Ghost Stories Review

                      Ghost Stories (2017)
IMDb genre: Drama/Horror
Director: Jeremy Dyson & Andy Newman
Writer: Jeremy Dyson & Andy Newman
Starring: Andy Newman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse
IMDb plot summary: Arch skeptic Professor Phillip Goodman embarks upon a terror-filled quest when he stumbles across a long-lost file containing details of three cases of inexplicable 'hauntings'.

                 *SMALL SPOILERS AHEAD*

I was lucky enough to catch this one early at Odeon's Scream Unseen on Monday & I'm still a little freaked out by it a week later. Before we get into this review, I haven't seen the play (& having seen the film I think I'd probably have a heart attack) so there won't be comparisons to it but as it's made by the same people I'm just going to assume they're happy with it.

Let's get the bad bits out of the way first. The music is occasionally a bit "much". I know horror movies & creepy music go hand-in-hand but don't blow out my eardrums. Also, if you've seen the trailer you know Andy Newman's character is talking to the camera from behind a desk. I've seen it & I still don't know who he was supposed to be talking to. It's not a big niggle but there we go. On to the positives!

The acting is outstanding from everyone & they don't put a step wrong directing in my opinion. It's definitely one to make you proud to be British!

I know many horror movies are marketed as 'the scariest of all time', 'make audience members throw up/pass out' etc & it's always a bit of a disappointment when they're just a normal horror movie. This one though is the other way around, I've seen it called 'terrifying' in the marketing but that's pretty normal horror movie marketing talk. In reality though this film is almost too scary at points.

It's sort of an anthology film in that Andy Newman's character is investigating, and trying to debunk, three cases of supernatural encounters and each is shown separately. The first is the most effective building of tension that I've seen in some time and whereas a lot of horror movies are 'build tension, jump scare, start over' this segment is more 'build tension, scare, increase tension, scare, increase tension, big scare'. The second shows excellent pacing for the film as a whole & while it's still creepy in places it also provides some well-needed comic relief (the paranoid Simon screaming 'fuck that!' & running after a goat-like creature climbs into the back of his car & hisses 'stay' got a huge laugh I think both because of the scares beforehand & also because it's how we all like to think we'd react). The third case ramps up the scares again & also adds an emotional level that makes you more attached, Martin Freeman's character is strange to say the least but he creates a relatable, complex character in very little screen time.

I don't want to spoil the ending but I would say that it gets a little weird at a point but stick with it. It's a payoff that you won't see coming & it will get under your skin & stay there.

As I know do my blog on my phone sometimes it's a pain with importing pictures so I'm going to use similar emojis instead in some blogs, starting with this one.

General Opinion:

🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅
Maximum stars, no question!

Scare Factor:

🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️
Scariest film I've seen it some time & I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Gore:
💉
Basically none but it doesn't need it.

Clowns:
🤡🤡🤡
The middle case is funny but good grief do you need it with all the other scares! Definitely not a horror comedy.

Ghost Stories is in UK cinemas Friday 6th April

Mayhem 2018 Date Announcement

It's not even Spring but it's time to start thinking about Halloween month already because Mayhem have announced that their 14th film festival will take place in the second weekend in October, 11th-14th.
Last year boasted a screening of Mayhem at Mayhem & Friday the 13th shown in gloriously terrible 3D on Friday the 13th. I'm not sure we'll get that literal again but we're sure to get another year of great previews, Q&As, shorts from around the world & a bastard hard quiz: not to be missed!
Here's the announcement from Mayhem themselves, I'll post updates as we get them:

SAVE THE DATE - 11-14 OCTOBER 2018!

We are delighted to announce that we will return for our 14th edition this autumn, from 11-14 October at Broadway, Nottingham.

We're in the initial stages of planning but as always, you can expect previews, premieres, guests and special events, as we work to bring you the best of horror, sci-fi and cult cinema over our four-day weekend. We'll have more information on Early Bird Passes and film submissions soon, so watch this space for more from us

Soska Sisters Massive Blood Drive Part 1

As you may or may not know, February is Women in Horror month! That also means it's time for the Soska Sisters Blood Drive PSAs.

The pair do this every year to promote the incredibly important cause of blood donation & the theme this year was rightfully 'be a hero'. Here in the UK we need 6,000 donations per day so if you can be one of those heroes visit blood.co.uk to find a donation session near you.

This year was the biggest year yet for the Blood Drive with 28 PSAs, one from a different filmmaker every day so plenty of inspiration to get your red stuff flowing! It attracted a massively high level of talent as always & they're all worth watching but some aren't for the easily grossed out!

