"A Little Horror" - Version: October 2014

My picks for the best Horror films, Sci-Fi/Horror, Thrillers/Supernatural Thrillers, Supernatural Romances, Horror Comedies and Horror-themed Fantasy Films...

1. 13 Ghosts (1960)
2. 28 Days Later
3. 30 Days Of Night
4. Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein
5. Abominable (2006)
6. Alien
7. Aliens
8. Alligator
9. Altered States
10. An American Werewolf In London
11. Army Of Darkness
12. AVP
13. The Awakening (2012)
14. The Bad Seed (1956)
15. Below (2002)
16. Big Bad Wolves (2013)
17. Big Trouble In Little China
18. The Birds (1963)
19. Black Swan (2010)
20. Blade
21. Blade II
22. The Blob (1988)
23. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
24. Byzantium (2012)
25. The Cabin In The Woods (2012)
26. The Canterville Ghost (1944)
27. Carrie (1976)
28. Cat People (1942)
29. Cat's Eye (1985)
30. The Changeling (1980)
31. Child's Play (1988)
32. Christine (1983)
33. Citizen X (1995)
34. The Conjuring (2013)
35. Constantine (2005)
36. The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)
37. Creepshow
38. Creepshow2
39. Critters
40. Cronos (1993)
41. Curse Of Frankenstein (1957)
42. Curse Of The Demon (1957)
43. Curse Of The Werewolf (1961)
44. Daimajin (1966)
45. The Dark Half (1993)
46. The Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (1981)
47. Dawn Of The Dead (1978)
48. Day Of The Dead (1985)
49. The Day Of The Triffids (1962)
50. Daybreakers
51. Dead Calm (1989)
52. Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
53. Dead Of Night (1945)
54. The Dead Zone (1983)
55. Death Proof
56. Deep Rising
57. Deliverance
58. The Descent
59. The Devil's Backbone
60. Disturbia
61. Dog Soldiers
62. Donnie Darko
63. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931)
64. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1941)
65. Dracula (1931)
66. Dracula (1979)
67. The Edge (1997)
68. Evil Dead II
69. Evolution (2001)
70. The Exorcist
71. Face Of Fire
72. The Fly (1958)
73. The Fly (1986)
74. The Fly II (1989)
75. The Fog (1980)
76. Frankenfish
77. Frankenstein (1931)
78. Frankenweenie (2012)
79. Frenzy (1972)
80. Friday The 13th Part 2
81. Friday The 13th Part III
82. Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood
83. Fright Night (1985)
84. Fright Night Part II (1988)
85. Gamera
86. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
87. Ghostbusters
88. Ghostbusters II
89. Ginger Snaps
90. Gojira
91. Grabbers
92. Gremlins
93. Gremlins 2: The New Batch
94. Grizzly (1976)
95. Halloween (1978)
96. Halloween II (1981)
97. Halloween (2007)
98. Hellboy
99. Hellboy II: The Golden Army
100. The Hidden (1987)
101. The Horror Of Dracula (1958)
102. The Host (2006)
103. Hostel
104. Hot Fuzz
105. The Howling (1981)
106. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939)
107. Identity (2003)
108. The Innkeepers (2011)
109. Innocent Blood (1992)
110. The Innocents (1961)
111. Insomnia (2002)
112. The Invisible Man (1933)
113. The Island Of Lost Souls (1932)
114. JAWS
115. JAWS 2
116. King Kong (1933)
117. Kiss The Girls
118. Kolchak: The Night Stalker
119. Land Of The Dead (2005)
120. Let Me In
121. Let The Right One In
122. Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)
123. The Lodger (1944)
124. The Lost Boys
125. M (1931)
126. The Machinist
127. Manhunter
128. Maniac (2013)
129. Memories Of Murder (2003)
130. Mimic (1997)
131. Misery
132. The Mist
133. The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
134. Mr. Brooks
135. The Mummy (1959)
136. The Mummy (1999)
137. My Bloody Valentine (2009)
138. Mystery Of The Wax Museum (1933)
139. Near Dark
140. Night Of The Creeps (1986)
141. The Night Of The Hunter (1955)
142. Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
143. The Nightmare Before Christmas
144. Nosferatu (1922)
145. Orphan (2009)
146. The Orphanage (2007)
147. The Other (1972)
148. The Others (2001)
149. Pan's Labyrinth
150. ParaNorman
151. Peeping Tom (1960)
152. The Phantom Of The Opera (1943)
153. The Phantom Of The Opera (1962)
154. The Picture Of Dorian Gray (1945)
155. Piranha (19778)
156. Piranha (2010)
157. Poltergeist
158. Predator
159. Psycho (1960)
160. P2
161. Rare Exports: A Christmas Story
162. Re-Animator
163. Road Games
164. Rogue (2007)
165. The Ruins
166. Salem's Lot (1979)
167. Scream
168. Session 9
169. Se7en
170. Shaun Of The Dead
171. The Shining (1980)
172. Silence Of The Lambs
173. Silver Bullet (1985)
174. The Sixth Sense
175. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
176. Slither (2006)
177. Son Of Frankenstein
178. Spider Baby: Or The Maddest Story Ever Told
179. Splinter (2008)
180. Split Second (1992)
181. Stake Land
182. Stir Of Echoes (1999)
183. Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight
184. The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse
185. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
186. THEM! (1954)
187. They Live (1988)
188. The Thing From Another World (1951)
189. The Thing (1982)
190. This Is The End (2013)
191. Topper (1937)
192. Tremors
193. Trick 'r Treat (2007)
194. The Twilight Zone: The Movie
195. Under The Skin (2013)
196. Underworld
197. Underwold: Evolution
198. Underworld: Rise of The Lycans
199. Underworld: Awakening
200. The Uninvited (1944)
201. Vampyr
202. Village of The Damned (1960)
203. War Of The Worlds (1953)
204. Warm Bodies (2013)
205. We Are What We Are (2013)
206. What Lies Beneath
207. White Zombie (1932)
208. Willard (2003)
209. Wolf Creek
210. The Wolf Man (1941)
211. The Wolfman (2010)
212. The Woman In Black (2012)
213. You're Next
214. Young Frankenstein
215. Zodiac (2007)
216. Zombieland

