Halloween on Screen

Unlike Christmas, which has a large smattering of holiday-themed films to enjoy, Halloween has but  a meager few. Oh sure there are plenty of spooky films to enjoy to celebrate the macabre, but there are only a handful that actually take place on that most unholy of eves.

Aliens mistaken for trick-or-treaters. Wondering if one is too old to trick-or-treat anymore. The wrath of blowing out a jack-o-lantern before the holiday is over. The stupidity of having a seance in a mortuary. It can all be found in this Top-7 of Halloween Films: 

7. Hocus Pocus

The Horror...

Like the creeping shadows cast by the fall's waning sunlight, Halloween will soon be upon us. For those of us here at This Cinematic Life, 'tis a season like no other. While many children eagerly await Christmas morning and all the goodies under the tree from that jolly, obese elf, we can hardly wait to hang the cobwebs while watching our vast collections of seasonally appropriate movies. Hell, I’m listening to Danny Elfman’s score to Nightbreed as I write this piece!

Oh how I revel in any chance to watch films like The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and Something Wicked This Way Comes while the leaves outside drift from the trees in a silent cascade of red, orange and yellow. There’s no better time of year to enjoy Bubba Ho-Tep, all four Phantasm movies, and Re-Animator — all in the same day. Yet growing up, my family would never dream of sitting down and watching the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Halloween. They’re just not those kind of movie viewers. And yet, on the weekends with my friends, I soaked up all manner of scary films like a pop culture sponge.

The Black Cat (1934)

After a car accident, a young American couple (David Manners and Julie Bishop) must take shelter in the home of a madman (Boris Karloff) and find themselves caught in the middle of a battle between him and an old adversary (Bela Lugosi).

*      *      *

While most horror films of this period were odd mish-mashes of silence and sound, The Black Cat succeeds in being a completely integrated whole. The transitions, the tracking shots through empty spaces and the effective use of music all feel as fresh as anything generated today. And though I should hate it for demonizing modern architecture as it does, I cannot because of how revolutionary this was for the time. Rather than rely on easy scares by setting this film in the same old dusty Universal mansion set, they tried something different and generated scares in a completely new way. When you combine all these awesome stylistic flourishes with a truly creepy story about Satanism and torture what do you get? Craig's favorite Universal horror film! I've said it before and I'll say it again - we NEED a Criterion edition of this film! And I'm not alone in this opinion either. Until then, the entire film can be streamed on Youtube in a pretty acceptable transfer.

Essential Purchases

Over the past couple of years, the twice-annual 50% off Criterion Sale at Barnes & Noble has become a full-on of cinephilic event. It's like a gift from Odin himself: the perfect opportunity to pick up any discs or box-sets that were outside your price range as well as a chance to test drive any titles that you might be curious about.

Not sure what to pick up? With over 600 titles, picking simply one or two can be pretty intimidating. Thankfully we here at This Cinematic Life have come to the rescue with some personal Top-5s to help refine your quest. Happy shopping!

'Becca'lise
The Royal Tenenbaums
My Man Godfrey
Pandora's Box
The Great Dictator
Thief of Bagdad

Colin
The Battle of Algiers
Harold and Maude
In The Mood For Love
House
Charade

Craig

High and Low

The Red Shoes

Dazed and Confused

The Royal Tenenbaums

America Lost and Found: The BBS Story (box-set)

John Carlos
8½
Rushmore
Videodrome
Dazed and Confused
The Thin Red Line

Rachel
The Golden Age of Television
Harold and Maude
Paris, Texas
Playtime
Wings of Desire

Buy anything cool? Let us know in the comments!

The Descent (2006)

After a tragic loss one year before, a group of adventurous women decide go go spelunking in the Appalachian wilderness...shit gets intense.

*      *      *

Loss, guilt, darkness, claustrophobia, paranoia, heights, broken bones. Even before the film takes a hard left turn towards more traditional genre tropes, it has already been one of the most horrific things you've ever seen. Grounded by strong characters and performances, it makes perfect sense why this film has quickly come to be considered a classic. And like nearly all great horror classics, it has been followed by a poorly received direct to video sequel where the focus is shifted to the least interesting aspect of the original. Why can't we just allow something to be awesome? The odds against catching lightning in a bottle a second time are staggering. We should just leave well enough alone. I guess it's an outgrowth of the same self-destructive compulsion that sends pretty young things back into a house they know to be haunted. Oh well, at least they got it right once.

