Horror Queen

THE PLOT

Se-jin Oh is a gorgeous woman who works too hard and doesn’t play at all, no boyfriend, no friends and no social life. One night she sees a strange woman in red at the train station who appears to be following her. That same night the lady grabs her before throwing herself under a train, nearly killing Se-jin in the process. Our heroine then starts watching people in the apartment next to hers and notices that at 9:56 every night, all the residents turn their lights off and in the morning someone is dead. After investigating on her own, she realizes that everything is tied to one quiet handicapped girl who is suffering abuse from everyone around her. As Se-jin gets closer to another young woman living in the building, she gets caught up in the mystery of the Apt.

FUN TRIVIA

If you’re looking for a copy of this movie, you might have a little trouble. As far as I know it’s only available in a couple of foreign formats, but the Canadian version does have English subtitles. A few people have expressed interest in releasing it here in the States but right now it’s not available.

THOUGHTS/OPINIONS

It had the scene that always manages to creep me out in older horror movies. You know the scene where someone’s laying in bed, drops their hand down and the camera slowly shows there’s someone under the bed. It doesn’t help that I’m usually in bed when I’m watching these movies either. It’s scenes like that, that make this movie truly frightening.

The girl thinks there’s someone under the bed, sees the door to her bathroom open and hears the familiar sound of a woman’s high heels clicking along the ground. By the time the big payout to the scene happened, I was already sufficiently freaked out.

There are a few scenes of the handicapped girl being sexually abused and even though it’s done without really showing anything, it still gets to me. In my opinion anyone who does that should be set on fire and possibly hung from the toes and beat to death with sticks.

Mainly it’s the sounds that got to me with this movie. The sounds of the woman’s shoes clacking against the tile floor, the creepy sound they used in the original version of The Grudge that sounds like someone’s neck cracking…those sounds do more for me than any slasher running through the woods possibly could. Well that and the scene where a woman dies after getting a needle stuck right in her throat. What can I say, the Horror Queen does not do needles.

Towards the end of the movie it does get a little confusing, with the plot seemingly going in several different directions at once. Plus a few too many flashback sequences that are presented as real time and a person who may or may not be alive. It does however lead to a heartbreaking conclusion about violence literally next door and whether you’d take a stand to stop it.

THE PLOT

A little boy sees his parents brutally shot down in front of him. Well supposedly they’re his parents, but I have my doubts. They’re going at it pretty hardcore and I haven’t seen a married couple this frisky since…ever, or at least until I get married one day. Anyway the film then picks up in 2004. A college student comes home for the summer and finds herself falling for her little brother’s best friend. Of course this happens over the course of one afternoon and suddenly they’re in love, but I digress. Her brother is something of a prankster, though his practical jokes only involve moving signs in town and stuffing the mailbox full of jelly. Then there’s a new mailman that apparently likes to kill people. He also likes jokes of his own like telling the brother that he’s adopted. Then suddenly the movie veers into a weird incestuous storyline with the brother following around the sister who he now wants to fuck and doing weird things with his girlfriend.

THE GOOD

Actually I found myself digging the soundtrack to this movie. It’s a little bit hard rock, with some soft rock thrown in during the “love scenes”, though the soft rock sounds more like Christian rock to me. I also thought some of the acting was pretty good, definitely better than I’ve seen in other straight to DVD releases. Plus you get some not too terrible love scenes tossed in as well, very reminiscent of soft core porn. Unfortunately they cut off before things get too graphic. Apparently the lead actress had a clause that she wouldn’t take her clothes off and all the other girls forgot to sign that.

THE BAD

The kill scenes were less than stellar. The director tried to take a Hooper line and show only a few things, but it doesn’t really work. The mailman goes to stab one girl and the camera fades in on a new scene. It was almost like watching an edited for television movie, only without the commercial breaks. There’s also some terrible lighting in this movie, like they hired someone who had no experience and told him to learn how to light a movie on the fly. Keep an eye out for the “high school girls” with the fakest tits I’ve seen in a long time. Also one of the worst girl on girl sequences I’ve seen in a long time. Lots of nudity, and yet very little touching if at all. I actually burst out laughing when the one woman was “going down” on the other and had her face three feet away.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Yeah so this wasn’t horrible. I’m obsessed with watching movies from Netflix on my computer and when this popped us as one of my “matches” I went ahead and watched it. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, which was good because it didn’t deliver a whole lot. Given that it was made with a low budget and people who have probably never acted before though, I’d have to say they did an okay job. I won’t be watching it again, but I won’t complain too much either.