Film Review - Cold In July (2014)

On DVD and Blu Ray - "Cold In July" (2014) - The deadly outcome of a late-night home invasion finds a protective husband and father (Michael C. Hall) incurring the wrath of a vengeful ex-con (Sam Shepard). Matters aren't quite as they initially appear, with a number of worthwhile twists and revelations abound in this ominous, suspenseful tale of a family man who finds himself swept into sinister currents and subsequently developing a taste for danger that may consume him. 

Director/co-scripter Jim Mickle (Stake Land, We Are What We Are), along with screenwriter Nick Damici, has lovingly adapted novelist Joe R. Lansdale's crime novel into a dark, down and dirty homage to Director John Carpenter's (Halloween, The Thing, Christine) prime run, emulating the legendary horror auteur's distinct visual aesthetic (complete with Albertus MT title and credits font!) while churning out a pulpy throwback laden with unexpected, engaging detours.  Cold In July is an involving, slow burn affair that blends genres in impressive fashion; a Neo-Western, Crime-Drama/Thriller seasoned with a healthy dose of Mystery and a pinch of Horror, the film defies further description without venturing into spoiler territory.

Set in 1989 Huntsville, Texas, Michael C. Hall's (Showtime's Dexter) "Richard Dane" is awakened by his startled wife (Vinessa Shaw) to confront an intruder in their home.  When the incident leaves the invading member dead, the small business owner finds his world turned upside down- troubled with attaining the status as a local hero, he soon becomes the target of the dead man's felonious father, played by Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff).

Hall puts in fine work throughout as our conscientious protagonist, and although credibility is never an issue, most will more than likely find themselves having problems buying into the logistics behind why this mild-mannered everyman would continue to risk his life (and world) when simply letting matters rest would have sufficed.  Driven by remorse and a nagging sense of integrity, shaken from the doldrums of a monotonous existence, this everyday Joe feels compelled to see matters through to the very end.

Shepard brings a smoldering, veteran intensity to his angry and grieving "Russel", with a mid-film change of direction for his character that provides ample opportunity for the septuagenarian actor to mine the conflicted character more thoroughly.  This is Shepard's best, most memorable work in many a moon.

Don Johnson's (Miami Vice) immensely charismatic Private Detective/pig farmer, "Jim Bob", breezes into the narrative about one-third of the way through and steals the film outright- it's a flashy, fun turn that will leave most wondering why the 65-year-old wasn't able to fully secure super-stardom in film.  Johnson's involvement here provides a vibrant dynamic that elevates an already solid experience and cemented my appreciation for the film.  There's no good reason as to why this movie wasn't widely released in theaters.

