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Tag Archives: scary

Gummo (1997)
0
Posted on August 24, 2015

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Nick Sutton, Jacob Sewell, Lara Tosh
About as eventful as watching someone chewing a piece of Gum
mo
I first heard about Gummo about five years ago when the good old X Factor
did movie week, where the contestants have to sing songs from films. Simon
Cowell chose the song Crying for Jamie Afro from the movie Gummo.
Perhaps they shouldve said from Mulholland Drive, a much more well-known
film than the mysterious Gummo. All of the judges were accusing Simon of
being a cheat, Who has heard of Gummo!? screamed Louis Walsh. Then
Harry Hills TV burp did a hilarious sketch where he went out asking the
public what their favourite film was and they all said Gummo. Like most of
the viewers, I googled Gummo and discovered that its often hailed as one of
the most disturbing films of all time.

This prompted me to watch the trailer which absolutely scared the hell out of
me for some inexplicable reason. But of course as a lover of all things
disturbing, I digged further and found the clip of the boy in the bath which
basically haunted my every waking hour. I vowed never to watch Gummo
because I knew that it would just completely destroy my life. Unlike most
people I dont find conventionally scary things scary. Daemonic possession I
can deal with, ghosts, Michael Myers all dont bother me one bit. I get scared
by strange things. For example, I consider the ending to Sleepaway Camp
the scariest thing Ive ever seen. However, now Im a big hard man I decided
to finally give Gummo a watch and to my surprise it hardly bothered me at
all.
It started on a creepy note with a croaky voice narrating over a load of
depressing, grainy images of a hurricane-stricken town. Then a half-naked
boy in pink rabbit ears appears, prancing about on an overpass whilst a
hideous song about a cockerel plays over. The whole scene is mildly bizarre
and sets the tone for the majority of the film. Most regular cinemagoers
would quit here, however no normal goer would be sticking Gummo in their
DVD player.

The problem I had with the film is that it is plotless. Not many films can get
away with being episodic or abstract. Ones I enjoy (off the top of my head)
are Eraserhead, Under the Skin and more recently, Mr. Turner. However, all of
these films inspire extremely divisive opinions. You either feel them or you
dont and I just didnt feel Gummo. Nothing of interest happens and I didnt
care for any of the recurring characters. I understand that the point of the
film is that it has no point (I think) but it just doesnt interest me. The film is
basically a series of sketches with the odd character who crops up now and
again. We get the odd random documentary-styled snapshot of bizarre
locals, such as a blind albino woman looking for love and director, Harmony
Korine feeling up a Jewish midget.
Most of the film resolves around two boys who go around sniffing glue and
killing cats. They also have other meaningless adventures involving visiting
prostitutes and exercising to Madge. All of this sounds far more disturbing
than it actually is. Theres nothing explicit shown so you cant accuse it of
being exploitative or shocking for the sake of it, theres not really much you
can accuse it of. Surprisingly its actually pretty boring and aimless. Some
might see some sort of high art or intrigue in it, but I couldnt find any. I was
kept glued to the screen because I was expecting something horrifically
disturbing to happen any minute, but it never did.

I did still find the bath scene very disturbing though. The mise-en-scene is
just so uncomfortable with the filthy walls and water. The sound of the boy
eating the melted chocolate is also quietly revolting. The whole atmosphere
of the film is raw and creepy, but I still cant really see why so many people
consider it so disturbing. Its just so uneventful and ponderous. It seems like
one of those horrendously pretentious arthouse films made by self-absorbed
directors trying something new. It all comes down to what turns you on
though. I really enjoyed Harmonys latest Spring Breakers, but I know a lot of
people hated it and its not difficult to understand why. Gummo is love it or
hate it and Im definitely more on the hate side. Ill never forget it though.

disturbing gummo Harmony Korine scary

Escape From Tomorrow (2013)

0
Posted on August 21, 2015

Director: Randy Moore

Stars: Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez
Disney on Prozac
Disney World really is one of the best places on the planet. I spent the
happiest days of my life there as a kiddy, at the tender age of ten and Im
desperate to get back there. Randy Moores disturbing vision is unlikely to
convince Disney World virgins to go though! In this film, Disney World is
more reminiscent of Banksys Dismaland. Whenever you read a review of
Escape From Tomorrow you always get an essay on how the film was made
rather than the film itself. The extreme guerrilla tactics are important to the
raw and intimate atmosphere of the film (and are extremely impressive) but
theres much more to Escape From Tomorrow than that film that was shot
illegally in Disneyland.

Its the American Beauty-esque tale of a man going through a midlife crisis,
except it also sparks a total mental breakdown and it happens in the middle
of Disney World. It begins with a ride on the Rocky Mountain rollercoaster
which is sledgehammer foreshadowing of the rollercoaster ride were about
to go on in our heros haunted head. What struck me was how funny most of
the film was. The trailer would lead you to believe that its a full-on Lynchian
horror nightmare, but in truth the majority of it is pretty hilarious.
That isnt to criticise it because the humour worked very well. Roy
Abramsohn is so amusing as Jim, the typical twat Dad. His acting is a little
questionable but it did add to the humour of the whole film. The first hour is
basically like watching a familys home video of a trip to Disney with
splashes of sinister surrealism (get a load of that sibilance!) but I mean that
in the best possible way. It isnt boring because theres a strong dark humour

layered throughout. It also feels extremely intimate and involving with a

strong focus on characters to keep you interested.

The film hits its stride once the gang enter Epcot and Jim starts to drink lots
and lots. This triggers his descent into complete surrealism and the film
abandons linear narrative. Its loud, chaotic and absorbing but I was hoping
for a little more Inland Empire styled directing, but perhaps I was hoping for
too much. It couldve been more surreal and dreamlike, but it was still
suitably disorientating and inventive. Theres also very intelligent themes
and symbolism buried underneath if youre willing to dig hard enough. I like
how a lot of it is open to interpretation.
Escape From Tomorrow might look a bit shoddy with its rough camerawork
and dodgy acting, but thats also part of its charm. I did find the black and
white photography quite stylish and the searing Disney golden-era score is

pretty brilliant. The low rating on Netflix and IMDb might suggest that Im in
the minority when I say that I enjoyed it, but I am definitely biased when it
comes to these weird kind of films. Normal cinemagoers will see it as a
curiosity piece, but us weirdos will be dazzled by the surrealist imagery,
comedy and overall strangeness. Its not as good as it couldve been, but I
still found a lot to like.

comedy disney escape from tomorrow funny Horror scary strange Surreal weird

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) [The Yellow

Kubrick Road]
2
Posted on July 28, 2015

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Stars: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Sydney Pollack
Will leave your eyes firmly wide open!
Over ten years later Stanley Kubricks Eyes Wide Shut is released to the
world. I was only four years old at the time, but I could imagine the hype.
The final film of arguably the greatest film director to have ever lived. The
final cut of Eyes Wide Shut was delivered to Warner Brothers four days prior
to Stanleys mysterious death. Stanley called the film his greatest
contribution to the art of cinema but it was greeted with hostility and its
easy to see why. Eyes Wide Shut is arguably his most impenetrable film. The
average cinemagoer can appreciate the horror of The Shining and the
comedy of Dr. Strangelove without digging deeper into them. However, Eyes
Wide Shut is very difficult to enjoy without unlocking those hidden meanings
and symbols.

Its possibly his most enigmatic and mysterious film, arguably even more so
than 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining. The eye-popping finale to
2001 has more or less been unlocked, but the secrets that lie within Eyes
Wide Shut still remain closed and debated upon just like The Shining still is
today. However, whilst The Shining is universally lauded as a masterpiece,
Eyes Wide Shut is still yet to receive the recognition it deserves. I remember
when I first saw the film one night, on my own and finding it incredibly slow
but intriguing. I also remember finding a lot of it very frightening.
Last night I gave it a re-watch with my sister and mother by my side. My
sister switched off about twenty minutes in and started playing on her
phone, whilst my mother said once it finished Well, Im not surprised he
died after making that shite! which of course makes no sense, but you dont
know my Mum. I definitely found a new appreciation for it though. Theres so
much going on in the film that its impossible to take it all in on your first
viewing. Youll probably end up disliking it, but give it a few days and youll
find yourself pondering over it. You may even find yourself becoming
haunted by it like Dr. Bills guilty conscience.

