31 Days of Horror - Day 30 (THE DESCENT)

I thought The Descent was a pretty good film. It won't be to everyone's tastes though. Part women bonding film, part horror film. The second half of the film is more action packed and bloodier but the first half is just as good setting the mood of the film perfectly. Plus it has a little humor. Two of the women stand out from the rest: Natalie Mendoza and Shauna MacDonald. A must see for anyone looking for some thrills mixed with a good storyline.


(2005) Stars Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Nora Jane Noone, Alex Reid. Directed by Neil Marshall.

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Beth:"I'm an English teacher, not fucking Tomb Raider".

31 Days of Horror - Day 26 (SCREAM)

Wes Craven 1996's horror film Scream is a wonderful homage to all the slasher flicks before it. Written by Kevin Williamson of Dawson's Creek fame with an ironic twist and respect for older horror films, most notably Halloween, Psycho, and Friday the 13th. Set in a small sleepy town in California, Scream begins with a hell of a 10 minute opening sequence which has a young girl home alone (wonderfully played by Drew Barrymore) who is being harassed by a twisted phone caller. Things get really scary when said caller shows up at her house. From that beginning, Scream continues with a steady pace of thrills and scares and humor. Our heroine of the film is Sidney (a fresh faced Neve Campbell) who is dealing with the 1 year anniversary of her mom's murder. She manages to survive a first encounter with the killer, who manages to hack up everyone else in sight. What makes Scream works for me is the self aware attitude most of the characters have especially Sidney and one her friends, video geek Randy (played with relish by Jamie Kennedy). There is plenty of gore and blood to be found in this film but it is balanced with well timed humor and much respect for previous horror movies. The supporting cast is top notch especially Courtney Cox (playing news reporter Gail Weathers) She looks fantastic and her character will no way remind you of Monica from Friends. Gail is a different kind of animal. Her future husband David Arquette is inept deputy Dewey, and Arquette nails his performance perfectly. Rose McGowan is a hoot as Sidney's hot-to-trot friend Tatum. Henry Winkler is actually pretty good as the principal. Skeet Ulrich is kinda creepy as Sidney's boyfriend. But it's Neve Campbell who rocks the most as Sidney. She goes from bereaving daughter to stand up woman who holds her own against the killer. Scream was a surprise smash when it hit theaters in December 1996. I remembering the audience being totally jacked up for it too. A worthy sequel followed one year later that was nearly as good as this one. Less said about the third chapter the better, even though it did have its moments. But Scream is a perfect way to wind down the Halloween season. If you have never seen it I suggest checking out the whole trilogy just to be complete. And Scream 4 is due out April 2011. I've seen the trailer and it looks awesome. Can't wait.

(1996) Stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Drew Barrymore, Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy, Liev Schreiber.
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Phone Voice: Do you like scary movies?
Sidney Prescott: What's the point they're all the same, some stupid killer stalking some big-breasted girl who can't act who is always running up the stairs when she should be running out the front door, it's insulting.

Awesome Movie Weapons - M41 Pulse Rifle (Aliens)

Probably one of my most favorite movie weapons is the M41 Pulse Rifle used by the Colonial Marines in James Cameron sci-fi epic Aliens. The pulse rifles were created from a Thompson SMG, with an attached forend of a Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun and a Remington 12 Gauge Model 870P receiver with barrel. It's an awesome weapon and yet to be surpassed in terms of use on film. It sounds and looks cool. And gets a lot of screen time. The M41 Pulse rifle is THE weapon. Check out the trailer for some of it's cool usage.

31 Days of Horror - Day 21 (THE LOST BOYS)

A group of teenage vampires attempts to recruit a new member who is not quite so certain about the trouble he is getting into. One of my favorite vampire movies of all time. Featuring a super cast and a rocking music score. Kiefer Sutherland is awesome as David, leader of the vampires who recruits Michael (Jason Patric).
Corey Haim plays Michael's younger brother Sam, who is into comic books, big time. Dianne Wiest plays their gullible mom. Barnard Hughes is a riot as Grandpa. And let's not forget the Frog Brothers (Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander). They make this movie as comic book store owners by day, and vampire hunters by night. They supply most of the humor. But there is plenty of gore and graphic deaths in this movie as well. The Lost Boys rocks.

(1987) Stars Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, Dianne Wiest, Edward Hermann, Barnard Hughes, Jami Gertz.



Edward Frog: Listen, just so you know, if you try to stop us, or vamp out in any way, I'll stake you without even thinking twice about it!

