The WHF Film Club

[strapped for cash]

I always struggle with the definition of 'Horror'. When does a psychological thriller become a horror?

I think the short answer to that is, nobody's ever been able to clearly define any individual genre. In other words, if you think it's a horror film, it's a horror film.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Most Hollywood films horrify me. *biggrin*

*biggrin*

 

[strapped for cash]

I'm bound to miss some, but I'll have a go at listing some of my favourites,

An American Werewolf In London

The Thing

Les Diaboliques

Audition

Dark Water

Jacob's Ladder

Martyrs

Alien

Next Door

Sheitan

The Exorcist

I've still not seen Martyrs, I'm not sure I'd have the stomach for it, which doesn't mean it's a bad film.

+1 on Les Diaboliques. Did you ever watch Eyes Without a Face? I seem to remember you picking up the Criterion DVD as part of a bumper Ebay package, or something like that.

There's a Franju short, La Premiere nuit, on the BFI Eyes Without a Face Blu-ray, which isn't horror by any standards, but it's a great little surrealist film. It's almost worth picking up the BD for this alone.

 

[strapped for cash]

Most Hollywood films horrify me. *biggrin*

*biggrin*

I'm not having it! *stop* *smile*

There's plenty of Hollywood dross, but over a century of American filmmaking has produced so many exceptional movies that I couldn't begin to list them.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I've still not seen Martyrs, I'm not sure I'd have the stomach for it, which doesn't mean it's a bad film.

It's definitely not a film for the weak stomached.

+1 on Les Diaboliques. Did you ever watch Eyes Without a Face? I seem to remember you picking up the Criterion DVD as part of a bumper Ebay package, or something like that.

I haven't watched Eyes Without A Face yet, but I do have the Criterion DVD. It wasn't part of an eBay package, but part of an excellent job lot of DVDs I bought at a local auction.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I assume you mean the Murnau 1922 classic (there's a BFI Blu-ray out next month, though it'll have to go some to better the MoC BD release).

Yes, I have the MoC remaster in the guise of a steelbook (not sure if it was a Zavvi exclusive).

I like the Herzog 1979 version which, coincidentally, I watched last night. Bruno Ganz's arrival at the castle to Wagner's Das Rheingold Prelude (along with the build up) is one of my favourite sequences in horror cinema.

I have to admit to not seeing Herzog's version, but seeing the screenshots, I've never been inclined to do so.

I also have a soft spot for Salem's Lot (the Tobe Hooper mini-series rather than the awful version with Rob Lowe and Rutger Hauer). Max Shreck's Count Orlok was clearly inspiration for "The Master," who was the source of nightmares when I was a kid. I'd love to see a BD release, though it's unlikely.

I think the reason I like Salem's Lot (which I watched last night) is that despite its lack of edge (it was a TV movie after all), The Master is, as you say, obviously based on Nosferatu.

If you haven't seen What We Do In The Shadows, I highly recommend it - it's a New Zealand documentary/comedy about four vampires from different eras living/surviving in the same house together. Very funny, and well done.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Most Hollywood films horrify me. *biggrin*

*biggrin*

I'm not having it! *stop* *smile*

There's plenty of Hollywood dross, but over a century of American filmmaking has produced so many exceptional movies that I couldn't begin to list them.

I should have added the words 'modern day' to the sentence.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I also have a soft spot for Salem's Lot

Me too. Scared the s**t out of me when I was a kid, and I can still watch it now.

 

[strapped for cash]

I haven't watched Eyes Without A Face yet, but I do have the Criterion DVD. It wasn't part of an eBay package, but part of an excellent job lot of DVDs I bought at a local auction.

You should give it a spin. I assume you were referring to the Japanese original when listing Dark Water.

Have you seen Pulse? I have to admit to not getting on brilliantly with J-horror (which is a pretty loose category I appreciate) and, as I think I've said before, East Asian cinema remains something of a blind spot for me, with the exception of Kurosawa, Ozu, and Chan-wook Park, which is hardly referencing lesser know filmmakers.

 

[strapped for cash]

I have to admit to not seeing Herzog's version, but seeing the screenshots, I've never been inclined to do so.

Sacrilege. The BFI Blu-ray is great, though if you buy it, watch the German subtitled version first.

If you haven't seen What We Do In The Shadows, I highly recommend it - it's a New Zealand documentary/comedy about four vampires from different eras living/surviving in the same house together. Very funny, and well done.

Yeah, I'm waiting for a price drop on that one. I'm a bit of a miser when it comes to blind purchases, but I know it's very well reviewed. I guess I could buy the DVD second-hand, with a view to a Blu-ray upgrade if I really enjoy it. Appreciate the recommendation.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I assume you were referring to the Japanese original when listing Dark Water.

Oh yes. There was a splurge of Japanese horror films at that time, and a lot of them do have their merits, but for me, Dark Water was the best of the bunch, and it genuinely unnerved me.

I have mentioned this before, but I do highly recommend catching up on The Returned on All4 if you've never seen it.

 

[richardw42]

I'm no horror fan by any stretch, but there are some I will watch over.

