Get Out Review

Get Out (2017) Poster

I heard a lot of great things about “Get Out”, but I don’t really go to the movies anymore. So I waited, and I waited, and finally caved in and got the blu ray edition of this movie. I was surprised by how many elements of horror are found in this film, yet it’s not really “horror” in the traditional sense. I was waiting for the horror elements to be amped up, but they never were. This is more of a thriller to me, but that’s just my opinion based on mulling this over a long time now. With that in mind, let’s take into consider what “Get Out” is, and isn’t, and what I feel about the movie after seeing it, digesting it, and really considering the hype that has this getting a 99 percent on rotten tomatoes right now.

Jordan Peele is known for his comedy, and this movie is not a comedy. The movie dives deeper into the issues of xenophobia than any other movie in the genre that I’ve seen in a while. In fact, you’re going to get hit hard with a racial element as Allison William’s character is taking her new boyfriend to meet her parents, and the family that lives in what I can only assume is a massive mansion. Well it is, but come on. Anyways, Chris Washington and Rose Armitage visit an all white community and it appears that Chris is the odd man out, having to put aside the notion that he’s not fitting in, cause he’s black. This comes through in a very specific manner that I’ve felt all of my life, even now in the Midwest. I’m distinctly Mexican, and feel the pressure of who I am whenever I’m surrounded by this type of situation.

The movie continues, with our main character finding out that people are getting hypnotized in a way, and the movie continues to reveal the sinister plot. Mix elements of “Parts: The Clonus Project”, “The Island”, and “Extreme Measures”, and you start to see where Peele may have found inspiration to create a racially divided movie. There are even a few nods to “Gattaca” if you reach hard enough, with an element of bio-engineering for good measure.

Where’s the gore? That’s what I was wondering as I watched this movie progress. Yes, it’s a tightening gyre of sorts, but the 103 minutes really is more of a cinematic treat, then it is a horror fueled masterpiece. The social commentary that underlines the movie’s key reveals, and points, alongside the third and final acts really pushes the boundaries of suspense and thriller genres, not horror. The lack of gore, and the placement of characters makes this a great follow through, but at the end of the day, it falls flat for me.

Is this a horror movie? Not really. It’s more of a thriller with some horror elements. The lack of gore is one thing, but there’s something else missing, and I can’t really put my finger on it. However, the movie is a good one, for what it is, and a surprisingly well paced, interesting movie that pushes a lot of buttons, but gives you a little too much “rose” at times. The comic relief was good though, and for that, I’m going to recommend this one. It’s a somewhat well balanced, interesting take on the genre, but it’s not as “horror” fueled as some may want to say. I could go deeper into this movie, but honestly, I don’t have much more to say than what many other better writers have already said. Visually it’s good, the plot moves swiftly, and it’s well edited, and thought out at times. I liked it, and perhaps that’s the most important aspect of this movie. "Get Out" has a nice punch, and a great idea, with less horror and more suspense and thriller elements than you can shake a fist at. It's like watching modern day "Twilight Zone" in some ways.

I give this movie a 4 out of 5 rating, and recommend it.

You can purchase “Get Out” on Blu Ray by clicking here.

Did you see “Get Out”? Did you like it? Drop me a line in the comments.

Split Review

Split Movie Poster

What’s this? A new review? Yeah, you’re GD right! I’m back to business after a long time away, and we’re going to go absolutely crazy with movie reviews and random B.S. Here we go, an M. Night Shyamalan flick to start off the new era of this blog. “Split” is a movie that came out in 2016, and today we’re going to look at it from my perspective, as I didn’t think it was as bad as some people will have you believe. Twists and turns and all!

M. Night Shyamalan returned to form in this movie, and it’s fascinating how it all works out. The movie is simple enough, it’s a movie about a serial killer that has split personalities. He kidnaps three teenagers and goes through different personalities, and becomes a fascinating exploration of control, kidnapping and so much more. It’s fascinating that this is the comeback of M. Night Shyamalan because he was able to gain the upper hand on a $9 million budget! This movie went on to make $276 million at the box office, so you know there’s more coming. Either way, this movie was one hell of a thriller.

The movie features James McAvoy as 23 different personalities, and it’s a fascinating push forward. I was absolutely blown away by how he acted in this movie. The rest is your run of the mill kidnapping and horror tale, with flashes of the past from one of the young women that has been kidnapped. There are some great moments of horror, including flash backs to molestation, and other innuendos. There’s some insane elements too, with a point a “monster” comes out. There was no major twist, like I was told. There was a nod to another movie, but overall, this film goes straight through between thriller and horror. It’s a fascinating film to go through.

“Split” takes you through a horror fueled closet of sorts. McAvoy is great here, and the movie is simple, and runs through in a very narrow, linear path. It’s predicable, but looks great, and there are moments of true horror, and suspense at times. M. Night Shyamalan really rests on his visual spectrum, and does so with a limited budget and great editing. I loved it. However, I won’t watch it again, as it wasn’t a classic to me. There were a few moments where I felt it was too predictable, however, what he does well is the same kind of momentum that made Hitchcock’s films so suspenseful at the time.

