father, calm killer) compose the most frightening soundtrack since The Exorcist. No other horror movie since has utilized sound so effectively. Only, perhaps, The Blair Witch Project, with its use of a baby crying, demonstrated at least a partial understanding of how a single simple poignant sound effect is all you need to scare the silly putty out of the audience. But Blair Witch is nothin' compared to "Black Christmas." This movie was originally called "Stranger in the House" when I saw it as a kid. But you can now buy the special edition DVD under the title "Black Christmas." It's a must see.
The Pornographer (1999)
A profoundly moving exploration of one man's descent into the world of adult video.
A consummately made independent film which succeeds at all levels: writing, direction, performance. More a character piece than a docudrama about pornography, THE PORNOGRAPHER explores the forces that might lead an ordinary guy into the extraordinary world of adult videomaking -- and vividly depicts the price he ultimately pays for his excesses. The movie explores the porno issue from all angles, but definitely arrives at a clear point-of-view, which puts it head and shoulders above most indie films. The actors are all completely believable. The humor is dead on. And the chilling finale will stay with you for days. This film is a must see.