Let's All Go to the Lobby

@sock_monkey Great list. Frailty is so good. I enjoyed the Descent and hadn't watched Late Night. 

We started our Halloween watch last night as well with, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Not very tense (LOL) and still a charming cartoon after all these many years. 

Frailty - I hadn't seen it before, but purchased the limited 4k edition as a blind buy. Watched it with my wife knowing pretty much nothing going in and we both enjoyed it quite a bit.

The Descent - if memory serves right, this was a rental from Netflix (back when the had discs) and the cave scenes FREAKED MY BROTHER OUT.  I've never seen him have to stand up and pace around because of the claustrophobic experiences. Don't remember much but I do recall like this one.

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Some recent movies I watched:

Practical Magic - this was for my wife "to get ready" for the sequel. Not sure if I've ever seen this one from start to end before. Some parts were familiar whereas other parts weren't. I've also mentally confused this one with Hocus Pocus it seems because I kept waiting for the cat to talk. 3.5/5

Practical Magic 2 - zero expectations going into this - it was for my wife. I wasn't bored - it was a good way to spend the morning. 3.5/5

Speed - I had recently listened to The Rewatchables episode about Speed and realized I hadn't seen this one in AGES. There's a good chance the last time I had seen this was when I purchased the Laserdisc . . . Still holds up in my opinion. 4/5

Point Break - the original one with Keanu Reeves. Another one I'm not sure I've seen from start to end before. Chances are good I've never watched this. My wife had definitely not seen this before so it was a good ride for her. 4/5

Falling Down - probably a rental from my high school days, so it's been a few years since I had seen this one. Another one my wife had zero idea about. Still thinking about this one actually. Also confirmed that the Iron Maiden song Man on the Edge song was based on this movie (I always suspected it was but it had been almost 30 years since I last saw the movie.) Also in my mind the song came out YEARS after the movie did - but it was only two years. 3.5/5

Posted by: @benstaad

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@sock_monkey Great list. Frailty is so good. I enjoyed the Descent and hadn't watched Late Night. 

We started our Halloween watch last night as well with, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Not very tense (LOL) and still a charming cartoon after all these many years. 

It's been forever since I've watched any Charlie Brown special! Maybe I can find a way to slide The Great Pumpkin into the seasonal line-up somehow.  It'd be a nice change of pace from all the horror flicks.

Posted by: @tacomadiver

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Frailty - I hadn't seen it before, but purchased the limited 4k edition as a blind buy. Watched it with my wife knowing pretty much nothing going in and we both enjoyed it quite a bit.

The Descent - if memory serves right, this was a rental from Netflix (back when the had discs) and the cave scenes FREAKED MY BROTHER OUT.  I've never seen him have to stand up and pace around because of the claustrophobic experiences. Don't remember much but I do recall like this one.

=====================

Some recent movies I watched:

Practical Magic - this was for my wife "to get ready" for the sequel. Not sure if I've ever seen this one from start to end before. Some parts were familiar whereas other parts weren't. I've also mentally confused this one with Hocus Pocus it seems because I kept waiting for the cat to talk. 3.5/5

Practical Magic 2 - zero expectations going into this - it was for my wife. I wasn't bored - it was a good way to spend the morning. 3.5/5

Speed - I had recently listened to The Rewatchables episode about Speed and realized I hadn't seen this one in AGES. There's a good chance the last time I had seen this was when I purchased the Laserdisc . . . Still holds up in my opinion. 4/5

Point Break - the original one with Keanu Reeves. Another one I'm not sure I've seen from start to end before. Chances are good I've never watched this. My wife had definitely not seen this before so it was a good ride for her. 4/5

Falling Down - probably a rental from my high school days, so it's been a few years since I had seen this one. Another one my wife had zero idea about. Still thinking about this one actually. Also confirmed that the Iron Maiden song Man on the Edge song was based on this movie (I always suspected it was but it had been almost 30 years since I last saw the movie.) Also in my mind the song came out YEARS after the movie did - but it was only two years. 3.5/5

I saw the 4k for Frailty and almost picked it up, but held off. The prices for discs nowadays is crazy. My copy is an old DVD. Still looked good, though.

It has been forever since I watched Speed. I do remember loving it. I might need to give this a rewatch.

Halloween Horror Movie #4:

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927): Alfred Hitchcock's classic silent-era film based loosely on Jack the Ripper still holds up 99 years after it was first released. An older married couple begin to suspect their new lodger might have ties to the series of local killings even as their grown daughter become romantically drawn to the man.

