Well, we are about to each the end of the 2010s, and what a decade it's been. Before we take a look at the best that this decade has had to offer, let's take a look at some of the best the year of 2019 had to offer first. 2019 was an interesting one in that it started off pretty good before meandering in the middle then blowing me out of the water by the end. As such, this was a pretty hard list to make. Reviews for the movies I've covered will be linked here, and be sure to check out my lists for the best movies of 2017 and 2018 in the links below:
If you love Stephen King, then you definitely know The Shining. It is one of his most well known and beloved stories with a film adaptation that is equally iconic for many reasons. One of those reasons is rather infamous. That is the fact that King himself is not a fan of the film, even when it's received such acclaim. A lot of this boils down to its loose adaptation of the novel's story, which is a fair criticism for King to have in all honesty. That being said, I loved The Shining and was more than excited to have the sequel, Doctor Sleep, receive its own adaptation, even moreso once I found out that none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, Ewan McGregor, would be taking on the role of Danny Torrance. Ultimately, Doctor Sleep proves to be a solid follow-up to The Shining that manages in some ways to be even better than the original. And here's why:
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Ewan McGregor is wonderful as Danny. I had no doubts, but I'm glad he was able to exceed my expectations with how truly awesome he was. He's one of those actors that will make any movie watchable even when it isn't all that good. Thankfully, this movie is really good, but McGregor's performance really brings the film together. He manages to craft so many layers to the character of Danny as we see him overcome all the personal struggles he has succumbed to in his adult years before finally standing up to the demons that have caused him so much trauma, even that of his own father. Overall, McGregor is solid, and he made the most of his time on screen.
I liked the rest of the cast as well. They all do a spectacular job. Kyliegh Curran is a welcome presence that provides a heartfelt performance that combines with McGregor's to bring the film together, while Cliff Curtis is given more to do than I expected and ends up being all the better for it. We even get a nice role from Bruce Greenwood, a hauntingly tragic turn from Jacob Tremblay, and of course, Carl Lumbly as Dick Halloran, Alex Essoe as Wendy Torrance, and most surprising of all, Henry Thomas (yes, that Henry Thomas) as Jack! All three of them do such a good job at portraying these characters while not coming off as a cheap knock-off of the original, which is quite a feat to achieve.
The True Knot. Going in, the one thing that kinda turned me off about the movie were these guys. I just couldn't get into the idea of them being these people who devour the powers of those who "shine" in order to live forever. It just felt a little lame to me, even if it is in the novel. Fortunately, the movie puts those fears to rest as they managed to be engaging antagonists to carry the plot forward. They succeed at being this group of sickeningly twisted individuals, as one nightmarish scene (if you've seen the movie, you know exactly which one I'm talking about) proves, while managing to showcase the humanity they still carry within so that we can understand why they do the things that they do. Of course, Rebecca Ferguson shines the brightest as Rose The Hat, whose performance is as alluring as it is chilling.
The fact that this movie manages to be faithful not only to King's source material, but to Kubrick's film as well. I'm not 100% on the novel, but I do have enough knowledge to understand the major differences between it and the movie, which makes it's all the more impressive that Doctor Sleep managed to bring the two together so that both could get the love they deserve. Director Mike Flanagan and the rest of the crew did a superb job at recreating all the elements from The Shining (complete with shot-for-shot recreations of some of the film's iconic scenes and spot-on duplicates of the sets and costumes) while mixing in some of the ideas from King that were left out, most notably being the ending which, while being a major change to the novelized version of Doctor Sleep, proves to be a satisfying conclusion to this version of the story.
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This movie does feel way too long at times. This is a problem that's plagued a lot of movies this year and it's no different here. There are so many places where the movie makes you feel like it's reaching its conclusion before it sweeps you from under the rug to take you in a new direction. I can recall there being several times where I felt that way, and the reason that's a problem? They all happen before we even reach the Overlook. Overall, this movie does have a pacing issue and a little trimming down would help a lot.