Double-Bill: Masters of Horror

Gods and Monsters and Shadow of the Vampire

Ed Wood (1994)

The mostly true story of a young writer/director/producer (Johnny Depp) with a burning passion to create great cinema . So what if he's making the worst films ever?

*      *      *

As much as I love 8½, this is the greatest film about filmmaking ever! Unironically it is a masterpiece. The perfect integration of style and substance, using all the great visual tropes of a B-movie to tell an inspiring story about outcasts coming together to have fun and create something regardless of what the world thinks about them or their work. This is one of the rare films that I watched a second time immediately after the first. From that moment on it has been my second favorite film of all time (right after Pulp Fiction). I wish Tim Burton still made movies like this. Honestly, Big Fish feels like the last film he actually gave a damn about. Someone needs to take away all his computers and budgets and force him to use good old fashioned passion and ingenuity the way Eddy did, because at least when he made shit, you could tell that he was  making an effort!

Zombie Walk 2012!

What began in May 2009 and was limited to a single city block has now grown into a full scale epidemic. Of course I'm talking about the now annual Long Beach Zombie Walk! which is coming up this Saturday October 27th. It's insane how much this thing has grown. We were there for the rather sparsely attended inaugural one that wasn't even held in October! But from the moment a few people decided to jaywalk from one side of 4th to the other and a trail of dead followed suit, you knew it was destined to get bigger. And boy has it! This year the "walk" is an all day event occupying a 9.5 acre park to celebrate music, art, film and...BRAINS!

Need some zombie inspiration? Event organizer, Long Beach Cinematheque founder and all around good guy Logan Crow has given us an exclusive list of his favorite zombie films that you can watch for inspiration!

1. Dead-Alive (Braindead)
2. Shaun of the Dead
3. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
4. 28 Days Later
5. Nightmare City
6. Cemetery Man
7. Undead
8. The Happiness of the Katikuris
9. Day of the Dead (1985)
10. The Beyond

Seriously not to be missed. Need even further proof? Check out this awesome schedule! You get all that for ONLY $15 and  don't forget that zombies 12 and under get in absolutely FREE!

Halloween on Etsy!

Inspired by our Halloween movie poll, I compiled a bunch of movie-themed goodies from Etsy! Because you can NEVER have enough spooky stuff, right? Or movie-themed stuff? Or stuff stuff! I love stuff! Okay sorry. Here we go!

1/2/3/4/5/6/7

Happy shopping!

They Live (1988)

A magic pair of sunglasses allow a drifter (Roddy Piper) to see the aliens who have taken over the world! He must now choose between chewing bubble gum and kicking ass, fortunately he's all out of bubble gum!

*      *      *

While it's absolutely not the scariest John Carpenter movie ever, this might be my favorite. Only here can you find the perfect combo of epic fistfights and vicious satire. Two great tastes that taste great together! Carpenter's decision to invert the Eisenhower paranoia of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, was a true masterstroke. In the 80's it was no longer the commies who wanted to make us all the same, now it was the yuppies we need to watch out for! Without this film there is no Shepard Fairey. Definitely not a clothing line called Obey. Homeboy seriously owes John Carptenter a phat check! At least next month the film is finally getting the special edition blu-ray that it deserves...BUY! OBEY!

Triple-Bill: Nor Cal Hitchcock

Shadow of a Doubt and Vertigo and The Birds

October Spooktacular: The Results!

Well here it is, the results to our first (annual?) Scary Movies Poll! When we did our  Great Movies Poll back in August, we were only able to get a mere thirteen ballots. This go around we were able to scare up a solid thirty-two including lists from filmmaker Vincent Pereira, actor Justin "STEVE HOLT!" Wade and Long Beach Cinematheque founder Logan Crow! Thank you all so so much for participating, it really helped to generate a much more rounded list. There are so many great movies on these ballots, including some that you might never have even heard of! It is highly recommended that you check out all the individual ballots for viewing inspiration as the big day draws nearer...

