murnank Reviews

The Ward (2010)

Cloning Carpenter

[6/10 · 22 January 2011]

I'm 36 years old and in 1981 the first horror movie I saw was John Carpenters "Halloween". I was 6 year old and subsequently I became an úber fan of the Director. I've worshiped the great ones (Assault on precinct 13, Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing, Prince of Darkness) enjoyed the good (Christine, Star Man, Big Trouble in little China, They Live, In the mouth of madness, Vampires) and stomached the bad (Escape from L.A, Village of the damned, Memoirs…, Ghosts of Mars). "The Ward" seems to fall into all of these categories. Sometimes it's great, more often than not it's good but regrettably when it's bad it's really bad. Perhaps it was the lack of a traditional Carpenter score (although the score by Mark Kilian is suitably haunting, memorable and atmospheric) or maybe it was the somewhat derivative "jump" scares or could it have been the inconsistent overall tone because to me it felt like I was watching a movie made by someone trying to emulate Carpenter rather than a movie by "The Master" himself. Don't get me wrong, technically it's excellent and it contains a few moments of genuine tension but there was something missing from the ingredients that make a great Carpenter movie and I think that something is called suspense. It's a shame really because with its eerie location, its linear, albeit uninspired storyline and its quirky characters this had the potential to bring the Director back to the top where he truthfully belongs but throughout I couldn't help feel that Carpenter's become jaded within the genre. His techniques that were groundbreaking during his prime have been exploited by every other Horror Director of the last 20 years. So instead of evolving above this and carving a revolutionary way forward as he once did so gracefully, Carpenters now imitating his old self and his techniques just don't seem to cut it anymore. To be fair it's an enjoyable and fast moving 88 minutes but from an old Pro like John Carpenter I was expecting something a lot more terrifying. When Carpenter reviewed his initial cut of "The Fog" back in 79 he found it plodding and just not scary enough so he went back and re-shot scenes then re-cut it into the classic it is today. I think if Carpenter had taken the same approach with this movie it could've been up there with the best of the best but something tells me that he's become indifferent, lost his passion and dare I say "only in it for the money". Over time I may grow to love this like I grew to love "Prince of Darkness" but as of right now it's left me feeling somewhat dis-satisfied.

Venom (2005)

Expected little. Got a lot.

[8/10 · 27 March 2010]

Venom tells the tale of Ray Sawyer. A lonely man in a sleepy town who everyone whispers about yet no one really knows where that jagged scar down his face came from. Nothing really happens in Rays life, nothing really happens in this small Louisiana town until one night while driving home Ray rescues an old Creole lady from her car that dangles precariously from a bridge. While in the car Ray is suddenly attacked by a suitcase full of venomous snakes which are rumoured to contain the evil souls of the criminally insane. As the car crashes into the river below so does poor Ray and his kind act is rewarded with a car full of snakes striking him with deadly painful bites in his last few moments of life. The following night Rays body disappears from the morgue and what follows is 24 hours of pure terror as this small town is held hostage to an unstoppable Ray Sawyer back from the dead and possessed by the evil spirits of the insane intent on claiming more souls from this towns locals. This is a supernatural slasher with a high body count and a twist. You can spot the trademarks of Producer/Screen-Writer Kevin Williamson ("Scream", "Dawsons Creek", "I know what you did last summer", "The Faculty", "Cursed") everywhere in this very enjoyable movie. From the dialogue savvy Teens to the tension filled chase scenes and the genuinely creepy killer that is Ray Sawyer, who nick-named "Mr. Jangles" because he collects the keys of his victims, could be the new Jason Voorhees/Michael Myers. Murderous highlights include a graphic throat slashing with a wrench, a death by sand blaster, a character ripped in two while caught between driving cars and a memorable nerve-racking chase scene through the eerie swamps of the bayou. Forget the negative reviews, leave your brain at the door and enjoy this superior atmospheric throw-back to the slasher genre.

