Polaroid

This movie has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I honestly can’t see why. Maybe I have a crappy taste in movies, but Polaroid was, in my opinion, a decent supernatural horror movie.

It was nice to see Mitch Pileggi (X-files) and Grace Zabriskie (Twin Peaks) in a recent release. All these years later Zabriskie still creeps me out with her scary dame look, no one can match her. 

The core of the movie is a string of deaths of young and ridiculously beautiful people (Madelaine Petsch, Keenan Tracey, Priscilla Quintana,…) who can’t avoid their ineluctable faith. I love this kind of subject, especially when they add a few jump scares. Apparently, this is the reason why the movie got flamed by the critics, too cliché. I don’t get it, I love the good old recipe for a horror movie. Young people get in trouble, they get killed by some supernatural being, what’s not to like?

Another thing I like about this movie is the concept of a haunted polaroid camera, get your picture taken and then die. I’ve always loved photography, and the nostalgia around polaroids kicked me in the feels. I know that the concept of haunted pictures has been used in many movies, but so are haunted houses, dolls, etc… what’s the big deal? (directing this question to those damned critics)

According to the trivia on imdB the main actress, Kathryn Prescott (Bird Fitcher) is a professional photographer in real life. Also, the couple Devin (Keenan Tracey) and Mina (Priscilla Quintana) were a real couple for a few years. I know, I know, I’m a sucker for gossip and trivia like this. My husbands’ love for soaps is rubbing off on me, I think.

Anyway, I think that Polaroid is a solid horror movie that kept me entertained until the end. So, do I recommend this? Absolutely! 

Deadstream

We found footage fans are a rare breed. We all fully admit that most of these movies are extremely badly rated and scare off most horror fans. Unlike most movies of this genre, this one is exceptional, different, and fun! The actor (Joseph Winter) who portrays the main character Shawn is also the writer and director of “Deadstream”.

The film centres on a streamer that wants to make his big come back after a long ban from social media by visiting a haunted house. The most scary part of the movie is the beginning, even though I wouldn’t really call it scary since the actor looks like a not-so-serious and likeable dude. The further the story develops, the more gore and the more fun it becomes. 

They obviously didn’t use the big CGI galore like most movies nowadays, but went for the puppet / costume option in stead. The movie feels like a modern world concept that adopted the 80’s style horror genre. It reminds me a lot of The Evil Dead in many ways. 

A perfect B-movie, fun and entertaining. Highly recommended, even for people who dislike found footage films.

The Night House

A widow begins to uncover her recently deceased husband’s disturbing secrets. – iMDB

I’m writing this post not to forget that we’ve watched this movie. Weird thing, we did, and I already forgot about its’ existence. If it weren’t for Sardokens’ infallible memory, this one would have gone straight to oblivion. Makes me wonder what happened that night though.

After watching the trailer, I now remember it was an entertaining watch. There was this eerie vibe throughout the entire movie, but I wouldn’t have called it scary. As a reference, I haven’t jumped once, and coming from me that means something.

I would definitely not call this a horror fest, it’s more of a haunting mystery thriller. The story was pretty solid and original, maybe not the best movie, but worth the watch none the less.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

This years’ Halloween headliner was The Conjuring 3. I don’t know if it’s because they start the movie with “based on a true story” and the fact that The Warrens are real, but The Conjuring series are damn frightening! Every time I’ve watched one of these movies, I’m terrified at night, afraid to go to the bathroom and stumble upon something horrific. Of course that never happens, but the movie leaves you with that feeling and that’s exactly why it deserves a 5 star rating.

The duo Patrick Wilson (Ed Warren) and Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren) is amazing, they have this chemistry going on that make them the perfect casting. The real Lorraine Warren was a head consultant on all of the Conjuring projects and was an avid follower of the series, she died a natural death a few years ago (age 92). 

During the closing credits, you can hear a news interview with the real Ed & Lorraine Warren from during the trial, along with photos of scenes from the movie and dialog from an audio recording of David Glatzel’s exorcism. This made it even more eerie, and makes me wonder what parts of the movie really happened or is it entirely fiction?

Also, an honourable mention to the Master Satanist, Eugenie Bondurant, her creepy performance is the highlight of the film. I’m surprised that we don’t see her more often in the horror industry.

I know that I keep repeating it a lot, but The Conjuring 3 was scary as hell, perfect for our 2021 Halloween Night. Let’s hope that there are many more to come so our Halloween Eves keep being perfectly frightening as it should be.

Paranormal Activity rerun

Another serie we love to rewatch every year during the hot summetimes. Paranormal Activity still remains, in my opinion, one of the most unsettling horror series ever made. No matter how many times I’ve watched these movies, they still make me feel ill at ease at night. Evil witches, and possession always do the trick for me.

One thing is for sure, I’ll never set up a camera in my place at night. Whatever happens at night, will stay in the night, like they say: “ignorance is bliss”. I prefer it that way.

Every time we’re watching Paranormal Activity, Sardoken and I can’t stop talking about how gorgeous the houses are in these movies (with exception of the Marked Ones). Even though, I prefer my normal little apartment over a haunted place anytime. I wanted to add some stills to this post, but they were too dark and didn’t do any justice so, instead I’m adding a picture of the the livingroom in The Ghost Dimension:

On the right you see a fraction of what is the biggest and most glorious Christmas tree I’ve ever seen in a house. It’s beginning September, and I’m already in full Christmas spirit… thank you Ghost Dimension.