Disclaimer -

Due to the number of films tied for third, fifth and sixth place, the following list consists of twelve films rather than ten. Tied films in the top-sixare listed alphabetically. Years have been included where necessary to distinguish between the originals, remakes and re-used titles. As for films with alternate cuts, nobody really indicated a preferred version so we have abstained from stating any sort of preference. Where possible, links have been included to This Cinematic Life reviews of the film in question.

Honorable Mentions - 

Scream & Suspiria

And now without further adieu...

The Master (2012)

Following World War II, a young drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) finds himself as right hand man to a cult leader (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) intent on purging him of his demons.

*      *      *

Do not read if you have not seen the movie. There be spoilers ahead!

What I love most about film is the way it can integrate the other arts into itself. Acting, photography, dance architecture, etc. all come together and create something new through juxtaposition. My favorite such marriage is that of music and image. In the hands of the right filmmaker, music can be used to enhance and clarify both theme and narrative. For example, if you go exclusively by the closing images of Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, it is clear that Freddy's struggle for sanity/civilization is a losing battle. But only by placing the Helen Forrest song "Changing Partners" over the intensely maternal image of Quell clinging to a sand-woman (destined to be washed away with the tide) does the true nature of Freddy's neurosis finally come into sharp focus. It's one of those magical little moments that only we the audience get to be in on, like the fate of the Ark in Raiders and the true meaning of Charles Foster Kane's last words.

So I'll keep changing partners till your in my arms, and then oh my darling, I will never change partners again...

He Said/She Said: Hotel Transylvania & Frankenweenie

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel (2011)

Diana Vreeland was a larger-than-life personality, and with it made life extraordinary. Having been both fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue, she knew everybody, saw everything, and used her influence to breathe life into the pages of those magazines. This documentary takes a look at her life and work, and includes interviews with those who knew her best: designers, her models (including some models-turned-actresses Anjelica Huston and Lauren Bacall), photographers, her children. They all come to the same conclusion: while she could be maddeningly eccentric and stubborn at times, and had a flair for exaggeration (when asked if her stories were fact or fiction, she replied "Faction."), nobody could deny her brilliance.

I first became a devoted fan of hers my sophomore or junior year of high school. I read her biography DV about a million times. I'm sharing this because it's impossible for me to review a film about my biggest hero objectively. Hell, I still would've enjoyed this film if it was nothing but pictures of her with quotes on the bottom of the screen. But since Craig (who was less familiar with her and not a crazed superfan) enjoyed it too, I feel safe in saying that it was a great documentary. They use a sound-alike to recreate some of her conversations with George Plimpton which threw me off for a bit, but I guess I prefer it to an actress trying to look and act like her too. It's a minor issue, the rest of the film is lovely. Gorgeous photos, heartwarming interviews, I laughed, I cried. A great documentary. Oh, and the use of the Rolling Stones' "She's Like a Rainbow" in the opening credits was brilliant. So fitting, and it made me all verklempt! I love her.

"There’s only one very good life and that’s the life you know you want and you make it yourself."

" A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. We all need a splash of bad taste—it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could use more of it. No taste is what I’m against."

"There’s only one thing in life, and that’s the continual renewal of inspiration."

--DV

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

When a zombie apocalypse strikes London, lovable loser Shaun (Simon Pegg) finally finds enough motivation to try and get his life together.

*      *      *

Though this film was inspired by an episode of the sensational Brit-com Spaced (created by Simon Pegg with Jessica Hynes née Stevenson and directed by Edgar Wright) I applaud the fact that for this film they chose to take things in a drastically different direction. While Pegg and Wright's previous collaboration chose to focus on how we tend to view our lives in pop culture terms (ie: a hellish job literally becomes the mental institution in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest), Shaun of the Dead shows that no matter how much mental preparation we've had either through film, video games or daydreaming, when the shit actually hits the fan and we find ourselves living through a situation right out of a genre film - we geeks will be just as helpless as everyone else. But hey, at least we'll get to enjoy a pint and some nibblies before we have to kill our loved ones.

