#and of course the cinema and CGI was top notch

[prideprejudce]

all this hype on Oppenheimer for MONTHS and the actual movie was just kind of…….ehhhh

[henryharvinblog]

Master The Art of Visual Effects with Henry Harvin’s Courses in Delhi

Today’s cinema allows us to experience some magnificent worlds that are simply impossible to exist on Earth. Well, thanks to VFX, otherwise called visual effects.  You may have noticed that VFX technology is now used in gaming, commercials, and even websites to some extent and is no longer limited to movies. Therefore, the demand for VFX artists is growing enormously. If you aspire to be a visual effects artist, read the blog and learn how to master the art of VFX through visual effects courses in Delhi. 

A brief understanding of visual effects:

Visual effects is a technique that involves adding special effects to a movie with the help of a computer. These effects aim to add something imaginary and make it look real. These visual effects are added to a recorded movie and not while filming. To be precise, you must have noticed the green screen behind actors while shooting a film, these screens are removed during the post-production stage to add the imaginary effects in the background. In a nutshell, VFX combines live-action footage with manipulated or enhanced pictures to create realistic scenes. 

How to create VFX?

Movies can inspire us to become visual effects artists or supervisors; however, they cannot teach us the technique that goes behind them. Therefore, enrolling in an animation course is crucial to learning the principles, tools and techniques of visual effects. Well, the good news is, today there are plenty of institutes offering animation courses. 

Looking for  Visual Effects Courses in Delhi?

VFX is a fantastic career choice if you are passionate about understanding the technology that goes into creating spectacular, realistic movies with the help of CGI. Enrolling in a visual effects course in Delhi is the first step towards making a career in VFX because proper training in this field is crucial to making it big. Moreover, you can become a certified VFX Artist by completing the course. However, choosing a reputable institute is essential. To the best of my knowledge, Henry Harvin is one of the finest platforms to enrol for visual effects courses in Delhi. You can check out “ animation course Henry Harvin” for further details.

Why Henry Harvin?

Henry Harvin is one of the leading ed-tech companies that started in 2013 to provide training and advisory services. It has branches across many states in India, one of which is Delhi. It has seen magnificent growth since its founding and today provides more than 800-course programs in 27 categories. Henry Harvin offers world-class course materials and top-notch faculty to transform the growth of individuals as well as organisations. Additionally, famous publication houses like Hindustan Times, Times of India, Aaj Tak and many others have applauded Henry Harvin for its uniqueness and quality. Above all, it won awards like the best corporate training platform. Therefore, Henry Harvin is among the best institutes to take Visual Effects Courses in Delhi.

Features of Henry Harvin’s Visual Effects Courses in Delhi:

Their visual effects courses are designed as per the current industry and studio standards. Precisely, they follow an AVGC industry-recognised course curriculum

Learn from expert faculty with studio experience

Collaborative projects and assignments are conducted by the animation course Henry Harvin to give you a practical learning experience.

They conduct regular studio visits to provide a better understanding of the technique

You get an opportunity to interact with world-renowned studio experts through seminars, workshops, and online sessions.

Get expert guidance to understand show-reel development.

For a better learning experience, the gaming and animation course Henry Harvin conducts regional, zonal and national level competitions for students.

Their unique job portal and placement support team provide 100% placement assistance.

Events and Engagements for VFX Students at Henry Harvin:

VANTAGE:

 This event facilitates seminars conducted by experts in visual effects and animation, where you get to see their career journeys and understand the scope and future of this field. Therefore, this is a perfect platform to transform your vision into reality.

ANIVIBE:

This is an Annual National Student’s Meet conducted for students so that they can interact with stalwarts of the VFX industry and get inspired. 

ZONAL STUDENTS COMPETITION:

This event allows you to showcase your best to get awarded and nominated for Radiance, which is a national awards event. Hence, it is a perfect stage to showcase your creativity. 

RADIANCE: 

It is an annual awards evening where Indian and International animation experts honour students for their outstanding contributions to VFX, design, animation and gaming. 

Therefore, if you are looking to master the art of visual effects, then Henry Harvin is your place. 

Career Benefits of Taking Visual Effects Courses in Delhi:

Through the course, you can acquire the skills that will help you create beautiful visual effects for video games, movies or TV. 

 For a better understanding of the principles of composition, colour, and animation one has to enrol in visual effects courses in Delhi

In addition, the visual effects training helps you learn the usage of industry-standard software like  Nuke and Adobe After Effects.

Furthermore, you will learn video editing, motion graphics and visual effects along with animation.

Whether you wish to become a VFX artist or a supervisor, the visual effects courses in Delhi can help you advance your career.

