Tag: horror film

Reviews, Reviews - Films

Review: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Katie Marie

I’ve got a story to tell

I am a big fan of the old school special effects.

Do not get me wrong modern day special effects like CGI etc can be amazing when done well and either hilarious or uncanny valley when done poorly. I am not here to bash CGI I just want to gush for a moment about old school costumes, and puppetry etc.

These effects have a very warm place in my heart, probably because I was born in the mid 80’s and so spent a lot of my pre-teen years watching films like Dark Crystal, Legend, Gremlins and Labyrinth. Either way, I love the fact that these effects are ‘real’ as in the actors can see and respond to an actual ‘creature’ as opposed to people n green body suits covered in ping pong balls. They make eye contact; they physically touch the creature, and it shows in their performance.

It is for this reason that I became a fan of Guillermo del Toro, his version of Hellboy was amazing, Pan labyrinth was fantastic and his creatures in all his films are of such high quality it is like they were ‘real’.

So, when I saw he was attached to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark I was thrilled. I could not wait to see what he did with this and I was not disappointed.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was released in August 2019, directed by André Øvredal, and is based on the children’s book series of the same name.

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Katie Recommends, Reviews, Uncategorized

Katie Recommends: IT: Chapter Two

Katie Marie

Who else is super excited for this movie!

I was dubious when the first one came out.

Partly because the original movie freaked me out so much as a kid and I knew this movie (no matter how good) would never be able to recreate that feeling of genuine fear that tiny Katie had felt watching the original. But also partly because I did know what to expect, was this going to be a carbon copy with updated effects (think Disney’s remake of Beauty and the Beast) or was it going to be truer to the book (think Disney’s remake of The Jungle Book (slightly)).

As it turned out I really enjoyed the first part, it was well-acted and well-paced, with enough of the original film to tease my nostalgia feels and enough new/book stuff to please the reader in me.

I have high hopes for the second part, it has got some good actors and I’m excited to see how they handle it.

Are you excited? Are you worried? Or are you pretty chill?

Reviews, Reviews - Films

Review: Dark Water

Katie Marie

Leaks can be murder

As I’ve said in previous letters nearly all my favourite horror films are Japanese in origin. 

I think this has to do with several elements, the fact that I watch these films subtitled (which I find much more immersive and a less passive way of watching a movie), the stores they choose to tell and the fact that I am not naive to Japan, which means I only see the imports and usually money won’t be spent importing a film unless there’s a market for it and it’s reasonably good.

One of my favourite horror movies is Dark Water and it is that film that I want to talk to you about today. Keep in mind I will be discussing the 2002 story and not the 2005 remake with Jennifer Connelly.

Dark water was directed by Hideo Nakata and released in 2003 in the UK. 

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Katie Recommends, Reviews

Katie Recommends: Horror Movies.

Katie Marie

Movie night!

Today I would like to tell you about some recommendations, Paranormal Activity, Cabin in the Woods, and Autopsy of Jane Doe.  

I will tell you a little bit about each of the films and why I think they are worth watching. That being said I won’t spoil anything. After all, I’m recommending you go watch these yourself.

Continue reading “Katie Recommends: Horror Movies.” →