It’s so hard to find a horror movie these days that I really like. Slasher films lack the campy feel of Jason and Freddy. Most psychological thrillers just think too much. Remakes are, well, remakes. But I stumbled onto a really decent vampire flick good enough to make me want to read the graphic novel of its origin.

I’m talking about 30 Days of Night. The premise is simple, albeit a bit silly. For 30 days, the town of Barrow, Alaska slips away into total darkness. Most residents skip town for the month long black-out, but after dark officially falls, no one is let in or out. It isn’t explained why, but one might assume it’s to protect the town from people who would take advantage of their situation.

You know that old saying, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you”? (For some reason, that was hanging in my school counselor’s office — how wacky.) Well, this is the town’s predicament. Despite the lock down, the town is invaded by a full shipload (yes, that’s with a P) of vampires looking for some easy pickins.

30 Days of Night is based on the comic book series written by Steve Niles, and illustrated by Ben Templesmith … based upon a failed movie idea of Steve Niles. (Interesting story of how it was made into a movie, don’t you think?)

I’ll be the first to admit I love a good vampire flick. Something about immortality, power, attraction … many of the classic elements of vampire stories were missing from 30 Days of Night, however.

In most vampire movies, the bad guys are charming, alluring, attractive. Vamps are even more seductive, capable of enchanting men with a glance. Not so in this story. The Nosferatu descending on Barrow are blessed with black eyes, sharp claws, gaping, razor-like teeth (not just fangs) and stretched and disfigured faces. Marlow, their apparent leader, is the only one who looks human.

It didn’t really seem like they were very interested in drinking blood either. More like shredding everything in their paths. I’m not sure how they fed at all, unless it was off the release of life force. Or, perhaps, by absorbing it through the skin, since throughout most of the film, the vampires are covered in blood.

Josh Hartnett played the town’s sheriff, Melissa George his estranged wife (who conveniently gets stuck in town) and Danny Huston does a great job as Marlow. You almost want to like him, or at least, see more of his story and how he wound up leading this ship of refugees around the Arctic Ocean.

This is definitely a movie to get your imagination flowing, though perhaps not one to watch over and again.

It stinks … but there is a lot to parenting that kicks ass, so I’ll deal with it.

Most of the horror movies I know and love were made in the past, but not all of them were in the 90’s when I was hitting the theater as a teen - or after ‘77 when I was born. Many of them were tempered favorites of the ages … Alice Sweet Alice, Monkey Shines, the Beast Within. The Thing.

It seems that each decade has it’s own flavor of horror. I’m here so you can sample a taste, not just hear about the lastest remake blockbuster.

That’s why you should bookmark me, keep coming back for more, subscribe to my RSS feed, etc. That, and to find out what’s in store for the loyal, dedicated readers of a Frightfully fun blog with some mysterious twists all its own.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, the kids are outside playing. It’s time to put a movie on…

Anyway … I’m a big fan of the show Ghost Hunters (despite their pushy ways) and If You Are Too, you’ll find something familiar in White Noise. That’s right … EVPs. Electronic Voice Phenomena form the basis behind the story of Jon Rivers (Keaton), a recent widower sent on a hunt for contact with his wife, Anna.

If you aren’t familiar with EVPs, this is thought to be a way that entities (ghosts, masses of energy, etc) communicate with us. Using available noise, they create a message. Using available visual static on a television screen, they can create images. If you subscribe to that sort of thing, White Noise will give you a never-ending ride through the highest quality EVPs the world has ever seen.

In my opinion, that’s one of the worst points of the movie. You hear and see these amazing things, go searching and run into real EVPs that are barely audible. A major disappointment, in other words, and anyone taking notice of the prologue will be given the incorrent impression that most EVPs are negative or threatening, when that is not the case.

This is a very sad, tormenting story because we’re left unsure as to whether we ever “meet” Anna or not, or whether we’ve simply met an imposter adept at using someone else’s image, memory, voice to get what they want. There are also Ring-esque elements that drew me completely out of the story at times. Major bummer.

While I enjoyed White Noise for the subject matter, and at moments throughout the movie, it isn’t on my list of must-sees. If you’re intrigued by the idea of EVPs, a better option might be reading “I’m Still Here” by Martha Copeland.

Source: Horror.com

They aren’t carrying Teenage Cat Girls in Heat - yet - but you will find Toxic Avenger (and the TA cartoon) When Nature Calls, Surf Nazis Must Die, Killer Condom, The Fanatic, Decampitated, and Mothers Day. WIth, apparently, more to come.

I thoroughly enjoy the convenience of being able to download movies and watch them from the comfort of my own home, and the prize is justifiable. All you have to do is buy a $20 point card for Xbox Live and you’re set for 5 movies or more. Save buying for when you find a movie you actually like.