At its core, Eyes Wide Shut is a Lynchian mystery set in a dreamy New York
City. Most know all the bizarre plot twists and turns now, but the less you
know the better. Like most Stanley films, Eyes Wide Shut is more of an
experience that cant be put into words. Its not the type of film you can dip
in and out of, you have to watch it all the way through and give it your full
attention. Watching Tom cruise walking down the street shouldnt be
interesting, but something about it keeps you inexplicably transfixed to the
screen. Similarly, the seemingly never ending monologues carry a hypnotic
grip on your senses, such as Nicoles dreamy drug-fuelled confession which
kick starts the entire story.
The film holds the record for the longest continual film shoot at four hundred
days so the directing is of course beyond masterful. Every single shot is
carefully considered and the trademark tracking shots are as dizzying as
ever. The mise-en-scene in each scene is also extremely important to
consider. There are so many things hidden in the background, such as the
recurring multi-coloured Christmas trees which disappear once Tom Cruise
enters the mysterious cult. Could this relate to the end of the rainbow as
stated earlier in the film? Its little details like this which make Eyes Wide
Shut endlessly fascinating to analyse. Only until you analyse the film can you
appreciate the painstaking details and intelligent intricacies.

Stanleys final film is often claimed to be a limp ending to a phenomenal

filmography, however Id strongly disagree. Any true Stanley lover will
recognise the obscure genius of Eyes Wide Shut. Conspiracy theorists will
thrive off the illuminati and Satanist symbolism, but I think theres more to it
than that. Its a wonderfully mysterious film with a brooding dreamlike
atmosphere. I also have to mention the brilliantly creepy (yet incredibly
simple) piano score which has to be the scariest use of a few notes since the
Jaws theme tune. Whilst the film isnt quite up to the impossibly high
standards of 2001, A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, it isnt miles off.
Maybe after some repeated views I might hold it in even higher regards.

Travel down the Kubrick road by clicking here

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The Babadook (2014)

0
Posted on July 14, 2015

Director: Jennifer Kent

Stars: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall
If its in a word, or its in a look, if youre after great horror, youre
in luck!
The best horror movie in years tends to be the key phrase to use when
describing a genuinely good horror film. However, I think modern horror
tends to get a bad reputation due to the amount rubbish produced. Weve
had endless Paranormal Activity films which seem to make big money and
the appalling Human Centipede movies seem to make big noise, but these
films arent especially good. Unfortunately though, they tend to overshadow
the fantastic horror films we have been getting recently such as: Youre Next,
The Sacrament and Cheap Thrills to name a few. The Babadook can now pop
itself onto that list. In fact, Id say that its easily the best and scariest
supernatural horror film since the underrated Sinister.

The Babadook still seems to get quite a lot of criticism for some reason
though. To be fair, the trailers do make it look like some sort of run-of-the-mill
jumpy ghost story, so perhaps audiences were disappointed when they got a
film full of rich characterisation, domestic drama and psychological depth. I
wasnt. The Babadook certainly isnt your typical supernatural horror film
though. Were not even given a glimpse of the Babadook himself until about

50 minutes into the film, but this doesnt matter because the central themes
and characters are so strong.
There seems to be some debate as to whether this is a supernatural or
psychological horror film. Some think that it leaves it up for the viewer to
decide, but I thought that director Jennifer Kent was making it quite obvious
that this was a film about a woman going mad. Its very much in the same
vein of The Shining and Repulsion as our hero slowly descends into a total
schizophrenic onslaught of terror. As a result, were given a much deeper and
character-driven film about grief, motherhood and madness.

The heart of the film is the relationship between a mother and son. Both
actors are pretty extraordinary, especially the mother played by Elsie Davis
who gives an incredibly strong and shattering performance. Many have
described the boy as the most annoying child to ever appear in a film, which
is a pretty bold statement and one which I wouldnt necessarily disagree
with! The decision to make the boy as painfully annoying as chewing a wasp
is an extremely conscious one though as were put directly into the shoes of
the mother. Amelia finds her son extremely hard to love as she

subconsciously blames him for the death of her husband. By the end of the
film we end up feeling as crazy as Amelia!
The first hour is actually a very sad one as we see Amelia become slowly
isolated from people as her life becomes increasingly more hectic. No one
seems to understand her grief and no one wants to know her because of
Samuel (the impossibly annoying son). Therefore her descent into madness
is a wonderfully realistic one. Its also quite frightening. Im not one to get
scared in horror films, I can watch The Exorcist on my own and feel no fright
what so ever, however there were some scenes in The Babadook which
made my hair stand on end. The last half hour basically just tries its best to
scare the trouser off you and it succeeds! Jennifer Kent is extremely
masterful in creating tension and scares. I cant think of one jump scare in
the entire film which is so unusual and commendable. Instead, were left
terrified from nightmarish imagery and sounds. I dare anyone note to get
chilled to the core when the Babadook is hovering over the bed chanting
baba-dook-dook-DOOOK!

The Babadook is so much more than just a scary film though. It carries so
much depth if youre willing to read into it more. It has a genuinely
interesting and engaging character at the centre of it and is willing to throw
the audience right into the middle of her mental breakdown. Its also really
well-made, especially considering the teeny weeny budget. The production
design is pretty outstanding and the infamous Mister Babadook book itself is
beautifully made. This is a film which horror fans should welcome to their
bosom. Its genuinely scary, masterfully directed and has a super screenplay
to match. What more could you want? Its also a great advert for
contraception if your partner is starting to get broody.

austrailian drama ghost Horror jennifer

kent psychological scary supernatural terrifying the babadook

10 Greatest Movie Endings

0
Posted on July 7, 2015

This was a ruddy difficult list to come up with! One of the things I love most
about films is their endings. The way a film ends is so important because its
the last thing youre thinking off when you step out of the cinema or humble
living room at home. Many mediocre films are made good by their ending
and some even rely on the way they end. Sleepaway Camp, for example is a
film completely transformed by the final ten seconds. I wont spoil it for those

who are yet to see it, but the whole film is basically a hilariously cheesy teen
slasher until the final ten seconds which are the most terrifying ten seconds I
have ever experienced.
So, trying to come up with a top ten was difficult for me. Its a list of personal
favourites, so you wont find The Third Man or Casablanca on here Im afraid.
The trouble is that I love so many film endings and trying to whittle it down
to a top ten is a difficult task. But any who, after much thought and
deliberation I have come up with ten movie endings I love. Please dont hurt
me. Spoilers will obviously ensue so if you havent seen one of them, quickly
scroll down to the next!
10) The Dark Knight

My love for Christopher Nolan is no secret. Many consider The Dark Knight
his crowning achievement and it isnt difficult to see why. The film is packed
full of memorable scenes and its powerful ending is amongst one of them.
The stunning shot of Batman riding away into a tunnel of light has since
become iconic. With Gary Oldmans incredible monologue playing over a
montage of images alongside Hans Zimmers gorgeous score, its impossible

not to get the chills once the dark knight is said and then cuts to black. A
perfect end to a perfect film.
9) Irreversible

Ill never forget the mixture of excitement and concern when I finally sat
down to watch the notorious Irreversible. Its often lauded as being one of

the most disturbing films of all time with people often coming out of it in a
state of trauma! Thats if they havent switched it off already after the
dizzying camerawork and extreme bludgeon to the face in the first ten
minutes. Irreversible is a total assault on the senses. For those who dont
know, its the tale of Vincent Cassel getting revenge on a man who raped his
girlfriend. However, its told backward in a Memento style so perhaps this
ending I speak of is technically the beginning? Oh well, its brilliant anyway
and marvellously depressing. We see the couple loved up and totally
unaware of the tragedy thats about to face them. Monica lies on the grass
with Beethovens symphony playing over. The camera spins in the most
dizzying way until were hit by strobe lighting with the words time destroys
everything. What a happy line to end on.
8) The Piano Teacher

Michael Haneke has done a few masterpieces, but The Piano Teacher could
very well be my favourite. Its kind of like a good version of Fifty Shade of
Grey. Isabelle Huppert (on electrifying form) eats up the scenery as an
oppressed woman longing for an abusive relationship. She thinks she
mightve found one in one of her sexpot pupils, Walter Klemmer and cringeinducing awkwardness ensues. The film ends in a shocking and powerful way.
After being humiliated and raped by Walter, Erica goes to a concert hall
where Walter is playing and sees him chatting up some girls. In a moment of
total madness she pulls out a kitchen knife and stabs herself before walking
calmly out of the doors. Its such a haunting ending and most of it is down to
Isabelles spellbinding wordless portrayal.
7) Requiem for a Dream

Im not sure what all these downbeat endings say about me, but Im not a
manic depressive, honest! Requiem for a Dream is manically depressing
though. Its the cinematic equivalent of a whisk being plunged into your
heart. It also holds a crown for having one of the most miserable endings of
all time. Our four heroes begin the film full of hope and dreams, however by
the end of it we find them all at the lowest of the low with no suggestion of
them ever escaping. After one of the most intense twenty minutes youre
ever likely to see, were treated to a tracking out of each character in bed
and getting into the foetal position. All the while Clint Mansells legendary
score plays in the most haunting fashion. The saddest part is seeing Ellen
Burstyns character turn into a mental wreck before finally dreaming of being
reunited with her son on the infomercial and in the red dress. If this doesnt
move you, then theres no hope.
6) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

