Haunted House Blog, Halloween News, Horror Reviews, Movies, Games

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Review: His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th

His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th certainly may have started life as a way to cash in on the Success of Halloween but it created a icon of horror that is known throughout the world. With a total of 10 starring roles, a costarring gig with Freddy and a new remake hitting theaters in a week Jason has become a superstar of slasher films. While the quality of the films may vary from entry to entry it hasn't quenched the thirst the public has to see him do his thing. In anticipation for his latest outing in the "re-imagining" due to be release on Friday Feb. 13th we've been treated to a new documentary spanning all the films called His Name Was Jason.

Make up effects legend Tom Savini performs hosting duties and gives us a full retrospective on Jason from conception to death, rebirth, death again and now another rebirth. If you’ve read Peter Bracke extremely detailed Crystal Lake Memories then you may already know all you need to ever know about the series. His Name Was Jason doesn’t really add anything to that and instead tries to summarize it all in 90 minutes and even in that running time it sometimes seems to drift off the rails a bit. Interviews with the cast, directors, producers and fans take us through all the movies including the new remake. The only director that’s absent from this documentary is Steve Miner who apparently Is too busy making horrible zombie movies to be bothered talking about the iconic character he helped create.

There are some really great parts to this documentary such as when the man behind the mask in part 4 says that Corey Feldman was a brat or when several parties from Friday Part 3 take credit for the Hockey mask or perhaps how serious the first Jason, Ari Lehman, seems about the “development and character” of his Jason. Really?

However he’s not the only Jason to be a little over the top with his remarks. Apparently there were 2 people who played Jason in part 2 and one of them refuses to acknowledge the other. However the overall funniest part has to be the girl who played Alice in part 1, who looks amazing for her age still as do most of these women, waxes philosophical about how important her role was and how the fans have touched her life so much. It’s a nice thing to say but she goes on and on about it for some time in her extended interview.

Ultimately what I noticed about the actors, stuntmen and even some of the directors was how tied they are to these movies because their still touring conventions and charging $20 to sign autographs. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t begrudge an actor for trying to make some money but it seems a little sad that when that’s what they get reduced to.

Some of the guest interviews such as Robot Chicken Creator Seth Green seem perfectly natural to have. The most bizarre guest though has to be the actor from the TV series Psych, who appears in this documentary with no ties to the film series whatsoever and no explanation as to why he should be there at all.

The bonus features are extended interviews with the men who played Jason which seem to range from bitter, to proud with what they did (Kane Hodder), to oblivious to how bad their Jason was (Ken Kirzinger from FVSJ). The Second Disc has the extended interviews with the cast and crew of the films. The directors bits are pretty interesting and even the actors have their moments. There’s also a short tour through Jason’s Haunted House in Universal Studios which is cool but they filmed it before it opened apparently so they have no footage of the actors during a show which is a little disappointing. Lastly they have also put in some Fan films which are actually quite funny and entertaining to watch.

His Name was Jason is a comprehensive overview of everything that’s happened in the Friday Films since the beginning. It’s definitely worth its price and it should satisfy even the most Rabid Friday fan, of which I am one. All said and done this is a much better documentary than Halloween: 25 Years of Terror that came a few years ago for the Halloween fans. Halloween’s Documentary skimmed over most of the Halloween movies, did sparse interviews and wrapped it up with a terrible monotone narrator. The biggest mistake of the Halloween Doc though had to be its video after video of insane fans doing everything from offering up their own storylines to singing songs about how much they love Michael Myers. It’s hard to watch and it feels really disrespectful to the series and to what the fans want. His Name was Jason never sinks into this at all and what little bit they do show of fans is actually good and steers clear of crazy singing fans altogether. This is definitely one of the best retrospectives given to any film series and a must have for any Friday fan.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Book Review: THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY

TITLE: THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY

AUTHOR: BILL HUSSEY
PUBLISHER: BLOODY BOOKS
FIRST PUBLISHED: 2008
440 PAGES

Plot Summary:
Jack Trent, the most effective CID officer in the history of the department, is having bad dreams. He has seen the murder of a child in a forest at the hands of something indescribable. But these are more than dreams. They are visions of the future that Jack has tried for years to suppress. Something happened to Jack in his childhood; something that means he cannot touch another living person; something that killed his mother, and that has returned to inspire his visions.

In a final race against time, events reach a dramatic climax as Jack attempts to save a boy’s life in the clearing of Redgrave Forest. Can he face the long-dead Dr Mendicant and the ancient Darkness of Crow Haven? Can he face the evil living inside himself? And what will he make of the Doctor’s final, devastating revelation?

Author Info: Bill Hussey has been quoted as being the new voice of horror. He has a masters degree in creative writing from Sheffield Hallam University. Bill has two novels to date his debut Through a Glass, Darkly and the soon to be released The Absence.