Halloween II (2009)

Disturbing, Distressing and Seeped in Atmosphere.

[10/10 · 31 August 2009]

In "Halloween 2" Rob Zombie returns to Haddonfield, Illinois the fictitious small town Americana whose residents are slowly recovering from the legacy of serial killer Michael Myers who's trail of bloodshed one year earlier on Halloween night hangs over the town like a monument to death. The story picks up moments after Zombie's original "Halloween". Laurie Strode has survived her initial violent encounter with Michael Myers and is being rushed to the Haddonfield clinic along with her seriously wounded best friend Annie Brackett and Myers Psychiatrist Dr Sam Loomis. We quickly discover that (Surprise of all surprises) Myers isn't really dead and the first 20 minutes of the movie becomes an exercise in relentless terror and suspense as Myers slaughters his way through the clinic to find Laurie and finish off what he started.

Flash forward one year later. Michael Myers is now missing, presumed dead. Haddonfield and its populace are preparing for the Halloween celebrations and among these small town folk we find Laurie, Annie and her father Sheriff Brackett cooped up together in the same remote farmhouse outside town. Dr Loomis is also in the area promoting his new book "The Devil walks among us" based on the previous years murders. Each character is dealing with the aftermath of last years massacre in varying self-destructive ways. Physically and emotionally scarred Annie has become a recluse and won't leave the farmhouse. Sheriff Brackett has become a neurotic, thinly masking his anxiety for his daughter by playing happy families. Dr Loomis is wallowing in the escapism of fame from his best selling book and Laurie has become a functioning bi-polar individual who from frequent visits to her counselor (Played by the excellent Margot Kidder) we learn her troubled and disturbing nightmares are challenging her sanity.

What Zombie has created here is a clever character study. He reveals to us a universe where nothing and no one is pretty. His characters muddling through disaster and loss are portrayed with such ultra realism and powerful emotion we care about them deeply so that by the time Myers returns to Haddonfield to kill again the tension is incredibly high while rooting for them to survive.

Zombie could easily have taken the formulaic root, phoned this one in and dealt us a sequel that mirrors the original series. Instead he takes us into his world. This is His Haddonfield and His Halloween. A movie seeped in dreaded atmosphere and menace where the charming, wood framed shops and houses, the cutesy but creepy decorations of Halloween old sparsely hide the grim reality of what could actually happen when a violent, deeply disturbed killer targets an unprepared town.

This movie is a work of art, especially compared to most of the "Halloween" sequels and most other horror movies of late. It's intelligent, it challenges you to ask questions, doesn't spoon-feed the viewer and has four main characters (Laurie, Annie, Brackett, Loomis) that are so realistically developed and driven by such diverse psychological responses to the same problem it almost feels like you're watching a documentary on their lives.

The spectre of Myers mother could very well be the spectre of death. We are dealing with folklore here also. Halloween is a time when traditionally the veil between this world and the so called supernatural world is meant to be so thin beings can pass from one to the other. It's true she is meant to be one of Myers multiple personalities, his justification or rationalization for slaughtering those around him. This is what Zombie intended. Or is it? What if she is "pure evil" taking on the guise of someone Myers trusted the most. A demon manipulating him into believing that "Only a river of blood can bring us together"... This opens the movie up into a whole other world. After all, Laurie as she slips further and further into insanity starts to see her as well. Could Zombie be saying that the insane are closer to evil than we could have believed. This is a movie that leaves you unsettled long after the credits have rolled.

