TODOH #11: Freaks (1932)

“Make me one of you, will you?“

While some would argue that 1932’s Freaks isn’t necessarily a horror film, I believe that the climax of the film, which I won’t spoil, gives it everything it needs to earn that title. The film, directed by Tod Browning and based upon the short story Spurs by Tod Robbins, tells the story of a young circus performer named Hans (Harry Earles), a dwarf, who comes into a large inheritance, and a scheming trapeze artist named Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) who hatches a plan with the circus strongman, Hercules (Henry Victor), to seduce and marry Hans in order to poison and ultimately kill him, gaining his inheritance as her reward. Unfortunately for Cleopatra and Hercules, Hans’ friends, the circus “freaks,” discover her true plan and attempt to warn him before Cleopatra successfully murders him. The climax of the film is terrifying and under Tod Browning’s skillful guidance, played out to perfection.

The film was divisive from the start. Even in the 1930s, the movie drew criticism for its portrayal of real people with real medical issues as freaks. Others claimed that the film showed these so-called freaks in a setting where they are treated as equals among “normal” humans and that the real freaks were Cleopatra and Hercules. No matter which side of the argument you fall on, you have to admit that the film and its story are brilliant. The cast was amazing and I felt real emotions as I watched the story on the screen. Horror fans may recognize Browning’s name due to his extensive work with Lon Chaney and for the fact that he directed a little film starring Bela Lugosi called Dracula (1931).

Freaks is a perfect storm of story, controversy, romance, and prejudice. While only a heavily edited, sixty-four minute version of the film is known to exist, there are plenty of resources on both the web and in books that describe Browning’s original ninety-minute version of the film and it is even more sinister than the version that I’ve seen. I highly recommend this film for both its amazing story and its historical significance.

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TODOH #10: The Mist (2007)

“Tonight the beast will leave us alone.”

If you’re looking for a fun time, don’t watch 2007’s The Mist. Based upon (and better, in my opinion) the novella by Stephen King, The Mist is a film with no happy ending. A bizarre mist arrives in a small town in Maine and brings with it a countless number of strange creatures, some with tentacles, others that can fly, giants, arachnids, and all sorts of other monsters. David Drayton (Thomas Jane) and his son, Billy (Nathan Gamble), find themselves trapped with a number of other people in the local grocery store, trying to determine what exactly is in the mist and if they can survive it. Cliques begin to form within the group in the supermarket, with the loudest and most intense one being a group led by Mrs. Carmody (the brilliant Marcia Gay Harden), a religious zealot convinced that the world is coming to an end. David has his own group, composed of fairly level-headed people attempting to find a way to survive the situation. As tempers flare, the monsters in the mist become a secondary threat to the people who are turning on one another in the supermarket. Eventually a group decides to leave the store and…..things don’t go well. I won’t spoil this film for you, but I will say that it’s a brilliant film that will leaving you feeling pretty down once the credits role.

The film’s cast is brilliant and features a number of actors who will eventually end up together on The Walking Dead. This should surprise no one considering the fact that The Mist is directed by Frank Darabont, who developed and executive produced the first season and part of the second season of The Walking Dead. He also wrote the screenplay for The Mist. Actors in the movie with ties to TWD include Laurie Holden, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey DeMunn, Sam Witwer, Juan Gabriel Pareja, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Cherie Gierhart, Brandon O’Dell, and Tiffany Morgan. The special effects are also top notch and also have a TWD connection in Greg Nicotero.

I recommend this film to anybody that loves stories that explore what happens to humanity when things start to fall apart. I also recommend it to TWD fans for the simple fact that it’s cool to see so many familiar faces from that franchise in one film. This movie is a brutal watch, but definitely worth it.

Thanks for checking out my review.

TODOH #9: Jason X (2001)

“He’s been modified.”

Before anybody blows their lid over the fact that Jason X made it into my favorite horror films list, just remember that this is 1) my list and 2) not a list of greatest horror films. I know that this film isn’t the best movie around, but I just love it. It’s campy, ridiculous, and happily pokes fun at itself while still providing some pretty cool science fiction action and gore. The film was released in 2001 and died at the box office. Much like other horror films, though, its production budget was pretty low and the film actually made a profit. It proved to be even more popular on home media and has become of the most profitable films in the Friday The 13th franchise.

