Alyson HillThe BEST kind of horror Movies
April 7th 2008 20:42
For me the best type of horror movie needs to be (dare I say it) light on gore, and large on tension AND story details. Don't give me any of the US versions of Japanese movies like The Ring and in particular, The Grudge. The damn things don't make any sense to me. I like supernatural themes at the best of times, but they have to make sense. Having bad things happening (to good people) just because of an evil presence that simply wants random revenge on something - is not good enough to keep me watching. I am not engaged, because I'm trying to figure out 'why?'...'why is it picking on them?', 'why is it so deadly?', 'Why did I pay $15 for this?'. Similarly the Halloween series, and others like them seemed a bit random to me. Just a thin story to prop up the slicing and dicing.
But that's OK because M. Night. Shyamalan exists, people. Want story...here's a beaut. Want tension? I'll build you up, with clues all the way and hand over the biggest puzzle piece at the end - you'll be scratching your head for days, thinking how it added up, and you'll be bragging at dinnerparties about how you knew he was dead! Want originality? Here's a bucket and...another bucket full of the stuff. Want interesting people to look at and BELIEVE...here's Mel, here's Bruce, Joaquin, Samuel L., Abigail Breslin (who he discovered for Signs) and coming soon...here's Mark Whalberg! I can't wait.
I felt truly frightened watching Signs, and most of it was about the glimpses...the peripheral vision stuff. What darted over there? Was that a shadow? Where did Mel's hair go? Finally, seeing the thing was incredibly satisfying and disturbing, I was terrified watching its evilness....so much more than Tom Cruise's War of the Worlds...and there is another stroke of brilliance..he has never casted TC!!
I'm not saying I'm right or that other Horror forms are crap, but good film making brings the best out of the genre. I like being scared, but having something to think about while I'm being scared is a far better experience for me...well worth my $15. I can't wait to see 'The Happening'...Mark plays a teacher...tell me, could you concentrate in that class?
Other M. Night Shyamalan films to find and enjoy: Unbreakable, Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village, his first film "Wide Awake' may be worth finding too as a rental.
Did you know:
M. Night Shyamalan appears in all his films (like Alfred Hitchcock) except for his first "Wdie Awake'
He was one of the screenwriters for Stuart Little
His name was linked with the first Harry Potter film, but he was making Unbreakable at the time.
Steven Spielberg is his fave director and Raiders of the Lost Ark his fave film. Jinx!
But that's OK because M. Night. Shyamalan exists, people. Want story...here's a beaut. Want tension? I'll build you up, with clues all the way and hand over the biggest puzzle piece at the end - you'll be scratching your head for days, thinking how it added up, and you'll be bragging at dinnerparties about how you knew he was dead! Want originality? Here's a bucket and...another bucket full of the stuff. Want interesting people to look at and BELIEVE...here's Mel, here's Bruce, Joaquin, Samuel L., Abigail Breslin (who he discovered for Signs) and coming soon...here's Mark Whalberg! I can't wait.
I felt truly frightened watching Signs, and most of it was about the glimpses...the peripheral vision stuff. What darted over there? Was that a shadow? Where did Mel's hair go? Finally, seeing the thing was incredibly satisfying and disturbing, I was terrified watching its evilness....so much more than Tom Cruise's War of the Worlds...and there is another stroke of brilliance..he has never casted TC!!
I'm not saying I'm right or that other Horror forms are crap, but good film making brings the best out of the genre. I like being scared, but having something to think about while I'm being scared is a far better experience for me...well worth my $15. I can't wait to see 'The Happening'...Mark plays a teacher...tell me, could you concentrate in that class?
Other M. Night Shyamalan films to find and enjoy: Unbreakable, Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village, his first film "Wide Awake' may be worth finding too as a rental.
Did you know:
M. Night Shyamalan appears in all his films (like Alfred Hitchcock) except for his first "Wdie Awake'
He was one of the screenwriters for Stuart Little
His name was linked with the first Harry Potter film, but he was making Unbreakable at the time.
Steven Spielberg is his fave director and Raiders of the Lost Ark his fave film. Jinx!
