2015 Horror Film Frenzy
No horror movie has ever
outpaced the technology of its time. Even the greats succumbed to the
limitations of their eras. Think about a Halloween remade for the present, with
all its special effects tuned up. 2014 films like Open Grave and Signal didn’t
really hit the mark with the public, even though they ended up being
entertaining to an extent. On the other hand, movies like Ouija drew in
audiences to witness unspeakable acts of horror to much financial success. The
year 2015 promises a solid lot of horror films for fans of every ilk. From
remakes to originals, no horror film addict should go wanting this year.
A movie driven by the
ever-charismatic Guillermo del Toro, this movie plays into the fear that most
people have about a house with a history. An old house in an otherwise charming
place turns out to have some rather unattractive characteristics. A few of the
local residents also carry baggage of their own. In contrast to many recent
horror flicks, this one promises a psychological and human edge.
If you have ever had a
fear of doctors and seemingly random tests, this film will scare the living
daylights out of you. The opening scene finds our protagonist in just such a
situation, and things don’t get any less bleak. This series of films drives
viewers increasingly further into a desperate hole with little hope of escape.
The beginning of the movie, though, turns out to be only one step towards a
resolution to the protagonist’s misfortunes that have culminated over the
course of the previous films.
In the 80s, Poltergeist
horrified pretty much every sentient individual with access to a little money
for a theater ticket. It’s widely considered a classic and if you haven’t seen
it you can stream it or watch it on demand with providers like iTunes and DirecTV. The classic plot revolves around a family that has moved into a
house built over an inauspicious location without knowing it. Things start out
on a slightly comical, bizarre tone, but quickly move to more threatening
possibilities. The remaking of this classic ghoul thriller was created by the
experienced hands of Sam Raimi, a veteran of scary movies.
Starring Daniel
Radcliffe and James McAvoy, this version of the internationally known Frankenstein by Mary Shelley looks at the story, originally published in 1818, from another
angle. Instead of seeing things through the monster’s eyes or those of the good
doctor Frankenstein, we finally get an idea of what Igor might have thought of
the situation. The postmodern take on the classic novel gives the tale a new
spin.
Who doesn’t look forward
to an all-out melee between humans, vampires and zombies? Kitchen Sink
throws in all that and much more with an ironic wink to fans along the way. The
film also plays on some of the 1980’s themes of teenagers against the system,
as they remain the sole defense against the supernatural beings at large. Bob
Odenkirk, from Breaking Bad and the soon-to-come Call Saul, makes an
appearance in this flick.
In an odd combination of
older horror themes, this Spike Lee film puts its protagonist into a tight
spot. He suddenly has a desire for blood like a vampire, although he doesn’t
fit the stereotypical vampire aspects. His journeys bring him through a
gauntlet of all that society has to offer. On his way, he puts much of those
norms into question.
In this second
installment of the series, a group of kids stir up trouble with a very
inhospitable resident of the Eel Marsh House. While they are not the first to
face off with the specter, they would really like to be the last. The film
attempts to convey some of the ways history impacts even the people who seem
the most removed.
Obviously, horror
depends on what we fear in our particular lives. Strangely enough, the things
that scare us tend to be somewhat universal. As the horror genre evolves, it
delves deeper and deeper into the areas we dread the most.
Thanks, Elizabeth! Another great post! Look forward to seeing these flicks.
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