I'm a little behind with them, the last one was released two days ago, so this post will highlight the first 14, then a second post will follow in a few days for the other half when I'm caught up.

Day 1: Be Positive by Joe Magna
This one was a great way to start, a funny ending & a great big screw you to Harvey Winesnob!
https://youtu.be/_9qJvqPNnow

Day 2: Be A Hero by Vanessa Ionta Wright
Short but sweet, stunning visuals & very literal with the theme.
https://youtu.be/6bvYMvulwEo

Day 3: Sanguino by Dana Noffke
Black & white fun, some great visuals effects & proof everyone likes jam sandwiches 😂. Starring Madaline Brumby & an 8-year-old monster maker!
https://youtu.be/YkGQtcWOqtQ

Day 4: The Coming Dawn Ministry by Mark Alan Miller & Christian Francis
This one's very creepy! Great acting & the end was superb. The sound is a little quiet near the beginning but it kicks in louder at the end so don't turn it up too high & deafen yourself like I did!
https://youtu.be/V_wFp-MhEgg

Day 5: Got Blood? by Aislinn Clarke
Another short but sweet one, I loved the style of this one & it was hilarious. Lots of blood thrown around in this one & make sure to look for a funny addition to the end of the credits.
https://youtu.be/uHFTdcCgiig

Day 6: Red Light by Lex Lybrand
Subtitled (these filmmakers are from across the world) & with a moment you won't see coming. Interesting filming style too.
https://youtu.be/kA8ASHWRicc

Day 7: Type O Negative Man by Maude Michaud
I think this is my favourite so far. A hilarious  mockumentary with a great cast & makes sure it gets the serious message across too.
https://youtu.be/3gznzs1F2tk

Day 8: Party Prick by Samantha Hawkins & Kimberley Pipkin
This one is by a team who were one of the winners of the American Mary Sweden competition & this is in a similar style. Another one that had a lot of fun with the theme & made sure to push the message too.
https://youtu.be/dse5uBYjQHE

Day 9: It's In You by Izzy Lee
I love how this one looks, there's a brilliant comedy twist & the monster design is just brilliant. Apparently it's being expanded into a longer short which is brilliant news.
https://youtu.be/8WzlpmdwHjo

Day 10: My Father, My Hero by Andrew Hass & Kynda Laufmann
Another black and white one with a great concept & a sitcom laugh track which fits really well. This one was also featured on the director's local news so the important cause has had a great reach this year.
https://youtu.be/TeLqWdkeSgg

Day 11: Sammy by Aleah Anseth
This one is a bit warped but it was really on my wavelength, beautifully filmed & great child actors. Plenty of the red stuff too!
https://youtu.be/RAIXsco5iXg

Day 12: Bitch by Stephanie Dugan
Socially relevant beginning, some gorgeous shots & a surprise comedy ending. I very much enjoyed this one.
https://youtu.be/2yokvOWMymg

Day 13: Haemo Eradication Services by Angela Nolan & Martyn Fleetwood
That's right I was honoured to have a slot this year! We took the theme quite literally & I hope you enjoy it, I'd love to know what you think. I can't donate blood for health reasons so I was very pleased to be able to support the cause in another way
https://youtu.be/65GDUdjahR8

Day 14: Donor by Atropa Films
Definitely not for the faint of heart! One of the longer & gorier entries it's all from first-person view & has an interesting story, great acting & really grossed me out!
https://youtu.be/1cv2hhVf0II

That's it for this entry, part two coming soon, please share the PSAs because blood donation is such an important cause all year round not just February!

The Midnight Man Trailer Review

I had to watch this trailer a few times to take it in because the first time I was just freaking out over the fact that two masters of horror, Robert Englund & Lin Shaye are in another movie together (I know they're both in 2001 Maniacs, if you know of any others please let me know, they're two of my favourite actors).

I think the movie has a lot of potential and it certainly looks scary, I like the mix of the typical horror movie teenagers with the older Lin Shaye & Robert Englund as I wonder if life experience will make a huge difference in how they react or if fear is fear.

The only concern I have at this stage is that the movie looks very dark, I mean literally not in terms of content. I get that most scary things happen at night in horror movies but I can't stand feeling like I'm squinting to see the action so I hope it's a letter better lit than the trailer makes it seem, although it will probably be better on a big screen anyway and this is definitely a cinema watch!