Double-Bill: Travelogue

Sans Soleil and Lost In Translation

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection

I'm not one to rush out and buy the newest Criterion release or upgrade my DVDs to new special edition Blu-rays (that would be Craig's department), but when I got wind of a Universal "Classic Monsters" Blu-ray collection, I FREAKED OUT. So many of my beloved old horror films are on VHS, taped off Turner Classic Movies back when I was in high school. Needless to say, the quality is far from great.  So while I have the willpower to pass on a lot of the flashy new releases, I was very excited to get my paws on this collection.

This is what happiness looks like to a classic horror obsessed 26-year-old woman.

Looper (2012)

Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a looper. His job is to kill people sent from the future. One day his target is himself 30 years older (Bruce Willis). This is when things get complicated.

*      *      *

Rian Johnson is three for three in my book. Each film is distinctly different from those that came before, yet all are united by their assured direction of scripts that are filled with great ideas and great characters. While predominantly a verbal storyteller up to this point, Looper allows Johnson to indulge in some serious visual storytelling. Long stretches are able to play effectively sans-dialogue (ie: Old Joe's flashback to his post-"closing the loop" life) and let's not forget the totally awesome action set-pieces. And what dialogue there is, is in a completely different patois from that of Brick and The Brothers Bloom. While Auteurist critics love to go on and on about how great directors return to the same themes over and over again and employ a distinct and consistent visual style, I personally love the fact that a Rian Johnson movie can look and sound like anything! Extremely excited to see where his career goes from here.

Top 5: Cinematic Potential

If you've been following this blog for a while, you might have noticed we're also fond of music and the various ways it can be used in film. I personally am a sucker for a great groove as well as pop music used either ironically or to express emotion that a character is concealing. Here are five songs that to the best of my knowledge have not been used in a movie...yet. If you're a filmmaker, feel free to give them a spin in your next project. Just know that if you don't use them well I will personally hunt you down. You have been warned.

Redondo Beach by Patti Smith

Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)

Wax sculptor Ivan Igor (Lionel Atwill) is devastated when his partner burns down their wax museum to collect insurance money, and his hands are ruined in the incident. Years later when his exhibit is reopened, he can no longer sculpt but instead directs other artists. When people start disappearing (including a body from the morgue that looks suspiciously like the new Joan of Arc statue) and Igor develops an obsessive interest in his assistant's fiancée (Fay Wray), reporter Florence (Glenda Farrell) gets mighty interested in the case.

No, this isn't the better-known House of Wax (1953) starring Vincent Price. In fact, this film was believed to be lost until the sixties, and has since been eclipsed by the flashier 1953 remake. The only reason I saw this film at all was that it was included on the House of Wax DVD. But I think this film deserves recognition in its own right. The plots are almost identical except for one obvious difference: the wisecracking reporter! She's smart, she can hold her own in a room full of men, and she's the ONLY one who sees what's going on. The remake is filled with helpless women, but in this original Florence saves the day! Why they eliminated this character I'll never know. And get a load of that two-strip Technicolor! Oh, to live in a world so pink!

Yes, the film is dated and a little silly at moments (see: cheesy tacked-on ending and wax figures that flinch), but it's still entertaining. Watch it if you're a fan of early horror, or just watch it for Glenda Farrell's scene-stealing performance. Either way you'll have a good time!

The Fly (1986)

Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) has perfected the art of teleporting inanimate objects. After using himself as his first human test subject, he begins to notice slight changes. Could this have anything to do with the fly that was buzzing around his laboratory?

*      *      *

While quite possibly the most disgusting film ever made, The Fly is quite certainly the most perfect David Cronenberg film ever. It's all there: science, terror, flesh and technology. Some might argue for Videodrome, but I maintain that The Fly's allegorical implications place it head over heels above. This is a story most anyone can relate to. Strip away all the fantastical elements and this is a film about watching a loved one suffer from addiction and succumb to their illness. Also, you don't get much more classical than a story with only three characters where your hero is brought low by his own hubris. No wonder they were able to turn it into an opera so easily!

Double-Bill: Change Gonna Come

The Magnificent Ambersons and The Leopard

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) is socially awkward and a loner. He's anticipating a pretty miserable high school experience, until seniors Patrick (Ezra Miller) and Sam (Emma Watson) take him under their wing and welcome him into their circle of friends.