Even 91 minutes, the film still felt a little long, but this is probably more due to my modern sensibilities rather than a fault of the filmmaking. Still, the film has quite a few tense moments, a sprinkling of humor, and enough twists to keep one engaged. It was also interesting to an earlier foreshadowing of the shower scene in Psycho in a tense scene where the daughter is (possibly) endangered while bathing. This film was remade in 1944 by another director, which might be a fun one to track down. Overall, if old films are your thing, you could a heck of a lot worse than this classic. 

Grade: B

Halloween Horror Movie #5:

Monolith (2022): A disgraced journalist tries to reboot her career by launching a podcast exploring unexplained phenomena and conspiracy theories, only to find herself lured into a story about enigmatic black bricks that may have far-reaching consequences for the world. 

Akin to the (much better) Pontypool, the film is told mostly through phone conversations the journalist has with various people who have had contact with the black bricks. Such a move puts a lot of pressure on the lead actress, as she's pretty much the only person shown on screen, but actress Lily Sullivan acquits herself fantastically as the unnamed "Interviewer." Also luckily for her, the direction is solid and the script is interesting enough to keep the tension building through the first two acts. Unfortunately, as the mysteries reveal themselves, the film stumbles with convolutions that don't make a lot of sense if one thinks too much about it. I did find it interesting that there was a shot in the film of the exterior of the house with a giant black brick hanging over it, which reminded me of the assault-rifle-over-the-house scene in Weapons, which came out a few years later. I'm not saying director Zach Cregger lifted the shot, but I did find it an interesting coincidence. I will say, though, that the shot worked so much better in Monolith than in Weapons. 

Grade: C- (mostly because I liked the first two-thirds so much.)

I think I got it on sale so I saved a few bucks. But yeah, discs are definitely a lot more expensive than they used to be. My pet peeve is how Disney keeps only releasing things in steelbooks - I have no desire for a steelbook and the only reason I own any is because there wasn't a regular version available.

Posted by: @sock_monkey

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I saw the 4k for Frailty and almost picked it up, but held off. The prices for discs nowadays is crazy. My copy is an old DVD. Still looked good, though.

Posted by: @sock_monkey

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We kicked off our Halloween viewing very early this year. We decided to take another trip up Oregon way to see my wife's nephew, who moved there a few months back. The last couple of years, he's joined us for some Halloween viewing in October, and the week prior to our trip, he texted asking if we could please start our Halloween movie season early this year so he could join in while we visited. So of course we obliged. 

Halloween Movie #1:

Frailty (2001): Bill Paxton's full-length directorial debut follows two young brothers as they grapple with their single father's revelation a heavenly vision has directed him and his sons to hunt and kill demons. Told in flashback from the adult older brother Fenton's point of view (played in the present timeline by Matthew McConaughey) as he relates the origin of the God's Hand Killer to a skeptical FBI (Powers Boothe), the film cranks up the tension as Fenton's father (played by Bill Paxton in one of his best performances) brings home first a trio of "holy" weapons--gloves, an ax, and length of pipe--and then people he claims are demons. 

This film disappeared quickly upon release in the theaters, but has always been a favorite of mine. Highly underrated and holds up 25 years later. Grade: B+

Halloween Movie #2:

The Descent (2005): A year after a tragic accident, a group of female friends reunite for a caving expedition, only to find them trapped in the caves as things go from bad to worse. And then they find out they aren't alone. 

I doubt anybody on this forum hasn't seen this film, but it is such a tense viewing experience. After the equally fun soldiers-versus-werewolves flick Dog Soldiers, director Neil Marshall seemed poised as the "next big thing." While he seems mostly to be doing television these days, The Descent is a stone-cold classic for a reason. Grade: A

Halloween Movie #3:

Late Night with the Devil (2023): Struggling 1970s talk show host Jack Delroy takes one last stab at ratings success by bringing on a supposedly demon-possessed girl on to his live Halloween night episode. Things slowly unravel in this found footage mockumentary showcasing the footage from the long-lost episode.

While it gets a lot of flack, I'm a big fan of found footage when it's done right, and Late Night with the Devil nails it for me. It's a slow burn, but it's ending pays off the patience. Lots of fun and would be perfect for Halloween night viewing. Grade: B+

 Pretty good way to start! I thought FRAILTY was a great film. I remember talking it up to everyone at work on the Monday after opening weekend, but the film flopped hard. Sad enough that Bill Paxton died so young, but I think it's even sadder because he could have gone on to make some amazing films, if this one was any indication.