This film is often seen as a misfire in the Lynchian canon, but for me its one
of his best. Its possibly the darkest film he has ever done and also one of the
scariest. Instead of documenting the last seven days of cult icon, Laura
Palmer, in a realistic police procedural way, David goes full on Lynch on us
and presents her final days as a dizzying and haunting nightmare. It all leads
up to the horrific train car murder full of flashing lights, screaming and BOB.
After that eye-popping trauma were left with Laura sitting in the red room
with Dale Cooper standing over her. She begins to cry as an angel hovers
over her. Suddenly her cries turn into laughter. Its such a haunting final
image, but its also full of hope as Laura finally got her angel. Whenever
someone mentions Twin Peaks, its this stunning image I immediately think
of.
5) The Holy Mountain

This is the film that actually inspired the list. I saw The Holy Mountain for the
first time last week and was astounded by its ending. I thought to myself,
surely thats one of the best endings of all time? and I honestly think it is!
The entire film is full of the weirdest stuff you could ever imagine. Its not just
got the odd weird moment in it; the whole film is weird every second of the
way, like Eraserhead. So the fact that it ends with such stark realism is

jarring. The master (played by the director himself) sits our heroes down in a
circle and reveals to them the grand secret of the holy mountain. We began
in a fairytale and we came to life, but is this life reality? No. It is a film! Zoom
back camera. The camera then zooms back to reveal the film crew. It ends
with him saying real life awaits us as everyone walks away. It has to be the
boldest breaking of the fourth wall ever! Its so postmodern that it would give
Bodger a heart attack.
4) Dancer in the Dark

I said that Requiem for a Dream holds the crown for one of the most
depressing endings ever. Well, if Requiem holds the crown, Dancer in the
Dark wears it. Lars Von Triers shattering musical stars Icelandic oddball,
Bjork as a simple penniless immigrant going blind and lifting the gloom by
pretending her life is a musical. She ends up on death row for shooting a
bastard cop and of course, Lars, the king of nihilism makes us witness the
final hanging in all its hope-shredding glory. Its probably the most traumatic

scene Ive ever witnessed on film with Bjork turning into a total wreck before
singing a final song. The song is violently cut short as they pull the lever and
her neck snaps. Its executed in such a shocking and powerful way. Some
curtains are shut (like the end of a stage musical perhaps?) and a quote
comes up which basically tells the audience that they knew what was going
to happen, so why did they sit through it? The camera then goes up and out
of the ceiling just like Bjork described earlier in the film. Its a beautifully
tragic and agonising way to end.
3) Black Swan

Heres another offering from Darren Aronofsky. Black Swan is one hell of an
intense experience. The whole schizophrenic fever dream of a film builds up
to the final scene where Nina finally stops fighting her hallucinations and
embraces them. It results in her giving (in the words of Rowetta) the greatest
performance of her life. Her eyes go red and she even bursts out of her skin
with giant swan wings. After a disagreement with rival Lily, in the interval
(resulting in murder) she goes on stage to rapturous applause and takes her
final bow. We see Nina with a giant bleeding hole in her stomach as she
jumps down proclaiming that she was perfect before fading to white. God
its exhilarating! The searing score helps a lot too. When the credits roll over
the applause we can finally breathe a sigh of relief as we realise that Darren
has just pulled off one of the very best films of all time.
2) There Will Be Blood

Paul Thomas Andersons epic masterpiece tells the tale of Daniel Plainview,
an oil man with a lot of ambition and greed. Its a rag to riches story which is
made profoundly ironic by its mesmerising third act. Daniel is basically
insane, friendless and drunk (sounds like a description of me!) with contempt
for everything in life, but he is rich. Hes very rich! Hes so rich that he even
has a bowling alley in his mansion. Its this bowling alley which will haunt you
forever. Whenever I see a bowling alley, I immediately think back to this final
scene and get an urge to stomp all over it shouting, DRAAAIIIIINAGE! which
is why Im barred from several bowling alleys in my area. The ending to
There Will Be Blood features the greatest performance by any actor ever. Its
impossible to take your eyes off of Daniel Day Lewis as he goes ape at Eli
before pounding his head in with a bowling pin. His butler potters in as
Daniel speaks the immortal lines Im finished. Thus, commanding the end
of the film. That final image of Daniel crouching and eating his steak over
Elis bloodied body has haunted me ever since.
1) The Cabin in the Woods

Perhaps this is a controversial number one pick, but I think The Cabin in the
Woods has to be my favourite ending to any film Ive seen. If youre not a
passionate horror lover or hater then the joke of The Cabin in the Woods will
likely go over your head. Its a highly meta and unbelievably intelligent film
which pokes fun at slasher movies and harshly criticises them in equal
measure. Every slasher film seems dull in comparison to The Cabin in the

Woods which is the ultimate slasher film. It begins in a world full of clichs
weve seen ten gazillion times. A bunch of youngsters going out to an
abandoned cabin blah blah blah. Which is why it is such a shock in the way
the film ends. The first act is so grounded in reality compared to its
absolutely loopy final act which sees the characters being part of some
ludicrous conspiracy involving the end of the world. After witnessing an
insane amount of glorious carnage, Sigourney Weaver makes a surprise
cameo appearance as the mysterious director of the mysterious
underground research facility to reveal the big twist. Before we know it, we
find out that the world is ending and our beloved Marty (the fool) must die
otherwise the gods will rise. Sure enough a giant hand bursts through the
ground and whacks us in the face. It has to be the most surprising ending
ever to one of the most surprising films. Not only does it work on an
entertaining level, but theres so much deeper meaning to it about horror
films in general if youre willing to dig a little deeper.
So there we have it! Ten of my favourite endings. There are loads and loads
of others which I wouldve loved to have included so please tell me your
favourite movie endings. Also, please be kind to me in the comments :)
cabin depressing endings greatest haunting Horror powerful scary

The Shining (1980) [The Yellow

Kubrick Road]
2
Posted on May 14, 2015

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
Best horror film ever?
The Shining is one of the best horror films ever made. Its a classic and will
remain timeless. In fact, The Shining is one of the very first proper horror
films I saw. I mustve been about 13 years-old when my mother picked up
the DVD from Tesco. Me and my sister popped it on whilst we were
babysitting a menopausal old dog called Sally. We kept having to pop out to
help her up a step, but even with that distraction I remained transfixed. It
was so slow, strange and unlike anything Id seen before. My sister found it
boring, and perhaps I did a little bit too but something about it fascinated
me. There is something bubbling under the surface of the film more complex
than the endless corridor of The Overlook hotel.

I was so fascinated by the film that I ended up watching it almost every

single week! I now know the film inside out. I know every movement, every
line and every piece of music. Somehow though I still cant get enough! I still
have to watch the film at least once a year and I still remained completely
glued to the screen. There arent many films you can watch over twenty
times and not get bored by them. The only ones I can think of for me are:
Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Doubtfire, Sister Act and Mean Girls, however most of
those I have a close personal connection too through childhood.

One of the best aspects (there are many) about this film is the directing by
Stanley. He manages to build up a chilling atmosphere to a masterful affect.
He makes us as the viewer seem as isolated as the characters through the
ominous tracking shots of the long isolated hallways, the large echoes in the
halls and the sublime mountain landscape which almost seems to be
devouring the characters up. It is a masterclass in how to direct a horror film.
Is there a genre Stanley couldnt master? As usual, the cinematography is
often breath-taking. Just look at the infamous opening which features a
perfectly smooth helicopter shot sweeping the landscape. Its almost a Barry
Lyndon level of beauty!

Arguably the best aspect is the performance by Jack Nicholson. How was he
snubbed by the Academy? Its a bloody travesty! This will remain as one of
the unanswered wonders of the world. He becomes Jack Torrance in a similar
way to Daniel Day Lewis becoming Daniel Plainview. Hes completely
unhinged and unpredictable. Its no surprise really considering that Stanley
shot most scenes over twenty times so that the actors themselves would
turn crazy. Its a shame that Shelley Duvalls performance is so hysterical,
but Jack more than makes up for it.

Stanley completely reinvents Stephen Kings original novel. He poses more

questions and leaves more unanswered which makes the film play on your
mind long after the credits have rolled. Theres even a feature length
documentary (Room 237) dedicated to obsessive and slightly delusional fans
who try to decode the film. Whilst many theories are overreaching and just
plain bizarre, there is undoubtedly more to the film than meets the eye.
There are also some genuinely unsettling moments. Most notably the
bathroom scene and the man dressed up as a teddy bear from Teddy Bear
Train.

