Well it's finally October again and you know what that means: It's time for my annual "October Horror Movie Marathon"! Every year in October I attempt to watch at least one horror movie a day and this year will be no different. The theme I stumbled onto for the first week this year was demons and devils so every film I watched had those themes in common. Be on the lookout every Thursday this month for a roundup of every movie I have managed to watch during the previous week. So kids, grab your popcorn, draw the shades, turn down the lights, and lets dive right in!
Movie #1: The Ninth Gate (1999)
Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin
Plot: A rare book dealer gets caught up in a supernatural mystery while researching a book reported to have been written by the devil himself.
Opinion: Please ignore that awful trailer I linked. It tries to make this seem like some sort of trashy 90's horror schlock. What this movie really is, is a slow, methodical, and dreamlike tale. Its a strange film that feels like you're reading a novel instead of watching a movie, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Movie #2: The Exorcist (1973)
Director: William Friedkin
Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Jason Miller
Plot: A single mother seeks the help of a priest when her daughter starts to experience signs of demonic possession.
Opinion: Often called "The Scariest Movie of All Time", this 1973 shocker stills stands the test of time. The reason why it is still so good is not just the scares. Why it still holds up, in my opinion, is how real it feels. The dialogue and performances are extremely natural, and the cinematography is something right out of a documentary. I honestly find myself enjoying this movie more and more very time I watch it. There are two versions of this movie you can watch: "The Theatrical Cut" and "The Extended Director's Cut" also know as the "Version You've Never Seen Before". I highly recommend the latter as it adds back in a lot more character development and restores the infamous "spider-walk" sequence into the film.
Movie #3: The Exorcist III (1990)
Director: William Peter Blatty
Starring: George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Brad Dourif
Plot: A police detective looking to solve a series of murders that have similarities to a dead serial killer, finds himself investigating a mental patient who looks just like a priest who died fifteen years earlier during an exorcism.
Opinion: Considered by many, myself included, to be the true sequel to the '73 classic. George C. Scott and Brad Dourif give some of the best performances of their careers and William Peter Blatty's intimate familiarity with the material shines through in every frame. Now just like the first film there are two versions of this movie available: The Theatrical Cut and The Director's Cut. Usually I am all for a Director's Cut as the true vision for a film but in this case I have to make an exception. The restored footage is of inferior quality and is jarring whenever it is inserted into the finished film. I also think it is more confusing for the audience due to the omission of a certain actor and has a very abrupt and lackluster ending.
Opinion: Considered by many, myself included, to be the true sequel to the '73 classic. George C. Scott and Brad Dourif give some of the best performances of their careers and William Peter Blatty's intimate familiarity with the material shines through in every frame. Now just like the first film there are two versions of this movie available: The Theatrical Cut and The Director's Cut. Usually I am all for a Director's Cut as the true vision for a film but in this case I have to make an exception. The restored footage is of inferior quality and is jarring whenever it is inserted into the finished film. I also think it is more confusing for the audience due to the omission of a certain actor and has a very abrupt and lackluster ending.
Movie #4: The Omen (1976)
Director: Richard Donner
Starring: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner
Plot: A U.S. ambassador to the U.K. begins to suspect, after a series of tragic accidents, that his adopted son is the Antichrist.
Opinion: One of the best horror films of the 70's is just as good now as it was then. Much like The Exorcist before it, The Omen holds up because of amazing performances and pitch perfect direction and filmmaking. Would make a great double feature with the afore mentioned classic.
Well that wraps up week one! I'd love to hear any of your opinions on the films I watched and am always open to suggestions, so feel free to hit me up in the comments below. As always thank you for reading and I'll see you next week!
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