| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| randall |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 18:59:09
It's just out on DVD, and I finally saw it. It's not perfect, but boy, can it stay one step ahead of you.
The basic plot: five young horror-film stereotypes take a vacation in a creepy cabin in the creepy woods. In a parallel setting, there are an office full of oddly banal people watching them; it must be some kind of experiment! No, I'm not giving anything away, because we meet the office folks before we meet the kids, before the title card even. That's not the big reveal. Nowhere close. But that's it for plot: the less you know, the better you'll enjoy this one. I managed to clamp my ears shut for nine months waiting for the DVD, and I'm so glad I did.
This movie was made by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, two guys who love horror movies. They cram their knowledge both of horror tradition and of your expectations into a film that amuses, terrifies, surprises and delights more than anything since SCREAM. They let their imaginations run free -- there are absolutely no limits -- and the only time I was ahead of them was late in the picture when I heard what I thought was a familiar voice and sure enough, this actor showed up a few minutes later.
Recommended especially for hard-core horror fans [I'm looking at you, benj!], who will notice references all the way through. What a great job. |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| randall |
Posted - 11/19/2012 : 23:23:09
quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
quote:
Originally posted by randa13
It's not particularly scary in the sense of dread, though there are some pretty good startles.
Very true, in fact one of the many things I love about this film is it has one of the single most terrifying film title announcements I've ever seen. So sudden and unexpected, and hilarious in retrospect.
Agreed! |
| benj clews |
Posted - 11/19/2012 : 19:56:45
quote:
Originally posted by randa13
It's not particularly scary in the sense of dread, though there are some pretty good startles.
Very true, in fact one of the many things I love about this film is it has one of the single most terrifying film title announcements I've ever seen. So sudden and unexpected, and hilarious in retrospect. |
| randall |
Posted - 11/19/2012 : 19:48:06
You're absolutely right. It's not particularly scary in the sense of dread, though there are some pretty good startles. But so much FUN! I went ahead and bought a DVD after my rental because of those repeated viewings you're referring to. It's definitely become one of my favorites. |
| benj clews |
Posted - 11/19/2012 : 18:30:57
Saw this twice when it came out in the cinema earlier this year so you're preaching to the converted Randall  Your post does remind me I really need to stick it on again however- there's always more to see in there...
My only real issue with the film is that it's almost impossible to sell to anyone else (you really get a feel for what it must have been like for the people making the trailer doing so). I got a workmate to watch it and he came back and said it was rubbish because it wasn't scary. No it's not, but then I didn't know how else to sell it other than to go along with the marketing and say it was horror. So, right away you're going to be pissing off a lot of people expecting the film to be something it isn't.
Yes, it's not especially scary, but then the horror films it's referencing (largely 80s horror franchises) seem quite tame nowadays too and that's really what it's all about- not a horror as we know it now (which is a generally a good thing I reckon) but a horror as we fondly remember it.
At the time I saw it, I tweeted something to the effect that it was great film because it logically cohesive-ized horror films- explaining why they have to happen how they do and why people do what they do. These are all questions we all ask watching those films. For one film to answer these where 10+ Jason Voorhees films couldn't manage it even once AND filling it with a ton of in references AND being a metaphor for the genre AND still being so much fun has to be one of the greatest balancing acts ever. |
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