Conclusion:

To sum up, taking visual effects courses in Delhi improves your skill sets that can be applied in various sectors. The tools and techniques that you will learn through this course will enhance your creative-thinking abilities while improving your knowledge. Therefore, enrol in Henry Harvin’s visual effects courses in Delhi. 

[sunshine304]

I agree pretty much completely with this. The pacing of MMFR is more relentless and very tight, while this is a bit more sprawling - there's a lot more world building and character building in this.

The action is used a bit more sparingly, but is still absolutely top-notch and breath-taking (that super long sequence with the tank attack OMG) and I'm also glad to say that the weird CGI look of the trailer is almost non-existent in the finished movie. The colouring is also gorgeous and feels absolutely in-tone with MMFR.

The character work by everyone is amazing, but the stand-outs are of course Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth - the latter letting loose as an unhinged maniac, the former doing Charlize Theron's iconic performance justice. I can also understand now what Taylor-Joy meant when she said she'd never felt so alone when making a movie: she has very few lines of dialogue and also many scenes where she is indeed - alone. While Hemsworth is usually surrounded by Dementus' biker gang, Furiosa spends a lot of this movie isolated. Also, from the shooting of MMFR we know that the way Miller does these movies is often quite confusing for the actors as he does very short sequences that seem extremely disconnected.

The final product is absolutely worth it though. The movie also ties in neatly with MMFR which I really liked.

Please go see this awesome movie, it would be a shame if it did bad numbers. Y'all want cool and unique movies and whine about the "Marvel'isation" of cinema, but then don't go and watch those cool and unique movies (see "The Fall Guy", which is amazing and got completely ignored).

Highly recommended.

[kendrixtermina]

So, “Coco”

One of my sisters was visiting and suggested we watch it

First I wasn’t overly hot on a children’s movie but the point was to do something fun together with my sister and BF, and he likes CGI stuff

My sister pulled out a quick documentary video about “Dia de Los Muertos” and the whole symbolism & aesthetic of it; That’s when I genuinely started thinking that this may have potential... It’s kinda like goth but also the total opposite of goth

The movie delivered. The Aesthetic was top notch, thorough & unapologetic in the music, the cultural references, & the visuals 

In itself it’s very straightforward, archetypical & simple without ever veering into overdone. Very basic fantasy (if taken from a different pool of myth than the usual castles & dragons), classic hero’s journey and a well executed Hegelian Dialectic where the apparent false dichotomy between following your dreams or sticking with your loved ones is crushed in t5he end because, family is supposed to support you & your loved ones can be your greatest inspiration

I kind of called it from the start that Hector was Miguel’s real ancestor (My sister, of course, got the “how” right) - an early hint that he’s a Dad shows up when he suddenly & unexpectedly turns all “reasonable adult-ey” when it turns out Miguel’s family is looking for him. And all along, he just wanted to see his daughter. Awww. 

Lets just aknowledge that the idea of having an epic adventure with your ancestors and meeting all those people your parents and grandparents told you about is just really, really cool; Every family has some branches they know less off than others

Let’s appreciate the Derpy Dog Spirit Guiude with the ludicrous pidgeon wings

It had a neat little political commentary without being ham-fisted and staying within the boundary of “good life lessons for kids”, but there was a certain #MeToo subtext there... like, you can’t put something like molestation in a childrens movie, but the basic point of how your heroes can turn out to have done awful things is prolly a good message to show to little boys, especially with how it didn’t stay a secret in the end but got outed to the world by the old ladies’ words

How deep is it that it’s named for the old granny; Also, how in the epilogue you saw the baby cousin, kinda implying how the family tree/ history continues to grow

When the great-great-grandma sang it sounded just like my mom’s old records

The physical humor with the bones was neato. (as my sister pointed out, there was not a single lame fart joke, the humor was very organic rather than forced or annoying)

So pretty! I mean in the end film is a visual medium. My sister lost it over the look of the afterlife/purgatory place

With trump out there and so much hate mongering, its really good for Latin American kids to see their culture in a cool and awesome light

So, 8/10, but I like to reserve 10 for mindblowing stuff - If 10 is not “best movie imaginable” but “it did everything a [genre] movie is supposed to”, it would be more like 11/10. It’s good that this exists, especially in these times.  