In the film, Jason Voorhees is captured and cryogenically frozen by the US government. As things usually go when the federal government is involved, things go south and Jason breaks free of his frozen prison. Ultimately, a federal agent named Rowan tricks Jason back into the cryo chamber and freezes herself along with him. Over four hundred years later, a research team on a field trip to Earth I (long story, just watch the movie) find Jason and Rowan still frozen in the cryo chamber. Hoping to cash in on Jason’s infamy, the team’s lead professor makes the brilliant decision to bring Jason and Rowan aboard. Of course, Jason gets loose and goes on a killing spree, but these aren’t your typical camping teenagers. Nope, this group includes scientists, a crack team of security officers, and an android that is armed to the teeth! A battle ensues, but does Jason come out on top? Watch Jason X to find out for yourself!

The movie has all sorts of sci-fi action featuring everything from violent deaths to a spaceship crashing into a space station. It also has, in my opinion, the most awesome kill in the entire franchise. Let’s just say that it involves liquid nitrogen. The film stars Kane Hodder as Jason, Lexa Doig as Rowan, Lisa Ryder as KM-14, Chuck Campbell as Tsunaron, Melissa Ade as Janessa, and a number of other very capable actors including Kristi Angus, Jonathan Potts, David Cronenberg, and Melody Johnson. The special effects are very good, especially considering the budget, and the film’s music is sufficient.

I might give a more in-depth review of this film at a later date, but for now, just know that you’ll enjoy this film whether you’re a fan of slashers, sci-fi, or comedies. Thanks for checking out my post!

TODOH #8: Near Dark (1987)

“Park your carcass!”

Released just a few months after the much more successful The Lost Boys, Near Dark wasn’t a massive smash in 1987, but it found its fanbase on home video and cable television. I didn’t discover the film until the early 2000s, and it has become a favorite of mine. Much like The Lost Boys, it is a horror film featuring a family of vampires and their most recent recruit has fallen in love with her latest victim. He is being tested by the group to determine whether or not he is worthy to become part of the family. There’s a kid vampire in both films as well, but the one in Near Dark is an old, cranky man trapped in a young boy’s body. To top it all off, the potential recruit’s family has gone on the hunt to stop the vampires and save him….but that’s where the similarities end.

The vampire family in Near Dark is nomadic, gritty, and, in all honesty, a lot more violent than the pretty boys in The Lost Boys. The Near Dark vampires look and act like they’ve been through a lot. The vampire family’s leader, Jesse (Lance Henriksen), isn’t an electronics store owner, he’s a former Confederate soldier who is teaching his family how to survive in the world of the living. His second in command is Diamondback (Jenette Goldstein), who also happens to be his lover. The youngest vampire in the group, who also happens to be the oldest member, is the grumpy Homer (Joshua John Miller). The newest member of the family is Mae (Jenny Wright), who is still adjusting to her role in the group. The muscle of the group is Severen (Bill Paxton), Jesse’s longtime friend. Adrian Pasdar plays Caleb, Mae’s victim who is attempting to join the group.

The film is a grea blend of horror and western with a little bit of family bonding thrown in for good measure. It’s a violent film with some great action and a heaping helping of gore. I first reviewed the film here, so read that if you’d like a little more information about the film. The cool kids love The Lost Boys (justifiably so), but don’t miss out on the brutal coolness of Near Dark.

Thanks for checking out my review! See you tomorrow!

TODOH #7: Prom Night (1980)

“They killed her…..they killed her!”

Opening with the tragic death of young Robin Hammond, Prom Night (1980) sets up a twisted game that takes place exactly six years later on, you guessed it, prom night at Alexander Hamilton High School. The film, created as an attempt to cash in on the success of other slashers such as Halloween (which set the stage for Jamie Lee Curtis’ career as a scream queen), features some amazing practical effects work with believable kills based around a killer who is definitely not a professional murderer. In fact, the killer is a lot like Ghostface in the original Scream film, stumbling around and often making mistakes, but always making the kill.

