Halloween Film Spotlight Pt. 3
Happy Halloween! Thought I'd add a triple feature to this final installment of good fun scary films to watch this time of year.
First off the 2003 Korean horror film "Tale of Two Sisters" or Janghwa, Hongryeon, directed by Ji-woon Kim. Trailer above. This is an excellently tense, almost Hitchcockian tale with a surprise twist at the end. Synopses with spoilers here, so read at your own risk if you hate to ruin the surprise. This film starts off slow and gradually builds in tension and unease until you reach the breaking point. Highly recommended.
Next, on our multi-cultural ghost story list, is the 2001 Spanish film "Devil's Backbone" (or "El Espinazo del Diablo") by Guillermo del Toro (the celebrated director of "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy"). Like "Pan's Labyrinth" this film takes place during the Spanish Civil War and also features a child trying to make sense of atrocity. Throw a murdered ghost into the mix and all hell breaks lose. Trailer above. This is a truly exceptional film, beautifully shot with solid acting and pacing, and anybody who loves a good thrill should check it out.
Finally, for our final flick, an American classic: "The Haunting". This a great gothic/horror films, and all the more creepy because it relies on psychological tension instead of fancy effects. The 1999 remake was terrible, so don't bother with that, but invest in the original 1963 film. The plot itself is nothing terribly original (a team is sent out to investigate a supposedly haunted house), but the mood and camera work was ahead of it's time. But don't' take my word for it. Check out all the user reviews over at IMDB that gush over this film. Trailer above.
And if you are not maxed out on films just yet, then watch the original 1973 cult British film "The Wicker Man". Best. Film. Ever. And Christopher Lee is in it. Coincidence? I think not.
First off the 2003 Korean horror film "Tale of Two Sisters" or Janghwa, Hongryeon, directed by Ji-woon Kim. Trailer above. This is an excellently tense, almost Hitchcockian tale with a surprise twist at the end. Synopses with spoilers here, so read at your own risk if you hate to ruin the surprise. This film starts off slow and gradually builds in tension and unease until you reach the breaking point. Highly recommended.
Next, on our multi-cultural ghost story list, is the 2001 Spanish film "Devil's Backbone" (or "El Espinazo del Diablo") by Guillermo del Toro (the celebrated director of "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy"). Like "Pan's Labyrinth" this film takes place during the Spanish Civil War and also features a child trying to make sense of atrocity. Throw a murdered ghost into the mix and all hell breaks lose. Trailer above. This is a truly exceptional film, beautifully shot with solid acting and pacing, and anybody who loves a good thrill should check it out.
Finally, for our final flick, an American classic: "The Haunting". This a great gothic/horror films, and all the more creepy because it relies on psychological tension instead of fancy effects. The 1999 remake was terrible, so don't bother with that, but invest in the original 1963 film. The plot itself is nothing terribly original (a team is sent out to investigate a supposedly haunted house), but the mood and camera work was ahead of it's time. But don't' take my word for it. Check out all the user reviews over at IMDB that gush over this film. Trailer above.
And if you are not maxed out on films just yet, then watch the original 1973 cult British film "The Wicker Man". Best. Film. Ever. And Christopher Lee is in it. Coincidence? I think not.
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