OVERALL
Doctor Sleep certainly is a worthy sequel to The Shining and in some ways proves even better. While I think the door is closed for this story (though you never know,) I did enjoy what I got and am glad it managed to be as good as it was.
And that's it for this blog, guys! Tune in for more coming your way :)
For every 27 years, something comes to Derry. Something strange, something dark, something...evil. It can't be explained, and there's no way to prove what it truly looks like. It doesn't even have a real name, simply being known as IT. This creature can take many forms, but its preferred host is that of a clown known simply as Pennywise. Under this guise, IT begins to actively seek out children (its favorite food source) to frighten and feed upon, which says a lot about its character. First, that it is a sentient being who revels in causing as much pain and suffering as it can, and secondly, that it ironically is a ginormous coward that can only function when its victims are afraid. If they fight back, IT can be destroyed, which almost is the case when a young group of children known as the Losers' Club decide to fight back. Narrowly escaping death, IT goes back into hibernation and decides to seek revenge on the Losers once it awakens, leaving several bodies in its wake (including that of fellow Loser Eddie Kaspbrak) before the combined might of the Losers in their adult prime come together to destroy IT for good.
Pennywise/IT is for me one of, if the most, evil characters to ever grace the realm of fiction. It is as nightmarish as it is jovial, hilarious as it is sadistic. There is no shortage of horrors it can conjure up, and yet you'll find yourself laughing your head off at certain times because it is, at the end of the day, a clown after all.
For 27 years, I've dreamnt of you, I've craved you, I've missed you...
Every 27 years, IT comes to feed on the (preferably young) souls of Derry. In 2017, we saw the beginning of that take place. Now, two years later, that story has reached its conclusion. IT is one of, if not the all-time greatest, Stephen King story ever written, and its cinematic adaptation has done a mostly solid job of bringing that story to the silver screen. With that being said, reviews for the second outing have not been as strong as that of the first, so where do I stand? Well, I freaking loved it, and I personally found myself enjoying this one more than the first and think it's the best movie of the year so far. Here's why:
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The Losers Club. It had to have been extremely challenging for the filmmakers to cast actors who could capture the essence of the perfectly depicted younger versions of these characters. The challenge proved to be a success, as these actors embody what it'd be like to see these characters grow up. Honestly, it's hard to pick standouts because they're all so perfect. Of course, if we're going to talk about the Losers, we naturally have to move onto...
Bill Skarsgaard's Pennywise. While not saying he wasn't terrific in Chapter One, there were issues I had with how they amped up the creepier aspects of the character and not have that balanced by the more cheerful and jovial side that would come with being, well, a clown. That all changed here, where we really see Skaarsgaard truly come into his own and express a wide range for the character. He's cracking more jokes, playing more innocent to those who aren't so easily fooled, and even sings a freaking song for crying out loud...all while reminding us that he is at the end of the day a ravenous monster with little to no semblance of humanity within his dark soul. Pennywise has become a staple icon in the horror genre, and although he may not match the icon status that Tim Curry has, Skaarsgaard's performance here comes very close.
That glorious cameo from Stephen King himself. Nuff said.
There were some pretty awesome references to other horror movies throughout the movie. In particular, there is one striking reference to John Carpenter's The Thing that will surely leave fans smiling when they see it.
The ending. While the final battle wasn't the best it could have been (which I'll get to in a bit,) it was still immensely satisfying to see Pennywise finally destroyed for good, emotional with Eddie's final moments, Stan's letter, and the truth about Richie's feelings for Eddie, and finally heartwarming in that everything finally seemed to work out in the end. Bill's a better writer, Mike leaves Derry, Ben and Beverly are together, and although he loses Eddie, Richie is at least comfortable with being himself and acknowledging the feelings he harbored for Eddie. Also, it seems that the Losers have kept in touch and are likely to remain friends for the rest of their lives. Overall, the ending brings everything full circle in an absolutely perfect way and is probably why I find myself liking this one more than Chapter One.