We need to talk about the music too! The music is almost like another
character. Its so intrusive, atonal and unsettling. Whether its piercing your
ears or creating sinister chants, it always creates a mood. The film is all
about mood and atmosphere really. It feels like a David Lynch dreamscape
which is high praise indeed. Having seen all of Stanley Kubricks films it
would be a tossup between this and 2001: A Space Odyssey to take the
crown as the best for me. Although its difficult for me to make a balanced
argument as Ive seen The Shining countless times and 2001 just once! Both

are masterpieces though and The Shining is contender for the greatest
horror film of all time.

Travel down the Kubrick road by clicking here

2001 a space odyssey barry lyndon dr strangelove eyes wide shut full metal
jacket ghosts Horror jack nicholson murder scary shelley duvall Stanley
Kubrick the shining

A Clockwork Orange (1971) [The

Yellow Kubrick Road]
2
Posted on April 30, 2015

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Stars: Malcolm Mcdowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates
A real horrorshow
A Clockwork Orange is hands down, one of the best films I have ever seen. It
blew me the away the first time I saw it and then it just started to grow on
me, it probably hypnotises you somewhere amongst the sublime, surreal,
psychedelic and genius film-making. Each time you watch it you gain
something new and you find yourself appreciating more of it. This really is
what all good films should be about.

The first 40 minutes defines the reason for its banning. Its ultraviolent and
disturbing even for todays standards and also quite unsettling the way such
awful acts are being committed with a surreal flair and sense of humour! The
most controversial and famed part obviously being the iconic singing of
Singin in the Rain whilst committing rape. You dont know whether to
laugh or gasp in shock, however in the end you find yourself doing a bit of
both! The directing is so alive and full of unusual techniques and it comes
together so beautifully.
Kubrick is obviously known for his exceptional films such as The Shining
which is another horror masterpiece I adore. Here I think he gives his best
example of directing. The cinematography is pretty much perfect! And there
is no doubt about it, right down to the lighting it is just utterly beautiful to
look at. The shadows of the four youths in front of the infamous tramp
beating is possibly the best example of the genius cinematography. Even the
fight scenes have a kind of beauty to them due to their balletic nature.

I know that some people will simply not quite get the weirdness but thats
because this sort of thing is unusual. This is an original approach to filmmaking and makes it what it is. The screenplay is nothing short of genius,
even though you can hardly understand it with the futuristic speak like,
yarbles and viddy yet you know what theyre saying! The plot is brilliant,
were liking this truly awful character but because of the great writing and
Malcolm Mcdowells exceptional performance. We get to sort of admire Alex.
Malcolm carries such presence and charm to the film, which also makes it
what it is! There is a great contrast between the psychedelic life of
committing ultraviolent acts and the stillness of prison-life.

In the end we are given a flawless film. It shows a genius direction and
writing along with characters who we can care about. This is nothing short of
a masterpiece and one of the best films you will ever see. You might not take
to it on the first viewing, but itll more than likely grown on you. 2001: A
Space Odyssey was always going to a difficult one to top, but A Clockwork
Orange isnt too far behind.

Travel down the Kubrick road by clicking here

2001 a space odyssey a clockwork orange comedy disturbing drama lolita malcom
mcdowell pahts of glory scary Stanley Kubrick the shining violent

Lets talk about Twin Peaks: Season 2,

Episode 7 [SPOILERS!]
0
Posted on April 27, 2015

Ive decided to go off-piste and review a TV episode because its

that good.
I watched the Twin Peaks series in its entirety for the first time a couple of
years ago, and was in a very lucky position as I didnt know who the killer
was! Its rare not to get something spoiled for an old film or TV series when
youre looking around on the interweb, especially if its for such a popular
show like Twin Peaks. People think, oh well it came out 50 years ago,

everyone knows the twist! when actually, there are still young people (ala
me) interested in older pop culture and dont want things spoiled!

Obviously being such a massive David Lynch fan, I was loving the series. I
was especially loving the episodes which David himself directed because
they were full of such classic Lynchian moments. The dancing dwarf, the red
curtains, the strange music, the giant, the log lady etc. I also genuinely had
no idea who the killer would be. No one in Twin Peaks seem to fit the bill of a
serial-killing rapist. The reveal itself, however has to be the most shocking

moment in television history. Not just because who it is, but how its revealed
with such a horrifying and bemusing way.
Im currently re-watching the whole series again in the wake of a third series
being commissioned (although that looks dead in the water now that David
has said he wont be directing anymore) and last night saw the episode
where the killer is revealed again. It lost none of its shocking ferocity as
when I saw it for the first time. Id very much like to delve into the episode so
please be aware that there will be heavy spoilers from here in.
From the moment the episode starts you can tell that Davids behind the
camera, just by the odd choices of camera angles and movements. In fact,
the episode opens with Gordon Cole leaving Dale and the gang. Im
wondering if this is a postmodern element, as David Lynch himself pretty
much abandoned the show after this episode. It reminds me of the opening
of Fire Walk With Me where David Lynch basically opens the film shouting
ACTION! as a director.

Things get Lynchy pretty much from the start with a load of people bouncing
balls in the Great Northern for no apparent reason, and then the one armed
man having a fit as Ben Horne walks in. Pretty much everything in this
episode is more bizarre than usual! I love the scene where Maddie
announces to uncle Leland and aunt Sarah that shes leaving, along with a
strange version of What a Wonderful World playing in the background.
Things seem quite optimistic here on the surface, but you just know that
underneath it all theres something sinister lurking.
Much of the episode concerns all the other Peak crew doing weirder things. A
vegetable-like Leo randomly calls out for new shoes, Audrey rats out her Dad
after he oddly confesses to having loved Laura and Nadine demonstrates
more of her superhuman strength and hilarious delusions. I must also
mention the other shocking revelation in this episode that the peculiar Mr.
Tojamura is in fact Piper Laurie!
Things turn really sinister when we see Sarah Palmer crawling down the
stairs. The music turns dark and ominous, whilst the log lady beckons Dale
over to The Roadhouse. Lo and behold, Julee Cruise is performing again with
her fantastically haunting voice! David Lynch even penned the lyrics to the
two songs she sings and Angelo Badalamenti composed them beautifully. Its
the classic David Lynch motif of a woman singing on stage in front of a red
curtain. It symbolises that something will be revealed. Theres also the
lingering image of a white horse standing in the Palmers sitting room. This
symbolises death.

The horror really begins when a bright spotlight shines on Dales bemused
face as he sees the giant appear on stage repeating the eerie words, It is
happening again. We then see exactly what is happening, as it cuts to
Leland grinning in the mirror and the horrifying BOB grinning back at him.
The first time I saw this, I gasped. Leland killed Laura? But he was so
hysterical throughout the whole two seasons! He was always dancing,
singing and crying feverishly in every scene (often all at the same time) it
just cant be him. The fact that he killed and raped his own daughter is all
the more disturbing.
The scariest moment in this episode though (and arguably the entire series)
is when Maddy enters and screams as Leland runs towards her. He grabs her
and swings her around the living room like some sort of animal playing with
its prey. Its all done in a weird slow motion though and changes between
BOB in the spotlight, screaming like a beast and Leland. As with most
projects by David Lynch, its very difficult to put into words and something
you need to really experience for yourself.

The murder itself is pretty violent as Maddy smashes her head on a picture
frame after Leland beats her to death in a similar way to Frank Booth four
years earlier in Blue Velvet. He then grotesquely shoves a letter up her
fingernail as previously found in Laura, Ronnette and Teresa. It then cuts
back to The Roadhouse with Julee now singing a much slower and sadder
song as Dale looks on in melancholy. Everyone in The Roadhouse seems to
recognise that a tragedy has occurred and it feels just like a dream.
There ends one of the greatest television episodes in the universe. Its pure
Lynch magic. Whats remarkable is that this isnt even the best episode in
the series. That accolade would go the nightmarish madness of the very final
episode, which would easily be the very best television episode in the
universe. I dont normally rate TV episodes, but if I did then this would
certainly be a:
10/10
Angelo Badalamenti David Lynch disturbing episodes Horror julee
cruise killer leland revelaed scary show tv Twin Peaks

Industrial Symphony No.1: The

Dreams of the Broken Hearted
0
Posted on April 12, 2015

Director: David Lynch

Stars: Julee Cruise, Michael J Anderson, Laura Dern, Nicolas Cage
David Lynch does broadway!
Ever wondered what it would be like if David Lynch put on a musical stage
show with Julee Cruise? Wonder no more! Industrial Symphony is a
supremely strange stage show put together by David Lynch and Angelo
Badalamenti for the annual Brooklyn Academy of Music. They only had two
weeks to prepare for the show, and so the result is rather remarkable.

