The 30 day horror challenge strikes back!

I'm glad so many people enjoyed the 30 day horror challenge where we talked about some of our favorite horror films. But.....did you honestly think there wasn't going to be a sequel?!? It's all about the sequel these days. Every horror film needs a sequel baby and we got one for you! This time around we delve into the horror film character. Hopefully we're more of a Scream 2 vs being a Scream 4 or a Jaws 2 vs Jaws: The Revenge! So get ready. Get set! And let's get down with the 30 day horror challenge strikes back!

Day 30 "favorite horror film" of the 30 day horror challenge

The Exorcist

Can you believe it? We have arrived at day 30 of the 30 day horror challenge. One final entry and we will be all done. Parting is such sweet sorrow, but we'll have memories of all 30 of the days that we navigated through in the horror entertainment field. So how do we close this thing out? We close it out the biggest and the best topic of them all! Favorite horror film? What to choose? So many great titles ripe for the picking. The 70's gave us one masterpiece after another - Don't Look Now, Suspiria, Jaws, The Other, Dawn of the Dead, The Stepford Wives, The Omen, Coma, Carrie, ....just to name a few.  However, none of them quite do it for me like this one does. So I give you.....

Day 29 "worst horror film" of the 30 day horror challenge

So we're getting down to the netty gritty of the 30 day horror challenge. It's hard to believe that after today, there is only 1, count it, 1 more day left! So today we arrive at worst horror film. Hmmmmm.....what to pick? Halloween 3 certainly ranks high (or is it low?) for this dubious honor as does TCM 2. Two films in which you got to ask the question, what were they thinking? But what stops them from making getting this lovely distinction, was that in fact they were trying to do something different within their respective franchises. It was either the execution or the premise that was flawed. So for my pick, I went with a film that reminds me of a bratty little kid. You tell them not to do something, but yet they go and do it again. So I give you....

Day 28 "film no one has heard of" of the 30 day horror challenge

Dance of the Damned

Coming up with a title that almost no one has heard of is a difficult task, since I am an advocate for the little known or indie horror film. There's so many films that I could mention.... Night Warning, The Midnight Hour, The Power, Massacre at Central High, Grandma's House, Eyes of Fire, Paperhouse, The Black Waters of Echo's Pond, Storage and so on and so on. There's just been so many titles that deserve special mention or special praise that have been overlooked over the years. So trying to figure out one title that single handily deserved this distinction was a tough task. However, I think I've found a title that's most worthy as it's a film that took risks, it took chances and offered up something completely unique and different that the genre really hadn't seen before. So I give you.....

Day 27 "favorite guilty pleasure" of the 30 day horror challenge

Guilty pleasures? Who doesn't love a good guilty pleasure? I think most people's idea of a guilty pleasure is a little bit off. You might hear someone say my guilty pleasure film is Killer Klowns From Outer Space or Child's Play or something in that vein. However, those are clever, well executed films. A guilty pleasure in my opinion is something that's bad or isn't well done that you shouldn't enjoy, but for some odd reason you do anyway. With that in mind, there's still plenty of films to choose from. So which one to pick? I think my guilty pleasure film best embodies what the B film is all about. It's not particularly well made, but it certainly is one fun, entertaining ride. So I give you.....

Day 26 "film you watched A LOT as kid" of the 30 day horror challenge

C'mon! Admit it! There was always that horror film, it wasn't necessarily the best horror film ever made, that you had to keep watching over and over again as a kid or as a teenager. There was just something about that film that drew you to it. Something that made you want to watch it over and over again. I know for some that could be The Video Dead since that used to have frequent airings on USA. Or for others that title could be Carrie since the story resonates with so many people. Or it could be something more obscure and less well known. Whatever that title is, it's funny how that title is a part of you and you will always have those memories of watching it a ton of times. For me, the film that I watched over and over again as a kid, reflected upon me so that's why I think I was so drawn to it. So I give you.....

Day 25 "film you used to hate, but now like" of the 30 day horror challenge

There are some films I initially loved growing up such as the movie adaptation of Stephen King's It. That film scared me to the core. However, viewing it again as an adult, It simply didn't have that same power over me as it did as a child. The film felt dated and just didn't do anything for me suspense wise. Now there is some films I initially disliked only to get a fonder appreciation of them over the years. The Wicker Man is a prime example of this. Initially, the elements of mystery weren't palpable enough for me, but yet something about this film stayed with me over the years. Did it have anything to do with that haunting finale? So for my pick of a film I used to hate, that I now like, this might be a surprising one for some of you, but that distinction goes to......

