I Still Like M. NIght Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, and Lady in the Water)

I wrote this review up months ago and forgot about it. I don't know if that means anything, but I guess you could read into it a little. Everyone thinks M. Night sucks now and have wrote him off (kinda like me forgetting this review.) The man has cranked out some hits and I'm about to revisit them.

The Sixth Sense
(1999) [Trailer]
Director: M. Night Shyamalan [IMDB]

Synopsis: A doctor starts seeing a child with a secret... he likes jam bands.

1999 was an insane year for movies. There were a tone of rad titles that dropped that year and among all of them, The Sixth Sense was one of my favorites. I think everyone has seen this film, but what I don't know is if everyone has rewatched it. It has a really different vibe once you've seen it and know what to expect. The performances, especially from Haley Joel Osment and Toni Collette are great. The story has a Hitchcockian vibe but is still feels original and unfolds at a perfect pace... and there's even a few horror notes in there which work fantastically. Bravo M. Night... bravo!

Unbreakable
(2000) [Trailer]
Director: M. Night Shyamalan [IMDB]

Synopsis: A lone survivor of a cataclysmic train wreck learns there might be more to his escape than he thought after he meets a local comic book nerd.

I recall checking this film out in the theaters and loving every minute of it. I honestly couldn't remember a lot of it before this rewatch and was unsure if it would hold up. It's still pretty good, not great, but a lot of fun. I like the concept behind this film and it still feels extremely original and fresh 13 years later. Unbreakable is a unique twist on a super hero flick and one I think would have been cool to see a sequel for. I wasn't a huge fan of how quickly the ending unfolds, I think Shyamalan could have took it in a better direction, but ultimately this film is a winner in my book.

Signs
(2002) [Trailer]
Director: M. Night Shyamalan [IMDB]

Synopsis: Are mysterious signs being formed out of corn crops a hoax or a message from aliens? Signs takes a deeper look into this phenomenon.

Signs was pretty thrilling when I first saw it, I remember my arm hairs standing up when they first showed that Alien crossing the street in Central America. After this sitting, it still holds up for the most part I suppose. The cast were great and pulled off the material given to them with ease, but the story seemed a little weak to me. The crop circles are a small part of a grand idea, but I think that idea could have been more localized and contained, instead of trying to make Signs into a full scale invasion movie. I also felt like the ending was extremely abrupt and crisis resolves itself in an really unsatisfying way. I still like the film, I just think M. Night could have produced something better.

Lady in the Water
(2006) [Trailer]
Director: M. Night Shyamalan [IMDB]

Synopsis: A modern day fairytale unfolds as the residences of a Philly apartment deal with a mysterious visitor from their swimming pool.

I think this was the film that really started the ball rolling on the M. Night hate express. I know a lot of people loathed it but I still think it's a good film and after my recent viewing I still stand firm on that. It definitely has its flaws but I really appreciate the idea Shyamalan had with it and the execution of that concept is unique. I think the framing device in the intro and the old Korean lady were quasi lazy attempts to move the story along and it seems like there could have been a better way to handle it. Regardless, the story is fun, the characters were interesting, and the setting was incredible.

You're Next

You're Next
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Adam Wingard [IMDB]

You're Next has been getting a slew of impressive reviews but barely made any noise at the box office this past weekend. I really wanted to squeeze in time for its opening but couldn't get around to it until yesterday, when my good friend and movie going buddy Doug accompanied me to the cheapo theater in queens... I love the cheapo theater.

Synopsis: A family reunion goes south quickly as they soon come to find out they've been targeted for extermination by home invaders.

You're Next was a banger and really exceeded my expectations, which weren't really low... so that's good right? It's dabbles in the slasher and home invasion genres but offers a pretty unique twist which was refreshing (I won't go into it... you know... spoilers and stuff.) If I had went into this movie and received another Funny Games or The Strangers, I would have been let down. Not that those are bad films, they rule, but I wanted something fresh and You're Next delivered. Two things that really impressed me, besides the spoiler stuff I can't get into, were the score and pacing. The score rings out nods to some of the best 80's synth scores around, think Carpenter meets Tangerine Dream, it was a real treat. With the pacing, right out of the gate You're Next offers up a brutal scene that hooks you, then works itself through another hour and a half of good times without seeming boring or stale.

There were a few issues acting-wise but other than that I can't think of any real negatives that spoiled the experience.

I'd definitely spend some time with this film, especially if you're a horror fan.