 I had a weird experience with THE DESCENT. I saw it with my wife, who I had just started dating in 2005, and I loved it. I was also all bruised and scratched-up after seeing it, because my wife went crazy with fear during it, squeezing me, hitting me in the side and stomach with her flailing fists, kicking my shins because her legs were flailing...she still has PTSD from the film. I found out I'm claustrophobic during that viewing...the tight squeezes through the narrow cave tunnels REALLY bothered me. Seeing it with a sold-out crowd amped up the tension to crazy levels, too. Quite an experience. I watched the film again a few weeks ago, and found it incredibly phony-looking. Seeing it on TV really highlighted the fact that it was filmed on sets...the rocks looked fake, the caves looked cheesy, the mutants looked like mimes in leotards. Just...didn't work for me at all this go-round.

 I enjoyed the beginning of LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL quite a bit, but in degenerated into something so far-fetched by the end that I just couldn't buy into it.

Posted by: @dannyboy121070

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Posted by: @sock_monkey

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We kicked off our Halloween viewing very early this year. We decided to take another trip up Oregon way to see my wife's nephew, who moved there a few months back. The last couple of years, he's joined us for some Halloween viewing in October, and the week prior to our trip, he texted asking if we could please start our Halloween movie season early this year so he could join in while we visited. So of course we obliged. 

Halloween Movie #1:

Frailty (2001): Bill Paxton's full-length directorial debut follows two young brothers as they grapple with their single father's revelation a heavenly vision has directed him and his sons to hunt and kill demons. Told in flashback from the adult older brother Fenton's point of view (played in the present timeline by Matthew McConaughey) as he relates the origin of the God's Hand Killer to a skeptical FBI (Powers Boothe), the film cranks up the tension as Fenton's father (played by Bill Paxton in one of his best performances) brings home first a trio of "holy" weapons--gloves, an ax, and length of pipe--and then people he claims are demons. 

This film disappeared quickly upon release in the theaters, but has always been a favorite of mine. Highly underrated and holds up 25 years later. Grade: B+

Halloween Movie #2:

The Descent (2005): A year after a tragic accident, a group of female friends reunite for a caving expedition, only to find them trapped in the caves as things go from bad to worse. And then they find out they aren't alone. 

I doubt anybody on this forum hasn't seen this film, but it is such a tense viewing experience. After the equally fun soldiers-versus-werewolves flick Dog Soldiers, director Neil Marshall seemed poised as the "next big thing." While he seems mostly to be doing television these days, The Descent is a stone-cold classic for a reason. Grade: A

Halloween Movie #3:

Late Night with the Devil (2023): Struggling 1970s talk show host Jack Delroy takes one last stab at ratings success by bringing on a supposedly demon-possessed girl on to his live Halloween night episode. Things slowly unravel in this found footage mockumentary showcasing the footage from the long-lost episode.

While it gets a lot of flack, I'm a big fan of found footage when it's done right, and Late Night with the Devil nails it for me. It's a slow burn, but it's ending pays off the patience. Lots of fun and would be perfect for Halloween night viewing. Grade: B+

 Pretty good way to start! I thought FRAILTY was a great film. I remember talking it up to everyone at work on the Monday after opening weekend, but the film flopped hard. Sad enough that Bill Paxton died so young, but I think it's even sadder because he could have gone on to make some amazing films, if this one was any indication.

 I had a weird experience with THE DESCENT. I saw it with my wife, who I had just started dating in 2005, and I loved it. I was also all bruised and scratched-up after seeing it, because my wife went crazy with fear during it, squeezing me, hitting me in the side and stomach with her flailing fists, kicking my shins because her legs were flailing...she still has PTSD from the film. I found out I'm claustrophobic during that viewing...the tight squeezes through the narrow cave tunnels REALLY bothered me. Seeing it with a sold-out crowd amped up the tension to crazy levels, too. Quite an experience. I watched the film again a few weeks ago, and found it incredibly phony-looking. Seeing it on TV really highlighted the fact that it was filmed on sets...the rocks looked fake, the caves looked cheesy, the mutants looked like mimes in leotards. Just...didn't work for me at all this go-round.

 I enjoyed the beginning of LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL quite a bit, but in degenerated into something so far-fetched by the end that I just couldn't buy into it.

 

That's a bummer about the rewatch of The Descent. I hate it when a film's memory gets ruined by a rewatch. Luckily, I didn't have this experience on my last viewing. 

I can absolutely understand your perspective on Late Night with the Devil. The film walks that dangerous line separating scary and ridiculous. For me, the film's go-for-broke final act surprised me and I appreciated it taking the swing. 

Posted by: @tacomadiver

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I think I got it on sale so I saved a few bucks. But yeah, discs are definitely a lot more expensive than they used to be. My pet peeve is how Disney keeps only releasing things in steelbooks - I have no desire for a steelbook and the only reason I own any is because there wasn't a regular version available.