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Henry Bowers! Going in, I was curious to know exactly what was gonna happen with the Losers' childhood nemesis, especially since Chapter One showed him falling to his apparent death. Let's just say that he really should've stayed dead. At the end of the day, Bowers' role was so small and minuscule that it proved an annoying distraction that could easily be cut and nothing would change.
It does feel too long at times. Of course, while I do find the time was allotted really well for the most part, I think it could've easily been trimmed down quite a bit. As much as I love them, I don't think we needed so many flashback scenes with the younger Losers and wouldn't be missing much if they were cut.
The final battle is a tad underwhelming. Yes, I loved Pennywise finally being defeated, and there were several great moments featured like Bill overcoming his guilt over Georgie's death and Ben finally professing his love to Beverly, but I guess my disappointment lies within the fact that we never got to actually see a real final showdown. It really only amounts to the Losers running around trying to hide from Pennywise, who doesn't even turn into a fully fledged spider here, something I was really looking forward to seeing.
OVERALL
I loved IT: Chapter Two. Like I said, the sense of finality along with a more fleshed out Pennywise and a great adult cast really elevated this one for me, so I can't see any reason to bash it.
And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more on the way and till then, take care :)
Slashers are a staple of the horror genre. These movies are the kind that many go to just watch these icons slash and dash their way through several unsuspecting victims. Michael, Jason, Freddy, Leatherface, the list goes on and on. Among these guys is Chucky the killer doll. Chucky has always been a favorite of mine, being that what sets him and his movies apart from the others is that they add a touch of humor that makes for some quality entertainment. He's been after the same kid for the first three movies, then he got married, had a son, and recently ended his original tenure creating an army of multiple versions of himself. What is even better is that he's actually had very few bumps in the road, with only a few installments ranging from average to downright awful. All of this good buzz has been propelled by the iconic voicework of Brad Dourif, who is to Chucky what Robert Englund is to Freddy. Now when news surfaced that the series was to be rebooted with a whole new crew and Dourif no longer voicing the character, you can imagine how concerned I was. Then this happened. Needless to say, that played a big part in wiping away all of my concerns. Aside from the awful design of Chucky, the marketing also did a good job of really selling this as something completely different from the original which was deeply appreciated by me. Things were looking up for this movie, so how did it hold up? Surprisingly well. Honestly, I loved this movie so freaking much! It was everything I could want in a Chucky movie and I was finding myself enjoying it more than the originals at times. With that being said, let's get into what makes Child's Play a hit and what doesn't:
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The cast is solid. One thing that was a plus from the start was that the movie was populated by several incredible and popular actors. Overall, they all did a really good job, especially Aubrey Plaza, Bryan Tyree Henry, and Gabriel Bateman. They added a lot to their characters and made it easy to care about them and their struggles, particularly in Bateman's case. Of course, they are no match for the standout, who is none other than...
CHUCKY! There were so many ways the producers of this movie could have ruined this character, but it's safe to say that they did not do anything of the sort. In fact, the new spin they gave Chucky was probably the best thing that they could have done in their situation. Having him be a robot who developed a real bond to Andy brought a sympathetic light to the character and offered a more tragic iteration that produces a clever message about the many dangers that come with producing AI technology. And of course, Mark Hamill nails the voicework as I always knew he would. He may not be as iconic as Dourif, but if there was anyone who could even come close to replacing him, it would have to be Mark.
As morbid as this sounds, the kills. This movie was outrageously gory...and it's all the better for it. The clear standouts are Karen's bastard boyfriend Shane, the creepy apartment custodian who shares an uncanny recognition to Jack Black, and the massacre at the store. All the kills were just so over the top and bonkers that as gruesome as they were, the absurdity of it all makes it a joy to watch instead of being hard to stomach.