Classic 80's Horror Double Feature: The Fog and The Howling

Recently the greatest studio known to man or beast, Shout Factory, opened the flood gates on horror fans with brand new transfers of The Howling and The Fog onto baby blu. I figured it'd be a good time to rewatch these classics and pay homage to two of my favorite directors.

The Fog
(1980) [Trailer]
Director: John Carpenter [IMDB]

My worship of John Carpenter has been well documented with the hallowed halls of Williams Film Review... don't believe me, then click here. It would be extremely perplexing to try and arrange JC's movies in order from "best" to "not so great" (he doesn't make "worst" films... well maybe, I just have a hard time dealing with it.) Let's say I were to try... The Fog would be in the upper echelon, maybe like 4th or 5th, but definitely in the top 3 for horror from him.

This is the part where I'd normally say "let's put this in and see how it holds up", but that's not needed here... it holds.

Synopsis: Shit gets weird when a small California town stands at the threshold of it's 100 year anniversary and a looming fog roles in off the sound.

I really dig how The Fog opens up, especially the first 20 minutes which are truly ominous and strange. It's fun to watch the town slowly break and shatter as the initial wave of fog creeps onto the scene. After that, when the first daybreak hits, it's Carpenter's job to reel in the story and give you context, which he does masterfully. Then that ending... it's sick. The cross that's too hot to handle for the priest carrying the sins of Antonio Bay, the red eyed veiled threat slowly marching towards its victims, and just when you think everything is cool... nope.

The Fog is indeed a classic. It's a juicy filet mignon, with the correct proportions of seasoning, seared off in a little butter and served medium... in other words... a nice meal.

The Howling
(1981) [Trailer]
Director: Joe Dante [IMDB]

I also love Joe Dante. His films are like tequila... when I drink one I feel all warm inside and if his titles are like tequila brands, then The Howling is like his Patron (that's a nice tequila right?) It has been years since I took a swig of this concoction and as I recollect, it was terrifying, especially the transformation scenes... I mean look at that poster over there to the left... scary shit man.

Synopsis: A killer is on the lose in San Fran. A local reporter gets tangled up in a trail that leads to the killer and a lot more.... and by more I mean killer werewolves.

Upon inserting the blu-ray into my player I began to hear the intro music on the menu screen and a huge smile developed on my face. It was comforting, just like this rest of the film. I was surprised to remember so much of The Howling as it unfolded before me. It's still creepy and weird and totally feels like a Dante film. It's a little slow moving during the first half, but makes up for it by the end. The special effects are like a fine chevre and just get better with time, people may disagree with the statement, but they would be wrong.

If you're into werewolves and want to see what they were like in film before Twilight, give this a poke.

Stoker

Stoker
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Chan-wook Park [IMDB]

I missed Stoker back in March and have been meaning to check it out ever since. I really enjoyed what I've seen from Chan-wook Park (Oldboy and Thrist) and now that he has crossed over into English films, I wanted to see how he'd hold up.

Synopsis: After a young girl and her mother lose their father and or husband, his mysterious brother... the young girl's uncle and the mother's brother in law... comes to stay awhile. Confused yet? Good.

The immediate movie that comes to mind while watching Stoker is Shadow of a Doubt, which I reviewed not too long ago. Stoker has an obvious Hitchcockian vibe going on, but it's a little more dark and artsy. I loved the cinematography in this and I found Park used that element to help ratchet up the creepy factor in certain scenes. One cool shot has Mia Wasikowska (the girl) combing Nicole Kidman's (the mom) hair and then you see the hair flow into a grassy field where Mia is hunting with her father... it was pretty awesome.

The story and characters are pretty interesting and just like with everything I've seen from Park, it definitely has a twisted ending which was pleasing. Stoker is available on VOD or blu-ray, I'd recommend picking it up, it's definitely a solid film.

All Things Planet of the Apes (aka Planet of the Apes Marathon)

I'm a big fan of the original Planet of the Apes film and have seen it a few times now. I recently picked up the box set which includes the 4 other movies from the 1970's, which I haven't seen. I will now go through those and the rest of the franchise including the 2001 reboot and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Basically every damned dirty ape film ever made. Giddy up.

Planet of the Apes

(1968) [Trailer]

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner [IMDB]

Synopsis: A team of astronauts crash land on a planet filled with... monkeys? Ok, they would be pissed if they heard me say said... filled with Apes.