What did people think of the vampire film CRONOS. Is this a horror ? It certainly was horrific for the characters.

 

[strapped for cash]

If you haven't seen What We Do In The Shadows, I highly recommend it - it's a New Zealand documentary/comedy about four vampires from different eras living/surviving in the same house together. Very funny, and well done.

On the subject of vampire films, have you seen Martin? "

"The Wurdulak" section in Black Sabbath is pretty good, too, if viewed as a product of a specific era in Italian filmmaking.

I mentioned price drops and blind purchases and I'm also waiting until A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night becomes more affordable.

 

[strapped for cash]

I have mentioned this before, but I do highly recommend catching up on The Returned on All4 if you've never seen it.

Thanks. I've heard good things.

As often, it comes down to time, though I don't think there were too many episodes in the season. It struck me as vaguley Lynchian, which always appeals.

 

[strapped for cash]

Jacob's Ladder: Again, one I have only seen once quite a long time ago, and due to not really understanding it at the time, wasn't overly keen on it. I've been meaning to revisit it, but haven't managed to yet.

I like Jacob's Ladder. The key to unlocking the narrative is in the title.

It also works simply as a head-f*cking experience.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Jacob's Ladder

Again, one I have only seen once quite a long time ago, and due to not really understanding it at the time, wasn't overly keen on it. I've been meaning to revisit it, but haven't managed to yet.

To me, one of the most underrated films ever. Genuinely scary. I think the ending gives it away completely, but it's a great film. Revisit.

 

[Frank Harvey]

BBB is going to wish another thread was started... 🙂

On the subject of vampire films, have you seen Martin? "

I have, but was a long time ago...

"The Wurdulak" section in Black Sabbath is pretty good, too, if viewed as a product of a specific era in Italian filmmaking.

I always get mixed up between Black Sabbath and Black Sunday!

I mentioned price drops and blind purchases and I'm also waiting until A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night becomes more affordable.

A better, recent vampire flick. I like it because it's different to the usual vampire movies we get nowadays.

Kiss Of The Damned is pretty good, as is Let The Right One In.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I have mentioned this before, but I do highly recommend catching up on The Returned on All4 if you've never seen it.

Thanks. I've heard good things.

As often, it comes down to time, though I don't think there were too many episodes in the season. It struck me as vaguley Lynchian, which always appeals.

8 episodes, I think.

I've seen comparisons to Twin Peaks, but as I didn't stay with Twin Peaks for very long, I can't back those comparisons up.

My wife has become quite addicted to The Returned, and she loved Twin Peaks, so there must be something there.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Jacob's Ladder: Again, one I have only seen once quite a long time ago, and due to not really understanding it at the time, wasn't overly keen on it. I've been meaning to revisit it, but haven't managed to yet.

I like Jacob's Ladder. The key to unlocking the narrative is in the title.

It also works simply as a head-f*cking experience.

I cannot for the life of me get me head around Donnie Darko, though I stll love it, but Jacob's Ladder in comparison is pretty straight forward. It's in my top 10.

 

[strapped for cash]

I always get mixed up between Black Sabbath and Black Sunday!

Both are classic Bava.

Black Sunday is the one with Barbara Steele, in black and white.

Black Sabbath was a very loose sequel and portmanteau, featuring the iconic rising, floating witch in the last segment of the Italian (rather than AiP) version.

Both seem pretty camp now, but have moments that remain genuinely creepy.

The Phone section of Black Sabbath was in many ways proto-Giallo, and its influence can be seen through Black Christmas (love it, Clark got there before Carpenter), When a Stranger Calls (great opening half-hour) and Scream (Meh).

 

[strapped for cash]

BBB is going to wish another thread was started... 🙂

Maybe! (Though I think it's good to clock up some posts on this thread for the time being).

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

One film I missed on my list, which I think deserves mentioning, is It Follows, which apart from the ending, was a really good idea, pretty well executed. They really messed the ending up though.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

BBB is going to wish another thread was started... 🙂

Maybe! (Though I think it's good to clock up some posts on this thread for the time being).

It's all movie related, so no problem, and I'm sure it will have slowed down before we're ready to discuss the designated films, anyway.

 

[strapped for cash]

They really messed the ending up though.

Do you mean the very end, or the swimming pool scene? I didn't have a problem with either, though I found It Follows less unnerving on second viewing. I still think it's a very good film.

I thoughtThe Babadook was very good, too; perhaps a little clunky in places, but it was conceptually excellent and quite unsettling once you unpack what it's really about.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

They really messed the ending up though.

Do you mean the very end, or the swimming pool scene? I didn't have a problem with either, though I found It Follows less unnerving on second viewing. I still think it's a very good film.

I thoughtThe Babadook was very good, too; perhaps a little clunky in places, but it was conceptually excellent and quite unsettling once you unpack what it's really about.

I meant the swimming pool scene. I can't remember the very end for some reason, which means I'll have to watch it again.

I've not seen, or even heard of The Babadook, so I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Is it the kind of film we'd find in Sky Movies Indie section?