It’s been a movie watching kind of week.  As Matt wrote in his post this week we did watch ‘New Moon,’ with the RiffTrax of course.  Along with that though we watched two other very different movies, ‘House of the Devil’ and ‘The Box.’

House of the Devil – Much Scarier Than the Sublet Apartment of the Devil

I heard about this movie from the great guys over at Spill.com  This movie was at a film festival in Austin called Fantastic Fest that is all about genre films.  They liked the movie, didn’t really rave about it, but gave me a reason to want to see it when it finally hit the Mr. Movies.  I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

What strikes a person immediately when you put in the movie is that were you gypped and this should have been in the old release section.  It doesn’t, this is new.  The story takes place in the 80’s and they went for it.  Not only does the film look like it was shot in the 80’s but it was shot in a style of a movie from the late 70’s early 80’s.  That is what gives this movie a lot of its charm.  It doesn’t look like other horror movies out there, and that is a positive.  It was kind of nice to see a movie kind of throw back to a time that was kind of a golden age for horror movies.  Now either you will love the way they made this movie or it is going to throw you off.  Personally, it made the only thing kick more ass.

The story revolves around a college girl, Samantha, with money problems that answers an ad for a couple looking for a babysitter.  The moment you even hear the voice of Mr. Ulman, the man needing the babysitter, you know something is off about this dude.  The money is too good and Samantha catches a ride from a friend and ends up at the Ulman residence on the night of a lunar eclipse.  The longer Samantha spends time with the Ulmans you really get sense of foreboding, something is definitely not right.  That’s all I’m going to tell you about the story.  There are some great turns in here that make this movie a must see.  I’m not saying that all of the turns are overly shocking, most experienced horror fans will be able to see a lot of them coming, but they are done so well that you won’t care.

The performances across the board in this movie are fantastic.  Samantha doesn’t necesarrily have a lot going on as a character, but she was able to keep me interested and invested into what happens to her.  The couple of small parts in this movie are played very well and work for what they are doing.  The real praise here goes to Mary Woronov and Tom Noonan as the Ulmans.  They are creepier than hell and really give this movie its bite.  Too often my criticisms of horror movies is towards the acting, this movie shows you how you are supposed to do it.

Last thing to bring up about this movie is that it is a movie that builds.  That is code for it is kind of slow in the beginning.  It does take a while for things to really start happening.  That will be a turn-off for some, but you would be wrong.  The pacing and build up is what makes the back half of this movie so enjoyable.  The suspense builds and builds to finally the point it boils over.  It reminds me somewhat of ‘The Shining’ which is a good thing.  When it gets scary, it gets scary.  I was jumping and screaming during it, something I usually don’t do.  It also had me freaked out for hours after it was done.  That is the highest praise I can give a horror movie.

Rent It

This movie is out and you should be watching it right this minute.  The movie doesn’t have a lot of re-playability though.  Its great, scary as hell but doesn’t need to be viewed multiple times.  Go grab it and some friends and enjoy.

The Box – Should have just called it the Cluster $#*&

Seriously screw this movie.  After it was over I didn’t have a lot of strong feelings, but the more I think about it the more this pisses me off.  There was a good movie here, and it starts off fine enough but then the director decided it was time to get weird.  This was also the director that made ‘Donnie Darko’ so that tells you a lot.  Also, I hate ‘Donnie Darko.’  Seriously, I wanted to like this movie though.  I was excited about it and even wanted to go see it in theaters, glad I didn’t, and heard some decent things about it.

The plot is a bout a mysterious stranger played by Skeletor, Frank Langella, who gives a box to couples and tells them if they push the button they get a million dollars but someone, that they don’t know, will die.  If you think this would make a good Twilight Zone plot, you’re right, it was an episode in the 80’s.  I think that’s where the movie falls apart, it should have only been an hour long.  Once they hit that point I was going along with everything then it went off the frickin’ rails.

I can’t really explain anything else that happens in this.  I really can’t.  It just got confusing and stupid and then finally went all the way into WTF territory and finally into, really movie, really?  I have nothing else to say about this movie.  I could go on forever on the acting, directing and writing, but why bother.  If you like to be confused and a movie to make sense and no characters with emotional depth, then this is for you.  If you like good movies, avoid it.

Go to Hell Movie!

Pretty self-explanatory rating there.