The tone of this movie is definitely fitting for a Chucky movie. It knows exactly what kind of movie it is and rolls right along with it. Simply put, if you love Chucky and especially when the movies take the horror-comedy route, then you will have an absolute blast watching this movie.
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Some wonky effects in regards to Chucky's new design. Admittedly, the look of the doll is not great but I actually grew to like it once I saw that it highlighted the Quasimodo-esque nature of Chucky before he makes the shift into evil killer doll. I do not however like when a moving mouth is clearly photoshopped onto the doll. It is so utterly distracting, and for a film that is actually incredibly well made for the most part, this is a glaring flaw that persists throughout.
I was surprised and rather disappointed with how there wasn't much time dedicated to the idea that no one believes Andy when he tells them Chucky is alive. Given how integral that was to the story of the original, it seems odd with how little it actually occurs here, and the times that it does happen are so minuscule that it seems rather unnatural with how everyone turned against him in the ways that they did. I don't know, I was just put off by how he has one little outburst and that leads to his mother being concerned for his well being and his friends thinking he's a freak even though they helped him hide a severed head and were perfectly fine with hanging around him afterwards. Doesn't really add up to me.
OVERALL
Child's Play managed to be an incredibly solid remake that set itself apart from the original and put a nice little twist on the story. It's not all perfect, but overall, a worthy addition to the franchise and a testament to how remakes can be done right.
And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more on the way and till then, take care :)
There is no better way to describe Michael Myers than those words quoted above. I am a big fan of horror movies, and my gateway into them was none other than the boogeyman himself. As I grew older, my fondness for him never changed, and I started to appreciate him for more reasons other than nostalgia. One thing that makes Michael stand out among the likes of Freddy, Jason, Chucky, and Leatherface is that we know next to nothing about him other than the fact that he is just some deranged man who killed his sister when he was only six years old. Naturally, this means he is lacking in any true character, but somehow, it makes him scarier. Sometimes less is more, and people fear what they can't understand.
Personally, Michael never really scared me, and the sequels did him no favors. However, the new re-sequel has actually come the closest to making me terrified of him, as he engages in insanely brutal acts of violence and shows no mercy to anyone, not even children! The movie made it clear that this was all Michael ever needed in order to be a truly terrifying character. Overall, Michael is my favorite horror icon of all time. Though he is impossible to understand, there is no reason to. Michael is the Boogeyman, and he will live on to haunt the streets of Haddonfield every All Hallows' Eve.
John Carpenter's Halloween is my favorite horror film of all time. Over time, however, the franchise has experienced so many sequels, retcons, and reboots that it became a completely convoluted mess, so it was practically inevitable that it got canned for a while, but now, 40 years later, David Gordon Green and Danny McBride have decided to breathe new life into the franchise. At first, I, like many, was incredibly skeptical. However, things took a turn for the better with three pieces of news: it was a direct sequel to the original and discards all the convoluted ideas of most of the sequels, Jamie Lee Curtis was returning to reprise her role as Laurie Strode, and John Carpenter himself voiced his approval as well as provided the score for the film. It was almost to good to be true, so did it live up to the hype? Let's find out:
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Jamie Lee Curtis' performance. Past the first film, Jamie never got the spotlight she deserved in this franchise. The closest she's ever come was with H20, only for that to be undermined by that ridiculous retcon in Resurrection. Thankfully, this new film has done the character the most justice out of any of the films, and Curtis delivers one of the best performances of her career. She really captures the essence of a broken but hardened survivor, and it is really easy to root for her as she learns to rise above the trauma and repair the broken pieces of her life. All in all, she was a welcome return to the series, and with the news that she may return for another movie, it's all the better.