Halloween 2019

This year for Halloween, I had prepared our traditional pumpkin oven pasta in the morning. We eat this dinner every year on Hallow’s Eve, the celebration wouldn’t be the same without. We had to skip on it last year since there weren’t any good pumpkins to be found due to the lingering drought after the summer heatwave. What blasphemy, but this year my secret recipe was back on the menu.

Around 5 PM, we started watching Halloween 1978, the number one slasher classic of all time. The fact that it’s the best of its kind, and that it takes place on Halloween, makes this movie the perfect choice for a horror night opening.

After that, we watched some episodes of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. One while the pasta was in the oven, and the next while we were eating.

With our bellies full with pumpkin delight, we crashed in the couch to watch Annabelle Comes Home. As I expected, it was great, I’ve always been a fan of the movies inspired by Ed & Lorraine Warrens’ case files. I always wondered while watching The Conjuring, what would happen if some one would break into their room full of cursed and haunted objects. Well, it may not have been a burglary, but I think that I got my question answered.

While babysitting the daughter of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll – IMDb

Anyway, after the movie, both my husband and I noticed that the lights in our haunted houses display all went out simultaneously. You have to know that they all are on batteries and aren’t linked in any way. I know that there probably is a logical explanation, but it just added to the spooky factor.

We were kind of tired after all that, but couldn’t resist watching the season finale of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This must be one of my favourite tv-shows ever created. It’s eye-candy, the casting is fantastic (Miranda Otto, Michelle Gomez,…), they don’t hesitate to go dark where it’s supposed to be, and it’s about witches. I love witch themed movies (actually, everything), especially when they’re not afraid to go evil. The only thing that got me a little bit baffled was that weird singing scene at the end, but other than that the show was wicked!

This Halloween was one of the best celebrations we had so far, I absolutely loved it! Somehow I’m sad it’s over, but still 12 days of holidays left for me so, I’m leaving the deco up until then. Halloween isn’t over until I say it’s over, muahahahaha.

Paranormal Activity

Soforah

This is by far my favourite horror series ever created. I remember how terrified I was after watching the first movie, I could barely sleep at night. Meanwhile, years have passed, and I’m still as terrified as the first time.

One thing I’ve learned is that no matter what weird stuff you may think is happening, NEVER set up a camera to capture these events. Especially not in your bedroom while you are sleeping. This is one subject that I find utterly disturbing. Add some haunted-, possession-like elements and you got my skin crawling.

Extra kudos for the beautiful houses in all the movies and the Christmas theme in the Ghost Dimension.

Sardoken

Paranormal Activity is my favourite serie of horror movies.

We recently re-watched them all, one movie each Saturday evening. While I remembered that we always had a good time watching them, I forgot how powerful they were.

Horror is very subjective to people, what frightens a person, may not scare another… On my wife and me, found footages are very effective. I think that they are only second to exorcism and posession movies. So, when those two themes are mixed together, in a nice californian setting, all the ingredients are there to make our perfect fright cocktail.

Insidious: The Last Key

During the scene where Elise discovers the hidden suitcases in her old house, I knew that a jump scare was incoming. There I was, sitting in my couch, clinging onto my blanket waiting for it… until the demon jumped out of the suitcase in stead of from behind it and nearly gave me a heart attack… well played!

Annabelle

A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. – Imdb

Throughout the entire movie I couldn’t stop but think that Annabelle is one hell of creepy and ugly doll! I really wonder why people would to want to buy this horrific looking thing. Now that I got this of my chest, here’s what I think about the movie…

With the release of Annabelle 2, I remembered never having watched the first one. Blasphemy! I kind of like all movies that were inspired on the Ed & Lorraine Warren case files. I don’t know why, but it has some really creepy vibe around it. Until this day, Annabelle, the curse of the devil doll, is still housed in the Warrens’ occult museum. How creepy is that?

Anyway, the movie in itself started off slow. It had a great opening scene with satanic cultists invading the home of a young couple (Mia & John). Yet, the beginning of the movie remained pretty mild with the typical haunted house occurrences like doors that close by themselves,… So, until that moment I didn’t really feel a real threat. Later on, however, Mia goes down the basement on a stormy night and that’s where things start to get pretty creepy!

As it is, I liked this movie more than I thought I would. I wasn’t expecting too much, since I hated how the Annabelle doll looked and I can’t imagine anyone wanting one like it in their house. However, the film managed to transcend “the boring haunted doll cliché” and actually created genuine scares towards the end of the film. Unlike a lot of horror movies, with their puzzling half and half ending, this one had a decent and believable end. Thumbs up for that!

On a side note: the actress that plays Mia, is named Annabelle Wallis in real life. Yes, I’m a sucker for details like that ;-p

In my opinion, “Annabelle” is, until now, the best movie we’ve watched during our 2017 Halloween holidays. Definitely worth the watch! I’m even looking forward to see what the second movie is about.

Rings

Rings is a pretty scary movie. Not for it’s effects, nor for the creepy apparition, but for that feeling of impending doom. You know that once you’ve watched the video, you’re going to die and there’s no way to run or hide from it. Something that scares me like hell.

I know that the movie received a lot of negative critisism saying that the story deviated too much from its’ original version. Me, on the other hand, found it refreshing to watch another version which left room for some elements of surprise and a nice plottwist at the end.

Another surprise was to watch Johnny Galecki playing another role than the famous Leonard Hofstadter in the Big Bang Theory. Unlike “Sheldon” (Jim Parsons), he managed to play a completely different character. All in all, the casting was excellent.

If you like movies like “It follows”, you most likely will like this one as well.

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