Possession (1981)

1981

France, West Germany

Directed by:  Andrzej Zulawski
Written by:  Andrzej Zulawski (original screenplay), Frederic Tuten (adaptation, dialogue)
Cast:  Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Margit Carstensen, Heinz Bennent
Rating: R 

Synopsis (from Rotten Tomatoes website):

...this challenging and highly unusual drama stars Isabelle Adjani as a young woman who forsakes her husband (Sam Neill) and her lover (Heinz Bennent) for a bizarre, tentacled creature that she keeps in a run-down Berlin apartment. In the beginning, her husband knows nothing about the monster and sincerely believes that his wife is insane. He has her tailed by private detectives, whom she kills and feeds to the creature. Still unaware of what has happened, the husband contends with the reserved and inadvertently seductive presence of his wife's look-alike (also played by Adjani), a schoolteacher who frequently comes to tutor his son while his wife is away. Though tempted by her quiet goodness and beauty, he is still passionately in love with his wife and even after he finds out about the murders, he stays by her side and helps her conceal her crimes. 

My Thoughts:

Definitely in the running for Worst Movie Ever Made. One star for the presence of Sam Neill. Run, run as fast and far away as possible from this mess.

My Rating at the IMDb: 1 star out of a possible 10

The Watcher in the Woods

2017

USA

Directed by: Melissa Joan Hart
Written by: Scott Abbott (teleplay); Florence Engel Randall (novel)
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Tallulah Evans, Nicholas Galitzine
Rating: TV-PG

Synopsis (from Internet Movie Database):

Mrs. Aylwood (Anjelica Huston) is a distraught mother since her daughter, Karen, vanished in the Welsh countryside 30 years ago. When the Carstairs family move into the Aylwood manor for the summer, strange occurrences begin to unnerve the family and Jan Carstairs (Tallulah Evans) begins to suspect that they are linked to Karen's disappearance. As Jan unravels the dark past hidden by the townspeople, she delves further into the mystery and deeper into danger, but now it might be too late to escape the Watcher in the Woods.

My Thoughts:

Remake of a cult classic from 1980. Lots of problems here (and lots of "borrowings"), although the atmosphere was nice. Reminded me of those PBS After School Specials I used to watch sometimes, back in the '90s. Melissa Joan Hart's first time directing a feature-length film, I believe. Room for improvement, but shows potential. How did she rope Anjelica Huston into this project?

My Rating at the IMDb: 2 stars out of a possible 10

Dracula A.D. 1972

1972

Great Britain

Directed by: Alan Gibson
Written by: Don Houghton (screenplay); Bram Stoker (characters), uncredited
Cast: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Stephanie Beacham, Christopher Neame, 
Rating: PG

Synopsis (from Rotten Tomatoes website):

...in ultra-mod '70s London, Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) is revived after 100 years by a gang of devil-worshipping swingers led by the not-so-cleverly-named Johnny Alucard (Christopher Neame), and later joined by Jessica (Stephanie Beacham), granddaughter of the legendary vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing, returning to the role after more than a decade). After the group manages to resurrect the Count, he sets about the task of destroying the house of Van Helsing once and forever, leading to a battle in a de-sanctified cathedral. Despite some well-staged scenes, a thrilling prologue (involving a tense battle between Lee and Cushing aboard a runaway coach) and the presence of the stunning Caroline Munro, this is definitely one of the weaker entries in the series, and the script gives Lee very little to do with the hissing, red-eyed villain. 

My Thoughts:

Wow! Who knew vampires were so groovy? Not much of interest here. Peter Cushing turns in a decent performance, as always. But by 1972 Christopher Lee was 50 years old and had been playing Count Dracula for at least 15 years. It's a little disturbing to see the Count aging, since he's supposed to be immortal. One of Stephanie Beacham's earliest films, and she was lovely to watch. (And so were her breasts.)