Vinessa Shaw (3:10 To Yuma 2007) is solid in a limited role that I wish there had been a bit more material for, while Nick Damici (Stake Land) supplies a local sheriff harboring a secret.  Wyatt Russell (Kurt Russell's son) rounds out the notable cast as the face of pure evil in plain sight.

Potential audiences can expect a narrative that poignantly adheres to father and son themes while veering towards an intensely violent and blood-streaked climactic confrontation- unmistakably adult in nature, the film earns its hard R rating and should please those who crave a story that isn't telegraphed or overtly cliched.  Mickle's direction is finely tuned and fully confident- it's his most complete work to date and I'll be sure to keep tabs upon his future endeavors.

Cold in July features one of the very best soundtracks of 2014, with Jeff Grace's eerily haunting original synth score (another Carpenter staple) perfectly complimented by a rousing assist from Dynatron's "Cosmo Black".

My favorite film of 2014, thus far, it delivers a tense and rewarding dose of kick-ass cool that should rightfully take its place amongst the very best Movies for Guys Who Love Movies.

Highly Recommended, it's a Midnight Max Essential

9.0 out of 10

Director: Jim Mickle
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell and Nick Damici
Run-Time: 109 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for strong bloody violence, brief nudity and language

Film Review - Chef (2014)

On DVD and Blu Ray - "Chef" (2014) - Jon Favreau (Iron Man) writes, directs and stars in this absolutely delightful comedy about an acclaimed chef who loses his job at a high-end restaurant and subsequently reinvents his career by firing up a food truck.  Returning to his smaller-budgeted, indie roots in superb fashion, Favreau has crafted a genuinely funny and uplifting experience that feels refreshingly authentic and natural without a hint of scattershot improv.  Chef is a highly rewarding and thoroughly entertaining passion project that is extremely well-written and acted for a lighter comedy, featuring sharp, hilarious dialogue and fascinating, detailed footage of culinary preparation that will undoubtedly leave mouths watering.

Favreau's excellent as "Carl Casper", a portly and heavily tattooed professional chef who finds his creativity suffocated under the employment of his restrictive restaurateur boss, played by Dustin Hoffman (Marathon Man).  After a disastrous review from a surly food critic (Oliver Platt) results in a spectacular meltdown, our protagonist finds himself jobless yet eager to revisit what's left of his artistic integrity.  A dilapidated old taco truck presents a chance to start anew, while also providing a golden opportunity to repair the fledgling bond between him and the young son (Emjay Anthony) he's been neglecting.  Joined by his son and a former colleague (John Leguizamo), the trio embarks on an enlightening road trip across America.

I wasn't expecting the road picture element, though the film is highly effective as such- stops in Miami, New Orleans and Austin are most notable. 

The film features an impressive cast which includes the lovely Sofia Vergara (ABC's Modern Family) as Carl's sympathetic ex-wife (she looks amazing as a blonde!), Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers) as his hostess girlfriend and Bobby Cannavale (The Station Agent) as a former culinary colleague. There are a couple of worthwhile cameos I won't bother to spoil.

Maybe it caught me at precisely the right moment, but I had a smile plastered on my face from beginning to end- brimming with appealing characters, memorable lines and outstanding soundtrack selections, the film hits all the right notes and doesn't overstay its welcome.  A word of warning: I would suggest to potential viewers that they don't plan on viewing this on an empty stomach- it will prove to be 114 minutes of torture.

This is the feel-good film of 2014 and should rocket near the very top of the best food/cooking movies ever made.  It would make a great companion piece to Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci's 1996 film, Big Night.

Chef comes Highly Recommended- it's a celebration of the American appetite and a Midnight Max Essential.

9.5 out of 10

Director: John Favreau
Cast: John Favreau, Emjay Anthony, John Lequizamo, Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Amy Sedaris and Robert Downey Jr.
Run-Time: 114 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for language, including some suggestive references

Shortcut Reviews - Drama Special Edition Volume 02: Before Midnight (2013), The Book Thief (2013), Fruitvale Station (2013) and Philomena (2013)

 All 4 titles are available now on DVD and Blu Ray -


"Before Midnight" (2013) - This third volume in Director Richard Linklater's "Before..." films (following 1995's Before Sunrise and 2004's Before Sunset) is the best of the trilogy.  Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy return as the central characters, "Jesse" and "Celine", now married and on vacation in Greece with their two young, twin daughters.  Much like its franchise predecessors, the film consists of a series of engaging discussions between the duo and with friends.

Potential audiences can expect intelligent, worthwhile conversations concerning life, love, relationships, careers and the pursuit of happiness throughout- only a moron would miss the point or refer to it as boring.