Michael is in top form once again. Like so many other elements, Michael got thrown through the wringer the more the series continued. He went from being a crazed psycho who could easily embody the essence of pure evil to the pawn of a cult, a punching bag for Busta Rhymes, and even to a grunting hobo. It didn't bode well for him, and while he never scared me that much at first, the sequels did nothing to make that any better. Thankfully, this movie returned Michael to his more grounded roots, and this time, he's actually pretty terrifying. He's more brutal and random in his killings, his mask is probably the best one since the original (probably my personal favorite in fact,) and the fact that he just won't stop is really put into focus here. Overall, it's nice to see my favorite horror icon done justice again, and even better to see that play out on the big screen for the first time.
John Carpenter's score. Holy shit, this music KICKS ASS!!! Composed by Carpenter, his son, Cody, and Daniel Davies, it is a truly epic composition that perfectly sets the mood as well as the original score did. Take a listen here...
The nods to the sequels. Though things got really out of hand the more they kept being made, there were still a few decent ones and some that were outright good! I felt it was nice to see a few call backs here and there to acknowledge that they did exist. Special shoutout goes to the Silver Shamrock kids.
A true return to form for the franchise. The crew making this movie were really keen on making sure this movie was as true to the original as it could possibly be, and they did not disappoint. Laurie and Michael were back and better than ever, the atmosphere was there, the music fired on all cylinders, basically everything (well almost everything) that was great about the original was re-captured here, and I can't thank them enough and would hope that if another film is made, they are the ones producing it.
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The infamous Dr. Sartain twist. Now personally, it didn't bother me as much as it did many other people (though I'd rather not see anyone else wear Michael's mask except Michael,) but I do feel that it still had no business being there and was underdeveloped in the end. Again, it's an interesting concept to see someone so desperate to understand a person like Michael that they would go to whatever lengths they felt necessary to achieve that, but it is unfortunately one that we could do without in the long run.
Though we did get a nice nod in a voiceover, it still hurts to not have Dr. Loomis with us anymore since Donald Pleasance has passed. May he rest in peace.
The ending was a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it was immensely satisfying to watch the three Strode women kick Michael's ass, but I think more clarity was needed in regards to their victory. Specifically, we should have seen a clear picture of Michael being engulfed by the flames so that Laurie at least thought he was "dead" as opposed to leaving without a definitive answer. The audience could know that Michael was alive, but at least give Laurie some true closure if this be Jamie's last movie.
OVERALL
Halloween was the best movie since the original, and the best sequel it could've asked for. I know there were a few gripes I had with it, but overall I was satisfied with the final product and couldn't have asked for anything better.
And that is it for this post, guys. Tune in for more on the way and of course...
It's October, and that means that Halloween is just around the corner. What better way to lead up to this year's celebration (and prepare for the upcoming re-sequel) than to review my all-time favorite horror film, John Carpenter's Halloween. There isn't much I could say to put into words the love I have for this movie, but I will try my best here by going over what makes it great, and what doesn't:
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The music. Fitting that my favorite horror movie has my all-time favorite horror soundtrack ever. It is just so creepy and unsettling that it really helps set the mood for the film going forward. Bravo, John Carpenter.
The setting. What makes a huge chunk of this movie work is that it uses a simple neighborhood as the place where most of the events transpire, and having it take place during Halloween night makes the entire situation a lot scarier. One moment that sells this is when Laurie calls for help and it seems like her cries have been answered, only for the man to completely ignore her, all while Michael is in hot pursuit!
Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis. Carpenter could not have picked a better duo to lead his film. Pleasence is great as Dr. Samuel Loomis, a man so desperate to put a stop to the madness that it almost takes hold of his sanity, capping it off with one of the most memorable monologues, dare I say it, in all of film history. Meanwhile, Curtis is the scream queen, perfectly capturing a sweet, innocent girl who finds herself in the worst possible situation imaginable yet still manages to best all odds and put up one hell of a fight. While Pleasence has sadly passed away (God rest his soul,) it is a true blessing to see Jamie return for the new movie after a long and convoluted franchise that never quite realized her potential.