It opens with Sailor and Lula from Wild at Heart (presumably its supposed to
be them?) on the phone, with Sailor leaving Lula. The rest of the film is an
extended fever dream set on stage. It reminded me of a concert, only this is
a concert by David Lynch so theres awful blonde wigs, half naked women
gyrating on cars and dwarfs sawing logs. I found it fabulous.
Julees vocals are incredibly haunting and hypnotic. Match this with the
visuals David presents us and it feels incredibly nightmarish. Theres a
moment where Julee stops and screams mid-song and falls from the rope
suspending her from the ceiling. Its so jarring and it actually scared me a
little bit. It doesnt help that she turns into some 30ft skinned papier-mch
deer either.

The whole thing wouldnt have felt out of place if it appeared as a scene in
Inland Empire, so that gives you an idea of its mesmerising weirdness. For
most people it will be unwatchable, but I couldnt tear my eyes away from
the screen. Like with most David Lynch films, the experience is difficult to put
into words, its something you simply must see for yourself. Twin Peaks fans
might also be interested as a few of the songs Julee sings in the Road House
are also performed here. All thats missing is Falling and Mysteries of
Love. Its a shame that theres no good quality version available. For Lynch
fans, its unmissable. For everyone else, it isnt.

David Lynch Industrial Symphony julee cruise scary short stage Surreal weird

10 Modern Horror Movies You Must

See Before You Die
0
Posted on November 11, 2014

Hopefully itll be a long time before you pop your clogs, unless youre of
course a very old person, whos looking for those little modern gems you
might have missed. Well old timer, youve come to the right place! A lot of
people moan about modern horror. Oh, wah, wah, wah! They cry! Why
cant there be movies like, The Shining or The Exorcist anymore? Instead we
get crap remakes like, Shutter and The Grudge. Well, first of all I actually
think The Grudge remake is better than the original and secondly, Im here to

tell you that the quality of horror is not declining with age. Quite the contrary
in fact. If you care to look overseas, in particular, you will discover a
delightful array of little modern masterpieces just waiting to be discovered
by your fair hands. So without further ado, lets delve into the enchanting
world of modern horror, as I proudly present my wonderful list of the top 10
modern horror films to see before you die (so those of you on life support
better get seeking these out now!).
10. [REC]

Those complaining of tiresome remakes had better steer clear of a heavily

flawed film called, Quarantine and turn to its almost flawless original, [REC].
This Spanish found footage horror follows a chirpy TV reporter who follows a
bunch of fire-fighters into a mysterious apartment complex only to find that

its inhabited by zombies. [REC] is found footage horror done absolutely

right! It blows the likes of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity out
of the water. Its a genuinely scary and viscerally thrilling film that will have
you digging your nails into your polished leather, slapper red, sofa. It also
features a heart-stopping climax which youll find hard to watch, and not
because its outrageously gory or anything, but because the level of tension
and sheer scariness is through the roof! [REC] is a seriously scary film. P.S. I
dont scare too easily.
9. The Cabin in the Woods

A lot of people seem to miss the point of Drew Goddards The Cabin in the
Woods (maybe Ill do a post on it soon) and I dont judge you, because it took

me an hour or two to actually get why The Cabin in the Woods is so mindnumbingly clever. For those of you lucky enough to not have seen it yet, all
you need to now plot-wise is that it follows a group of friends who stay in a
cabin where terrible things happen. What follows is a madly entertaining and
humorously satirical journey which is sure to leave you confused, bewildered
and slightly flustered. Its an incredible tale of the unexpected that seems to
get more entertaining with each watch. I also think that it has possibly the
greatest ending to a film of all time, just because its the last ending youd
ever expect. Heck, even the opening titles are shockingly unexpected! The
Cabin in the Woods is a wonderfully crafted slasher film which is both a
satirical criticism of, and love letter to our beloved genre.
8.Oldboy

Laugh and the world laughs with you Weep and you weep alone. Well if
that infamous line is true, then the world wont be laughing too much after
youre done with Oldboy! Theres little more to say about Oldboy than whats
already been said. Just be sure you seek out this original before Spike Lees
remake rears its ugly head. For those of you who dont know, Park ChanWooks masterpiece follows a man who has been imprisoned for 15 years in
a strange room thats like a cross between a prison and hotel, who is then
released and has 5 days to track down his vengeful captor. What unfolds is a
gripping, stylish and dazzling journey that grabs you by the throat and
doesnt let go until its shocking and absorbing finale which contains possibly
the sickest twist ending ever. Oldboy fires on all cylinders, delivering one hell
of a memorable film. The directing is also sensational and features the
greatest single shot fight scene that Ive ever seen.
7. I Saw the Devil

What Korean horror film could possibly be better than Oldboy? Most will
probably disagree with me, but I think I Saw the Devil is even greater. Whilst
some might not regard Oldboy as a horror film, most would surely see I Saw
the Devil as one. It follows a seriously psychotic serial killer who makes the
mistake of brutally murdering a policemans girlfriend. Suffice to say that the
policeman goes on a dazzling quest for revenge youre not likely to forget in
a hurry. I Saw the Devil features some of the greatest directional sequences
Ive ever seen. Theres a jaw-dropping 360 degree taxi kill, an electrifying
first encounter and a tension-filled battle at a psychos farm house. Oh, and
did I forget to mention a hugely emotional and intense finale? Kim-jee
Woons masterpiece features dizzying action and a gripping plot. This is
cinema at its most exciting.
6. Let the Right One In

Let The Right One In (or LTROI to save finger energy) is the only Swedish film
on my list, but if theres one Swedish film you see, make it this one. LTROI is
a beautifully crafted and haunting love story, the twist being that its a love
story between children and one of them is a vampire. What? I hear you cry.
Isnt that just a Swedish version of Twilight? Well how dare you, I cry back!
LTROI spits on Twilight, stamps on it, throws it onto a bed of nails and flushes
it down the dirtiest toilet imaginable. Whilst Twilight glamorises the idea of
being a vampire, by making everyone young and sexy (or at least they try to
be) LTROI shows the true hardship of being a vampire. There are lots of long
static shots to evoke a sense of realism which hits the viewer quite hard

emotionally. The central love story is also so sweet that you cant help but
find yourself involved. The film also features some very grisly scenes, the
peak being an incredibly directed swimming pool shocker! Im not the
biggest vampire fan, but this is something very special indeed.
5. Eden Lake

Eden Lake is a savage British horror film directed by James Watkins. It follows
Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender on a romantic weekend at a picturesque
lake called (you guessed it!) Eden Lake. However, as is the case with all
romantic weekends, they get attacked by a psychopathic bunch of young

hoodies (or as we call them in England, Chavs) who are hell-bent on killing
the couple, after Steve (Fassbender) accidently kills the head chavs dog.
Eden Lake is a breath-taking thrill ride which is really about survival. Its an
incredibly tough film to watch as it deals with the disturbing idea of kids
killing kids; however its most definitely worth the watch. Its also nice to see
the villains have some decent character development so that theyre not
the usual two-dimensional killing machines. The explicit violence also feels
unnervingly raw and real, which adds to the sense of realistic doom. Jennys
(Reilly) descent into hell is an emotionally draining one which will stay with
you for a long time, as will the powerful and disturbing ending.
4. Frontier(s)

For some reason Frontier(s) seems to get quite a bit of hate. People say that
its a boring and predictable knock-off of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,
however I disagree. Whilst Frontier(s) does contain a deranged cannibal
family picking off young adults, it also features a whole host of other
delicious elements to create one of the best slashers ever made. Frontier(s)
isnt a rip-off of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes and
Hostel, its better than all three. Frontier(s) is a French gem by underrated
director Xavier Gens who also more recently crafted the brilliant and
criminally underrated, The Divide. To me Frontier(s) is an intense horror
rollercoaster which every horror fan should cherish. Its not afraid to break

past the boundaries of horror like most American horror films. By the end of
the film I feel emotionally drained and could almost burst into tears. Its such
an exhausting journey of survival and also features a kick-ass final girl who
goes on an exhilarating quest for revenge. The film is also much more
intelligent than your average slasher due to the use of complex characters, a
political undercurrent and an unforgettable Nazi villain. Just like Eden Lake,
the heroines descent into hell is incredibly draining and powerful to watch.
The film also contains my favourite movie death scene (youll know when
you see it). I think Frontier(s) is a masterpiece, but you may disagree.
3. Calvaire (The Ordeal)

