The Blair Witch Project

Big budget horror movies can be fun -- with heart-stopping soundtracks, popular lead actors, gory special effects, and well-known directors. However, sometimes you need a break from the mainstream, and watch a good low-budget scary movie. Ironically, The Blair Witch Project is the epitome of low-budget, indepedent cinema that is so frightening and so unpredictable it became a staple in pop culture history.

We all know the story: three aspiring filmmakers go into the woods on a quest to investigate a small town legend -- and never return. I saw this movie when I was eleven years old and has left a huge impression on me ever since. Some people nowadays may find this movie boring and nauseating (due to the continuous shaking of the camera). It may be nauseating, but it is far from boring.

Sometimes less is more and that is what The Blair Witch Project brings to the table. Relying on atmosphere, cheap camera tricks, and almost inaudible laughter from children is surely frightening and sends a chill down your spine. I still cannot go deep into the woods thinking I'm being watched by some malevolent force. Cheesy, but nonetheless terrifying.

The acting in this film was mostly improv and you can see it in the actor's (yes, they were actors, not real people) faces. Most of the time, it works, but sometimes it feels over the top, which may have been the intention, but it can take you out of the picture for a split second. However, I think this movie is a masterpiece in horror cinema. It paved the way for smaller movies (horror or non-horror) to break through to the mainstream. It's not a matter of selling out, it's showing us talent from unknown directors, actors, etc -- the recognition they deserve.

I watch this every now and again just to be freaked out. It's not necessarily in-your-face horror, but psychological which works on so many levels. Recommended viewing late at night with some buddies or on your own if you really want to be on edge. The final scene is still one of the most shocking and horrifying scenes I've seen in horror. If you get too freaked out, just stay out of the woods :)

4.5 stars out of 5

Rob Zombie's Halloween

Trashy characters, buckets of gore, Rob Zombie? When you think these three elements you don't really think classic horror. John Carpenter's legendary Halloween set the foundation for new age horror films and is incomparable to this farce. However, I did enjoy this movie despite it's many, many flaws.

Rob Zombie takes this classic story to epic levels -- in all the wrong ways. Adding a trailer park backstory and many one-dimensional characters. From what I have learned, if you absolutely adored the original (like myself, and millions of others), you will hate this film. If you are among the new generation who love nothing but gore and tits, you will probably love this one. You cannot replicate great art, instead you make it your own, and I think this is why I am split on this movie. Rob Zombie's eye for detail and atmosphere, I believe, is genius, however, his vision doesn't belong in the Michael Myers world.

The movie, though, is cleverly split into three acts. The fist act consisting of Michael Myers' childhood and how he became the legendary slasher villain he is today. Zombie's wife Sheri Moon Zombie plays Mikey's mom, who isn't a very good actress but made the part believable (also, was nice to see her in a more conventional role than what we saw her in The Devils Rejects and House of 1000 Corpses). The first act, however, is a fine mess. It would have been more creepier if Mike came from a nice, suburban family rather than a redneck one. I don't know about you, but Mike coming from an already hostile family shatters his creepy mythos. Zombie throws us into an unknown timeline, which looks like the 70's (with music to convince us it is the 70's) but is never officially stated which makes the movie more jarring (in a good, but also bad way).

The second act takes us to Mike in the asylum and we are introduced to his doctor, The Van Helsing-esque Dr. Loomis (played brilliantly but oddly by Malcolm McDowell). We see numerous deaths, awkward dialouge, and a suicide scene (one of the better scenes of the movie). Now, what Zombie does to Myers was probably the biggest mistake in the movie -- making him mammoth. What was so frightening about the original was that Myers looked like your average joe (which is scarier to me by far) but Zombie threw that out the window and turned Myers into a seven foot Jason-like monster -- which, is why I could see this might work but it just doesn't.

The third act is a brash recycling of the original just taking the 90 minute masterpiece rushed into about 45 minutes. The characters we all loved are turned into annoying, dumb teenagers and our heroine, Laurie Strode, is someone the audience would never care about. The atmosphere from the original is gone and even though the remake is thoroughly entertaining, we are not on edge at all. Although it was nice to see Danielle Harris (little Jamie from Halloween 4 and 5) back running from Michael Myers.

I did enjoy this movie despite some harsh words. Zombie did take this story to a whole 'nother level. The production design was unbelievable and the music was spot on. The biggest flaw of this movie is the screenplay. Zombie may be an adequate director but he is a horrible dialouge writer. Some of the dialouge in this movie was outrageous and ridiculous, even laughable. I'm not a hater of profanity, but seriously do we need to hear "fuck" ever other word?

Despite it's flaws, I do own this movie and will pop it in if I'm ever bored and it is interesting to see how such a simple story is transformed or "Zombie"fied, if you will. This is an awesome movie to watch with friends and I recommend watching it once autumn rolls around, but never forget what inspired this movie -- the original. I'm sure no one will.

2 stars out of 5

Jennifer's Body

Sometimes, comedy and horror blend extraordinarily well. Look what happened to Scream. Jennifer's Body is one of the few exceptions where this concept works. Witty humor and surprisingly well-acted performances coincide to make this movie a fun, Friday night treat.