It is said on Bill Hussey's website that this book was inspired by a lifetime devoted to the horror story, and that certainly shows through. There are lots of staples of the classic horror stories from the 80's and early 90's. Whilst reading I was constantly reminded of movies like "Nightmare On Elm Street" "Friday The 13th" and "Hellraiser". I am not stating that this book is not original or that the plot is similar to any of the those movies, there are just some noticeable elements that scream classic horror. Examples being the child murdering supernatural villain, a haunted forest and possession. Also much like in the Freddy movies there are many dream sequences that you are never sure are real or not.

The villian in the book is Dr Mendicate also known as the Crowman. Mendicate is a one of the most frightening villains I have encountered in any movie or book in a long time.
Bill does an excellent job in depicting a scary image of the Mendicate without revealing to much. There is a mystery and darkness around him throughout much like Dr Hannabal Lecter in "The Silence Of The Lambs" you never really know what he is capable of and dread finding out. The Crowmans appearances in the book were easily my favorite segments.

The story is set in Crow Haven in the Fen villages of Licolnshire England. To anyone not aware the Fens are remote and lonely countrysides and are deemed quite creepy with there many dark forests and woods. They play a big part in the plot and I think they are what makes the book so dark and disturbing. Simply because its not to hard to imagine such horrific events taking place in these isolated areas.

Through a Glass, Darkly is not a simple cat and mouse tale of heroin and villian. There are many other elements, Jack Trent struggles with a tragic past, Father Asher Brody recalls his accounts with the evil of Crow Haven, and there is also a touch of romance between Jack and hes colleague Dawn Howard. All of these factors are well written and add up to a deep thoughtful piece of work.

Maybe there are a little to many cliches of the horror genre but not enough to make it feel repetitive (and not nearly as many as most mainstream horror movies of late).
Another minor grumble I personally prefer fast paced novels throughout the majority Through a Glass darkly has a slow and steady pace. Although the slow pace certainly allows characters and events to crawl under your skin there didn't seem to be many adrenaline pumping sequences. Is that a bad thing? well that all depends on your own preferences.

All in all Through a Glass, Darkly is a frightening and disturbing debut novel from a very promising author. It paints characters and images that stick with you long after you have finished reading. And although quite slow paced you are never even close to boredom. I not only recommend but urge you to purchase this book.

The doctor will see you now. . . . .

By Joe Gray
Contributing Writer

Monday, February 09, 2009

Review of Dead Space (XBOX, 360, PS3, PC)

TITLE: DEAD SPACE PUBLISHER: EA GAMES GENRE: SCI FI SHOOTER
AVAILABLE ON: XBOX 360, PS3, PC
CERT: 18
RELEASED: OCTOBER 2008

Ask someone what their favorite scary game is and the answer you will most likely receive will be either A: Resident Evil or B: Silent Hill and this is for good reason. For years now these two franchises has dominated the horror genre, And ever since that first resident evil had us exploring an old abandoned mansion in 1997 or Silent Hill had us dreading the sound of that portable radio in 1999 we just haven't looked back. Whats more both games have released very successful movies off the back of the their amazing popularity. This is not to say there has not been contenders Alone In The Dark, Project Zero, and Clive Barkers Jericho plus many others all had a dig but in my opinion no game has come close to the success of the two leaders. That is however until Dead Space.

the plot In short: You are Isaac Clarke an engineer for the Concordance Extraction Corporation sent on a mission to investigate why one of the corporations working mining ships has lost all radio contact. However once you board the abandoned ship and become separated from the rest of your crew its very obvious a broken radio system is the least of your worries.

The developers did not hold off on the fear factor in this game, it is SCARY. From the feeling of isolation to the many mutated creatures that now inhabit the stranded ship everything is well executed to scare you. I think the most impressive thing about Dead Space is how atmospheric it is, the space craft whichyou are exploring is extremely detailed and when playing the game I often found myself turning the volume down as the eerie sounds that emanate from the ship and from the creatures that seem to be endlessly stalking you are very frightening. Another of my favorite factors in the game is the cinematic set pieces it throws at you whilst adventuring around. You can be walking down a corridor you recently explored and sure is safe, all of a sudden the lights will flicker off the sound will fall silent and much like watching a movie you know something is coming. That something could be a creature lurking in one of the vents just waiting to pounce on you and chomp into your flesh, or an asteroid about to plummet through the roof right in front of you. either way it will make you jump.

The look of the creatures is also something worth pointing out. Only once you have killed a couple and examined the dead bloody carcasses closely it becomes apparent they aren't just aliens. They look more like mutated humans and when you encounter a few of the surviving crew members of the mining ship its clear they are insane, brainwashed, and possibly on the verge of becoming something inhuman and murderous. disturbing right? exactly! To have gamers genuinely fear the enemy in a game is hard to achieve, Dead Space doesn't seem to have a problem.