S. Darko (2009)

Reversing the roles of "Donnie Darko"

[10/10 · 15 May 2009]

When I sat down to watch "S. Darko" I promised myself that I would approach it with an open mind and watch it as an individual tale separate to the original "Donnie Darko" albeit set in the same universe. Reviews were mixed. At best it was ranged somewhere between enjoyable, confusing and inferior. Reviews at their worst described it as a downright abomination. I remember seeing the original "Donnie Darko" at a special screening back in 2001. Not many people got it back then either. I felt at times I was one of the only few who understood its powerful message and feared it would be another wonderful movie underrated and lost among the multi million dollar trash that Hollywood would churn out that same year. Flash forward two years later and suddenly everyone was in love with "Donnie Darko". It had found a new life and a new appreciative audience on DVD. It suddenly became a modern cult movie. Everyone was talking "Donnie Darko". Now we could all re-watch it over and over, make up our own minds about it and scan the Internet for theories and explanations to back up our own way out philosophies. Funnily enough, I feel the same fate awaits "S. Darko".

SPOILERS…………………….

"S. Darko" starts its story in 1995, seven years after the events of the original "Donnie Darko". Now teen-aged, Samantha Darko (underplayed beautifully by the originals Daveigh Chase) is midway through a road trip with her best friend Corey and literally on a journey of self-discovery. We are told of her disconnection with her family since the death of her older brother Donnie and quickly learn of her inability to remember her dreams and her odd sleepwalking habits. As fate would have it their car breaks down just outside a small Utah town and it is here that Samantha begins to unravel the mystery of the visions that we see plague her nightmares. If you are familiar with the original characters Donnie was a "living receiver" and the "Manipulated dead" was Frank the Bunny whose future deceased personality communicates with the "living receiver" to help them discover the path that destiny has laid out for them and in turn save the deceased from dying. Here the roles are switched around. Samantha has become the "Manipulated dead" which explains why she cannot remember her dreams where her future deceased personality guides a "Living receiver" known as Iraq Jack, a young veteran of the Gulf War who's odd behaviour and rambling conjectures are passed off by the townsfolk as someone living with post traumatic stress. To say anymore would ruin the overall outcome of the movie but suffice to say that it does share a similar plot line with the original, at times even mirroring its eccentric characters. I have a feeling however that there is also a lot more to come in the "..Darko" world. There was a reason why Donnie sacrificed his life to save Samantha from the plane crash and her journey is far from over with this film.

Other elements worth noting are its beautiful cinematography, which captures the strikingly odd landscape of the Utah desert and its score, although not dissimilar to the original, is haunting in its own inimitable way. Although arguably inferior in style and structure to the "Donnie Darko", like its brethren, "S. Darko" will slowly but surely grow in mass appeal.

The Exorcist III (1990)

Give me cerebral over visceral anyday.

[10/10 · 6 April 2009]

There is something very unsettling about "The Exorcist III:Legion". From the dreamlike opening sequence dabbed with disquieting images of Catholic Iconography, the menacing underscored acoustics and Director William Peter Blatty's unconventional cerebral style this is a sequel which compliments the original extremely well. Fifteen years after the original events a Psychopath is haunting Georgetown, slaying its victims using Satanic like rituals. The M.O is identical to the long dead "Gemini Killer" who was executed moments before Fr. Karras (Jason Miller) died from his injuries received during the 1973 Exorcism of Regan MacNeil. When Lt. Kinderman a character from "The Exorcist" (Played here to perfection by the late George C. Scott) is called in to investigate the killings his discoveries lead him to a room in a dark Asylum where a man who looks like Fr. Karras (Miller) but sounds like "The Gemini Killer" (Brad Dourif) admits in detail to all the ritualistic killings and also claims to be possessed by the legion of demons who once possessed the MacNeil child. But if this is the man responsible for the Georgetown murders how is he leaving the maximum security Asylum. When I saw this movie in 1990 I was only fifteen. I didn't appreciate back then its powerful use of intellect and dialogue over the other visceral movies I had been accustomed to like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and even the original "The Exorcist". What Blatty gives to us here is a Film that respects the structure and elements of the 1973 classic and is wise enough to not copy its inimitable terrifying sequences. This movie has its own unique and disturbing images. Moving religious statues, standout murder set-pieces, brilliant demonic performances from Jason Miller and Brad Dourif and a powerfully executed Exorcism finale that although not as powerful as its originator still stands up well to anything that we've been offered cinematically since.