Bonus: Here are some impressions from my littlest sister, an actual grade schooler and hence in the actual target demographic: 

music very catchy

She liked/ found relatable how the MC has a big family just like herself, which isn’t common around here; Same for them speaking Spanish (our parents grew up in Cuba so they speak it at home sometimes)

She thought it had a really cool adventure story (not something that occurred to me)

She went to the cinema 3 times to watch it, and now they’re gonna buy it on amazon, too. The other 2 sisters both stressed how much she loved it

[yougotcrit]

Re-Crit: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) - 10 Years Later

I have a fairly long list of films that I consider for these articles. Each of them is significant in their own way and worth the effort to write about, but none more so than Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). And that’s because no film has tainted a director’s career or done more harm to the nostalgia of millions of fans since George Lucas and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999). It had been 19 long years since Steven Spielberg and George Lucas had last collaborated on one of cinema’s most iconic characters with The Last Crusade (1989), and audiences were finally being granted a fourth (and if IMDB can be believed, unfortunately not last) adventure starring Harrison Ford. The result became one of the most universally hated and embarrassing movies ever put to film. How did it go so wrong?

It’s difficult to single out a specific reason for the film’s failure; there’s just so many! But it may have something to do with the film’s weak story. Indiana Jones, handsome archaeologist and adventurer extraordinaire, has become an old man, bumbling from one scene to the next. To make up for the age difference, the writers included a young and sassy sidekick for Indy, which worked so well for him in Temple of Doom (1984). But let’s make this sidekick his actual son and then send them on a goose chase for a nonsensical Macguffin about aliens that goes absolutely nowhere. Featuring Soviets as the villains. Honestly, the brief escapades mentioned about Indy’s deeds during WWII would have made for a much more interesting story.

But the film is riddled with production problems as well. Despite promising to keep Kingdom of the Crystal Skull more in line with the previous films, director Steven Spielberg opted for an extensive use of CGI and sound stages, which did the film no favors. The result is an extremely non-immersive experience that appears incredibly fake. One infamous scene comes to mind, as our heroes are racing through the jungle via all manner of vehicles, and at one point, Indy’s greaser son begins swinging from vine to vine along with a troop of monkeys, a la Tarzan. And if I’m not mistaken, an army of giant fire ants devours a man in this same sequence. Nothing but top notch special effects for Mr. Spielberg.

Of course, I couldn’t discuss this movie without bringing up the elephant in the room, the moment that will forever live in infamy, a moment which the franchise nor the fans will ever be able to live down. Indy in the fridge. Or more specifically, Indiana Jones surviving a nuclear explosion by hiding in a refrigerator lined with lead. And to top the scene off, upon surviving the experience, a disoriented Indy collapses out of the fridge, face to face with a CGI gopher. It’s unlikely, it’s campy, and it’s downright stupid. But honestly, the scene is a great indication for how the rest of the film would go, and how the audience would feel at the end of it all.

There’s a great many other things wrong with Crystal Skull, but they pale in comparison to the above mentioned flaws. And yet, despite being such a disaster, I hear they’re in the works of another Indiana Jones film due in 2020. Glad to see that those responsible for this train wreck have learned from their mistakes. Or, as Comedy Central’s “South Park” has suggested, perhaps Spielberg and Lucas just enjoy having their way with Indy, in a non-consensual sort of way.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,

You Got Re-Crit

(Like what you read? Then Share! Or Like! Or Follow! Or leave a Comment! Didn’t like it? That’s cool too! I’d love to hear feedback! Have a suggestion for a Re-Crit? Post a suggestion!  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube as well! Thanks for reading!)

[daisychainblogs]

the shape of water - a review                            ***

Toro is the child on the playground gleefully screeching “fight, fight, FIGHT”. The twist? It’s only you in the boxing rink.

The opening few minutes of Guillermo del Toro’s latest flick showcase its most powerful personality traits. Its immediately gorgeous cinematography, paired with Elisa’s exact (and somewhat x-rated) morning routine reassures us that Toro is once again out to play the twisted matchmaker between a world of fantasy, and one of legitimate human unpleasantness. 

There are only a handful of straightforward points to make about TSOW. First, the acting: which is straight up fantastic. Sally Hawkins’ Elisa is truly electric; silent only its most literal sense, Hawkins’ portrayal of Toro’s central character screams its emotion from start to finish. The actress’ panic stricken attempts to persuade friend Giles – Richard Jenkins’ own charming triumph -  to aid her in the film’s pivotal prison-break sequence should be used as her emotional portfolio henceforth. Any actress with the ability to present such a variety of cutting feeling – and without the use of a single spoken word -  is going to make any audience sit up and pay attention. Goodbye Paddington Bear. 

Equally straightforward in its success is the TSOW’s use of CGI. As a die hard anti-computer generated anything kind of girl, my strong reservations concerning Toro’s approach were proved wholly unnecessary. The aquatic man is truly a marvel, and I happily toss my hands up in submission to this particular use of computer generated effect. Zero complaints here. 

