Squiggy and Spidergirl's Annual Halloween Movie Fest!

[SpiderGirl]

Day 17: (1971) The Abominable Dr. Phibes
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066740/

For the many scenes in which Vincent Price was required to speak without moving his mouth, he was painted with a substance called collodion which literally immobilized his face.

Vincent Price can do no wrong. A great concept, but I think it was a tad rushed and could've been played out better than it was. Would LOVE to see a remake of this one.

 

[SpiderGirl]

Given that you've pretty much seen every episode (and i'm the rookie) i should be asking you that question about faves. So any tips from you would be doubly appreciated. One thing's for sure: anyone who doesn't like the series just hasn't found the right episode. But given that BM's analogies are 'all over the place' finding that perfect episode may take awhile unless you're binge watching. Frankly, i can't binge a show like this... it's just too emotional.

Of the ones i've seen the first two episodes of Season 4, USS Callister and Arkangel are representative of the themes/treatment i enjoy most. Others like Hang the D.J seem different and have a happy ending that puts a smile the face... which is kinda weird for such an edgy series. After all, it's basically a series about 'future tech' as it interplays with our darker human nature. The end result, as seen by the writers anyway, isn't a pretty one.

Another episode that caught my attention was Nosedive, a social points system already launched in Communist China on a smaller scale. Of course, Black Mirror takes the idea to an extreme to prove a point, which is what we love about the show.

Overall the writing and acting have been superb. Let's hope their inspiration continues!

mr. bruce

I think my favorite episode of the whole series so far is White Christmas (season 2 episode 4). All of the episodes are really well done.

I think other top contenders for me are:
* Entire History of You (season 1 episode 3)
* Hated in the Nation (season 3 episode 6)
* Hang the DJ (season 4 episode 4)

The only ones I didn't really enjoy are:
* The National Anthem (season 1 episode 1)
* The Waldo Moment (season 2 episode 3)
* Metalhead (season 4, episode 5)
* Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too (season 5, episode 3) - only because Miley Cyrus is pretty damn annoying

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 18: (1973) Don't Look Now
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069995/

This film is #18 on The Times' 100 Greatest Films, is Tim Curry's favorite horror film, and is on Roger Ebert's Great Movies list.

This one was hard to follow for me. Lee and I agree that this was just a poorly-done psychological thriller. Disappointing, since I was expecting great things from Donald Sutherland.

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 19: (1976) The Tenant
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074811/…

Bruce Campbell's favorite "scary movie".

WTF, Polanski? Another psychological thriller that could've been executed much better. Decent concept, though.

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 20: (1981) Possession
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082933/

This picture was very much a multi-cultural production and particularly a European one. It was a French-West German co-production filmed in English with a Polish director, male lead actor from New Zealand, mostly German actors in the supporting roles, and a French female lead actress.

 

[Bruce Bartlow]

I think my favorite episode of the whole series so far is White Christmas (season 2 episode 4). All of the episodes are really well done.

I think other top contenders for me are:
* Entire History of You (season 1 episode 3)
* Hated in the Nation (season 3 episode 6)
* Hang the DJ (season 4 episode 4)

The only ones I didn't really enjoy are:
* The National Anthem (season 1 episode 1)
* The Waldo Moment (season 2 episode 3)
* Metalhead (season 4, episode 5)
* Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too (season 5, episode 3) - only because Miley Cyrus is pretty damn annoying

__________________
Miley Cyrus was in one... wtf?

Otherwise, can't thank you enough for the faves list. Really appreciate it.

 

[Bruce Bartlow]

Day 19: (1976) The Tenant
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074811/…

Bruce Campbell's favorite "scary movie".

WTF, Polanski? Another psychological thriller that could've been executed much better. Decent concept, though.

View attachment 59706

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Were there some remarks of this theme over the years? Definitely need to check it out.

 

[Bruce Bartlow]

Day 20: (1981) Possession
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082933/

This picture was very much a multi-cultural production and particularly a European one. It was a French-West German co-production filmed in English with a Polish director, male lead actor from New Zealand, mostly German actors in the supporting roles, and a French female lead actress.