31 Days of Horror - Day 20 (THE FRIGHTENERS)

Frank Bannister (a departure for Michael J. Fox)is a psychic swindler with the perfect business partners. They work cheap... they're dedicated... and they're dead. Possessed with a genuine ability to communicate with the dearly departed, Bannister earns a stiff living by setting up spirit clearance scams with his trio of ghostly cronies. But Frank may not be the only one in the small town of Fairwater working the paranormal side of the street. A series of inexplicable deaths and bizarre occurrences suggests the presence of a malevolent poltergeist. With the suspicious finger of a zealous FBI agent pointing directly at him, and the woman he cares for in danger, Bannister attempts to unravel the supernatural crime spree by venturing into a realm where all fears are realized... and true evil does not die. Very cool movie directed by Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings series). And it was great seeing horror vets like Jeffrey Combs and Dee Wallace Stone make appearances.

(1996) Stars Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Jeffrey Combs, Jake Busey, Chi McBride, Dee Wallace Stone, R. Lee Ermey, John Astin.

31 Days of Horror - Day 19 (MISERY)

A famous novelist (James Caan) is "rescued" from a car crash by an obsessed fan (Kathy Bates). Awesome film adaptation of Stephen King's best-seller featuring a powerhouse performance by Kathy Bates as Caan's character number one fan. She deservedly won an Oscar for Best Actress. A chilling movie peppered with dark humor.

(1990) Stars James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen and screen legend Lauren Bacall.

31 Days of Horror - Day 18 (BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA)

Based on the Victorian horror novel written by Bram Stoker in 1897, about the vampire Dracula, who is on a quest to be eternally reunited with the one woman he ever loved. Dracula travels from Transylvania to London to find the young woman who is the double image of the love he lost centuries earlier. I loved this adapation of Stoker's famed novel and Gary Oldman made an effective Count Dracula. Supported by a solid cast in Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, Winona Ryder, Sadie Frost, Richard E. Thomas, and Tom Waits. A great looking movie with a bombastic music score.

Van Helsing: "Mr. Morris, your bullets will not harm him. He must be beheaded. I suggest that you use your big Bowie knife".
Morris: "Well, I wasn't planning on getting that close, Doc".

(1992) Stars Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Tom Waits, Monica Belluci. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

31 Days of Horror - Day 17 (UNDERWORLD)

Selene (an awesome Kate Beckinsale), a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael, a werewolf who longs for the war to end. Cool action pulsates throughout this entertaining movie. Beckinsale, usually known for English dramas, cuts loose as Selene. And Bill Nighy is awesome as Victor, lord of the Vampires. Michael Sheen is equally good as the werewolf leader, Lucian.

(2003) Stars Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Sophia Myles.

31 Days of Horror - Day 16 (RESIDENT EVIL Film Series)

RESIDENT EVIL (2002) A special military unit fights a powerful, out-of-control supercomputer and hundreds of scientists who have mutated into flesh-eating creatures after a laboratory accident. Milla Jovovich headlines the first Resident Evil as Alice, an employee of The Umbrella Corporation, the company that made the T-rex virus, which causes mutation in humans. The first in the series is ok, but not the best. Milla is awesome though. C+



RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE (2004) Much better film and my favorite of the series. Milla kicks ass the whole movie and gets help from the equally bad ass detective Jill Valentine (played awesomely by Sienna Guillory). This is like a comic book come to life with action galore. B

RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION (2007) Disappointing to say the least. The third chapter in this series just never clicks for me. Milla Jovovich returns as Alice, the only person to survive the virus that infected most of the human population.


In addition to her awesome fighting skills, she now has telekenetic abilities. In this one, she is traveling through the Nevada desert, hiding out from the Umbrella Corporation and teams up with some survivors including returnees Mike Epps and Oded Fehr, Newcomer to the series Ali Larter plays leader Claire Redfield. To me there was not a lot of action especially compared to the last film. And Milla who can kick ass with the best of them, seemed bored throughout. Larter was game as Claire but I missed Sienna Guillory as Jill Valentine. They never even mentioned her in this one. There is one cool action scene about midway through involving super fast zombies attacking Alice and company, but that is about it. If you have seen the first two, then you need to see this one just to get some answers. But be warned, the ending leaves the door open for a fourth one. Hopefully to make up for this one. C

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (2010) Improves on the third film in every way. Alice (once again played by Milla) is on the search for more survivors and ends up helping a ragtag band of people in decimated Los Angeles. Ali Larter returns as Claire Redfield and the action is amped up quite a bit. And the 3D effects are awesome. B

31 Days of Horror - Day 15 (DEAD SNOW)

A ski vacation turns horrific for a group of teenagers, as they find themselves confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies. Graphic killings and plenty of gore and dismemberment. Fun stuff.