Friday the 13th (2009)

Friday the 13th...ON STEROIDS

[10/10 · 17 February 2009]

Hyper is a word I would use to describe myself in the days leading up to this re-launch of the "Friday the 13th" series. Back in 82 my parents let me watch the original. I was only seven years old. I'm sure that alone was a case ripe for a children's social worker but I digress. I grew up on a nutritional diet of "Friday the 13th", "Halloween", "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" movies as well as every other Zombie, Slasher, Possession film I could get my hands on. You name it I've seen it. So to say I was hyper going into this movie is probably somewhat of an understatement. To say I was elated upon leaving is definitely an understatement. It surpassed my expectations in every way. I had fears that this re-launch might just bury the series closer to hell. Many things didn't sit comfortable with me leading up to its release. Some of these included the screenplay being written by the two guys behind Freddy VS Jason, Damien Shannon and Mark Swift. Although it was an enjoyable movie it played too much like a "Nightmare on Elm Street" sequel and I wondered if these guys knew how to make a straight "Friday the 13th" movie. Next was the replacement of composer Harry Manfredini with Steve Jablonski. Would the movie lose its trademark "Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma" echo effect? Most importantly was bringing on Marcus Nispel as director. I really enjoyed his take on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in 03. To me it was clearly the master of the remakes. It was Gritty, terrifying and suspenseful but could he make a "Friday the 13th" movie that wouldn't play like a carbon copy of his "TCM". As I said above the "TCM" remake WAS the master of the remakes "Friday the 13th" 2009 IS the new master. We all know the story by now. 1980. Psychotic Mother slaughters camp counsellors in an act of revenge for the accidental drowning of her son Jason. The only surviving counsellor decapitates Mother. Flash forward 29 years later. Five teens visit the area of the original massacre to score reputable marijuana. They disturb Jason who never actually drowned but has survived in the wilderness alone like an animal. Jason slaughters most of them very quickly in extremely violent ways. Six weeks later some more teens are visiting their friend's country home in the same area. They cross paths with a guy who's Sister went missing in the area six weeks earlier. Same guy while searching for his Sister disturbs Jason lair and inadvertently leads him back to the other teen's holiday home where mayhem ensues. Same old tried and true slasher formula but this time the formula is on steroids. Jason is a nuclear power in this movie. He's fast, intelligent, savage and scary. I must say the first twenty minutes of the film are definitely the best. This is where we see Jason's most animalistic, violent nature and the audience I watched this with were left speechless. The move drops somewhat in tension and then plays out for the next 50 minutes or so like a classic "Friday" movie of old but once it reaches its third act it powers forward again to its edgy climax. Marcus Nispels Direction is solid. He knows how to play with the audience and he doesn't withhold on brutality. He doesn't over-do it either. A handful of powerfully violent kills are more effective than a heap of them. He uses the edge of the frame in some scenes that make it look like Carpenter has directed and his timing of the movies jump scares are next to perfection. The performances are above par for this type of movie but particular mention must go to Amanda Righetti as "Whitney". She's the best final girl since "Ginny" from part 2 and her energy in the role is infectious. Good mention must go to Jared Padalecki as "Clay" and Danielle Panabaker as "Jenna" however major kudos to Derek Mears as Jason. He doesn't just take Jason to a whole new dimension; he makes Jason feel like he's alive in IMAX 3D. The score by Steve Jablonsky is also worth mentioning. At times it felt like John Carpenter had scored the movie and to me it really energised the chase scenes. Plus the use of the original "Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma" is saved for crucial moments where is underlines the action on screen very well. Jablonsky has also given the movie a haunting lullaby theme that's akin to the "Nightmare on Elm Street" theme. I hope this returns in the planned sequel. To conclude, "Friday the 13th" 2009 has managed to return this series to its darkest roots and I believe this is only the beginning of something really incredible.

