ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 10, 2012 Director Scott Derrickson did not win over horror fans with his previous fright flick, 2005’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which pretty much sucked the biggie. He does a lot better with Sinister, which overcomes an iffy script to reel you in with one seriously creepy vibe. Ethan Hawke … Continue reading Horror review: Sinister
Horror review: House at the End of the Street
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 21, 2012 At the age of 20, Jennifer Lawrence became the second youngest woman ever nominated for a best-actress Oscar for her work in the bleak 2010 thriller Winter’s Bone. Two years later she starred in The Hunger Games, one of the highest-grossing movies ever. Here’s hoping that the gifted young actress’s … Continue reading Horror review: House at the End of the Street
Horror review: Resident Evil–Retribution
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 15, 2012 After directing 2002's Resident Evil and 2010's Resident Evil: Afterlife, Paul W. S. Anderson--formerly known as just Paul Anderson--returns to the video game-spawned survival-horror franchise with Resident Evil: Retribution. His main goal throughout the film--apart from numbing your brain with nonstop gunfire--is to make his spouse, star Milla Jovovich, look good. Boy, … Continue reading Horror review: Resident Evil–Retribution
Horror review: The Apparition
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 25, 2012 I had my doubts about The Apparition as soon as I found out it was from Dark Castle Entertainment, the same production company behind such godawful horror flicks as Gothika, Ghost Ship, The Reaping, and Orphan. Not an impressive track record by anyone's standards. And it turns out my trepidation was well based, … Continue reading Horror review: The Apparition
Horror review: Abraham Lincoln–Vampire Hunter
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 22, 2012 After watching the period action-horror Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, I had three pressing questions for its director, Timur Bekmambetov: why? Why? And—for the love of God (and movies)—why?! If ever there was a film that had no reason to be, this is it. It goes nowhere and accomplishes nothing. … Continue reading Horror review: Abraham Lincoln–Vampire Hunter
Horror review: Chernobyl Diaries
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 25, 2012 As a scared-shitless fan of the Paranormal Activity films, I had high hopes for Chernobyl Diaries, which is based on a story by PA creator Oren Peli. Too bad this routine shockfest is not even in the same league as Peli's demonic nightmare maker. The movie starts off okay, shades of Eli Roth's Hostel, … Continue reading Horror review: Chernobyl Diaries
Horror review: The Raven
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 25, 2012 After the exhilarating horror high of The Cabin in the Woods, fans of scary movies should brace themselves for a major letdown with The Raven. It’s a woefully misdirected take on the Edgar Allan Poe legend that’s bound to have crazy old Eddie rolling in his grave. John Cusack is … Continue reading Horror review: The Raven
Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods isn’t typical scare fare
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 11, 2012 By Steve Newton When you ask Drew Goddard to name the best horror flicks he’s seen in the past 10 years and he comes up with High Tension and The Descent, it’s obvious he knows his stuff. Both films were distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment, a company that was formed right … Continue reading Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods isn’t typical scare fare
Horror review: The Cabin in the Woods
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 11, 2012 The Cabin in the Woods is crammed with so many twists and turns that the mere thought of reviewing it and ruining the fun for others is scary in and of itself. But I don’t feel bad about revealing at least one huge surprise: it’s the best horror flick … Continue reading Horror review: The Cabin in the Woods
Horror review: The Moth Diaries
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 4, 2012 If you thought the Twilight films were hard to sit through, wait until you get a load of this toothless attempt to cash in on today’s hormone-fuelled vampire craze. Based on a young-adult novel by Rachel Klein, The Moth Diaries focuses on the mysterious Ernessa (Lily Cole), a moon-faced teen with outta-control … Continue reading Horror review: The Moth Diaries
Horror review: Gone
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 27, 2012 You’d think that after starring roles in such failed scary movies as Red Riding Hood and Jennifer’s Body—not to mention Mamma Mia!—that Amanda Seyfried’s handlers would steer her away from genre fare. But no, here she is again, freaking viewers out with her oversized eyeballs in the psychological serial-killer flick Gone. Seyfried stars … Continue reading Horror review: Gone
Horror review: Donovan’s Echo
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 22, 2012 Donovan's Echo is a quaint little psychological mystery-thriller, digitally shot in Fort Langley and environs, about an elderly man seeking redemption for a tragedy-laced past. The indie flick's heart is in the right place but, unfortunately, its arteries are seriously clogged up with syrupy sappiness. Danny Glover plays Donovan … Continue reading Horror review: Donovan’s Echo
Horror review: Chronicle
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 3, 2012 Man, it would be nice to be in the shoes of Chronicle director Josh Trank and screenwriter Michael Landis right now. The two 26-year-olds have the movie world by the balls because their new “found-footage” sci-fi thriller has blockbuster written all over it. The film wastes no time getting you … Continue reading Horror review: Chronicle