We head over to Belgium now with another controversial pick. The Ordeal,
like Frontiers, is often wrongly described as a rip-off of The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre and Straw Dogs due to its creepy backwoods setting. However, The
Ordeal is really a different kind of beast altogether. Im confident that I could
write a 10 page essay on this atmospheric film, describing why its one of the

greatest films ever made and enjoy writing it. I dont want to go too much
into plot because experiencing it without knowing anything about it for the
first time is a truly memorable experience. All you need to know plot-wise is
that its about a singers car that breaks down in the woods. Its safe to say
that what follows is a genuinely scary (not many films can scare me, but this
one did), unsettling and disturbing ride which youre not likely to forget in a
hurry. Its so jam-packed with memorable scenes and moments that I dont
know why its not considered a horror classic. Fabrice Du Welz has crafted
something truly brilliant here with a fantastic central performance by Laurent
Lucas. Whats truly scary is how it leaves you with so many disturbing
questions with no answers. The film is not dissimilar to something David
Lynch would create due to its nightmarish atmosphere and dizzying directing.
So if youre in the mood for something different, why not give The Ordeal a
try? Its chillingly ambiguous ending and final line of dialogue will stay with
me forever.
2. Martyrs

My 2 and 1 options are really quite interchangeable as theyre both of such a

high quality, yet are so different. Martyrs is either an absolutely love it kind
of film, or an absolutely despise it kind of film, it all depends on whether you
allow it to affect you or not. Just like The Ordeal and Satan, the less you know
about Pascal Laugiers masterpiece the better. I see it as a sort of serious
version of The Cabin in the Woods, in the way that it plays with your
expectations of horror films. The film completely changes directions at least
four times and two of these times are in the opening 20 minutes. Martyrs is
an absolutely gripping and shocking film that is not for the faint-hearted. Its
quite possibly the most disturbing film Ive seen, and Ive seen quite a lot of
disturbing films in my short and unfulfilled life. It hits you on an extremely

deep and emotional level, whilst also delivering some of the most gruesome
and disturbing shocks ever committed to film. The final 30 minutes are
notoriously difficult to watch, but youll be glad that you did. Martyrs is one
of those rare torture-porn films which uses violence for a reason and shows it
realistically, for what it really is. I could go on about Martyrs all day, but I
wont because Im sure that youre all busy people. It also has one of the
most heart-breaking scores Ive heard.
1. Inside

And we stay in France for my number one pick which is horrors next big
duos Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maurys, Inside. The only people who
should not see this film are those of a nervous disposition and those who are
pregnant. Inside tells the terrifying story of a madly psychotic woman (played
with chilling insanity by Beatrice Dalle) who decides to cut open a womans
pregnant stomach on Christmas Eve. So Inside is obviously the perfect

Christmas movie that even your granny can enjoy. So why is it my number
one? Because its probably the most nail-bitingly intense 80 minutes Ive
ever experience, thats why! The film builds a hellish atmosphere for the first
30 minutes, or so before the head-spinning carnage ensues with chilling
images such as, Beatrice Dalle stealthily standing behind a heavily pregnant
Alysson Paradis whilst holding a large pair of scissors, which is sure to chill
you to the bone. The film largely takes place within the claustrophobic
confines of a house and its full of eye watering suspense and an unholy
amount of blood to create quite simply one of the greatest horror films of all
time. It also has masterfully unsettling electronic music. The haunting final
image and score has stayed with me to this day. Its a masterpiece of terror
which youre likely not to forget in a hurry.
Honourable mentions: Kill List, High Tension, Noroi: The Curse, The
Descent, Inland Empire
Be sure to check out these beautiful films immediately! Please tell me your
favourite horror films of the modern variety below.
best Calvaire Eden Lake foreign French Frontiers gory greatest Horror I Saw the
Devil Inside Korean modern scary the cabin in the woods

10 Most Disgustingly Gory Movie

Scenes To Make You Cringe!
0
Posted on November 5, 2014

I like to think that Im quite hard (or ard) when I watch a gory scene. When I
first started getting into horror films, I mustve been about twelve years old. I
remember watching Final Destination 2 and having to close my eyes during
most of the death scenes. However, now (seven years later) I can happily
open my eyes at all the gory Final Destination death scenes, although all the
ones involving eyes still make me squirm! Not many gory scenes affect me,
but that doesnt mean that Im some sort of hard-nosed bastard with nerves
made of stone. Below you will find a collection of gory movie moments that
make me cringe and stick my tongue out in disgust. Why do we put
ourselves through these moments?

Films will be spoiled! So if you havent seen one, read the description at your
peril!
10) Frontiers- Table saw

Xavier Gens Frontiers is one of the worlds most underrated slashers. It has
an intensity that most slashers dont have. This isnt your usual fun cabin in
the woods horror fare, this is a gruelling and haunting experience that might
leave you feeling a little deflated and sick. Frontiers also happens to include

my favourite movie death scene, which is also one of the cringiest. I dont
want to spoil too much, but to give you a little background, our heroine has
escaped the evil clutches of the sadistic neo-nazis and is hiding in the body
bag room. One of the most evil characters comes in, finds her, beats her and
calls her some disgusting names. Whilst his back is turned, Yasmin finds an
axe and chops off half his foot, axes him again on the chest and pushes his
head onto a ferocious table saw! Its a revolting, yet incredibly satisfying
death scene, which also gets our hero covered in an unholy amount of blood!
Cringe rating- 8/10
Movie rating- 10/10
9) Audition- How not to use piano wire

Im not going to choose a particular moment from Audition, because pretty

much the entire infamous torture scene towards the end is enough to make
anyone flinch and possibly bring up a little bit of yesterdays dinner. Its a
wonderful slow-burner type film which really hits hard. The most disgusting
moment is when barmy Asamis prisoner is forced to eat Asamis vomit like a
dog. Its a revolting thing to picture in your head, and whats shown on
screen is even worse. The most cringe-worthy part though is when Asami
attacks our loveless hero. Needles are grotesquely pushed under the eyelids,

going deeper and deeper, or should I saw, kiri kiri kiri! She then takes piano
wire to his foot and slices it off merrily. Its the sound in this scene which
really makes you wince though. The sound of the wire rubbing against the
bone makes you scrunch your face up and want to shut your eyes. But of
course were all far too perversely fascinated to do this. Apparently Takeshi
Miikes later film, Imprint, features an even sicker torture sequence, but Ive
yet to see that one. You know that I will though ;)
Cringe rating- 9/10
Movie rating- 9/10
8) Irreversible- Reversible face

Irreversible is one of those notoriously nasty films. If you look at any list for
the most disturbing films then youre bound to find Irreversible somewhere
on there. Whilst it is an extraordinarily tough and intense watch, I admire it
greatly. Bizarrely, some critics condemn the film for glamorising violence. I
say bizarrely, because theres nothing glamorous about the violence in this
film. Just take a look at this repulsive scene which takes place in the opening
10 minutes. If you didnt already know, Irreversible is a rape-revenge tale
told backward, like Memento. This means that it begins in the depths of hell

and ends with some sort of euphoric creation of the universe. Therefore we
open to the films goriest moment involving a mans face being bludgeoned
with a fire extinguisher. Its horrifyingly portrayed in one brutal take and in a
startling close-up so that were forced to take in all the grisly detail. Its
incredibly realistic and lets you know that this film means business. The
scary thing is that the most disturbing scene of the film is yet to come
Cringe rating- 9/10
Movie rating- 10/10
7) Martyrs- Bath time

If you havent seen Martyrs. Stop reading and watch it now because its the
best horror film ever and you dont want anything being spoiled for yourself!
For everyone else. Read on. Martyrs is full of repulsive scenes. Most would
choose the titular scene where our martyred hero gets skinned alive (or
flayed, as its technically know). However, as we dont see her actually get
flayed, I dont find it particularly cringe-worthy. I do, however, find the whole
bath scene immensely disturbing and hard to watch. Anna finds a failed
experiment, a woman with a metal helmet bolted to her head, covering her
eyes and ears. Shes got scars all over her body so Anna sticks her in the

bath whilst she kicks like a wild animal. Its such a disturbing sight. Its even
more disturbing when Anna unbolts the helmet and removes it, removing
half of her scalp with it. The make-up effects just seem far too realistic which
makes it all the more repulsive to watch. The next part when the woman
violently slashes her wrists is even harder for me to watch because I find
self-harm so cringe-worthy its unreal!
Cringe rating- 9/10
Movie rating- 10/10
6) A Clockwork Orange- Eye eye sailor

Eyes! I cant deal with eyes! A Clockwork Orange features one of the most
famous eye scenes in movie history. Stanley Kubricks iconic cult classic
garnered much attention when it came out back in 1971, at a time when
audiences were unprepared for brutal violence and explicit rape scenes. Its
still quite horrifying to watch now, but for me the most horrifying scene is
during Alexs reformation program, where hes forced to watch a series of

violent films over the music of his dear old Ludwig Van. This involves forcing
his eyes open with a strange device, whilst liquid is dropped on his eyes to
keep them hydrated. Its an unbearable sequence for people with eye
phobias (like me) and everything is obviously done for real! You can see
Malcolm Mcdowells eyes turn red and sore. Apparently, it was too much for
Malcolm and he tried to break free and ended up scratching the surface of
his eye! The camera didnt catch that moment though thank God!
Cringe rating- 10/10
Movie rating- 10/10
5) Only God Forgives- Eyes n ears