This is a classic film and one I enjoy watching. I feel like each time I dig into it, it gets better and better. This time around was no different. For a sci-fi film from the 60's it actually holds up really well, maybe because they don't have to rely on special effects as much because of the setting. The costumes of the apes, while dated, still are effective and the set pieces are amazing... especially the ape city. On top of that, the cinematography and locations they decided to shoot in all look fantastic as well. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is a monster, soooo good, one of my favorites.

The story of Planet of the Apes is unique and twisted. It ultimately is a nightmarish look at where our actions as humans could lead us, although a bit heavy handed, it's still a cool idea. The evolution of the Apes is a parallel to our own, and it's interesting to see how science and religion dictates how the story unfolds. The payoff at the end makes the ride worth while and it's the kind of ending I love in a story. This definitely a must see for any sci-fi fan, or those looking to explore the genre.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes

(1970) [Trailer]

Director: Ted Post [IMDB]

Synopsis: The lone survivor of a search party for the crew that crash landed on the Planet of the Apes finds a hidden world underneath the planet's surface.

This follow up starts off right where the last film ended. You have a lot of the same characters and even Charlton Heston makes a brief cameo. I feel like it tries too hard to emulate the first film and doesn't quite succeed. It is still a fun watch, and it manages to throw a few twists into the mix that I wasn't expecting. The major curveball is what Brent (the lone survivor who looks an awful lot like Charlton Heston) finds underneath the planet... it's an interesting direction to take the film, but it also dishes out a lot of plot holes. I won't get too into it, as it's spoiler territory, but it makes for a much more exciting second half of the film.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

(1971) [Trailer]

Director: Don Taylor [IMDB]

Synopsis: Three Apes escape the Planet of the Apes only to arrive back on Earth in the 70's.

After the ending of Beneath the Planet of the Apes, there weren't many places the franchise could go. The direction they took it in, for me, was a bit of a disappointment. The fish out of water attempt at taking the apes into the real world just didn't work. The idea that the Apes were able to fix a fucking spaceship and fly back in time is pretty absurd, but the way the US government handles the arrival of talking monkeys in spacesuits is retarded... they send them to the Zoo?? I mean they touched down in a rocket, I think security would be a little tighter. The ending of this film is probably the best thing about it, but the pay off isn't worth the investment. 

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
(1972) [Trailer]
Director: J. Lee Thompson [IMDB]

Synopsis: In the 90's apes are kept as slaves to humans and Nirvana is a really popular band.

This film follows the rise of Caesar, who was the baby of Cornelis and Zira, two of the stranded Apes from the last film (and all the other installments for that matter.) Conquest most closely resembles the 2012 remake Rise of the Planet of the Apes... which I'm gonna get too. There are things that I love about this movie, and things that annoy me. The first half is pretty slow and a lot of it doesn't make sense. Ricardo Montalban (Khaaaan!), who's been taking care of Caesar for the last 20 years, all of the sudden wants to head into the big city and throw him into harms way? When they are on the run, Montalban turns himself in? Why not keep running? Also, the humans find out in the last movie that the apes well eventually take over the planet, so what do they do.... take them as pets and slaves?

The ending makes up for a lot of the issues, it turns into a fantastic jail break/revolt flick that keeps you on the edge of your seat... aka my couch. I would recommend if you watch it, go with the unrated cut, it's a much darker ending.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes
(1973) [Trailer]
Director: J. Lee Thompson [IMDB]

Synopsis: Roughly 15 years after Caesar's revolt, the Earth has been ravaged by nuclear war and Apes and man coexist... like those stupid bumper stickers.

This movie was pretty bad. It's extremely boring and I found getting through the whole thing to be challenging. There is a huge plot hole... all the Apes learned how to talk in 15 years? At the end of Conquest only Caesar could talk (him being a direct descendant of the future apes) and all those other apes were just that... apes. They were still primitive. Makes no sense whatsoever. The ending of this film is a total bummer in my opinion. The Apes movies always end on a dark note, which is awesome, but this one ends with all this peaceful hippy bullshit... lame... ughhh the early 70's, what a dreadful time.

Planet of the Apes
(2001) [Trailer]
Director: Tim Burton [IMDB]

Synopsis: Same shit as the original... only with Marky Mark.

I was excited the first time I saw this... Tim Burton tackling Planet of the Apes... yes! After seeing it, I remember feeling bummed a little. Now after another go around with it, I love it... just kidding, it's still not that great. You can't help but compare the original to this.... you see everything they got right with that and how it all misfires in 2001. The script is pretty bad and there are a lot of characters in this that don't need to be there. There's this weird love triangle between Mark Walhberg, the slave girl, and the Ape played by Helena Bonham Carter. The ending makes so sense at all, I won't spoil it, but it just feels completely wrong. I'd pass on this and stick to the original if you're gonna spend the time.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
(2011) [Trailer]
Director: Rupert Wyatt [IMDB]

Synopsis: James Franco gets the surprise of a life time after injecting a lab ape with super drugs.