I give M. Night Shyamalan’s “Split” a 4 out of 5.

You can pick up your copy of “Split” on blu ray by clicking here.

Did you see “Split”? Did you like it? Sound off in the comments, let me know.

The Scary Film Review Returns January 2017

I'm Back in 2017 Bitches!

I was burned out in 2016. I have been a freelance writer since 2009. Writing has taken me from an angst ridden teen in 1999, to a professional in 2009, to a divorce in 2011. I am remarried, and am still writing for a living. I got seriously burned out earlier this year, as I read, watched, and experienced a lot of horror filled things in my life. Then I got another cat. Together, we have 5 cats, and they take up a lot of my attention. I love them so much, and I work really hard to not have to get a 9 to 5. That means that a lot of the time I don’t watch movies, and I don’t read horror novels. Then things changed.

Around the time I stopped writing so much in this blog, I was expelled from American Public University. They gave me a 2.97 GPA and said it wasn’t good enough to continue my master’s degree with them. I was at a low point again. I didn’t want to write anything, outside of my work. So I was here, and there, floating around, doing nothing. But things are looking up now. I enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University, and am pursuing a master’s degree in American History. I’m also back to watching horror, and starting the first week of January, I will be bringing back a review process that will send shivers down the spine of those that followed this blog.

What you can expect in the future will be a lot of reviews. Whether you buy horror movies from my links or not, I’m going to charge ahead and review every single God Damn horror movie known to man. Right now, there are 890 horror movie reviews on this blog, so I’m going to just keep writing until the proverbial wheels fall off.

If you want to help me in my quest, subscribe, click the links to buy movies, and comment. I will be around, tinkering, but until then, I just wanted to let you know that I’m back and I’m ready to watch and comment on a lot of bullshit!

Nailbiter Volume 2: Bloody Hands Review

Here we go, the second volume in the Nailbiter TPB series. Nailbiter Volume 2: Bloody Hands is a solid second entry into the story that Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson created. This is a serious book with a lot of elements overall. The push forward in the story focuses on detective work by the local sheriff, the FBI agent, and a woman that wants to give birth within the city limits of serial killer town. Meanwhile, the title character, “The Nailbiter” is not getting any love, and is willing to help the unlikely duo discover what’s going on with the city.

There’s a lot to explore here. I can unpack the larger story, but honestly, you have to check out Nailbiter Volume 2: Bloody Hands and see how it develops. It’s like a horror movie come to the graphic novel world. The artwork is done well, the story keeps you glued to what you’re reading, and there’s plenty of emotion in each panel. Williamson finds a way to create interesting characters. There’s moments that are creepy, thoughtful, and even emotional. There’s moments where gore is highlighted, and then there’s moments where the past and the present collide.

If you like horror, then you’re going to love Nailbiter Volume 2: Bloody Hands. This is a nice mix of new school horror and old school tropes. You get a classic good cop, bad cop, a wild card exonerated serial killer, and a young punk lady that may be starting to realize she’s the next butcher in the series. Oh and of course, there’s also nature in rebellion. Bees are dying in mountains, but why? The reveal is strong.

At the end of the day, Nailbiter Volume 2: Bloody Hands is a solid romp. It continues the first book, while giving you plenty to chew on as you bridge into Volume 3. I was definitely impressed with the art style, and how everything turned out through the story. There are moments of boredom, but that’s only to set up what is to come later. With that, I can only recommend that you start with the first one and work your way through to this one. Williamson is on top of his game, for sure.



You can buy Nailbiter Volume 2: Bloody Hands by clicking here, and see what the hype is all about.

Stranger Things Review

I didn’t expect to see this, as I don’t usually watch a lot of Netflix originals, but my wife decided to spend a full day binging this show. I didn’t hear anything about it until it started playing and realized that a lot of people online were talking about it. No one in my circle was, and I follow sites like Fangoria. Whatever the case was, this show pulled me in through the premise, and didn’t let go until the end credits of the final episode came through.

The premise of “Stranger Things” is simple. A 12 year old boy goes missing from an Indiana town. The boy’s name is Will and his mother, and friends go on a quest to find him. Along the way, the friends meet up with a young girl that has been the victim of science experiments in the facilities nearby. On the other hand, no one believes Will’s mother who swears the boy is alive. Along the way a skeptical sheriff fights back, the FBI comes through, and a nod to all things 1980s Hollywood and horror comes flying at you right away.

How much do you love horror? “Stranger Things” tests you in everything that you know about horror, meanwhile creating a new lavish scenario that is quite good. Every episode ties together so well, and the visual design flow from the credits through the actual events and story, remind you of something else. It’s a homage at times, it’s a rip off to others, it’s fascinating honestly. There are moments where you swear you’re trapped in an alternate universe where “Stand By Me” meets “Needful Things” and gets tossed around in “Alien” and “The Thing”. If you aren’t a horror fan, you will miss all of these things. There’s so much paid tribute to through the episodes that it’s almost as if the show is a love letter to horror movie fans that have been jaded by so many trivial releases.