MICHAEL, FREAKING, MYERS! The Slasher genre is populated with a whole host of colorful killers, including Freddy, Jason, Chucky, Leatherface, and Ghostface among many others, but Michael is the one that stands out the most to me. In this first outing, we know next to nothing about him, and that somehow manages to make him much more disturbing. Combine this with the way he stalks his victims and how he just won't stop, and you have a slasher who shows no mercy, no limits, and may never be truly defeated. Can't wait to see what he does next in the new one.
The concept of this movie is ridiculously simple, but the execution more than makes up for it. Carpenter utilizes everything at his disposal to make this movie unique, and from the music to the atmosphere, he more than delivers.
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Lynda didn't have enough screentime, while Annie had too much. Not that Annie is a bad character per say, but she really just comes off as a more promiscuous Laurie and it kinda gets old fast. Lynda, however, was far more entertaining and memorable. Overall, I totally would kill for more Lynda.
OVERALL
Halloween is a classic, pure and simple. I hope this new movie can prove itself to be a true return to form for Michael and this franchise, and with Jamie returning, the madness from most of the sequels being discarded, and John Carpenter himself voicing his approval, I am sure that it will, but until then, I have a real treat that I can always look to for every All Hallows' Eve, so at least I can find solace in that.
And that is it for this post guys! Tune in for more coming your way, soon :)
Fear is everywhere. You can have fear of heights, fear of clowns, fear of spiders, fear of the ocean, maybe even fear of yourself. Now imagine being afraid to utter even a single word; where committing this simple action could lead to your inevitable demise. This concept is exactly what John Krasinski's A Quiet Place encapsulates, and why it's one of the most inventive and unique horror movies to come out in a while. In this review, I will go over what makes A Quiet Place stand out, and what doesn't:
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The acting is great. Krasinski shows how much range he truly has in this movie, proving that he can expand his horizons outside of a corporate office building in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His wife, Emily Blunt, likewise, is just as good, and really sells the harrowing ordeal of being a mother having to deal with protecting her children and giving birth to another in a world where that seems impossible. Finally, the child actors round out the family well, especially Millicent Simmonds, who is the real star of the show. They are all incredible and really carry this movie well.
The whole concept is, as mentioned before, incredibly unique and interesting, and I feel Krasinki makes the most of that concept and nails every aspect of it. It builds tension, makes you feel incredibly uneasy, and those monsters are freaky as all Hell. I distinctively remember feeling incredibly uncomfortable putting my drink in the theater seat's cup holder just because I didn't want to make a sound!
In addition to being incredibly scary and intense, this movie is incredibly emotional. The theme of family is heavily alluded to throughout the movie, and it helps make scenes like the deaths of the family's youngest son and Krasinki's character hit all the more harder. It's truly special when a horror movie can not only make you scared, but also move you in more ways than one.
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This is more personal feelings than any real flaws, but I feel that Krasinki's character should have survived, only because of how upsetting it is. It's a powerful scene, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't mind if they kept him around to stick it through.
The ending felt like complete sequel bait, which becomes more blatant when it turns out there is a sequel in the works. As incredible as this movie is, I feel it works best as a one-off story.
OVERALL
A Quiet Place is excellent, right up there with IT as the best horror movie to come out recently. I really hope the sequel is worth it.
