Frozen (2010)
Directed by Adam Green
Length: 93 minutes
Rated for some disturbing images and language
The state of horror movies is in shambles. Where are the modern classics? It seems the genre reached its peak back in the 1970s with The Exorcist and Jaws, etc. A genre reduced to shitty reboots (Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th), the latest PG-13 crapfest, or outlandish movies aiming for the gross-out factor (Saw, The Human Centipede, Rubber). Thankfully, Frozen is a fresh idea that is well executed. Though not a horror film in the traditional sense, the type of scary found here is the most frightening of all, because it could really happen.
Emma Bell (The Walking Dead, Final Destination 5), Shawn Ashmore (Mother's Day, The Mariachi Gringo), and Kevin Zegers (Gossip Girl, The Entitled) play a group of college students looking to escape the troubles of school by spending the day skiing at a local resort. When the group finds itself short on cash for lift tickets, they bribe the lift operator into letting them ride. As the sun begins to set, the group sets out for one last ride. That's when the fun begins - the lift is shut down with the group trapped midway up the mountain with no lights, an incoming storm, and no expected help for at least a week. Will help arrive to save the trapped group, or will they have to find a way out on their own?
Though the film does a good job of walking the line between believable and non, several scenes are still quite gruesome. Let's just say compound fractures are not a fun thing to witness. The actors do a good job of avoiding the pitfall of overacting, as so often happens in horror. While not scary, the tension created in several key scenes is amazing. You will find yourself cheering on the group as they fight impending death.
While not the instant classic we all clamor for, Frozen is the breath of fresh air Hollywood needs, not just the horror genre. Too often, both film and television rely on past ideas for the latest offerings. That is why it is so important for you, the viewer, to support the new and original. Frozen may not be your cup of tea; I'll admit I initially found the trailer to be quite ludicrous - something I had to see, if not just to make fun of it. But, instead, I found a solid film that is well executed. Don't be afraid to give it a try: unless you plan on skiing anytime soon.
Final Rating: 3 out 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
[Parker lights a cigarette and begins smoking. Joe sniffing the air, exaggerated.]
Joe Lynch: "Hmmm, smell that mountain air. You know what it smells like? ...Cancer."
The Wolfman (2010)
Directed by Joe Johnston
Length: 103 minutes
Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore
Someone toss werewolves a bone! With all the attention paid to vampires and their romantic escapades, a true werewolf movie has been long overdue. Certainly there have been attempts to depict the dreaded lycanthrope in recent films and television series; but let's be honest, those can hardly be considered werewolves. Writer's Note: In Twilight, those are not werewolves, those are shape-shifters. While this modern-day re-imagining of the 1940s classic may be the closest thing to a true werewolf story, The Wolfman is still a silver-riddled failure.
Upon receiving news of his brother's mysterious disappearance, our protagonist Lawrence Talbot, played by Benicio del Toro (Che, The Three Stooges), returns home to the 19th century English countryside. His brother's body is soon found - mutilated and gutted as if mauled by an animal. As Lawrence seeks an answer to his brother's death, whispers of a dangerous monster began to surface - a werewolf. When Lawrence is attacked by the creature, he miraculously survives with only a nasty bite, a bite that soon changes everything for our protagonist. Staying true to the old lore, with the full moon, Lawrence transforms into a deadly werewolf, capable of maiming and killing anything in his path. Soon, Lawrence is forced to seek answers to not only the death of his brother but also for his dark and dangerous new persona that threatens to kill those he loves.
I'll be honest, the first half of the movie is a total snooze-fest, as we are stuck following Lawrence and his investigation into his brother's death. While the lack of action is fine, the black and grays of the scenery coupled with bland characters and storytelling are enough to make you see the back of your eyelids. This all changes when the character of the werewolf is actually introduced. Initially I expected the film to take a tame approach to the victims, but let me assure all you gore hounds, there are loads of dismembered arms, severed heads, and a disembowelment or two. While not for the faint of heart, the rampages of the beast proved to be the best parts in an otherwise forgetful movie.
I really enjoyed the transformation of Lawrence into the creature: the special effects are able to hug the line between over-the-top and believable while illustrating the cracking, popping, and shifting as Lawrence's body changes into the werewolf. Unfortunately, while the transformation is certainly cool, the final product certainly is not. Looking more like a gorilla in suit, the visual presentation of the werewolf falls well short of what I was hoping for. Visually, the film is extremely monochromatic - dark, dreary, gray...England must have been a fun place to live a hundred years ago. While it may not be much for looking at, the dark atmosphere certainly creates the right tone for the film as you wonder where the monster is hiding in the shadows.
Concerning the acting, I am a little disappointed with the film. Boasting a qualified cast of del Toro, Anthony Hopkins (Thor, Bare Knuckles) as Lawrence's father Sir John Talbot, Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau, The Young Victoria) as the love interest Gwen Conliffe, and Hugo Weaving (Captain America: The First Avenger, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) as the Scotland Yard inspector Abberline, all fail to add any depth to their characters or the movie. All of these actors have demonstrated in past roles they are capable of impressive performances; unfortunately, you find yourself unconcerned with the character's fate as well as slightly confused by their actions.
If this was the movie to launch the werewolf craze, we can already deem the movement a failure. A weak first half, dry acting, and a questionable monster design all lead to this miscue. While the action certainly picks up in the second half and ultimately redeems the film, I would have liked a movie less like 2004's disaster Van Helsing and more akin to 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula - a film that achieves the perfect semblance of drama, romance, horror, gore, and violence. Instead, someone should take this film out to pasture and put it out of its misery...just make sure to use a silver bullet so we can avoid a sequel.
Final Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote: Eh...not really any
Oscar Nominations:
Best Achievement in Makeup
Paranormal Activity (2009)
Directed by Oren Peli
Length: 86 minutes
Rated R for language
I'll admit, the horror genre and I have never been best friends. I am still traumatized by the haunting memories of the truly horrific Ernest Scared Stupid (say what you will, but when you're young, monsters afraid of milk will scare you); however, over the years, I have become more tolerant and appreciative of the genre. While you won't see me in line for the latest slasher flick, I can appreciate a good psychological horror film, a decent zombie movie, or the occasional spine-tinglier that has you tense with anticipation. Paranormal Activity definitely falls into the third category - a film that isn't necessarily scary but has enough tense moments to leave you gripping the pillow a little tighter than usual.
To quickly summarize, the film is shot from a documentary perspective (a la The Blair Witch) and focuses on a young couple being haunted by a demonic spirit. The couple attempt to capture footage of the haunting in order to prove their claims, before it may be too late. While it may not be the most original concept or latest filming style, Paranormal Activity does a good job of creating those tense moments where you know something is about to happen, only to still be scared when it happens. While you can traditionally gauge how scary a film is by how many times I jump (anyone who knows me personally can attest to just how jumpy I am), this low budget film doesn't try to scary you necessarily as much as it tries to creep you out.
The movie is far from flawless, and it definitely fails to live up to the critics' claim of "one of the scariest movie of all time." It is predictable, the characters are horribly and almost comically flawed, and there is no personified evil; all that being said, the film does a good job of creating enough suspense and edginess to still draw you into the tension building scenes. While I certainly wouldn't call it a classic, the film does what it is suppose to: scare you!
Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Micah: "You're screaming like that over a spider?"
Katie: "Well, yeah...did you go run and get the camera first?"
