Ghosts

Oculus (2013)

/ Shawn / 1 Comment

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I’m a big fan of good horror films, and there have been quite a few good ones in the last few years. This one belongs on the list. I’m sure those who disagree with me will complain “nothing happens!” Even if this were true (it isn’t), “Seinfeld” showed us that there can be success in entertainment about “nothing.” Of course, what they really mean is there wasn’t a lot of maiming and slashing and gore and…you get the idea. No, this is much more of a psychological film. It blurs the line between reality and illusion just as it blurs the line between past and present. Continue reading →

Poltergeist (2015)

/ Shawn / 3 Comments

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If I could say three things to the “geniuses” who continue to remake classic horror films, they would be:

  1. Stop it.
  2. No, really. Stop it.
  3. “More” is not always “better.”

Regarding one and two, let’s just admit that it’s about the money. But there are lots of “not so classic” horror films out there that would probably benefit from a remake/reimagining. And there are lots of writers out there just waiting to get a crack at doing something a little more original. Perhaps Hollywood could take advantage of those. Number three is the result of just a warped, wrongheaded understanding of what makes the “classic” horror film classic. Poltergeist has some great examples of that. Continue reading →