And that's it for this blog, guys. Tune in for my 50th post which will be my review for Infinity War!Till then, take care :)
It's that time of the year again, folks. The time where werewolves howl at full moons, witches concoct magical spells, vampires feast on fresh blood, corpses walk the Earth, and most importantly, kids hunt for candy. Halloween is easily my favorite holiday of all time and part of that is the simple fact that I love horror movies. They ROCK!!! Now of course, which ones are my absolute favorite? Well today, on All Hallows Eve, it's time to find out. Let's begin with a little Nightmare Before Christmas:
10. The Babadook: Kicking off this list is a terrifying yet fascinating film. With its dark visuals and foreboding atmosphere, The Babadook keeps you on the edge of your seat as you sink further and further into a deep, dark abyss, and by the time you realized you fell in, it may already be too late. Spookiest Moment: "You can bring me the boy" 9. The Mist: One of three Stephen King adaptations to appear on this list, this movie just needs to be seen to be believed! But beware, for the ending will have you fucked up for a good long while if not the rest of your life! Spookiest Moment: The Pharmacy 8. Get Out: One of the more recent films on this list is also the funniest, but that doesn't stop it from being here due to how downright chilling its concept really is. The actors are great, the music is terrific, and Jordan Peele's direction allows the relevant social commentary to seep through in an incredibly clever way. And who doesn't love Rod :) Spookiest Moment: "No, No, No"
7. The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2: Yeah, they both share this spot on the list. Both movies are great in that they are quite touching while never failing to deliver on the scares. And they also contain the Warrens, who are, in my honest opinion, the greatest protagonists to exist in the realm of horror movies.
6. The Exorcist: Everyone knows this movie. It is called the scariest movie of all time. While I actually disagree with that statement, it is still a creepy movie nonetheless. The idea of a little girl being possessed by the freaking Devil is not a pleasant concept to think about. Add in phenomenal performances from all the cast members and William Freidkin's fantastic direction, this movie is one that you will never forget, whether it scares you or not. Spookiest Moment: "LET JESUS FUCK YOU!!!" 5. The Shining: It may not be the most faithful adaptation, and Stephen King himself may have expressed his dislike of the film, but this movie (as the poster there suggests) is a horror masterpiece. Jack Nicholson's performance is legendary, Stanley Kubrick's direction is top-notch, and it is very, very scary, more so than The Exorcist in my honest opinion. All in all, great movie, and would have been my favorite Stephen King-based movie if not for... Spookiest Moment: Room 237 4. IT: As much I love the original miniseries, it's simply decent and not very scary for the most part, and it is knocked out of the park by the new one, which pretty much elevates everything that made the original great (except Tim Curry of course.) This movie pulls no punches and makes the most of every scare (that isn't a jump-scare,),the kid actors who portray the Losers Club are outstanding, and while he may be no Tim Curry, Bill Skarsgaard is terrifically creepy as Pennywise. Now I could say more, but why don't you check out my review for that ;) Spookiest Moment: "Take it, Georgie" 3. Jaws: Duh Nun...Duh Nun...Duh Nun Duh Nun... They just really make the most of keeping the shark unseen for most of the movie, and the tension between each of its attacks is supremely effective. Steven Spielberg hit a home run with this movie, and till this day, that opening scene will always linger in my nightmares. For a while, I'll confess in saying that I found Jaws to be the scariest movie of all time...that was until I saw... Spookiest Moment: Chrissie's Last Swim 2. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark: Simply put, after watching this movie, you WILL be afraid of the dark!!!
Spookiest Moment: Really any scene involving those little bastards, but special mention goes to the ending
And my favorite horror movie of all time is...CUE THE MUSIC...
1. Halloween: What better way to end the list than to have a movie named after the holiday being at the top spot. There are no words to describe the love I have for this movie. It's not only my favorite horror movie, but one of my favorite movies period! It has a simple plot, but the execution is perfect. The atmosphere is chilling, the tension is high, and Michael Myers is quite possibly the best movie slasher ever! And that theme song is just...perfection! None of the sequels could compare to this one, and I don't think there is any other horror movie in general that can top it either. Spookiest Moment: "It was the boogeyman..."
And that is it for my list, guys! Keep tuning in for more posts and above all...