Day 24 "edited version over the director's cut" of the 30 day horror challenge

As horror fans are all too well aware of these days, there has been plenty of horror films token out of a director's hand and changed significantly. This is especially true of foreign horror films. Remember back in the good old days of VHS, the edited version of Possession ran 80 minutes compared to the overseas version at 127 minutes. Or how about Stay Alive which played in theaters at around 83 minutes with a PG-13 rating and then was released to DVD at around 100 minutes! Or we have Harvey and Bob Weinstein who are notorious for doing this all the time. It all goes back to their very first horror film, The Burning which had the violence the MPAA found objectionable hastily edited out.  So is there any edited films out there that are better then the original director's cut. I say yes. So I give you..... 

Day 23 "favorite made for TV horror film" of the 30 day horror challenge

Made for television horror films thrived in the 70's with strong offerings like Trilogy of Terror, Satan's School For Girls, The Initiation of Sarah, and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. However, in the 80's there was a decline in quality. They were still made with great abundance, but how many can you really say were memorable? How many can you honestly remember off the top of your head? In the 90's TV horror movies thrived yet again, especially those that were adaptations of Stephen King books. We got such films as It (1990), Sometimes They Come Back, The Stand, The Tommyknockers, The Longoliers and the Shining (1997). So with TV horror movies thriving in the 70's & 90's, you might find it rather surprising that my pick is an 80's TV horror film. This isn't just my favorite TV horror film, it's one of my favorite horror films of all time. It's just a horror film that makes me feel so many different emotions. I laughed. I cried. I got chills. And I just had a lot of fun each time I view this film. Some people consider Halloween necessary Halloween entertainment. I say forget Halloween. This truly captures the essence of Halloween. So I give you….. 

Day 22 "favorite horror themed show" of the 30 day horror challenge

This is one of my favorite sub-genres that was included in the 30 day horror challenge. A more appropriate question would be "what horror themed TV series did I not like?". So many good ones to pick from. I grew up watching The Hitchhiker which always featured scummy characters getting their just deserts. Or there was Tales From the Crypt which featured slick, old school styled stories, but updated them for modern times with gore and violence. And who didn't just love The Cryptkeeper?!? Even Freddy Krueger got in on the action with a short lived series entitled Freddy's Nightmares which suffered from inconsistency. I grew  up when the horror themed TV series was at its peak with a wide variety of shows to choose from. However, the series I picked reflects upon me as a kid growing up. So I give you.....

Day 21 "favorite medical horror" of the 30 day horror challenge

To be honest, I'm surprised we don't get more medical themed horror thrillers each year as this is a genre ripe for the picking. Think about, people have an inherent fear of hospitals, going into surgery, of receiving treatment. Haven't you ever known someone who wouldn't go get treatment at one point or another simply because they don't like hospitals. Now you know what I am talking about! Coma exploited that fear to full effect. The House on Haunted Hill remake combined a haunted house story with the dark chapter of America's past in regards to medical treatment and created a bone chilling film. Or another favorite of mine, The Harvest, which uses the good old kidney heist urban legend as the film's central film premise. All of these are fine films, but I think they get overshadowed by the original medical thriller and my personal favorite of this sub-genre. So I give you.......drumroll.........

Day 20 "favorite killer animal" of the 30 day horror challenge

There has always been a primal fear of animals that possess the ability to attack and kill people. Snakes, bears, lions, etc have been glorified killing machines throughout cinema for decades. Everyone of course knows about Cujo (1983)! Anaconda (1997) was about a larger than life snake that devoured anyone in its path. The Edge (1997) was about two men who after a plane crash have to band together against all odds, including a bear that wants them dead. The Ghost and the Darkness is a true life tale of two killer lions that killed over 130 people in nine months. The list could go on and on, especially because the Syfy channel releases killer animal pictures on a regular basis. My pick for favorite killer animal film goes to.....

Day 19 "the powers of hell" of the 30 day horror challenge

Demons (1985)

Once you starting talking about the powers of Hell or satanism, two films instantly come to mind. First off, The Exorcist, however we're saving that for another day, another time, another category. Then there is Angel Heart which had a vivid atmosphere, effective performances and one of the most talked about sex scenes not just in horror film history, but in film history period! Still, it's not my favorite. My favorite goes to a film that has the power to scare me 20+ years after initially seeing it. It's one of those films that gives me goosebumps and makes my hairs stand at end. So I give you.....  

Day 18 "favorite foreign horror" of the 30 day horror challenge

High Tension

Before director Alexandre Aja got behind the camera on the very popular “The Hills Have Eyes”and “Piranha” remakes, he co wrote and directed my favorite foreign horror film of all time “High Tension”. High Tension or also known by it’s French title of “Haute Tension”, is a savagely brutal film that came out in 2003.