Posted by: @sock_monkey

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I saw the 4k for Frailty and almost picked it up, but held off. The prices for discs nowadays is crazy. My copy is an old DVD. Still looked good, though.

 

Yeah, I haven't gotten on the steelbook train. I have a couple in my collection, but mostly because the price was nice. I recently picked up the 4k steelbook of Late Night with the Devil for under $15. 

Halloween Horror Movie #6:

Backrooms (2026): One of two theatrical hits from directors who cut their teeth on YouTube, Backrooms, in my lowly opinion, is miles beyond the rather mediocre (I know, another hot take) Obsession. Based off a YouTube series, Backrooms stars the always engaging Chiwetel Ejiofor as a divorced furniture store owner who finds a hidden doorway to a labyrinthian expanse of rooms connected to the lower floor of his store. Being a horror movie, things go from eerie to life threatening once it's revealed that the rooms are not uninhabited. Dealing with themes of grief and trauma, the film has a little more on its mind than just scares. The direction is solid, the sets are amazing, but the true heroes of the film is in the casting. Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, who plays the therapist of Ejiofor's character, ground the fantastical nature of the film through their performances. I didn't think I was going to like this one, so I frontloaded it in my viewing list, but I wound up enjoying it quite a bit. Grade: B+

@sock_monkey I was surprised at how much I enjoyed THE BACKROOMS. The Writer/Director has a bright future ahead of him.

Posted by: @dannyboy121070

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@sock_monkey I was surprised at how much I enjoyed THE BACKROOMS. The Writer/Director has a bright future ahead of him.

I agree! There’s a confidence in the direction that was pleasantly surprising.  Sometimes new directors have this instinct to be flashy, too show off in some capacity, but Parsons direction was subtle, constantly focused on telling a story clearly and competently, and trusting the audience to make connections. I will be very curious to see what’s next for him.  My experience also reaffirmed the feeling that I haven’t completely lost touch with modern horror movie sentiments.

@sock_monkey I often feel out-of-step with modern Horror film taste, so...You're not alone, lol!

Posted by: @sock_monkey

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Halloween Horror Movie #6:

Backrooms (2026): One of two theatrical hits from directors who cut their teeth on YouTube, Backrooms, in my lowly opinion, is miles beyond the rather mediocre (I know, another hot take) Obsession. Based off a YouTube series, Backrooms stars the always engaging Chiwetel Ejiofor as a divorced furniture store owner who finds a hidden doorway to a labyrinthian expanse of rooms connected to the lower floor of his store. Being a horror movie, things go from eerie to life threatening once it's revealed that the rooms are not uninhabited. Dealing with themes of grief and trauma, the film has a little more on its mind than just scares. The direction is solid, the sets are amazing, but the true heroes of the film is in the casting. Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, who plays the therapist of Ejiofor's character, ground the fantastical nature of the film through their performances. I didn't think I was going to like this one, so I frontloaded it in my viewing list, but I wound up enjoying it quite a bit. Grade: B+

I watched it last night since it's now streaming "free" on HBO Max, and thought it was okay. I gave a 5.5, maybe a 6. I'd been anticipating this liminal space flick for quite a while, so my expectations were probably a bit too high. I at least give them props for offering something different.

Posted by: @ronclinton

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Posted by: @sock_monkey

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Halloween Horror Movie #6:

Backrooms (2026): One of two theatrical hits from directors who cut their teeth on YouTube, Backrooms, in my lowly opinion, is miles beyond the rather mediocre (I know, another hot take) Obsession. Based off a YouTube series, Backrooms stars the always engaging Chiwetel Ejiofor as a divorced furniture store owner who finds a hidden doorway to a labyrinthian expanse of rooms connected to the lower floor of his store. Being a horror movie, things go from eerie to life threatening once it's revealed that the rooms are not uninhabited. Dealing with themes of grief and trauma, the film has a little more on its mind than just scares. The direction is solid, the sets are amazing, but the true heroes of the film is in the casting. Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, who plays the therapist of Ejiofor's character, ground the fantastical nature of the film through their performances. I didn't think I was going to like this one, so I frontloaded it in my viewing list, but I wound up enjoying it quite a bit. Grade: B+

I watched it last night since it's now streaming "free" on HBO Max, and thought it was okay. I gave a 5.5, maybe a 6. I'd been anticipating this liminal space flick for quite a while, so my expectations were probably a bit too high. I at least give them props for offering something different.

 

My nephew and his girlfriend saw it in the theater and hated it, so my expectations were in the gutter, which might explain why I responded so positively.  I wonder if, in upon  a revisit in a few years, we both start drifting in each other’s direction, eventually settling at some mean of a 7. Expectations have a huge sway in initial perception after all.