The 31 Days of Horror- #20
Oooh, the top 20 has begun!
"A naughty, sexy little slasher, and a glossy, sucky remake..."
The Hidden Gem:
The Master says:
This gem is so hidden, that it's been finished since 2006 and hasn't been released yet! I don't get what the problem is with at least throwing this one out on Region 1 DVD (They've had it on Blu-Ray in Europe for a while now), because it's a sleek, fun, ethereal, atmospheric little teen slasher, that actually makes an effort to be more mature than most of its peers. It's not perfect, and some people might actually not like it, but it's so much better than most of the Teen Terror crap we get that it deserves to be released. Have I mentioned how hot Amber Heard is? After taking one look at her, I have no doubts that all the boys truly love her...and even some of the girls.
The Train Wreck:
The Master says:
Before we start; the original April Fools Day (1986) wasn't perfect, nor was it even that great. Still, it was clever and fun, and I remember Muffy creeping the hell out of me as a kid. As far as this remake goes, the creepiest thing about it is the fact that movies like this are allowed to be made with no care for or attention paid to what makes a horror movie good. The kills suck, the characters are annoying (is there any way that people named Blaine, Torrance or Barbie could not be annoying?), and the plot was paper thin and predictable. If you don't see the "Twist" coming from at least 426 miles away, you have issues. Completely frustrating, this is a great example of why remakes, even of mediocre films, really tend to suck.
The Master says: This gem is so hidden, that it's been finished since 2006 and hasn't been released yet! I don't get what the problem is with at least throwing this one out on Region 1 DVD (They've had it on Blu-Ray in Europe for a while now), because it's a sleek, fun, ethereal, atmospheric little teen slasher, that actually makes an effort to be more mature than most of its peers. It's not perfect, and some people might actually not like it, but it's so much better than most of the Teen Terror crap we get that it deserves to be released. Have I mentioned how hot Amber Heard is? After taking one look at her, I have no doubts that all the boys truly love her...and even some of the girls. 
The Master says: Before we start; the original April Fools Day (1986) wasn't perfect, nor was it even that great. Still, it was clever and fun, and I remember Muffy creeping the hell out of me as a kid. As far as this remake goes, the creepiest thing about it is the fact that movies like this are allowed to be made with no care for or attention paid to what makes a horror movie good. The kills suck, the characters are annoying (is there any way that people named Blaine, Torrance or Barbie could not be annoying?), and the plot was paper thin and predictable. If you don't see the "Twist" coming from at least 426 miles away, you have issues. Completely frustrating, this is a great example of why remakes, even of mediocre films, really tend to suck. 
I really enjoyed All the Boys Love Mandy Lane.
ReplyDeleteWatched Mandy Lane last night--I can see why it hasn't yet made it to the US. The view it has on American teens is kind of nihilistic and cynical (even for a horror/thriller pic). There is obviously an element of satire to the work, but it gets a bit lost in the muddled tone of the pic. Also, there is no clear protagonist in the movie. Mandy Lane is too aloof- her past too clouded and her intentions never explained (even after the twist).
ReplyDeleteThough the scene where Amber Heard disrobes before the other teens whilst Beethoven (I think it's Beethoven) is pretty sublime in its kind of absurdist adulation.