Day 17 "favorite remake" of the 30 day horror challenge

Favorite horror remake? Yet another tough sub-genre to pick a film from cause you're going to have a ton of people saying there is no such thing as a good horror film remake. I beg to differ with those people. You have films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers or the 90's remake entitled Body Snatchers, which were highly effective films that created a palpable amount of tension. Then you have films like The Fly, The Blob and The Thing. So what did those films get right? They stayed true to the essence of the original, but updated it for the times and offered up a fresh new spin. That's why I think so many of the horror remakes are disappointing these days is cause they stick so closely to the original and in the process they can't compare to the films that fans fell in love with. How many people have groaned over the Halloween remake or Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street or The Omen or The Stepfather or....well you get the point? So for my pick, I went with a film that stays true to the original's story, but gives it a fresh spin and updates it for the times. So without further hesitation, I give you........

Day 16 "favorite childhood themed horror film" of the 30 day horror challenge

Favorite childhood themed horror film? This is a tough sub-genre to pick a film for cause even though for a lot of horror fans, they discover their love of horror at a young age, there isn't a lot of horror films centered around child aged protagonist and exploring themes associated with childhood! These films have the potential to be something extra special, because the ideas associated with them resonate with viewers on a deeper level then the typical horror film and recall the nostalgia of being a child and that longing to have a look back at the past. Combine that with a horror film and you can't miss! The TV series Are You Afraid of the Dark? executed the above concept brilliantly. I also know a lot of people are going to pick the TV movie "It" based off the Stephen King novel. While I think It has a brilliant first half, it clearly loses steam when it gets to the adults. It is half of a great film and half of an OK film. However, for my pick I went with a film that I think best embodies the spirit of childhood and horror. So without further hesitation, I give you........

Day 15 "favorite serial killer themed horror film" of the 30 day challenge

So we're halfway into this thing! Can you believe it? Well anyway, let's do this thing and get into my favorite serial killer themed horror film. That honor goes to Seven starring Brad Pitt. However, before I get to Seven, let's talk about Brad Pitt for a minute. Brad Pitt is one of those stars who's just a hunk, pure and simple, but behind the hunkyness their is a vulnerability, a sadness behind his look. That's what I think has made him such a huge star for 20+ years is that he has that vulnerability and doesn't come across as cocky. How many actors can you honestly say have remained huge box office stars for 20 years? Seven is one of the best examples of playing up to Pitt's strength. With this film, I couldn't imagine anyone else playing this part.

Day 14 "favorite zombie movie" of the 30 day horror challenge

Favorite zombie film? This sub-genre of horror films is one that just won't die! There always seems to be a countless amount of zombie films to choose from at any one moment. Of course, the godfather of the zombie film would be George A. Romero who not only brought us Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead. He's the one responsible for all of the tangents associated with this sub-genre. We also have entertaining fluff like the Resident Evil series. However, it isn't all good as we have low budget zombie movie after low budget zombie movie coming out these days and overcrowding the market. So with a sub-genre with so many titles, what did I pick? I wanted to pick a zombie film that not only frightened me, it made me laugh cause when you think about it zombies are both equally scary and frightening.  So without further hesitation, I give you........

Day 13 "favorite horror comedy" of the 30 day horror challenge

All About Evil

Favorite horror comedy? This era of horror films peaked in the 80's when the teen comedy was at its peak also. It seemed like just about every horror film that came out between 1986 - 1988 was a horror comedy. Some films that come to mind instantly from this sub-genre is Evil Dead 2, The Return of the Living Dead, April Fool's Day, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3-5 and Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II, etc. Yet when horror dried up in the late 80's, so did the merger of horrror and comedy. Sure, we had horror films that had some humor in them, but it was never as equally balanced as it was in the 80's. So my pick is a welcomed return to this era of horror films. So without further hesitation, I give you........

Day 12 "favorite occult themed horror film" of the 30 day horror challenge

Cthulhu

Favorite occult themed horror movie? Hmmmm...... odly enough TV movies come to mind right away - The Initiation of Sarah, I've Been Waiting For You and Satan's School for Girls. I've been meaning to get around to watching that remake of SSFG with Shannon Doherty in it for a minute now, now that I think about it! We also have icky films like Silent Night Deadly Night Part VI: Initiation. However, when it comes to the occult, I perfer my films with a bit of ambiguity as I think the occult is mysterious. So for my pick, I went with a film I caught for the first time this past year and I have to say, it was one of the biggest surprises I've seen in awhile. So without further hesitation, I give you........