Penned by the Oscar winning Diablo Cody (Juno), the movie's premise is rather tricky. Here, we have the beautiful and unattainable Jennifer (Megan Fox) and her nerdy, but cute best friend Needy (an amazing Amanda Seyfried). These two are the definition of an odd couple. Jennifer is sexy, sleek, and well, pretty dumb while Needy is her contradictive counterpart. Needy is always watching over Jennifer, suspecting if she doesn't look before she leaps, she will get in trouble. And that's exactly what happens.

Jennifer and Needy attend a local concert at a scummy bar to see fresh indie rock band Low Shoulder, fronted by sexy, but douchey Nikolai (The OC's Adam Brody) who is, go figure, attracted to Jennifer (who wouldn't, right?). Things take a turn for the worse when the bar is burnt to the ground by an unexpected fire. Jennifer, Needy, and the band escape unscathed. But Jennifer is willed into the band's van and disappears from Needy's view. The movie takes a weird and rocky turn when Jennifer returns to Needy bloody and beaten up and, well, not her - vomiting up something that looks like "roadkill and sewing needles". Jennifer's beauty remains but starts feasting on some of the boys at the high school. What happened to her when she stepped into that van? Watch the movie and find out. :)

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie after a second viewing. The movie did not fair well with critics or audiences but that is to be expected. This movie, despite the awesome soundtrack and popular leads, was not meant for mainstream audiences. I believe this film will be a cult fave in a few years. I am also not a fan of Megan Fox, after her...lackluster acting skills in the Transformer movies, but I did enjoy her in this and believe she could be a good comedic actress. The saving grace of this film belongs to the adorable Amanda Seyfried - I absolutely loved her in this. She was so cute and believable and ultimately, frightening (in later scenes). The movie also boasts an amazing soundtrack featuring Panic at the Disco, White Lies, Black Kids, and the film's own band, Low Shoulder with their catchy "Through the Trees". If you don't like Megan Fox, I would still rent this little gem and be prepared to have a good time if you enjoy Diablo Cody's strange but hilarious dialouge, throw backs to classic horror movies, and innocent indie rock.

3.5 stars out of 5

My top ten horror movies of all time!

In the spirit of Halloween, I've decided to compile a list of ten horror movies that have made an impression on my life, inspired, or just downright scared the hell out of me!

10. The Shining (1980
Every horror movie list needs to have a movie that messes with your mind: the psychological horror movie. This movie made me a little weary of hotel hallways...and Jack Nicholson.
Favorite Scene: The chilly climactic chase scene in the jarring maze. *Shivers*

9. Jaws (1975)
A movie that taps into the most universal fear: the unknown. The direction, acting, atmosphere, and pace of the film is spot-on and adds a splash, no pun intended, of action to horror.
Favorite Scene: The terrifying opening sequence.

8. The Fog (1980)
Weather-inspired horror has never been so f-ing scary. John Carpenter has a knack for creating killer atmosphere and telling a good ghost story.
Favorite Scene: The tapping on the back window. Creepy.

7. Christine (1983)
Possession doesn't just need to occur with people. This frightening flick is a big guilty pleasure of mine. It doesn't need a knife-wielding psychopath, it just needs a car. How simple is that? The hokey premise plays out so realistically, you can taste it.
Favorite Scene: The drive-in scene. Nothing is more terrifying than 50's pop music. Yikes!

6. Psycho (1960)
The grand-daddy of slasher movies and Hitchcock's masterpiece. Black and white cinema may sound boring to today's mainstream audience, but rent this classic and you won't be bored, or want to take a shower.
Favorite Scene: The shower scene, of course. So well made.

5. The Exorcist (1973)
This movie isn't just scary, it's religious. Eek! The whole film is unsettling and subliminal. It takes awhile for things to register, and when it does, God help you.
Favorite Scene: The finale - you just can't top it.

4. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Camping out in a forbidden woods seems like a cautionary tale - ahem, it is. The key phrase here is: less is more. Movies today need to rely on atmosphere because I believe, is what sold this movie.
Favorite Scene: The attack on the tent.

3. Scream (1996)
Mixing fun and thrills is the recipe for a great old school scary movie. This was my first horror movie I can remember that holds a place in my heart and still has me on the edge of my seat everytime I watch it.
Favorite Scene: Drew Barrymore's telephone call.

2. The Ring (2002)
This is the reason why VHS tapes no longer exist. Solid performances and a mystifying story really sold this movie and should be considered a classic.
Favorite Scene: When Naomi Watts discovers her son watching the tape.

1. Halloween (1978)
Being simple, practical, inexpensive, and creepy never hurt anyone. Simplicity and atmosphere, in my opinion, make horror movies ten times more effective than in-your-face horror. I don't care to see blood and guts, I want to be downright scared. Sure splatter films are fun, but they aren't scary. Watch this one with all the lights off, the volume turned up, and more appropriately, on Halloween.
Favorite Scene: The discovery of the dead friends by Jamie Lee Curtis, with Michael Myers lurking in the background.

Honorable Mentions: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Night of the Living Dead, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Hills Have Eyes, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, & Friday the 13th.