The film starred Jamie Lee Curtis, Leslie Neilsen, Eddie Benton, Michael Tough, Casey Stevens, Mary Beth Rubens, David Mucci, Pita Oliver, and Antoinette Bower. It features one of the most sympathetic slashers you’ll ever meet, and one of my favorite slashers from the genre as a whole. The movie also features an amazing disco soundtrack created by Paul Zaza and Carl Zittrer that was written in roughly five days whenever production notified director Paul Lynch that they couldn’t afford the licensed songs that were used while shooting the film. It has every single 80s slasher genre trope including a slasher with a motive, teens losing their virginity and then losing their lives soon after, female nudity, tons of misdirection, jump scares, a final girl that everyone cheers for, and a prime suspect that isn’t a suspect at all.

Prom Night has grown to become one of my favorite horror films. I originally saw it about five years ago and have returned to it many times since then. The more that I watch it, the more I appreciate how well executed it is as a slasher film. Despite being similar to every other cookie-cutter slasher out there, this one rises above the rest for me.

Thanks for checking out today’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror review!

TODOH #6: Jaws (1975)

“Tell them I’m going fishing.”

Today’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror entry is not only one of my favorite movies, it’s the film that triggered a worldwide fear of sharks and the ocean. It gave us the legendary quote, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” We all felt the pain of Mrs. Kintner when she confronted Brody about the death of her son. It was the first bonafide summer blockbuster film. It has a theme song that sends chills down everybody’s spine. It’s…..dunh…..dunh…..dunh……dunh……Jaws!

The 1975 film, based upon the Peter Benchley book of the same name, has a very simple premise: A massive great white shark is terrorizing the locals on Amity Island during Fourth of July festivities and the mayor doesn’t want to close down the beach because tourist money is crucial to the town. The local police chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), teams up with a salty seadog named Quint (Robert Shaw) and an oceanographer named Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) to stop the shark themselves and everybody is afraid to go into the water.

The film was one of director Steven Spielberg’s earliest efforts and established him as a miracle worker based upon the countless production horror stories with the mechanical shark that constantly failed and all of the issues with shooting a film in the ocean. Despite the difficulties of making the film, Jaws proved to be a massive success. John Williams’ score won an Academy Award even though Spielberg laughed at Williams when he first presented the now legendary theme to the director. The cast and crew did an amazing job.

From it’s iconic opening skinny-dip scene to its award-winning score, everything about Jaws is perfect. If you’ve never seen it, this is your notice to go watch it now! You’ll never look at the water the same way.

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TODOH #5: M3GAN (2022)

“I won’t let anything harm you. Ever again.”

One of the most recent horror films to make it into my list of Thirty-One Favorites is 2022’s AI/robotics terror tale, M3GAN. In the film, a young lady, Cady, loses her parents in an accident and is taken in by her aunt, Gemma, who happens to be robotics whiz. Unable to connect with her niece, Gemma introduces her to M3GAN, an artificially intelligent companion that she has developed in the hopes that her niece will finally open up and connect with her. Impressed by Cady’s connection with M3GAN, Gemma’s company begins planning to mass produce M3GAN. The only problem is that M3GAN really, really wants to protect Cady from any and all threats, including people. The result is dark comedy/horror film featuring a fast-talking and sassy robot killing anybody in her way.

The film was a surprise hit when it was released. It spawned a sequel that took M3GAN in a completely different (and less popular) direction, and a spinoff called SOULM8TE. Neither film has garnered the attention or accolades of the original M3GAN film. The original movie is funny, a bit creepy, and chock full of “too-much-technology” warnings. The cast features Allison Williams as Gemma, Violet McGraw as Cady, Ronny Chieng as Gemma’s demanding boss, and Amie Donald (body) and Jenna Davis (voice) as M3GAN. Supporting roles feature Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps, who portray co-workers of Gemma’s who provide plenty of funny moments in the film.

From her snappy dialogue to her iconic dance moves, M3GAN hits all of the right notes. It’s a fun movie that captivated me and millions of other people. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t seen it yet.

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TODOH #4: Christine (1983)

“It seems like nobody likes my car these days.”