Only God Forgives gets a bad rap but I love it. Some critics damned it due to
its sadistic violence, but thats not a problem for gore hounds like us, is it? I
remember when I sat watching this in my wickle wocal theatre and a funkylooking granny sat next to me. I was a little concerned for her before it
started because Only God Forgives wasnt part of the Silver Screen selection.
The poor dear started flinching at the smallest acts of violence such as when
Ryan Gosling smashes someone over the head with a glass bottle. So when
this notorious scene came on I started fearing for her health because it even
had me squirming like madman! It basically involves our mad, Thai God-like
villain torturing a man in a nightclub. He starts by slamming two spikes into

his hands so that hes glued to the chair and then slowly slices his eyeballs
like, Un Chien Andalou. He then pulls out two more spikes and at this point
were all thinking, oh please no! Not the ears! But Chang goes there He
slowly bursts the blind mans ear drums in the most graphic manner. Perhaps
the scene does go a little OTT, but its atmospherically executed and
sufficiently shows Chang as someone whos not to be reckoned with.
Cringe rating- 10/10
Movie rating- 9/10
4) Antichrist- More effective than contraception

Lars Von Triers Antichrist is an intense and powerful film. Most condemn it
for being slow and pretentious, and maybe it is, but its also beautifully made
and features two powerhouse performances from Willem Dafoe and Charlotte

Gainsbourg. It also features one of the most horrifying scenes in Lars career.
Charlotte goes bananas and smashes Willem Dafoes groin. If this isnt
painful enough to watch, whilst hes unconscious, she then pulls his knob out
and gives him a quick tug. And if THIS isnt painful enough to watch, we then
see him ejaculate blood. Its making me feel sick, just thinking about it!
Admittedly, this is one for the boys, as girls arent as likely to find this as
painful to watch as us fellas. Thats why Lars then shows us a horrifying
scene where Charlotte snips off her clit with a pair of scissors. No one likes
seeing sexual organs getting mutilated in films. Especially not Willem
Dafoes.
Cringe rating- 10/10
Movie rating- 9/10
3) Zombie Flesh Eaters- Eye eye captain part II

I thought that Zombie Flesh Eaters (or Zombi 2 as its called abroad) was an
absolutely crap film! I was really looking forward to seeing it after hearing all
the rave reviews, but it ended up being a complete bore with one good scene
involving the bizarre showdown between a zombie and a shark. Other than
that Zombie Flesh Eaters isnt worth your tuppence! This one scene however
did make me flinch quite badly. As you know by now, Im not good with eyes.
I dont like scenes which involve eyes being poked or prodded because it just
makes me go eurgghee! Unfortunately for me, Zombie Flesh Eaters features
probably the most graphic eye scene in cinematic history. It involves a
zombie breaking in and forcing a womans eye onto a splintered piece of
wood. Theres zero cutting here folks, you see EVERYTHING! And its
revolting. Kudos to the special effects team though as it does look scarily
realistic for 1979!
Cringe rating- 10/10

Movie rating- 2/10

2) Salo- Circle of s**t

Notorious nasty, Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom features some of the most
disturbing footage in cinema history. Its seriously uncomfortable viewing
because everything you see on screen is real! I dont mean that all the rape
and eye-gouging of course, but the fact that underage actors appear naked
in every scene with old men molesting them is real and happening before our
very eyes. I might be cheating by putting this scene on the list, as contrary

to popular belief, Salo is not an overly gory film. It has a couple of stomachchurning moments of violence at the end but its nothing weve not seen
before. No, the moment Im choosing as the most cringe-inducing is the
chapter entitled Circle of S**t. It involves one of the old fascists having a
poo and then forcing a poor distraught little girl to eat it. How dare you act
so hysterical over such a fine delicacy one of the old women says to her. Its
a scene that almost made me gag! To make it worse, later on the fascists
make all the kids poo in a pot and have it served to everyone. The fascists
bloody love it which makes it all the more disturbing and gag-worthy to
watch. It has to be the most disgusting scene Ive ever seen! Just thinking
about it turns me green.
Cringe rating- 10/10
Movie rating- 3/10
1) In My Skin- All of it!

I cant think of a film that has made me squirm more than the disturbing
French body-horror, Dans Ma Peau. I find self-harming extremely difficult to
watch and unfortunately In My Skin is a film all about it! It follows a
seemingly ordinary French lady who ends up gashing her leg at a party.
However, instead of screaming for an ambulance in agony, she quietly
examines the wound with an inquisitive fascination. From then on she begins
to poke and prod around with her body and ends up becoming obsessed with
trying to preserve pieces of her own skin which end up looking like dog
chews. Its a seriously uncomfortable film, but quite masterfully done. There
isnt much to the narrative, but it is a strangely compelling character study
which ends on a very haunting note. The acting is also fantastic with star,
Marina De Van, being the director and writer also. One of the best scenes is
when Esther starts mutilating herself at a restaurant during a business
luncheon in a surrealistic manner. Its an incredibly cringe-worthy film thanks

to the scenes of self-mutilation being shown in long takes and with hideously
realistic special effects. For me, In my Skin takes the biscuit for me in being
the most toe-curling.
Cringe rating- 10/10
Movie rating- 7/10
Okie dokie, you can remove that sick bucket from under your feet now. Its
over! Or perhaps you dont agree with my list? Perhaps you think that there
are far worse that make you cringe? Well Id like to heart them! Please tell
me below my cherubs.
cringe disgusting gore gross in my skin only god forgives revolting scary

100 Greatest Movie Moments

0
Posted on October 24, 2014

Movies are essentially made up of moments. Below are some of my

favourites. Now, some are there for different reasons, some make me laugh,
some make me cry, some scare me or disturb me and some just hold a
certain emotional power. They are in no order (although the last 20 would be
my top favourites) so dont have a go at me for putting Hocus Pocus above
American Beauty! It was a surprisingly easy list to make. The scary thing is
that I could probably do another 100 more because there are so many movie
moments I just love. As to avoid spoilers, I havent said what films these
scenes come from. Please let me know if youre desperately looking for what
film a scene is from and I shall tell you. So without further ado (hopefully all
the images have loaded for you) lets delve into my twisted world.
100. Mays creation moves

99. The power of love

98. Randys last jump

97. Saras eaten by her own fridge

96. Patseys whipped

95. Candieland shootout

94. Betty auditions

93. Do the locomotion

92. One day more

91. Kevin Speceys final monologue

90. A casual trip to the skies and back again

89. Monica Bellucci gets raped for 10 minutes straight!

88. Ulrich Mhe breaks down for 10 minutes straight!

87. Laura Derns clown face

86. The scariest movie moment ever!

85. Give me the bat.

84. Call it.

83. Chainsaw ballet

82. Travis goes mental

81. Isabelle Adjani goes mental

80. The dark knight

79. Abracadabra.

78. Norman in drag

77. You talkin to me?

76. 360 degree taxi slash

75. Teddys tragic flashback

74. The last shot

73. Sister Mary Clarence pats a dog

72. Detective DETECTIVE!

71. Penthouse reveal

70. Margaret White goes barmy

69. Drew Barrymore screams

68. Swimming pool saga

67. BASTARD FROM A BASKET!

66. Lighthouse woes

65. Head cases

64. Girl/thing in the loft

63. Lawnmower man

62. Foetal position

61. Wrong place and wrong time

60. Shock suicide

59. Georges story

58. Polish poem

57. Heeeeeeeeeres Johnny!

56. A candy coloured clown they call a sandman.

55. Those were dummies!

54. Laura dies

53. Silencio

52. Ninas swansong

51. You mean, all this time we couldve been friends?

50. George and Peppys last dance

49. John Merrick dies

48. Beatrix Vs. Elle

47. Tragedy in the mist

46. Time destroys everything

45. Hannibal escapes

44. Selmas last song

43. The bells toll

42. Ive abandoned my child!

41. Game over!

40. In heaven, everything is fine

39. Adam meets the cowboy

38. Mrs Doubtfire cooks

37. Table saw kill

36. At last My arm is complete again.

35. The hunchback

34. Kagutaba lives!

33. I loved you

32. Erica stabs

31. Hans Landa hunts after a glass of milk

30. Winkies Diner

29. Batman atones

28. Lucies memories

27. Intense dinner

26. Intense dinner

25. Intense dinner

24. Opening montage

23. The world ends

22. Bat brutality

21. Satans house

20. WHOS IN MY HOUSE!!

19. Nothing is left

18. The worlds most gruelling exorcism

17. Hallway hammer brawl

16. HELLOOO!

15. The ancient ones rise

14. Jamie Lee Curtis mother takes a shower

13. DONT FUCKING LOOK AT ME!

12. Kitchen fight

11. Rock-a-bye-baby

10. Chainsaw chase

9. Cobb comes home

8. Lovely lovely voice

7. Llorando

6. I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!

5. Tunnel chase

4. Keep doubting

3. Bride Vs. Crazy 88

2. Sweeneys tragic end

1. I was perfect

best black swan christopher nolan darren aronofsky David

Lynch disturbing funny Lars Von Trier michael haneke moments movie quentin
tarantino requiem for a dream scary scenes sweeney todd the dakr knight there
will be blood

