October Goal: First Sequence

As I stated in my previous blog, my goal for this month was to watch 31 horror movies during the month of October. I felt that I should update with the movies I have watched, during this first week (it being October 7th and all).

So far I have watched 6 movies, leaving me 24 more days to watch 25 more movies. So far I am happy with the goal. It is tough to find time when you work two jobs twice a week and work 6 days in the week. I am still set on my goal. Here are the movies I have watched so far, in order of how I saw them. I will include a small write up on my thoughts of the film.



1. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) -- C+
I had it set that I would complete the the missing pieces of the Friday the 13th series. That included the "final" chapter of the Friday the 13th series. This was the only Friday movie to have some star power, in the young Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover being the star power (OK so maybe in 1984 that was star power?). Anyway the movie was average and Feldman's character Tommy Jarvis would star in 2 more movies after this, making him Jason's greatest foe.

2. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) -- C
I enjoyed the opening of the film, and it was nice to see Feldman back, even if it was for a cameo. They keep the Tommy Jarvis arc going, this time he is older and messed up because he killed a homicidal maniac when he was kid (wow they went with a somewhat realistic story). The whole story takes place in a mental camp for teens, Tommy just got in and now people are dying. I did like the mystery, I really didn't know who the killer was and I thought it was a fresh take on the Friday the 13th films.

I have heard most people hated this movie because Jason was not officially in it, but trust me there was a much worse movie with Jason in it (Part 8). The only thing that made me dislike the movie was the ending. Basically instead of taking off with is Jarvis the new Jason, it waits all the way until the end to ask the question, a question they already asked at the end of the movie before it, ugh.


3. The Funhouse (1981) -- C
I checked this one out because it came highly recommended by a fellow slasher fan and it was directed by Tobe Hooper. The story starts out dead slow, I mean nothing really happens at all but there was a nice homage to Psycho and Halloween to start the film. The movie could have used more atmosphere but instead tends to go the route of a teens wanting to get into trouble by sleeping the night in the funhouse even though they were warned type story. The reveal of the killer was nicely done, I didn't see that surprise coming.



4. An American Werewolf In London (1981)-- B+
I was looking forward to seeing this movie for a long time. I knew how the special effects were really well done for the time, and they still hold up amazingly well in 2010. It was nice to not see it all done in some CGI. What I didn't know was how comical the movie was. Personally, I enjoy some nice horror comedy if it is done correctly. Then I saw it was directed by John Landis, he of Animal House and Blues Brothers fame and it all started to make perfect sense. The dream sequence with the Nazi was crazy fun. The ending had me laughing, how they cut right from something graphic then the fade black with Blue Moon playing, classic!



5. Dracula (1931) -- B
I decided to get out the 1980 horror films and go really old school, and watch the original Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi. The movie starts out well enough and the atmosphere and sets are pretty amazing. I found the movie very slow, but taking in account the time it was made I am okay with it. Any time that Lugosi was not on screen the movie suffered for I felt. Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing also was very good and Dwight Frye's Reinfield has some great facial expressions and steals every scene he appears is in. I am watching another classic monster film from the same year as we speak...

6. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) -- D-
I am sad to say I had to watch this movie to finish off seeing every Friday the 13th. I am sure glad I watched it last because I found this movie to be just an utter waste of time. Jason now has more to say apparently, and getting rid of his classic KI KI KI MA MA MA sound is unforgivable. The director seemed like he was trying to do something new with Jason, and I guess I could applaud him for that if he didn't fail miserably. Oh well, I am glad I never have to see this again.