Dorothy Mills (2008)

Great Idea badly Executed.

[5/10 · 17 February 2009]

This is a great example of a movie with a strong idea that's poorly executed. What could have been an alternate take on themes comparable to "The Sixth Sense" the storyline instead tumbles into a hollow drama poorly disguised as a Psychological horror. On the plus side Jenn Murray as the disturbed "Dorothy" and Carice Van Houten as her Psychiatrist "Jane" play out their roles to near perfection. I'm from Ireland and I've been looking forward to this film for almost a year now but for me what let it down the most are its gaping plot holes. The most obvious one of these is the fact that the Islanders live in fear of Dorothy and at times she is seen as a freak. So why would you ask this troubled teen to Baby-sit your child knowing what she is capable of. This plot point is what takes Jane to the Island to begin with to investigate a report of child abuse and it's as if the writers failed to notice this weak link in the story. Another gripe of mine is how Ireland is portrayed. There are no Islands around the coast of Ireland where the locals dress like they are stuck in the 1940's or act like characters from "The Wicker Man". I found this to be thoroughly distracting and it certainly brought forth more than a few giggles from the audience I watched it with. It would have been creepier if the Islanders were played straight and saw nothing wrong with exploiting Dorothy for her strange "talent" and were willing to KILL anyone who tried to take her away from them. This would've put Jane in jeopardy and as a result created tension and suspense both of which it is totally lacking in. This is a movie that's more akin to "Agnes of God" than "The Exorcist" as it's been touted. If you enjoyed "Agnes of God" you will probably like this.

Cold Prey (2006)

Norwegian Horror with genuine scares.

[10/10 · 3 August 2007]

What exactly can I say about FRITT VILT that hasn't been said already. Well for starters, in a world overdosed on allegedly scary slasher movies this Norwegian film actually delivers with a terrifying atmosphere and genuine suspense. It's an old and tried storyline, take five teenagers and place them in an isolated location, this being a long abandoned hotel with a violent killer on the loose inside. However, what differentiates FRITT VILT from the rest of the pack is it's sharp direction by Roar Uthaug who manages to keep the same old clichés of the genre interesting. He does this mainly through the characters. Here we have five friends who emote a sincere affection for each other and for this reason we grow to like them. Unlike most other slasher movies where the characters are cardboard cut-outs simply used to increase the body-count and showcase gory effects these characters drive the story along and all have a purpose within the movie that serves the plot. So when we watch them die it becomes upsetting and genuinely disturbing. In particular the first murder is increasingly harrowing and while watching I felt a terrible pity for the person. Another reason it succeeds is the fluid cinematography by Daniel Voldheim who paints each shot with atmospheric lighting and shadow so the darker scenes generate true claustrophobia and tension. The soundtrack by Magnus Beite is wonderfully haunting, moving and terrifying while the performances by all involved are incredibly accurate, particularly Ingrid Bolso Berdal as Jannicke who provides a compassionate heroine whom we quickly grow to love and in the end we truly feel her anguish and pain. This is an outstanding movie within the slasher genre and a sterling example of Norwegian horror.

Black Christmas (2006)

Worked surprisingly well

[8/10 · 19 December 2006]

I've seen it... It was released here in Ireland last Friday Dec 15th and I thought it was excellent....I'm an uber fan of the original but I felt this rendition was unique enough to stand alone and separate it from the '74 classic and still retain that uneasy, eerie atmosphere which was at the foundation of the original. It's a similar storyline and set-up but there's a copious amount of gruesome twists and turns along the way with some very disturbing images to keep any level of "Black Christmas" fan interested throughout. One notable scene where Kelli is wedged between the walls, pounding for help while the killer/s crawl toward her is one of the most claustrophobic, tense moments I've sat through since the closet scene of the original "Halloween". Plus, as a bonus I found that keeping one of the killers in the shadows then showing IT in the finale worked surprisingly well as this is one of the more imaginative and creepy cinema psychopaths in a long, long time.