 But now is when things begin to get a little complicated. To begin with, there is the issue with TSOW’s very narrative: the immediate subject matter of this Oscar Winner being inherently tricky. A woman falls in love, and subsequently conducts an explicitly sexual relationship with, an aquatic creature. Granted, said creature is - for all extensive purposes- human shaped. Human shaped - with fins and scales to boot. But the viewer  (or this viewer at least)  still can’t help but wonder - would a woman, no matter how alternative in lifestyle, no matter how isolated from society, really feel attracted to an animal? Fondness – absolutely. But attraction?

Of course I know that I am missing the point. The Beauty and the Beast narrative always was, and always is, one grand metaphor. Love has no boundaries; those who don’t fit into society are never truly alone. But somehow this particular retelling proved somewhat hard to swallow. I wish I didn’t have a problem with this element of the film – it makes me feel entirely ignorant -  and to criticize a film for fulfilling its ultimate narrative objective should not, and can not be done. We wouldn’t condemn Star Wars for including too many outer-space scenes. And we shouldn’t even begin to critisize Guillermo del Toro’s work for its very essence.

In a way, I applaud the film’s cultivation of confusion. Because isn’t this the whole point of the original fable? To teach us to re-examine our selves – to recognize our prejudices and tackle them head on. And perhaps the director would smile and pat himself on the back if he heard of the confusion – the self analysis – that his piece had stimulated. TSOW certainly gives us a peculiar sense that Guillermo del Toro might back the child on the sidelines of the playground gleefully screeching “fight, fight, FIGHT”. But this time it’s only you in the boxing rink. 

 The second, equally perplexing issue I had with this film, was its hard-to-put-your-finger-on-quite-what-it-is sense of over generous ‘glossiness’. Anybody familiar with Toro’s early work , most notably his deliciously violent fairy- tale-slash-horror, Pan’s Labyrinth, will remember the ravishing rawness inherent to Del Toro’s early steps. The violence was truly repulsive; the fantasy elements possessed a sense of strange authenticity . Toro was like the Angela Carter of foreign film, and gave us Magic Realism at its absolute best (hint – it’s not really interested in the fairies). 

Its now been 12 years since Toro graced our screens with his wide eyed fawn and pink skinned devil complete with fully detachable peepers. The biggest, most peculiar problem with TSOW is it’s new Hollywood sheen. The violence, despite being graphic in content, seems somehow more rehearsed; the fabulous apartments in which Elisa carries out her everyday routines are just a bit too enviable. It seems a strange thing to criticize a film for somehow looking too good. But when one recalls the sense of razor sharp brutality found within the Labyrinth walls all those years ago, perhaps it can make just a small amount of sense. Guillermo del Toro delivers an accomplished piece of cinema once again– it’s just a shame, somehow, that he is responsible for it.

It would be wrong to begrudge Toro’s latest work its recognition and award season success.  it is certainly a handsome film; the cinematography is top notch, the CGI surprisingly inoffensive, and the cast entertaining and accomplished in equal measure. The only catch is that you are left wondering if,perhaps ,TSOW may have been a better film had it been made ten years ago.

[joehertler]

30 Modern Horror Movies For Your Spooking Pleasure (Updated for 2018)

Dearest Friends and Fellow Rainbow Seekers,

as you may know, I am rather obsessed with horror movies. Over my lifetime, I have submitted myself to thousands of hours of horror cinema, but such extended exposure has come at a cost. It is true that I sometimes lose sleep over the fear of grinning demons sitting at the foot of my bed, or perhaps finding the bloated corpse of a drowned girl crying in my closet. But dark thoughts, as such, are typical to those who willfully endure the macabre. As a horror fan, nothing is more terrifying—or more gratifying—than clammering your way through the black swamp of terrible movies in search of the diamonds in the rough.

I have done the work for you, dear reader. I have hunted through hundreds of faux haunts and I have identified those that are genuine. And if you’re willing, I would be honored to serve as your guide through this realm of dark cinema. A concise list lies below, consisting both of films widely recognized, and lesser-known cult classics. They are united only by their modernity and their overall awesomeness. This is a list of films to be watched by all fans of cinema. So I urge you, dear reader, to call your significant other (or the one you desire to be your significant other). Then, put on your favorite onesie, and get ready for spookiness!  Because the night is dark and full of terror—and you deserve to be spooked by those films most worthy of spooking!