Don't you love when a movie you've been eagerly anticipating turns out to be awesome? I'm a big fan of the novel by Stephen Chbosky (who directed the film and adapted the screenplay)...I must've read it at least five times since high school. I can't explain the weirdly sad and nostalgic feeling I get from the book (considering my high school experience was absolutely nothing like the book), but it's a beautiful story that I return to time and time again. Having the author direct the film reassured me that the overall feel of the story would remain intact. Really strong performances from all, especially Lerman and Miller, and I also loved the heck out of Mae Whitman's Mary Elizabeth. I found her simultaneously more bitchy and more sympathetic than she was in the book. I think really seeing a character's face brings a whole new dimension than just reading about the character. I'm so happy this adaptation was successful!

I'm trying not to gush, but this is truly a special film. It captures the fear of future that so many of us felt at that age, and the performances are SO good. I highly recommend checking this film out!

Sam: Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing? 

Charlie: We accept the love we think we deserve.

Atonement (2007)

After witnessing something she doesn't understand, young Briony (Saoirse Ronan) makes some unfounded accusations; the fallout from those charges extends through WWII and beyond.

*      *      *

When this film was released in 2007, my interest in seeing it was near zero. Its trailer reeked of "Oscar bait" and I had already sat through The English Patient once. The only thing that made me kinda maybe want to see it, was a co-worker's description of a long single-take shot on a beach. Well finally this past June I got over my snobbery and sat down to watch the film, and man was I blown away!

Seeing as the source material was published in 2001, I can most assuredly say that this story was not originally intended as an allegory for President George W. Bush sending young women and men to die for a lie; but when you acknowledge the fact that two wars were well underway at the time of the film's release, it's impossible to not at least see parallels. Even if you put contemporary politics aside, the film is still a devastating exploration of the huge tragic ripples that can be caused by tiny deeds. Oh and did I mention they use the C-word?! No matter how you slice it, definitely not your average grandma movie.

He Said/She Said: Dredd 3D/Looper

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Let me start off by saying that while I can be snobbish at times about what movies I will or won't watch, I have a soft spot for movies that are cute. When I saw the trailer for Hotel Transylvania, I thought it looked cute, and that's exactly what it was.

The premise isn't anything groundbreaking. Overprotective dad wants to keep daughter safe, daughter wants to see the world, enter love interest who shakes things up. The fact that it features old-school movie monsters makes my 10th grade goth heart sing. Is it predictable? Sure. But it was visually fun, and despite what the more sour critics will tell you, has plenty of laughs. Unfortunately, as with many recent films aimed at a younger audience, it has elements that won't really stand the test of time. Fart jokes and auto-tune? Sigh. Luckily those moments are brief, and it actually has a funny blink-and-you'll-miss-it jab at the Twilight films. I also enjoyed the voice work, especially David Spade as the Invisible Man and Chris Parnell as the Fly.

Is this a cinematic masterpiece? No, of course not.  But I saw it with three other adults and we had a marvelous time, and that makes it pretty good in my book, film snob or not!

Horror Poll!

After the resounding success of our Great Films Poll back in August, we've been chomping at the bit to do another one. While we already have plans to do a year-end "Best of 2012" poll, we decided that wasn't soon enough either. And seeing as Halloween is a Holy Day of Obligation round these parts, what better poll to do than...

A SCARY MOVIES POLL!

Submission is open to anyone. All you have to do is send us your own personal top 10 list of favorite scary movies either as a comment on this blog post, as a comment on our Facebook wall or as a private message on Facebook by the end of Sunday October 14th. The results will be posted on Friday the 19th so that you will have plenty of time to check out some of the films that sound intriguing before the big day.

We can't wait to see all of your submissions. Stay spooky!

Double-Bill: Origins

I always find it odd when I encounter someone who has never seen a double feature. Sure I'm a film dork who seeks out this kind of stuff, but even before film became a passion in middle school, I had already seen two double features. One of them was even in a drive-in! I cannot remember which one came first so I'm just posting them both. Anyone else out there see some cool/embarrassing family-friendly double-bills when they were youngins?

Blank Check and Angels in the Outfield

Heart and Souls and Hocus Pocus