It's not a dig at this movie because it looks brilliantly made but the main thing that baffles me about movies like this is how readily the characters jump into ghost games. Now don't get me wrong I've been on ghost hunts but a) I think you're primed on them so most of what you see/hear is a sort of group hysteria and b) I think in general ghosts are just leftover energy playing itself out & I wouldn't risk it if I thought there was a chance of negative effects. If you ever say to me 'let's play a game where if your candle goes out & isn't re-lit within 10 seconds or you break the salt circle then the Midnight Man will find you and make you live out your worst fear' and I say yes then run like the wind because I've already been possessed by something!

Happy Anniversary Twisted Twins Productions

I'm a day late with this post (it's just who I am as a person!) and it's going to be a gushy one but yesterday marked the 9th anniversary of the Soska's production company Twisted Twins Productions.

I've talked about my love of Jen & Sylvia Soska's work before. American Mary has a massive cult following for a reason, See No Evil 2 managed the rare achievement of being better than the original in my opinion, and next year they will get their first wide cinematic release with their remake of Rabid. 

They're very hard-working (they seem to always have about ten plates in the air) but they're also really approachable online, and the photos from happy fans at cons prove they are in real life too. Their WiH month Massive Blood Drive in February each year pushes the worthy clause of blood donation, and their American Mary swede competition earlier this year gave amateur film-makers like me a wide audience for our own work. They've given me another opportunity this year which I don't think I can talk about just yet but I love them for it. They're eager to give back because they started out in low-budget horror themselves, and look where they are now what an inspirational pair!

I bet there's some really special stuff to look out for in their tenth year and I wish them every success. And finally if you would like any Soska swag then here's a link to their online store including hand-made items: http://www.twistedtwinsstore.com/

100 Horror Movies Challenge Final Update

I'm about two weeks late with this final update but that shouldn't be a surprise really because I'm never very organised!

Day 26:
    - Blair Witch (2016, Directed by Adam Wingard, Horror/Thriller)
               - Meh. I'm not a fan of this franchise as a whole really and this one was a bit all over the place with a very tentative link to the original.

Day 27:
    - 2 episodes of Stranger Thing Series Two, equivalent to one movie (Drama/Fantasy/Horror)
               - It's back! I love this show and there's not really anything quite like it.

Day 28:
    - 7 episodes of Stranger Things Series Two (equivalent to 3 movies)
               - Poor health days can suck but it worked well for this challenge!

Day 29:
    - None.

Day 30:
    - None again, so good at this!

Day 31:
    - Jigsaw (2017, Directed by Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig, Crime/Horror/Mystery)
               - It was good fun but even for a Saw movie this one had a lot of plot holes!

Final total: 47 movies in 31 days. Beat last year's score and almost hit halfway so happy with that. 

100 Horror Films Challenge Update Three

Day 18:
- The Babysitter (2017, Directed by McG, Comedy/Horror)
             - This one was a blast! I've now seen Samara Weaving in this & Mayhem and she really seems funny. Massively OTT on the gore and just hilarious.
- 2 episodes of Lore (Horror, equivalent to 1 movie)
             - I haven't listened to the original podcast but I love the mix of live-action, animation & narration and it really held my attention. Really creepy subject matter though, I couldn't watch too many at once!

Day 19:
- None, oops.

Day 20:
- None!

Day 21:
- Happy Death Day (2017, Directed by Christopher Landon, Horror/Mystery/Thriller)
             - This one definitely lived up to its trailer (which I reviewed on here). It's not anything massively different but it's a lot of fun and the lead actress, Jessica Rothe, was phenomenal.
- Get Out (2017, Directed by Jordan Peele, Horror/Mystery/Thriller)
             - I'll rave about this film endlessly because the actors just kill it & it creeps me out although I've had plenty of arguments lately about whether or not it's a horror movie, I vote yes but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Day 22:
- Happy Death (2017, Directed by Christopher Landon, Horror/Mystery/Thriller)
             - It's definitely cheating to count the same film twice but I'm doing it anyway, definitely still fun the second time round too!
- The Bad Batch (2016, Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, Drama/Horror/Romance)
             - If I'm being honest this one was a bit of an effort to get through. I felt like I needed a bit of setup before a certain thing happened, the characters largely irritated me & why this has 'romance' listed as a genre is beyond me.
- 2 episodes of Lore (equivalent to 1 movie).

Day 23: 
- 1922 (2017, Directed by Zak Hilditch, Crime/Drama/Horror)
             - Netflix are just pulling out all the stops with their Stephen King right now aren't they? The gore in this made my toes curl a bit & the acting was so good.

Day 24:
- None.

Day 25:
-Uh-oh, none again.

Current total: 41 movies in 25 days, still some time left and I've already beaten last year's total by 5.