I suppose I appreciated this particular film in the franchise most because I found the material more mature and finely tuned than in the previous two films.  It's an extremely well-written and impeccably acted affair that's a treat for those who enjoy great dialogue and natural performances.  This is an acting clinic that also works as a nice little travelogue, with a wealth of beautiful shots of the Grecian countryside.

Highly Recommended

8.5 out of 10

Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
Run-Time: 109 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for sexual content/nudity and language

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"The Book Thief" (2013) - Based on the bestselling novel (of the same title) by Markus Zusack, this Drama concerning a young girl (Sophie Nelisse) living with her adoptive parents (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) in WWII era Germany is well-made and aesthetically pleasing enough, though perhaps a bit too sanitized for its own good.  

Events are seen from the kind-hearted bookworm's perspective as she copes with the strife around her by reading every piece of literature she can get her hands on.  Conflict arises as her parents decide to hide a Jewish refugee (Ben Schnetzer) in the basement of their home and the young girl bonds with the charismatic newcomer.

The entire cast puts in solid work, while I'm pretty sure that Nelisse will have quite a career ahead of her.

I suspected going in that I would have a problem with a PG-13 rated film concerning the horrors of war, yet I find myself short on things to pick at other than it does indeed handle the material with kid gloves and an intermittent narration from actor Roger Allam (portraying Death) seems out of place.  The Book Thief would make a nice little companion piece to Hallmark Channel-esque war films like Spielberg's War Horse or Benigni's Life Is Beautiful. 

7.5

Director: Brian Percival
Cast: Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer, Nico Liersch, Barbara Auer, Levin Liam, Kristen Block, and Roger Allam
Run-Time:  131 minutes
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material

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 "Fruitvale Station" (2013) - This based on a true story account of the final tragic day of San Francisco Bay area resident Oscar Grant III features an outstanding lead performance from Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle).  It is an interesting and involving character study that is refreshingly void of overtly manipulative fingerprints (given the subject matter) and is an uncommonly sure-handed feature length film debut from Director Ryan Coogler.

The buzz on Jordan is warranted, with his honest, natural portrayal of the flawed, 22-year-old father and ex-convict comfortably amongst 2013's best performances.  Octavia Spencer (The Help) and Melonie Diaz (Be Kind Rewind) also put in fine work as Grant's mother and girlfriend, respectively.

The vast majority of this film has a rare authentic feel to it, a testament to Coogler's passionate script/direction and to the film's game cast, that is sure to reel in seasoned film lovers.  My only real complaint against the film comes in the form of a late event which thrusts one too many characters from the narrative in one place at the same time- it is a slight infraction of obvious creative license and convenience that I would call the film's sole melodramatic moment.  That misstep aside, Fruitvale Station is compelling and powerful stuff for all the right reasons.

Highly Recommended

8.5

Director: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray, Ahna O'Reilly and Ariana Neal
Run-Time: 85 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for some violence, language throughout and some drug use

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"Philomena" (2013) - An apathetic British journalist (Steve Coogan) reluctantly takes on the story of an Irish woman's (Judi Dench) 50-year search for her forcibly adopted son only to find a much more complex account than he bargained for.

Coogan and Dench are fine enough throughout, with the best aspects of the film being the conversations and contrasting natures between them- too bad the film never fully realizes this.  An interesting turn of events takes place in this based on a true story tale's third act, yet Director Stephen Frears mishandles the material with generic melodrama.

Perhaps what I found most interesting about the film is how something this undercooked, safe and forgettable could come from the Director of such films as The Grifters, Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, Dirty Pretty Things, The Queen and Tamara Drewe... it's a Lifetime Channel Original in disguise that's nowhere near as moving as it believes it is.

6.5

Director: Stephen Frears
Cast: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Mare Winningham, Barbara Jefford, Ruth McCabe, Peter Hermann, Anna Maxwell Martin, Michelle Fairley and Sean Mahon
Run-Time: 98 minutes
MPAA: Rated PG-13 on appeal for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual references

Film Review - The Equalizer (2014)

At the Theater- "The Equalizer" - Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall, a former black-ops government operative who relinquishes his quiet, unassuming lifestyle to come to the aide of a teenaged prostitute (Chloe Grace Moretz) being victimized by her Russian mafia handlers.  The first two thirds of this film is an intelligent and engaging Drama/Thriller that falls close to greatness, which makes it all the more disappointing when the third act devolves into an unwieldy and over-stuffed action flick that jumps the logistical rails and never recovers. 