Why?

1 - It’s campy. Despite all the accolades it gets for shaking up two distinct genres - Westerns and vampire flicks - this has a gory, gooey, decidedly cheesey side. Many of these moments are propelled forward by Bill Paxton’s character, while Lance Hendrickson is quite convincing as the stodgy leader of this band of misfits.

2 - It’s romantic. Caleb and Mae’s chance meeting harkens back to love at first sight, and they offer up very real sacrifices for one another. They’re connection transcends that of family or friends. Young love.

3 - They’re fighting to survive. Jesse’s gang are rebels through and through, and they may lie, cheat and steal … but it’s all for a good cause as far as they’re concerned. The difference between Caleb and the rest of the gang, except possibly for Mae, is that they’ve come to enjoy their way of doing things.

Personally? I always feel like this movie ends halfway through, the bar scene, namely. It doesn’t seem like the rest of the movie was that developed. The resolution came too easily. They gave up without too much of a fight. It felt unrealistic and flat, at least to me, but you’ll still enjoy the hell out of it.

Your heart immediately goes out to the movie’s lead character. Yoshimi Matsubara (played by Hitomi Kuroki) is a single mother facing an abusive ex. Neglected by her own single mother, Yoshimi is determined to do justice by her daughter Ikuko (played by an adorable, Rio Kanno).

If only the spirits present in their new apartment were as sympathetic. Soon after moving in, a mysterious girl in a raincoat starts showing up in the strangest places. Along with her comes a tide of strange water, leaking from the ceilings and eventually saturating everything in its path.

In traditional Japanese-horror flair, things get taken to the next level with Yoshimi’s mental health is attacked in family court … and she enters a coma. Why? Why does it have to be so overly dramatic?

This is one of those unfortunate experiences where the first half is wonderful and the last half is ridiculous. Ridiculous … but chilling all the while. I have to admit to having enjoyed the American remake (starring Jennifer Connelly, as Dahlia Williams) better.

While each store has its own way of doing things, you’ll be able to select at least one of over 40 comics specifically designed by the top names in the business just for FCBD. There will also be Star Wars miniatures and Iron Man action figures being given away while supplies last.

Not every store selling comic books will be giving away comics, but a list can be found at the FCBD website .

Pin - or rather, Pinnochio, is an anatomically-correct medical dummy Dr. Linden uses to explain body processes to his children. Through Pin’s clear skin, there are organs and muscles visible. I am telling you … wackadoo. Any kid would be scarred by interaction with this thing, but apparently Linden was smart enough to become a doctor without picking up any common sense. When tragedy claims the lives of Linden and his wife, his son - Leon - forms a special attachment to Pin that we follow alongside into his adulthood.

If the dummy wasn’t ooky enough, there are bits of incenstuous obsession here, murderous intent there. David Hewlitt (Stargate Atlantis) plays the adult Leon, while Cyndy Preston plays sister, Ursula Linden, and John Pyper-Ferguson (Brothers & Sisters) plays Ursula’s fated boyfriend, Stan.

It’s kind of like Willard in the way that it’s just a weird movie. Strange. If that’s your kind of thing, with a healthy dose of bad acting thrown in, definitely check out PIN.

Cute. Innocent, even. And lovestruck to the point of potential madness. Delicious!

Having caught the movie several minutes in, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Soon enough there was a mysterious gypsy reading his cards, a coffee house girl warning him against his “one true love” and a beautiful, scantily clad woman with a thick accent … who turned into a murderous octopus during a dream. I couldn’t give it up.

Some of the older horror movies rely on an easily shocked audience and bad costuming, and while there is just a smidge of that in Night Tide, this really is an intellectual movie. You hope, you fear, you question. Harkened to the likings of The Twilight Zone, this really is a story that will stay with you.

Dennis Hopper plays navyman, Johnny (of course it would be “Johnny”) Drake, who meets a tempting and mysterious carnival worker while on leave. Mora (Linda Lawson) works as a mermaid in a sideshow act, but when her lovers keep turning up dead, folks begin to wonder if she’s more than just an act.

Teasing and genuine, you’ll enjoy this sumptuous black and white delight from Hopper’s early career. I know I did.

I’ve always enjoyed horror films. Sometimes, it’s their sheer kookiness (a la Cat People) and other times the stories suck you right in (Carrie or The Night Tide). My tastes are very eclectic, but that will help me bring you “the best of the worst” and “the worst of the best”.

So, despite not having a cigar, or any hand puppet friends, welcome to my blog … “keep your nose in the wind”.

[image source: The Scourge ]