View attachment 59707

_________________
Dang SpiderGirl, you're a walking Wikipedia! Before I rent any more films we need to do a Vulcan mind meld.

 

[Bruce Bartlow]

Day 18: (1973) Don't Look Now
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069995/

This film is #18 on The Times' 100 Greatest Films, is Tim Curry's favorite horror film, and is on Roger Ebert's Great Movies list.

This one was hard to follow for me. Lee and I agree that this was just a poorly-done psychological thriller. Disappointing, since I was expecting great things from Donald Sutherland.

View attachment 59705

___________________
Most are fans of Keifer these days, from 24 fame. But Donald is the real genius.

 

[SpiderGirl]

__________________
Were there some remarks of this theme over the years? Definitely need to check it out.

I'm not positive. I think there were potentially some remakes, but not sure if they were ever finished.

 

[SpiderGirl]

_________________
Dang SpiderGirl, you're a walking Wikipedia! Before I rent any more films we need to do a Vulcan mind meld.

Ha! I try to scour the IMDb trivia before each post for something relatively interesting. I'm all for recommending movies though, if you'd ever like some.

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 21: (1982) The Thing
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/

There are lots of good trivia tidbits for this movie, but my favorite is:
The movie has become part of the culture in Antarctica. It is a long-standing tradition in all British Antarctic research stations to watch it as part of their Midwinter feast and celebration held every June 21.

One of my favorites of all time!

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 22: (1985) Re-Animator
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089885/

The special effects department went through twenty-four gallons of fake blood during the shoot.

Another that's on my list of all-time favorites. Always delightfully gross, funny, and awesome.

 

[SpiderGirl]

I keep getting behind on these posts. Oy vey! Sorry for those who follow along. We're into some of my favorites though...so exciting!

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 23: (1993) Cronos
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104029/

The character Angel was originally meant to speak fluent Spanish. Guillermo del Toro found Ron Pearlman's reading to be completely unusable, so the character was changed to an expatriated American who hates being in Mexico so much that what little Spanish he speaks is deliberately spoken poorly.

del Toro's first film release!

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 24: (1994) In the Mouth of Madness
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113409/

The Sutter Cane character is clearly based on John Carpenter's friend Stephen King, even referencing King's New England roots, with Hobb's End filling in for King's Castle Rock.

Yet another all-time favorite! Sam Neill is the best!

 

[webby]

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 25: (1997) Event Horizon
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119081/

The space suits worn by the actors weighed 65 lbs each. Standing upright in them for longer periods of time could lead to back injury, but sitting down was not possible either due to the backpack. Special "hanging poles" were constructed on the set, so the actors could rest on them between takes. In addition, everyone's space suit has a flag showing hypothetical future political changes on Earth. Characters portrayed by American actors wear a flag of the United States with 55 stars. Characters portrayed by British actors wear a European Union flag with 22 stars, replacing the former Union Flag. Sam Neill's character wears a modified Australian flag, with the Union Jack removed from the top left-hand corner, and the Aboriginal flag in its place.

Yet another of my all-time favorites! This movie is brilliant.

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 26: (2005) The Descent
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/

The filmmakers considered it too dangerous to film in an actual cave, so they opted to build one instead. In fact, 21 separate cave sets were built for the film. These were carefully reused with different camera angles, set dressing and lighting to suggest a nearly endless collection of interconnected tunnels and caverns. For realism, the makers often limited the lighting of the sets to light sources that the protagonists brought with them, such as flashlights, helmet lights and light sticks. One of the crevices built for the film was so narrow and slippery that the female cast dubbed it "the Vagina".

The first time I watched this movie was in the middle of the day and it still scared the crap out of me.

 

[SpiderGirl]

Day 27: (2008) Eden Lake
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020530/

Refusing to let anything spoil their romantic weekend break, a young couple confront a gang of loutish youths with terrifyingly brutal consequences.

I was expecting this to be a typical survival movie, which it was for the most part, but the last scene is worth it.