Those who have followed this site and my reviews my recall one of the very first posts I ever made... it was my top films of 2011... you can see it right HERE... go ahead... I'll wait. You'll notice Rise is pretty close to the top... and for good reason. I love it. Plain and simple.

This was my third time with it and nothing has changed, it's still superb. The story is solid, the pacing towards the climax works smoothly, and the ending leaves you wanting more... hopefully they won't screw up the next one. If you haven't seen this yet... do so, absolutely my favorite of the series.

Scream Factory Triple Feature: The Island, Terror Train and Death Valley

Scream (Shout) Factory is one of my favorite companies pounding out blu-ray releases. They focus their efforts or more obscure/cult horror titles from the 80's, which automatically makes me want to throw my money their way. It's not in haste though, because they've already cranked out such winners as They Live and Halloween II & III. So I decided to drop knowledge on a few more choice cuts from their catalog... enjoy.

The Island
(1980) [Trailer]
Director: Michael Ritchie [IMDB]

Synopsis: Father and son get highjacked in the Caribbean by a group of pirates who have managed to avoid the trappings of modern society.

If you've ever sat at your shitty desk job and thought to yourself "I wish I had some excitement in my life... I wish I was a swashbuckler on the high seas"... then The Island is the movie for you. It's an odd little gem that could be considered a cross between Lord of the Flies, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Michael Caine is fantastic... there involves a scene with him and a Gatling gun that is worth the price of admission alone. This film spends its time in two locales, at sea and on the island... and both sites are interesting to visit. There's plenty of violence and gore... actually a few moments that shocked me. All and all, it's a good movie and the transfer to blu-ray is pleasing. Get it.

Terror Train
(1980) [Trailer]
Director: Roger Spottiswoode [IMDB]

Synopsis: Jamie Lee Curtis and a group of college kids board a party train with a murderous guest who is uninvited.

Terror Train is alright I suppose, but it starts to loose its luster about a half hour in. It's pretty obvious who the killer is, but it's interesting to see him absorb the different costumes of all his victims... I thought that was a clever idea. Besides Jamie Lee Curtis, this film also stars David Copperfield and he looked like he  just got off the set of Saturday Night Fever. I liked the use of a small train to contain the story and it also provided some interesting scenery. Terror Train isn't amazing, but still a good time and worth a poke if you're into slasher films.

Death Valley
(1982) [Trailer]
Director: Dick Richards [IMDB]

Synopsis: Ralphie from A Christmas Story travels to Death Valley with his mom and her new boyfriend... and they fuck with the wrong serial killer.

This is also a standard slasher movie... only a little more family friendly. There's some cool cinematography involving the desert... it makes you want to take some peyote and go find your spirit animal. The acting coming from the mom and BF isn't the greatest, but Ralphie was okay. The killer had a quasi Norman Bates feel to him, only not as cool. The ending serves up lots of examples where you realize the protagonists are morons... the typical "why the hell don't they go check and make sure he's really dead" moments. Death Valley is neck and neck with Terror Train... a fun time but nothing amazing.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection

I received the most bad ass blu-ray box set for Christmas this year.... the Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection. I will now give a brief breakdown and review of the set.

Saboteur
(1942)
I loved how Saboteur opened up with the smoke against the wall, it looked like something out of a David Lynch film. This was entertaining and a nice little mystery piece. It was a little heavy handed at times and the ending could have been stronger, but ultimately it was a good intro piece to this set.

Shadow of a Doubt
(1943)
This is just a great story in itself and even without Hitchcock's direction, would still probably be pretty entertaining. I loved the way Shadow of a Doubt opens in this dark depressing room... it sparks an interesting character study on the secretive Uncle Charlie. There are a few parts where it slowed a little for me, but it didn't bring the overall experience down. One quick note... I loved the dialogue between the neighbor and the father.

Rope
(1948)
Rope is a fantastic little gem in this collection and the first of the films in color. Again, this is another great story and to see it play out on screen was a delight. I love the use of all the long takes that Hitchcock incorporates, it's pretty cool for a film from the 40's. Jimmy Stewart is awesome in this and I also loved John Dall who stole the show in my opinion. The closing shot to this film is one of the greatest endings to a film I've seen in a long time.