THE PLOT

Rob and Pia head out onto the water to enjoy a little rest and relaxation. When a storm suddenly pops up, they’re knocked off course and end up lost. They manage to make it to decrepit looking house where they encounter Jimmy and Brett, two local rednecks. During a dinner with the duo, they learn some disturbing facts about the family, though it looks like Pia has a little more sense than her husband. Once their father Poppy comes back, Pia learns the true meaning of the word horror as the family decides to torture the happy couple.

FUN TRIVIA

Jamie Blanks who directed Storm Warning also directed the teen-centric horror movies Urban Legend and Valentine.

THOUGHTS/OPINIONS

This is one of those movies that I could watch several times in one sitting, if only because of the female lead. Pia is as strong as she is gorgeous and unwilling to take flack from anyone including her husband. While he’s willing to sit around and wait for death to come, Pia wants to fight back in anyway possible. She even sets about forging her own booby trap for when the men come back to rape her.

I found this movie far better than any major theatrical horror release as of late. It’s a taut thriller that kept me glued to the edge of my seat. There are a few slow parts, but this is really an excellent movie with a strong cast.

PLOT

A group of pseudo-teenagers or at least older people playing teens, go to a real haunted house to stage a séance. Every stereotype you can think of is represented from the lesbian couple to the geeky film lovers to the token black guy. After faking one death to scare their friends, the teens realize that a real murderer is in their mist.

THE BAD

Notice how I didn’t use a Good section on here? Yeah, there’s a reason for that.

The description I read of this movie claimed that the film is actually a parody of a horror movie, but I don’t believe that’s true. I think the movie was made as a low budget horror film and marketed as a parody simply because it was so ridiculous.

The movie is set in the 1980s or so it would seem given the one reference to Michael J. Fox and the characters’ clothing. You get the Madonna wannabes (several actually), the guy that’s dressed like a leftover from “That 70s Show” and of course the black man in the Michael Jackson zippered coat. Oh and don’t forget the one preppy guy in his little alligator shirt.

Once you get passed the clothing and acting though, there’s nothing funny or scary about this movie; it’s just bad. I realize it was made for very little money, but I think my friends and I could make a better movie with my camera phone. It feels like the movie was thrown together very quickly and mainly made on the fly and that just doesn’t fly in my book.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Avoid this movie at all costs. I tried really hard to get through it, but before it was even halfway over I was already nodding off. It’s humorous to make fun of the movie for a little while, but that starts to get boring. I found myself fast forwarding through large portions of the movie, which is something I never do. Now I know why I was able to see it for free, because no one else would pay for it.

1. Historic Cemeteries.

In another life I was surveyor Jenn, the girl that was sent out to find historic sites, objects and buildings. While the job itself was great and I miss it nearly everyday, the one thing that always got to me was surveying historic cemeteries. On the one hand it was interesting to spend some time checking out the games and making not of the handmade headstones made of local stone and carved by hand. Then there were the times when it was just me, in a cemetery in the middle of nowhere with no one else around for miles. Every noise you hear in the woods is cause for alarm. If you don’t believe me, let me take you on a tour of cemeteries in southwestern Indiana.

2. Abandoned Buildings.

Surveyor Jenn occasionally decided that she’d let her urban exploration side come out to play. Basically this meant that every now and then I’d stumble on an abandoned building, see no one else around and “let myself in”, usually through a missing window. At first it was exciting and I often took a lot of pictures, but I’ve also seen too many movies to know that a young girl in an abandoned house by herself where no one where she is, usually doesn’t end well. After a few too many encounters with rats, wild animals and homeless people I think I learned my lesson. Doesn’t mean I’ve conquered my fear though…

3. Dead Children.

Is there really a plot to this one? Well there’s a female killer and a male killer who hookup with another killer and go on a spree. There’s a little incest, a lot of killing, a scene with a fake child that I didn’t need to see and enough simulated stuff to make me want to toss cookies on myself. Not for the faint of heart and not for 90% of the women I know. In fact, I don’t think a single female I know could possibly get through this whole movie or even most of the men for that fact. Take from that what you will.