Kill List (2011)

0
Posted on October 2, 2014

Director: Ben Wheatley

Stars: Neil Maskell, Myanna Burning, Michal Smiley
The best British horror film since Eden Lake
I made a point of not knowing anything about Kill List before I watched it.
Well, obviously Id heard about it and knew it was about a hit-man, and I
assumed that the symbol on the front cover was about a cult or something,
but other than that I knew nothing. I didnt watch the trailer and I didnt read
the back of the DVD because a few people had suggested that the film would
be best if you knew nothing about it beforehand. Rather like The Ordeal and
The Cabin in the Woods, both are incredible films on first viewing (and on
repeated). Im glad I did. Ill try not to spoil anything in this review, but Id
recommend that you dont read this one or any other. All you need to know is
that Im going to be raving about it!

For me, Kill List is on par with French horror in its visual style and disturbing
unfolding. If you dont know, Im a French horror nut! Inside and Martyrs
happen to be my favourite horror films of all time, and Id highly recommend
them (and many more!) if you youre a French horror virgin. Kill List just has
the amount of balls that French horror has and isnt afraid to go to very dark
places. Whats great about the film is that its a horror film disguised as a
thriller which makes the ending ten times more impactive and disturbing
than it already is. But more on the ending later.
Kill List gripped me from the moment it started with the creepy cult symbol
dominating the opening credits. Although for the majority of the film it plays

out in typical thriller fashion, the unnerving edits and atonal music lets you
know that something is not right. Its a suspense which carries the film to a
phenomenal level and creates a oppressive atmosphere throughout. Were
immediately introduced to the main characters, a devoted father, his wife
and his friend, as well as his friends dodgy new girlfriend. I really liked the
characters, and theyre developed beautifully as the film progresses, as we
realise that these people arent your conventional heroes in the slightest.

The characters felt very human and real. The man and his wife have a
somewhat fiery relationship and are clearly strapped for cash. Luckily the
mans friend happens to be a hit-man and an old man is offering a lot of cash
for three targets, so they accept. From then on the film unfolds in an
exceptionally gripping manner as we see the duo carry out their complicated
kill list. Its done in a very realistic manner with a hand-held camera

narrating much of the atmospheric story. Theres a great section where the
mans friend (Gal, I think hes called?) waits in the car for his friend to carry
out a hit, but Gal gets worried after his gone for some time, so he gets out
and the camera follows him all in one suspenseful and gripping shot so we
can see the horror in the rawest fashion.
Of course this isnt your typical hit-man movie, although it is the most
gripping one Ive seen. The targets are unusual and a title card flashes up on
the screen for each one which I loved as it shows them as labels to kill, not
humans. The killers are shown as more human than the victims and the duos
fiery relationship only serves to increase the tension. Theres a sense of
unease with every kill, each is carried out in the most brutal and realistic
fashion and certainly does not glamorise violence. Theres also a feeling that
not all is what it seems throughout the film and the final third certainly
reveals that.

The final half an hour or so is incredibly gripping with an ending that is

genuinely frightening. The film takes a surprising and incredibly interesting
turn which no one could see coming. Theres even a thrilling chase sequence
which echoes the claustrophobic panic of REC and The Descent. Its the final
moments of Kill List which makes the film truly brilliant. Its stupendously
creepy and is horror that will resonate with you for days. I literally gasped in
shock and sat there stunned and jaw-dropped throughout the credits. Its
powerful stuff which requires you to think and really creeped me out. Those
final moments of Kill List will never leave me. Unless I get amnesia or
something.
Kill List is one of the best British horror films Ive seen. It did unhinge me and
I was gripped throughout its tight running time. Kill List is true horror with
great acting and a twisting screenplay which kept me on my toes. The
directing also blew me away with some terrific slow-motion shots and handheld camera which only added to the realism as it often felt more like a
documentary than a film. The ending is terrifyingly intense and has just the
right amount ambiguity to make you feel severely unnerved. I cant sing
enough praises for it, although it will fly over many peoples heads (which is
clearly evident). To me and everyone else it will remain as one of the best
horror films of the decade.

ben wheatley cult disturbing Horror kill list michael smiley scary

Vinyan (2008)
0
Posted on September 22, 2014

Director: Fabrice Du Welz

Stars: Emmanuelle Beart, Rufus Sewell
Paula Hamilton soaks up the culture in Burma
I was, however, a ma-hussive fan of Fabrices debut, Calvaire. In fact, I
believe that Calvaire is one of the greatest horror films of the century and its
such a shame that people inappropriately write it off as some sort of Texas
Chainsaw Massacre/Straw Dogs rip-off. Thanks to the anticipation for
Fabrices latest venture into horror, Alleluia (a thematic sequel to Calvaire) I
thought Id give Vinyan another try as it had been a few years since I last
saw it. This time, I saw something different in it.

Vinyan is a real mood piece. It reminded me of Only God Forgives and Under
the Skin, the types of slow dream-like films which rely more on atmosphere
than plot. Theyre not for everyone, but if you manage to find a dark room on
your own and immerse yourself in their worlds, then you can discover an
experience which is really quite special.
The opening to Vinyan is fantastic. We see a tsunami from the seas point of
view, so gradually muffled screams become more intense as the water turns
redder and redder. Its an unsettling sequence and the sounds become quite
intense before cutting off to silence. Suddenly we meet Emmanuelle Beart

with her Paula Hamilton upper-lip emerging from some tropical sea. We find
out that Emmanuelle and Rufus have lost their son, presumed dead, but
Emmanuelles sure that she saw him on a blurred tsunami-aid video. This is
only the beginning of a long and strange voyage into darkness.

Fabrice really shows off his directing skills here. Theres a fantastic
disorientating experience near the start where Emmanuelle runs off from
Rufus at night in the heart of Thailand and the camera follows her around
amongst the bright neon-soaked night whilst music plays so loud you can

barely hear yourself think. Its a great sequence which really emphasises the
isolation felt by the character. In fact, we spend quite a lot of time in our
heroines head (I think). Whereas Calvaire remained objective and real (there
was no music in The Ordeal) Vinyan delves into Jeannes unstable head,
often blurring dreams with reality in bizarre and unsettling ways. For
example, theres one shot of a boat appearing from the fog with silhouetted
children on it (see pic above). The image is so dreamy that it has to be a
dream, or is it?
Watching Vinyan a second time, I was never bored at all! I noticed how
fantastic the acting is and really empathised with the bereaved main
characters who are just so desperate to find their son. The atmosphere is so
thick throughout, and Fabrices choice of music and sounds adds to the
nightmarish quality. The film looks sensational too. You could pretty much
take any shot of the film and marvel at it. One stand-out moment is the
aerial shot which follows the couple into some sort of ruin. Theres a real
sense of danger and that something bad is going to happen.

The final twenty minutes were as frightening to me as they were the first
time I saw it. I dont want to spoil anything, but its kind of like a house of
horrors encountering one surreal spook after the other. Fabrices scares
arent cheap though. They run deep and are executed in an unsettling and

dream-like way. Its difficult to tell how much is actually in Jeannes head, or
if something more supernatural is going on. Just like Calvaire, Vinyan ends on
the most unsettling note with a disturbing shot that is difficult to get out of
your head. It poses a lot more questions than it cares to answer, but this only
adds to the terror in my opinion.
Its easy to see why Vinyan was so poorly received. It was marketed as some
sort of slaggy horror film when its actually more of a slow art-house film
which wouldnt suit the masses. If you allow yourself to be immersed in its
dark and dream-like atmosphere then you can actually find quite a lot to like.
Its much more complicated and deeper than it first appears and it offers a
truly frightening, surreal third act where Jeannes unstable mind begins to
seep out into reality. Vinyan is a masterpiece of atmosphere. It may be a
little too slow in places, but dont let that put you off. Go with it because
theres actually quite a lot to like.

arthouse disturbing Emmanuelle Beart Fabrice Du Welz Horror nightmare Rufus

Sewell scary Surreal Vinyan

What am I chattin about?

Gummo (1997) August 24, 2015

Escape From Tomorrow (2013) August 21, 2015

The Loved Ones (2009)August 17, 2015

Inside Out (2015) August 12, 2015

The Yellow Kubrick RoadJuly 30, 2015

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