1983 was a huge year for movies. Some of the most popular films of all time were released that year. Return of the Jedi, Octopussy, Trading Places, and National Lampoon’s Vacation are just a few of the big films released that year. It was also a great year for cult classic horror films such as Sleepaway Camp, Mortuary, Pieces, and Curtains. Stephen King had three films based upon his books released as well, those films being Cujo, The Dead Zone, and today’s #4 film, Christine. I’ve reviewed this film before, and it’s also one of my favorite horror films of all time.

The movie stars Keith Gordon as a hapless nerd who buys Christine, a 1958 Plymouth Fury, that becomes possessive of whoever owns her. After restoring Christine, Arnie (Gordon) becomes more and more confident about himself, going so far as to ask out the beautiful new girl in school, Leigh (Alexandra Paul). Christine becomes jealous of Arnie’s new relationship and people start ending up dead. Arnie’s best friend, Dennis (John Stockwell), tries to intervene in Arnie’s bizarre relationship with Christine, and ends up hospitalized as a result. Things really get serious when a detective (Harry Dean Stanton starts sniffing around Arnie.

The premise is ridiculous, but somehow director John Carpenter, who also co-scored the film, manages to make an obsessive killer car believable and fun to watch on the screen. The entire cast give surprisingly strong performances and the special effects are absolutely outstanding.

Watch Christine if you haven’t seen it yet. If you have, you know just how amazing this film is! Thanks for checking out today’s post. See you tomorrow!

TODOH #3: Willow Creek (2013)

“Are you a believer?”

I’m not a fan of found footage films. I’ll acknowledge the fact that The Blair Witch Project utilized the internet to perfection when it comes to marketing, but the final film was dull, boring, and not that good. As a co-host of the Filmsquatch Podcast, I’ve had to watch many, many found footage films as that is one of the easiest and budget-friendly ways to make an independent film. As a fan of Bigfoot, 2013’s Willow Creek had been on my radar long before I started the podcast with my buddy, Patrick Bennett, and I had already viewed it a few times. Yes, the fact that it was a Bigfoot film enticed me, but what really hooked me in, despite it being a found footage movie, was the fact that it was written and directed by comedian and actor Bobcat Goldthwait.

Goldthwait did an amazing job with this film. He utilized sounds and practical effects to scare the crap out of tons of people with this movie. It didn’t hurt that the film’s two stars, Alexie Gilmore and Bryce Johnson, ran with the outline of the story that Goldthwait gave them and improvised most of the film with ease. They were very believable as a couple going out to investigate the area where the infamous Patterson-Gimlin film was shot in the 1960s. The highlight of the film was a nearly eighteen minute one shot wherein Gilmore and Johnson react to sounds and movements outside of their tent. It was a very tense scene and one of my favorite scenes in all of cryptid cinema.

If and when you do watch this film (if you haven’t watched it already), I highly recommend watching it with commentary on from Goldthwait, Gilmore, and Johnson. The trio do a great job of recalling different things that went on during the production. One of my favorite moments is when, during one very tense moment in the film, we learn about how actress Laura Montagna earned the nickname “Cinnamon Tits,” essentially breaking the tension of the scene. I do recommend watching the film without commentary first, and then diving back into it with the commentary.

If you’re looking for a real creeper that forces you to see things with your mind, give Willow Creek a shot. It’s got plenty of terror, a good dose of humor, and a couple of surprising scenes that will definitely catch you off guard.

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TODOH #2: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

“Because you have bewitched me.”

I have a strange relationship with 1999’s Sleepy Hollow. The film is obviously a horror movie, but much like The Nightmare Before Christmas, I find myself watching it multiple times between Halloween and Christmas. I’ve blogged about this before, but there is something about this film that feels like Christmas to me. Perhaps it’s the snow in the closing credits or perhaps it’s just Tim Burton’s style, but this horror film fits comfortably in the holiday season for me.

The film stars Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Richard Griffiths, Christopher Lee, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, and so many more wonderful actors. It’s Tim Burton’s take on the classic Washington Irving short story, expanded to throw in manipulation, misdirection, greed, and all sorts of other things. It has amazing effects and a brilliant score by Danny Elfman. It’s a nearly perfect film and it’s easily one of my top five favorite horror films of all time.

Do you feel the same way about Sleepy Hollow? Is it one of your favorites that you can watch over and over again, especially during the holiday season? Let me know in the comments!

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