TRIVIA

Fred Vogel is not only cute in a disturbing way (I have one warped little mind), but he’s also writer, director and actor in all three August Underground movies. I always have been attracted to warped men, even if they’re married off screen. Seriously if you’re watching a movie and pause to think gee that guy covered in blood is kind of attractive, there’s something wrong with you. Alas, my dad was right about me…

THOUGHTS/OPINIONS

I don’t get disturbed by movies very often mainly because I’ve seen so many in my life. Sure every now and then I see a flick that has a scene or two that sticks with me, but I don’t check under the bed or look in my closets before I go to sleep at night. It’s hard for me to find a movie that even makes me want to look away from the screen, that all changed thanks to August Underground Mordum.

If your version of disturbing is Hostel or god forbid Saw, then you should stay as far away from this movie as possible. If you watched those movies and wanted just a little more violence, stay the hell away from this movie. If you watched those movies and wanted to run out and make your own snuff film, then pop this one in. Oh and if you watched this movie and found yourself getting turned on, then stay the hell away from me.This wasn’t a movie I could watch in one sitting, I actually had to pause it and walk away for a little bit. It brings you up close and personal with the killers along with their victims and it has a very unsettling and realistic feel to it. It isn’t like a horror movie where someone’s eye pops out and the killer wags their machete. Here you see the killers laughing and enjoying themselves, even vomiting (or trying to) on their victims. They aren’t sorry for what they’re doing nor do they show any remorse, they just act and that’s possibly the most disturbing thing of all. And the scene in the bathtub? I still feel a little sick just thinking about it.

THE PLOT

Two reporters are in the middle of making a documentary of the Manson Family and in turn the murders they completed. The film jumps around from faux interviews with Manson members to the same people in the present day, but with a real life documentary type feel. At the same time, a new group is readying themselves for a new murderous spree.

THE GOOD

I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would. The old time feel to the interviews was a nice touch, as was the flashbacks and current views from the same characters. I also liked how the family members were still denying “Charlie’s” involvement even after years had passed. The effects used to age the film was also a nice touch. I have to admit that I ended up watching this without taking a break, even though I had to use the bathroom pretty bad at one point. It was better than I expected and you can’t go wrong with that.

You should also keep an eye on the killing scenes, particularly those towards the end of the film. These were significantly more graphic than those from other movies on the life and times of Manson. I even found myself wincing a few times, which is something I don’t do very often.

I also loved some of the makeup effects in the movie, particularly when anyone had horns. Granted there weren’t a ton of those scenes in the flick, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.

THE BAD

Yes I understand that there was some need for the B-storyline here, but I could have done without it. The other group/new group weren’t people I cared about and I kept forgetting they were even part of the movie and then they’d pop back up. It made for a nice, gory ending but like I said, I could have done without it.

The nudity wasn’t a big deal for me, but I could see how it could be a problem for some. My 16-20 year old cousins would probably balk at the nudity in this movie as would my 62 year old mother, but if you’ve seen any amount of horror movies, it shouldn’t be a problem. I do want to point out how unlike Charles Manson the man playing him is, but so much crap has been written about this online already that I don’t need to add to it.

FUN TRIVIA

James Van Bebber is the genius behind several movies that people keep telling me to watch like Deadbeat at Dawn. Myself, I’m intrigued by the fact that he was born in nearby Greenville, Ohio which isn’t conducive to creativity.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Like I said before, this movie was better than I expected. It’s an interesting take on the Manson murders with more than enough violence and nudity to thrill the fans. If however you’re expecting a serious documentary on the murders, keep on looking. I’ve heard this movie is a little hard to come by and I’ve checked at local video places and they don’t carry it in stock. Put in a little time and you won’t be disappointed.

THE PLOT

Mun is a classically trained musician who just happens to be blind. After undergoing a transplant surgery the woman finds herself with a brand new set of eyes that can actually see ghosts and residual spirits. Even worse, she can see a strange shadowy figure that seems to only come around when someone’s about to die or already dead.

THE GOOD

Very suspenseful little movie this one is. I found myself drawn more into the story than I did the American version, though I guess that isn’t saying much. I found the scene where Mun was trapped in the elevator with a spirit particularly great. I’m not the type to close my eyes when a movie gets “too scary”, but I sure as hell came close there. There’s also some excellent special effects here, which makes me wish the American companies could figure out how to copy them. The ghosts looked scary when they were supposed to be and like regular people when they needed to be. I was even caught up in the classical music playing throughout the movie. I tend to ignore the score of most films, but this score helped to keep the movie going and add to the feelings and experiences of Mun.

I also have to give big props to the mirror scene and how the filmmakers led up to the fact that Mun didn’t know her own face and the reason for that. I should have known it was coming because I have seen the remake, but it was still a nice little unexpected surprise. The ending was a little disturbing too. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but it was much more gruesome than the ending to the remake.