There are many writers in the world, but few have produced such a bizarre and terrifying vision as that of Stephen King, and one of his most cherished works is one with quite possibly the simplest title you could possibly come up with: IT. Now, just to get this out of the way, I have not read the novel (and quite frankly I tip my hat to anyone who has,) but I do have a decent grasp on the overall story and try to apply that to what I have seen. Back in 1990, IT was a two-part television miniseries that was mostly carried by the phenomenal Tim Curry's performance. For the most part, it was a decent movie that had occasionally terrifying moments, but it is clear that it's seen better days back then in terms of how it holds up nowadays. Of course, Pennywise the Dancing Clown had to shine on the big screen, and 27 years since the miniseries, that time has come. Now for the most part, I think they hit the mark quite well, and this was easily the best horror movie of the year so far. It has its flaws, and they will be addressed here. Now without further adieu, let's begin:
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The child actors here are spectacular. I was truly impressed by just how damn good they were. Of course, the standouts here are Jaden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, and Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard, who provides the funniest moments in the whole movie. ROCK WAR!!!
He may be no Tim Curry, but Bill Skarsgaard is a terrific Pennywise nonetheless. For me, Pennywise is one of the most evil characters in all of fiction, and Skarsgaard captures that essence of pure evil perfectly. He is creepy, terrifying, and monstrous all at once, and I can't wait to see more of him in Chapter II.
All the other forms of IT are great as well. The headless boy, the disgusting Leper, and of course, Judith the Flute Lady, are all unique and terrifying creations that provide just as much of the horror as Pennywise does. All in all, they are freaky as shit.
The scares, that aren't jump scares at least, are quite effective. They provide enough tension and unease to make anyone beg for nothing to happen, even when it seems inevitable. And it's not just Pennywise delivering the scares either. The scenes with Henry Bowers (especially when he loses his mind) and Bevy's dad are also enough to make anyone shudder. How all these no-holds-barred scares were even allowed to happen was all thanks to...
The R-Rating. IT is a twisted novel, so it's quite nice that the R-Rating allows the crew to adapt that twisted nature as faithfully as possible (though thankfully not too faithful.) I could say more, but honestly, seeing the Georgie scene is enough to make that abundantly clear, but beware, for it is not for the squeamish or faint of heart, so view at your own risk.
DOWNS
As great as their actors are, Mike and Stan get the short end of the stick during this movie. Now while Stan has the honor of encountering Judith (which leads to a horrifying moment that will likely trigger an event in the future) and Mike has a tragic and seriously fucked up backstory that leads to intriguing character moments for him, they just aren't given much to do past that and really fall in the shadow of the others. Here's to hoping they get more to do in Chapter II, but that doesn't seem likely considering what happens to them :(
The jump scares, as usual in most horror movies these days, were overdone. Some were effective, like the projector scene and the ones featuring Judith (yes, she's that creepy,) but there were still too many and as a result it gets old, tiresome, and frustrating fast.
Some wonky CGI. CGI is a very common criticism nowadays; either you love it or you hate it. Now personally, I don't notice it that much, but hoo boy, it was glaring here. Trust me, you'll notice it when you see it. I really hope that the budget the producers gained will contribute to fixing this for Chapter II, because the final battle between the Losers and IT will not be a pretty sight to watch.
OVERALL
And that is it for this blog, guys. IT is definitely one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date. Coming up is a special list dedicated to all the movies that did their best to scare the bejeezus out of us, and that will be posted as my special Halloween post. Till then, take care.
10. 
9. Once Upon A Time...in Hollywood
8. 
7. 
6. Toy Story 4
5. 
4. Doctor Sleep
3. Marriage Story
2. The Irishman
1. Joker
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8. Get Out: One of the more recent films on this list is also the funniest, but that doesn't stop it from being here due to how downright chilling its concept really is. The actors are great, the music is terrific, and Jordan Peele's direction allows the relevant social commentary to seep through in an incredibly clever way. And who doesn't love 
5. The Shining: It may not be the most faithful adaptation, and Stephen King himself may have expressed his dislike of the film, but this movie (as the poster there suggests) is a horror masterpiece. Jack Nicholson's performance is legendary, Stanley Kubrick's direction is top-notch, and it is very, very scary, more so than The Exorcist in my honest opinion. All in all, great movie, and would have been my favorite Stephen King-based movie if not for..._poster.jpg)
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