My Rating at the IMDb: 2 stars out of a possible 10

Dead Souls

2012

USA

Directed by: Colin Theys
Written by: John Doolan (screenplay), Michael Laimo (novel)
Cast: Jesse James, Magda Apanowicz, Bill Moseley, Geraldine Hughes, Noah Fleiss, Jaiden Kaine
Rating: not rated

Lots of creepy atmosphere and texture in this one, but lots of confusion, too.

On his 18th birthday, Johnny Petrie (Jesse James) learns he's adopted and that he's inherited a farm in Maine. Eager to get away from the hideously circumscribed existence he's led with the aunt who raised him, he strikes out for Maine intending to make the farm his new home. When he gets there, though, he finds the place in very bad shape after being uninhabited for nearly twenty years -- since the deaths of his natural family at the hands of his (I think) grandfather, Reverend Benjamin Conroy. He also finds some locals who are less than thrilled to have him around, and a young homeless woman (Magda Apanowicz) who's been staying in the abandoned farm house.

The town's former sheriff (who is now also the town's drunk) eventually shows up to provide a little background about what exactly has been going on. I could have used a lot more help in that area.  I'm still not really sure what the heck it all meant. There was something about Johnny's brother Daniel protecting him when the rest of the family was killed. And something else about conducting a seance to contact Daniel's spirit so he could go on protecting him from evil spirits in the house. At least I think that's how it went. I never really understood why the family was killed, or why the local bully was so pissed off about it all, or why Johnny didn't just say no way am I living in that obviously haunted house. And I'm really not happy about the way they treated that dog.

My IMDb rating: 3 stars out of a possible 10

The Whisperer in Darkness

2011

USA

Directed by: Sean Branney
Screenplay by: Sean Branney, Andrew Leman
From the story by: H.P. Lovecraft
Cast: Barry Lynch, Matt Lagan, Matt Foyer
Rating: not rated


Synopsis (from Rotten Tomatoes website): 

[S]creen adaptation of the classic weird tale by legendary horror writer HP Lovecraft. Following a series of floods in rural Vermont, the bodies of grotesque creatures are found floating in several rivers. The creatures match descriptions given in certain local myths and legends. University Folklorist Albert Wilmarth (Matt Foyer) is initially dismissive of the stories, until he starts to receive a series of increasingly disturbing letters from a Vermont farmer, that hint at a horrifying truth. He travels to Vermont to investigate further, and uncovers a conspiracy that extends out into the furthest reaches of space and the darkest pits of hell.

My thoughts:

Some great atmosphere in this one, and I loved the black-and-white photography. But the pace is slow and the plot confusing. In fact, at times it seems even the actors are confused about what they're supposed to be doing. It was sort of hard for me to stick with it -- had to watch it three times to take it all in because I kept falling asleep. I guess that's not a very good recommendation, but I really didn't hate it. There were definitely some moments of genuine creepiness -- just not enough of them.

My IMDb rating: 4 stars out of a possible 10

Acacia

2003

Korea

Written and Directed by Ki-hyeong Park
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language

Synopsis from SundanceChannel.com:

"Korean filmmaker Ki-Hyung Park (Whispering Corridors) serves up an unsettling tale of muted dread about a childless couple's attempts to forge a family. Despite her mother's disapproval, Mi-sook (Hye-jin Shim) and her husband (Jin-geun Kim) adopt Jin-seong (Oh-bin Mun), a quiet, artistic six-year-old boy. Soon Jin-seong evinces an obsessive attraction to a dying acacia tree in the backyard, which he associates with his birth mother. Yet even more unsettling events are in store when Mi-sook unexpectedly becomes pregnant."

My Thoughts:
Strange and definitely "unsettling" film with two adorably spooky kids who looked a little too much like the wraiths in The Grudge for my taste. Pretty good psychological suspense drama with a supernatural touch. One of those films that make the viewer work a little to figure things out. Kept me guessing about what was actually going on, and it delivered surprises right up to the end. Gorgeous cinematography and nice spare settings; even though the film was in color, it almost comes across as black-and-white so that the violent splashes of red in the final scenes are all the more shocking. If you're contemplating adoption, you'll probably want to stay away from this one.