Denzel Washington's McCall is a likeable sort, personable yet private while living a solitary, OCD riddled existence in Boston.  His days are spent working in a Home Depot-style hardware store while his nights are spent frequenting a nearby all-night diner and reading classic literature.  Washington is in fine, enjoyable form throughout, providing a performance that's ultimately far superior to the film he's in.

Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) fans may find themselves disappointed with the young actress's lack of involvement here- she's relegated to a mere several minutes of screen-time, yet puts in solid work.

Marton Csokas (The Debt) provides a memorable main villain as a Russian cleaner sent into town to square off against McCall.  I do wish the filmmakers had devised a better send-off for the despicable character...

Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Melissa Leo (The Fighter) share a painfully brief segment as a married couple with ties to McCall's past, while David Harbour (End Of Watch) and Haley Bennett (Marley & Me) round out the notable cast, portraying a crooked cop and an ill-fated prostitute, respectively.

Director Antoine Fuqua (Olympus Has Fallen, Shooter, Brooklyn's Finest) seemingly has a problem maintaining a quality film, with a filmography littered with offerings that start off very well but ultimately crap the bed with poor last acts.  Tears Of The Sun (2003) and King Arthur (2004), for instance, were Fuqua-helmed films that I felt were moving along surprisingly well until disastrous third acts undermined all that transpired before.  The Director and his star reunite here for the first time since 2001's Training Day, and although that film is powered by Denzel's villainous performance, I'm not so sure anyone can claim it boasts a well-structured conclusion.  I guess I should have expected trouble when I was enjoying the hell out of The Equalizer's first two acts... 

A poorly rendered, super-imposed shot of Denzel walking in slow-motion towards the camera as a massive explosion rocks the landscape behind him is the worst kind of action-film infraction- it seems pulled from a current Steven Seagal DTV release and marks the very moment in the film where the narrative started to lose me.

A climactic showdown between Denzel's avenger and several well-armed bad guys, set in a massive hardware store, quickly deteriorates into a ludicrous slasher film- it's a subversive diversion with just a few too many trips to the tool-shed for my tastes; death by pole-saw, death by barbed-wire noose, death by power drill, death by nail-gun, death by microwave oven filled with hydrogen/oxygen bottles... "Jason Voorhees" and "MacGyver" would have been very proud.  The timing and pinpoint precision of a few booby-traps in this segment are so excruciatingly exact that it should leave a more intelligent viewer's eyes rolling in utter disbelief.  The material is admirably Hard-R in nature, bloody and violent as hell, though needlessly, irredeemably contrived.

There are positives here: a mid-film altercation between a handful of Russian gangsters is pretty nifty while an extended, MMA-style grappling sequence between McCall and a hulking henchman near film's conclusion is well-choreographed and intense.  The film is exceptionally shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer Mauro Fiore (Avatar) while there are several well-placed soundtrack selections- Zack Hemsey's "Vengeance" is utilized rather well during the film's climax.

For those interested, this film is based on an American television series of the same name that ran for four seasons during the mid to late 1980's ('85-'89).  English actor Edward Woodward (some also remember him from 1973's Horror/Thriller The Wicker Man) starred as Robert McCall in the show, a retired intelligence officer who lent his special skills out to those good souls being persecuted by the wicked.  I must confess that I cannot recall watching more than a few seconds of that particular show (I was too enthralled with Miami Vice and Magnum P.I. during that stretch), so there's nothing that I can add by way of comparison or contrast.

The Equalizer's early box-office success (coupled with a relatively modest production budget) indicates that audiences will be getting a sequel sometime in 2016- although I'm still a huge fan of Denzel Washington (always will be), I won't be too interested in a sequel to this film if Antoine Fuqua isn't replaced as Director.  If only Washington had found his first career franchise with the criminally underrated, 1940's era Mystery/Thriller, Devil In A Blue Dress...

There are indeed similarities between this film and the most excellent Man On Fire, yet I would consider them topical at best.  Man On Fire was both soulful and powerful, a kick-ass crowd-pleaser of the first order that ranks right up there with the very best Guy Movies ever made.  Overall, The Equalizer is a pale imitation- one in desperate need of a 15 minute trim.  I wanted to love this film but ended up faced with a barely passable guilty pleasure that becomes increasingly guilty each time I think about it...

7.0 out of 10

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Harbor, Haley Bennett, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, David Meunier and Johnny Skourtis
Run-Time: 131 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, including some sexual references