Rear Window
(1954)
I'm only four films in but one thing I've noticed already is that there is such ease to watching a Hitchcock film... they really feel timeless and extremely entertaining. Rear Window is no exception. This film is a masterpiece and set the bar high for the other films I have left in this collection. Jimmy Stewart rules in this, watching him watch other people and just seeing his reaction to everything is great. The other impressive thing is the set, I couldn't tell if it was a real building or not. Rear Window unfolds perfectly and leaves you wondering the whole way through if the neighbor is a killer or not. Absolutely my favorite so far.

The Trouble with Harry
(1955)
Another pleasing selection from Mr Hitchcock. The Trouble with Harry is probably the best looking of the all the films so far, it had incredible cinematography. This is a brilliant comedy and one that has an interesting view on murder. All of the players involved seem completely unfazed by the dead body they've stumbled upon and watching them handle the corpse is part of the fun... it's all very macabre.

The Man Who Know Too Much
(1956)
The Man Who Knew Too Much could be released tomorrow, with all current actors and modern techniques... and it would be a huge hit. By now I've realized how many people rip off Hitchcock.... it's comical. This film is solid and extremely well executed. James Stewart is the man. The ending is a heavy hitter.

Vertigo
(1958)
I've been wanting to check Vertigo out for awhile now, but have held off until this set was released in order to partake in a proper viewing of the film. It is awe inspiring and a testament to the power of blu-ray. The visuals and cinematography are stellar and you can see why this is such a highly influential film. Jimmy Stewart cranks out another great performance... I love Jimmy Stewart. Vertigo is a highly suspenseful story and it takes a few crazy turns that I didn't expect, especially the ending, which is brilliant. I dug this film big time.

North by Northwest
(1959)
One of the best chase films I've seen. North by Northwest is quality entertainment and peaked my interest throughout it's entire run time. Both Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint are great together. It's apparent to me how influential this film was on later films that followed. Actually, I've noticed that a lot so far... so many people rip off Hitchcock.

Psycho
(1960)
It's been a long time since I've seen Psycho and I forgotten how awesome it is. The score is one of the greatest out there, it makes this film so much stronger. I actually watched half of (I fell asleep) the 1998 remake right after this (I will not be reviewing it) and it's so crazy how much better the original is. You also realize after watching the remake how much more effective Anthony Perkins and Vera Miles were. I'm a big fan of this film, it's a must if you're into thrillers and horror.

The Birds
(1963)
The Birds is half love story, half horror film. It takes it's time to get to the horror, instead Hitchcock toys with the audience and injects little slivers of the impending doom that's ahead. Some of the effects used didn't hold up that well, but I still enjoyed them, especially the scene of the group of kids being chased by blood hungry crows... or were they blackbirds?

Marnie
(1964)
The girl from The Birds returns for Marnie, she's also accompanied by Sean Connery, both do a good job. There's a few moments where the acting seemed a little over the top, especially coming from the mother. Marnie has a cool story behind it but the ending seemed a little over done... still it's a good film.

Torn Curtain
(1966)
A decent enough flick. Paul Newman and Julie Andrews were engaging but the story is so-so. I felt like it dragged a little towards the end. There's a cool scene at a farm house where Newman fights a German, that was the highlight for me. Torn Curtain is fine I guess, I would rank it low on the list compared to the others.

Topaz
(1969)
My least favorite at this point. Topaz is pretty boring. There's a bunch of characters and no real development of them. The story is pretty lack luster and the acting is average to below average. I'd pass on this one.

Frenzy
(1972)
A pleasing crime thriller which keeps you hooked in throughout the whole ride. The protagonist, Jon Finch, did a great job and the supporting cast were all fantastic. It's not perfect, but a rad little film that's worth the time.

Family Plot
(1976)
Family Plot rounds out the collection and is the last film Hitchcock ever made. Bruce Dern (from The Burbs!) is awesome in this. It's a pretty interesting film but starts to where out its welcome towards the end. There's a great score and fantastic cinematography as always. It's a nice way to go out... not perfect, but nowhere near bad.

After watching 14 Hitchcock films back to back I can say one thing for certain... there is an inherent watchability to everything he does. Even his films that aren't great, are still good and far superior than the best titles from an average director. Hitchcock is master auteur and is able to visualize such a complete work of art from beginning to end... it is incredible how harmonious all of his films are. I'd now say he sits in the upper echelon of my favorite directors and I just ordered a bunch of his other titles I haven't seen yet... so excpect more Hitch in the future of Curtis... reviewer extraordinaire.