This film kept me watching all the way through, even with its unpleasant subject matter and some pretty graphic violence (including, it should be noted, one rape scene). Probably not one I'd advise anyone to seek out, but I found it pretty entertaining.

My IMDb Rating: 4 stars out of a possible 10

1408

2007

USA

Director: Mikael Håfström
Writers: Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski 
Based on a short story by Stephen King 
Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Tony Shalhoub, Mary McCormack 
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing sequences of violence and terror, frightening images and language

Story:

Writer Mike Enslin (John Cusack) believes only in what he can see with his own two eyes. He's written a string of bestsellers discrediting paranormal events in the most infamous haunted houses and graveyards around the world, always hoping for some proof of "afterlife." The target of his latest literary project is suite 1408 of New York's notorious Dolphin Hotel.  The room is permanently "unavailable for guests"; but after he threatens to sue the hotel, Enslin is allowed to spend a night in the room.  And it's a night during which his cynical skepticism is going to change forever.  Because at the Dolphin, when you stay in room 1408, just like the song says: Some guests check in, but they can never leave.

My Thoughts:
Watched this a few weeks ago on (I think) TBS.  I'd been watching Winter Olympics coverage for several days straight, and needed some relief.  I had seen it before – I think we got it from Netflix back around the time it was first out. Or maybe it was on one of the movie channels. Anyway, I was very disappointed with it that first time, but after seeing it again, it seemed much more frightening than I remembered. I think the special effects are too over-the-top to be really scary; when a movie becomes a cartoon it loses much of its potential for true spookiness. But on second view, I was able to get past all the CGI junk and enjoy the really very creepy story a bit more. Still, the scariest thing about it was watching Cusack crawling around on that hotel carpet!  Yow!

My IMDb Rating: 5 stars out of a possible 10

The Dark

2005

Directed by: John Fawcett
Written by: Simon Maginn (novel), Stephen Massicotte (screenplay)
Cinematography by: Christian Sebaldt
Cast: Sean Bean, Maria Bello, Sophie Stuckey, Abigail Stone
Rating: R for some violent/disturbing images and language

The Story:

In mourning over the tragic drowning of their daughter Sarah, James and Adèle are visited by Ebrill, a young girl who claims she died 60 years ago ... and bares a startling resemblance to Sarah. (-- IMDb website)

My Thoughts:
Watchable for the most part.  Several very disturbing images -- not for the squeamish.  And some of the plot could have used a bit more development.  Generally well-acted and definitely creepy, but the end disappoints. 

My IMDb rating: Four stars out of a possible Ten

Triangle

2009

UK/Australia

Written and Directed by: Christopher Smith
Cinematography: Robert Humphreys
Cast: Melissa George, Joshua McIvor, Jack Taylor, Michael Dorman, Henry Nixon, Rachael Carpani,  Emma Lung, Liam Hemsworth, Bryan Probets
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language

Story:

During a weekend sailing trip, a freak wave capsizes Greg’s yacht, forcing him, single mother Jess (Melissa George) and a group of his friends to board a passing ocean liner. Onboard the mysteriously empty ship, all the clocks have stopped, the ‘Shining’-like corridors are spookily silent, and Jess has an uncanny feeling that she’s been here before. Then a hooded figure starts hunting them down and killing them one by one. Shotguns are fired, fire axes are wielded and bodies pile up on the decks. Fiendishly constructed, this plays like a dark, disturbing ‘Twilight Zone’ episode. Events repeat themselves but are subtly different each time, so we share, as well as observe, Jess’s spiralling sense of dislocation. [--Nigel Floyd, Timeout.com]

My Thoughts:
This was actually not the waste of time I thought it would be.  There's something oddly karmic in the continual replay of events, with each iteration showing us the story from a just slightly different angle.  I generally don't like movies that repeat the same action over and over (with the glorious exception of Groundhog Day) -- but in this one it works. 

My IMDb Rating: 5 stars out of a possible 10