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Comment by Nathan 1
Film Banana
to be fair, the originals of all those Ameican remakes are so much better becuase they actually have the tension and story details which are lost in the adaptations. The original Ring has one of the best stories ever and the tension is mounted through the investigatory and mythological elements of Sadako's life. It's true that revenge is usually pivitol in those types of ghost stories but that's just becuase they are based on Japanese legends about mistreated or subservient women who had unfinished business. For some Japanese horror that doesn't involve ghosts out for revenge then try and check out Suicide Circle, Noriko's Dinner Table, Uzumaki or loft
Shyamalan is a very good writer whose ideas manage to leave you in the dark for as long as possible so as to make the twist that much more surprising. Signs is gripping becuase of the intense performances and the little alien manifestation segments like the walkie talkie channeling them speaking or the news reports. I think his best film was probabaly Unbreakable because of the themes of destiny and of Jacksons influence on Willis in helping him come to grips with it.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
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Techbreak
Hitchcock had the good sense to stay out of the action, when he put himself in. M. Night seems to want to sell himself as an actor, but he's awful, at least in Signs:
Shyamalan cameo in Signs
Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip
Having said that, I checked out your link, and I agree - the man can't act and he should stick to fleeting cameo walkthroughs like Alfred..and his day job
And Nathan...you nailed it with Signs' intensity of performances and little things - I didn't notice the water reference M. Night makes in his scene until just now when I checked out Cibby's link...great clue. And except for the acting, quite subtle.
As for the Japanese horror versions - I totally believe you, it's a shame that the US versions couldn't translate those essential Japanese traits when they 'convert' their films - but I'm sure they'd miss the subtlety anyway. I'll take the Japanese version from now on.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I will echo the opinion that you must see the japanese originals of The Ring and The Eye, the stories are much richer in detail and the films themselves have an atmosphere of tension that seldom wavers.
As for M Night, I'm not a fan but I did love Unbreakable which is one of the greatest comic book origin stories ever! The rest are so deliberately plotted that I have found them frustrating instead of intense. Plus sadly everything he does seems derivative of far superior works.
Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip
Now tell me, how do I get my hands on the Japanese originals of The Ring etc. ?
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Sixth Sense was nicely shot and scored but because I have seen so many films with exactly the same twist done better, 10 minutes in I knew that he was dead and was waiting for a surprise that never came. I hoped that they would have taken teh story somewhere original but instead it just made the whole thing drag to a lacklustre conclusion for me and the journey wasn't very enjoyable, except as i said for the pretty look of the film.
Now Angel Heart and Jacob's Ladder, they have killer twists I didn't see coming.
As i said earlier, Unbreakable however is possibly the classiest comic book film ever made and didn't need a twist ending gimmick.
As for the Japanese originals of US remakes most of them should be at your local video store if its any good...or just pay JB hi fi a visit, they usually put The Ring, The Eye, The Grudge etc on special frequently.
Comment by Nathan 1
Film Banana
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I have to admit that I liked the remake of The Ring - unintentionally, of course. I saw it first, was terrified by the concept for weeks. By the time I got around to seeing the original Japanese film, the story held fewer surprises.
Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip
Clearly you all are horror aficionados: my sons are just getting into them, so I expect to see a whole new wave of them from their perspectives. They might be better off seeing the Japanese originals before their brains are tainted by US versions. And they can read at the same time. I'm all about learning AND having the crap scared out of you at the same time. SUCH a good mum!
Comment by Nathan 1
Film Banana
So yeah, Alysson, keep your sons away from remakes lol
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
He's a flake.
He's a pseudo-theologian masquerading as a film director.
He sets his movies up very well, for the most part, and then it's a downhill slide from there.
I agree with JD, Unbreakable was the most interesting.
You wanna know what a real horror movie is? Come visit my site ...
Comment by Alyson Hill
Screen Trip
And Nathan, I know exactly what you mean about British realism...do you think it's the weird grainy UK light..even 28 days later was too real. I can't watch it again. Shawn of the Dead was a nice change though.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
so did you swing by into the Darkness?