“Stranger Things” puts on a showcase of creativity at every turn. The story of a young boy’s death or kidnapping is pushed through every emotional query. A science fiction element similar to “Creature” by John Saul is pushed forward too. There’s so much going on here, that you’ll be swimming in a sea of references that you either get, or you just don’t understand. Alone, this is a seriously good thriller and horror movie. However, the sum of its parts makes you feel that you’re reading a Robin Cook novel, let alone a television program that was made outside of the television landscape.

At the end of the day, “Stranger Things” puts you in the 1980s horror movie world. With a telekinetic girl, a group of friends coming of age, aliens, monsters, and even a little bit of “Signs” for good measure. I didn’t love ever single moment of this series. However, I loved enough of the parts to say that this is one hell of a show, and definitely worth your month’s subscription to Netflix. Color me impressed. Color me interested in seeing more. A stellar showcase, and yet, it feels all so familiar somehow.

Ghostbusters Review

The amount of hate that hit this movie before it was released was shocking. People apparently love to hate on anything and everything. The saddest part for me is that they make money off of this. I have been reviewing horror movies and culture on this site and others, and yet I don’t make a dime. I try, but no one buys anything, no ad companies are asking to help, and I can’t even find writers to help me write reviews. I forge on alone, and well, that’s not a bad thing, but it’s draining sometimes. So much negativity. Well, I put on my pants, and I went into see this travesty that some called it, and you know what? I didn’t know what to really expect. Ghostbusters opened this past weekend, and I got 2 tickets, a large soda, a large popcorn, and a very good Ecto Cooler cocktail at the AMC bar before the show.

Ghostbusters is a fun movie. It starts out really hard, and then softens up a little. The jokes are not insane, they are subtle at times, they are fun too. This is not the 1980s, and the pacing of this movie shows it. Things go by a little faster. The cinematography wasn’t terrible, the story wasn’t insane, but rather in line with a lot of the elements that you would expect from the series.

The acting was not bad, the movie heralded some good, overall moments. I didn’t hate anything I saw in this movie, and at times, I wanted to join in on throwing tomatoes. Instead, the plot of a few scientifically driven women to capture paranormal activity was done well. From the opening to the finale, I had a good amount of fun with Ghostbusters. I didn’t take it too seriously, and I viewed it with an open mind.

I am older than most of the idiots that are talking bad about this movie. I loved this. I really wished I had a daughter to share the amount of empowerment showcased in this movie. The standout for me was the interaction between the women. There’s a lot of little things, from hand gestures, to looks, to smiles, that make this movie fun. The plot is simple. Someone’s trying to open up portals to ghosts and become a super power. It’s up to these women to stop it. The movie then moves forward into a hero’s story with this team getting through some great visual effects, and some fun musical cues.

There’s a lot of cameos that you may not realize, and some that are absolutely obvious. Overall, Ghostbusters didn’t deserve the hate. Not even from the Angry Video Game Nerd, which has let the money go to his head. Must be nice to be rich. I’m not. I loved this movie, and am still impressed with some of the set designs and notes that made it into this movie. Look, if you love movies, you will love this. It’s a popcorn flick, simple as that. It’s not meant to be Oscar Award Winning cinema, and it never feels that way. So there you have it, go see it, disagree with me, and review it for yourself. Don’t let idiots sway you, this is a fun romp.

Love the original Ghostbusters? Then here's the complete box set for the originals, buy it before they change it for good:

Nailbiter Volume 1: There Will Be Blood Horror Comic Book Review

I have been on a little break from viewing horror movies, simply because I have reached horror review number 890 with that last opus. So today, I wanted to talk about a book that I recently picked up and read. It’s a graphic novel volume of the first few comics from the Nailbiter series. I had nothing to really consider about this option, other than the cover. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by the cover, but I say, you should always do so! Judge it, and read it!

Nailbiter is written and illustrated by Joshua Williamson, Adam Guzowski, and Mike Henderson. These guys have created one well of a story, and it is not too unlike what made “True Detective” such an epic first season run.

The story of Nailbiter follows an NSA agent, and local sheriff in Buckaroo, Oregon. This city is famous for producing the 16 serial killers, all of which are absolutely insane, and horrific. Why this town? Why now? Well, a fire, a murder, and a lot more mystery starts to unravel in the pages of this horror comic series, and it holds you tight, until you absolutely buckle.

I loved the way that the dialogue flowed, the images showcasing just enough gore, and the frightening elements found within the narrative. Nailbiter does a good job of going for gusto, and then reeling back when you have been hit with something heavy visually and dramatically. It’s a solid focus that will absolutely give you chills, and make you think through the last page.

Nailbiter asks the question, “Where do serial killers come from”, and then knocks out an answer that will stun you. It’s a work of great fiction, rooted in the detective narratives, and horror movies that you may love. This is a thrilling first round up, and one that will make you a true believer, no doubt.

You can pick up Nailbiter Volume: There Will Be Blood by clicking here, it’s well recommended.