THE BAD

This isn’t so much a bad thing as it is a minor problem for me. Mun ends up asking for help from her doctor who in turn falls in love with her. The man/doctor in question though just happens to look like a twelve year old. Maybe some people can overlook that, but throughout the whole movie I kept telling myself that he was way too young to be a doctor.

Also, there was an odd little scene towards the end of the movie where they travel to see another doctor. They begin speaking English and it threw me for a minute. The whole scene only lasted 2-3 minutes, but it was definitely an odd little thing in the movie.

THE BOTTOM LINE

By the way, if you have a Netflix account, you can actually watch this one on your computer. This is actually the first movie in a trilogy and I’ve added the other two films to my queue after watching this one. I enjoyed it enough that I plan on buying it in the future. As for comparing this to the remake, well Jessica Alba only wishes she could pull off a performance like this.

THE PLOT

Victor Crowley was a deformed boy living in the swamplands outside of New Orleans when he was accidentally killed by his father. Now local legend says that the boy’s ghost still lives there and goes after those who trespass. Spring Breaker Ben who’s reeling for his breakup, convinces his best friend Marcus to take a haunted swampland tour with him. Others on the tour include Marybeth who’s looking for her lost father, two girls who are filming a “Girls Gone Wild” type tape, their director and a happily married couple as well as the fake native tour guide. Once they get in the swamps, Victor makes his appearance known and starts picking people off.

FUN TRIVIA

Hatchet, which is set in New Orleans, was actually shot in the city unlike other movies that sub in some generic city.

Tony Todd did his brief role as a favor to a cast member and completed his shots in just a few hours.

After casting Robert Englund and Kane Hodder in the movie, the director was excited that he managed to get both Freddy Kreuger and Jason Vorhees in his first budget film as well as Candyman.

THOUGHTS/OPINIONS

I really like this movie, so much that I actually own it. The movie itself could be pretty bad, but there’s something about the people in the film that make it worthwhile. The goofy guy could be relegated to best friend, but here he’s not only the main actor but also the hero of the film. There’s also the one black character that repeatedly says he’ll get it next and you find yourself really starting to love him. Plus there’s Patrika Darbo as the perfectly annoying Midwestern that thinks she knows everything. That doesn’t even include the horror movie actors popping up in the movie!

This movie obviously takes a page from those slasher movies of the 80s, but the key is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously and you shouldn’t either. This isn’t a horror movie per say, but a really great parody that considers itself a horror movie.

THE PLOT

Taking place several years after the first movie ended, this film follows Ariel Wilson the sister of Sarah from the first movie. While Sarah seemed pretty damn happy at the end (and who wouldn’t be? She ended up a millionaire and probably had sex with Taye Diggs that night) she’s now turned into a recluse that’s been gathering information on the house. After she dies, her sister inherits the journal belonging to the old doctor and is kidnapped. Apparently the old doctor had some hidden idol/statue that possesses evil powers and a group of treasure hunters need her help to find it. A college professor and his helpers also appear at the house to find the statue. Of course they all get locked inside and then it turns into a rehash of the last movie.

THE GOOD

Well, at least they kept the same effects as the first movie! Oh and they brought back Jeffrey Combs! It also looked like they tried to recreate some of the old set pieces and I appreciate the effort.

THE BAD

Cerena Vincent. Come on! Who keeps deciding that she’s a good actress? Fake tits do not an actress make and that’s about all she has going for her. Eric Palladino also pops up, the same Eric Palladino that’s done nothing with his career since leaving “ER”. If you’re looking for an explanation of how Sarah and Eddie got off the top of the house at the end of the first movie, don’t look here. All we learn is that Sarah became obsessed with the house and lived in a small, crappy apartment despite the fact that she got several million dollars. Honestly the plot was pretty ridiculous too, with huge holes and facts that they didn’t bother to explain.

FUN TRIVIA

Jeffrey Combs is something of a horror movie icon with roles in Re-Animator, Castle Freak, The Pit and the Pendulem and even I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This movie really isn’t as bad as I made it out to be on here. It has its moments, albeit not a whole lot of them. They used some of the same actors and effects as they did before and at least tried to connect the two movies. I can’t help wondering what could have been had they just sent a new group of unrelated characters out to the house…

It also invalidates the first movie, which I actually liked enough to see three times in the theater. This one claims that the doctor and his staff weren’t just crazy, but under the influence of an evil ancient statue. I think I like the crazy theory better.