The combat also stands out from other survival games. The only way to kill your enemy is to dismember them literally limb for limb. This is a very fun satisfying and gory way of killing, Rather than just shooting randomly it requires skill. Steadyingg your aim to take out the legs of a mutant charging at you is a lot harder than it sounds. Also different species require different methods so it keeps you on your toes.

Dead Space is hard to fault it has a brilliant storyline an innovative way of combating, quirky features will keep you entertained such as zero gravity areas and many personalizable weapons. The only small fault I can see is when you get a lot of creatures up close around you the view and controls can easily get you flustered. A very minor point in a very impressive game.

For anybody who enjoys horror games Dead Space is a must. One thing is for sure you will be scared and so will the developers of those two leading games in the genre. Watch this space for a Dead Space movie review? Probably so.

By Joe Gray
Contributing Writer

Friday, February 06, 2009

My Bloody Valentine (1981) Special Edition

The original My Bloody Valentine 1981 movie was never a big hit for me as a young horror aficionado in the 80's but the image of the gas mask and Miners hat always stuck with me even if the movie didn't. So I wasn't expecting much from re watching this movie for the first time in 20-some years. I was surprised to find a well written, well directed, moody slasher film that I realize I didn't appreciate upon my first viewing.

The film takes place in the small mining town of Valentine Bluffs that 20 year previous suffered a methane explosion that trapped several miners. After six weeks only one survived, Harry Warden who was stark raving mad. A year later Harry escapes from the Hospital he's in and returns to kill the guilty foremen whose negligence he blamed for the explosion on Valentines day. He leaves a note that if the town ever celebrates Valentines day again they will all suffer the wrath of Harry Warden. Twenty years later that town is once again planning to celebrate Valentines day with a dance and party. All the workers at the mine are excited about this since there's nothing else to do in Valentines Bluff apparently. Promptly people start getting dispatched in creative ways with mining equipment and the town leaders decide to shut down the valentine dance. This of course doesn't fade the young mine workers who decide to sneak out to the mine and have their party there.

The makers of My Bloody Valentine decided to take the route of not really knowing who the killer was and this pays off. There's tension between TJ Hanniger, who left Valentine's Bluff years ago to find a new life, and Axel who is now dating TJ's ex, Sarah, when he returns to town. Sarah misses TJ and Axel feels threatened by TJ being back in town. This plot line alone manages to raise My Bloody Valentine above the usual slasher faire that was packing movie houses in the 80's. The storyline does a decent job of keeping you guessing as to who the killer might be until the final scenes which layer on the tension as everyone frantically tries to escape the mine before the killer finds them.

The filmmakers created a pretty iconic killer with his gas mask respirator and miner hat and light. The kills use mining equipment throughout and are pretty inventive at times. This is the first movie that I can think of that uses a nail gun to dispatch an unlucky victim. The killers outfit is creepy and really instills the same primal fear that Michael Myers and Jason did when they began.

The film was shot in Nova Scotia Canada and the film makers try using the dreary atmosphere the best they can. Its been my observation that movies can either embrace their location and live in it or they can try it make it look like something else entirely which often fails. The special edition restores all the cuts taken from the movie upon its initial release. Stuff that's pretty tame by todays standards but it does bring more coherence to the movie.

There are special features on the disc, the best being a featurette called Bloodlust: My Bloody Valentine and the Rise of the Slasher film, which only spends about 10 minutes in retrospective of the Original film and 15 talking about the new 3D remake. There are interviews with the cast and film makers of the original but it feels truncated. The comments are broad, and the interviews offer little more insight then where they filmed it and what it was like in the mine. There's also a film critic/filmmaker who made a documentary about slasher movies who offers some of the most pompous sounding comments to the featurette in talking about the heritage of slasher films. The featurette just becomes a commercial for The remake after that which is really unfortunate.

There's also something else that is sorely missing from this dvd and that's a filmmakers commentary. I would have really enjoyed hearing more about what was happening behind the scenes with this film. When you consider they were green lit in August of 1980 with no script, and then the film was finished and released by Feb. 14 1981 I think there's got to be some interesting behind the scenes anecdotes there.

While this might be the best DVD release this film ever sees I do wish there was more to it than a short retrospective and extended gore scenes. However its nice to see this movie get some of the love it deserves with a clean film transfer and uncut for the first time. Its a film that many overlooked in the past and its great that its getting its second chance.

What's New at HauntedHouse.com?

By now you've certainly realized we're changing pretty rapidly. We've been busy redesigning the entire site, which I can assure you is no easy task. We're also adding content, adding haunts, adding links and adding features! We're also going to be showing some love to our long neglected Blog by bringing on some new contributors very soon! Stay tuned for Lots more good stuff at HauntedHouse.com !