The Babadook - 2014 [TRAILER]

This might be my favorite on the entire list, so I'm gonna stick it right here at the top. But really, if there's one movie on this list that you should watch, it's the Babadook. Sure, you might have to suspend your disbelief on a few occasions, but it's totally worth it. It seems so rare that horror movies transcend their linear plots into something deeper, but the Babadook succeeds to descend to wonderfully cerebral depths. Without spoiling too much, the plot centers around a mother, grieving the loss of her husband, and her ADHD trouble-child, who come across a creepy kids’ book. An emotional and psychological haunting ensues that dares viewers to venture into the realms of depression and mania.

Let the Right One In - 2008 [TRAILER]

I've been bored of Vampires since Harry Potter, but this little charmer bit me right in the jugular. The plot centers around a boy who befriends a young female vampire—and yes, for you vampire loving people out there, it does get kind of romancy (in that innocent kid way). Apart from the totally on-point acting, the film maintains an oddly delicate balance of emotional tenderness and intimacy to total blood-chugging brutality. It is easily the best vampire movie to date, and if Swedish subs aren't your thing, there's an American version, Let Me In, that is equally as good.

It Follows - 2015 [TRAILER]

With one of the most original plots I've ever experienced in a horror movie, It Follows is being touted as one of the best movies of 2015. It's a film best left to experience without outside influence, but I can say that this film will be well enjoyed by those who appreciate speculation, interpretation, and subplots involving the exchange of STDs. It follows tread along a straight forward plot, but contains a wonderful amount of depth to sift through afterward. The film also has top-notch acting and is beautifully shot (much of it shot in Detroit). Make sure you see it with a few friends so you can talk about it afterward!

The Orphanage - 2007 [TRAILER]

I love me a sad, creepy ghost story, and there's something even better about them when they involve dead children. Like many of the films on my list, The Orphanage, produced by Guillermo Del Toro, has just that. But in all seriousness, this film has a wonderfully emotional story that’s rarely found in the horror genre. It's a well-known classic amid fans of the horror genre, a film that masterfully builds writhing tension to evoke its scares.

Lake Mungo - 2008 [TRAILER]

Lake Mungo offers a long-winded but mature examination of loss and grief. Its presentation is almost dreamlike, with a plot that focuses on the horrors experienced by a family after the drowning of their daughter. Lake Mungo exceeds as a film in the way that it relentlessly builds upon a wrenching sense of dread. Made with a tiny budget, but supported by solid acting, this film is surprisingly believable and captures the vulnerability, isolation, and confusion experienced after the unexpected death of a loved one. Simply put, this movie is completely terrifying, yet contains almost no cheap scares. It's a 100% unrelenting, slow-roast dread that doesn't let up until well after the credits.

REC - 2007 [TRAILER]

The original REC is a deliberately fast-paced film that sandwiches its doomed characters between compounding layers of dread, resulting in of one of the best modern horror films in years. The pseudo-zombie plot derails right from the get-go, and later smashes into the supernatural for a terrifying climax. But the disgusting monster at the end? That takes the cake for one of nastiest creepers ever to make it into cinema.

The Curse (Noroi) - 2005 [TRAILER]

There is a goldmine of Eastern horror out there, and the Curse represents the genre as one of the best. It's a Japanese, low budget, faux documentary, that—amid scenes of complete ridiculousness—manages to be completely and dreadfully effective. Noroi presents an engrossing, slow-burn mystery that carefully leaks the details of an ancient demon-curse. If you're interested in venturing into classic eastern horror, definitely check this one out.

Kill List - 2011 [TRAILER]

In some ways, Kill List tries to be a deep character study (and I'd say for the first 45 minutes, this might hold true), but then it’s quickly upstaged by an eerie crime drama, which later transforms into a totally effed cult-terror-gore-fest. Somehow, it all seems to work together, leaving you with a disturbing, yet surprisingly thought-provoking mess to discuss with your friends. This is a film to be viewed with others, and I highly recommend it for those who love cults, mysteries, and gore.

28 Days Later - 2002 [TRAILER]

While I wanted to avoid the obvious choices for this list, I couldn't leave out 28 Days Later, because...Well, it's just too good to ignore. With fast zombies, sympathetic characters, and incredible production, Danny Boyle has created one of the best pieces of apocalyptic horror ever made. You’ve probably already seen it, so you might as well see it again.

The Descent - 2005 [TRAILER]

The Descent stars six women, all part of an extreme adventure club, who decide to explore the creepiest cave in the entire world. In this cave, of course, dwell terrible, fanged, amphibious slime creatures who have an affinity for jump scares and standing directly behind the backs of the characters...but the real horror of this movie is the cave. The movie absolutely excels in conveying intense desperation and suffocating claustrophobia. Despite solid reviews, I had low hopes for this movie, but ended up really enjoying it. Highly recommended.

Cabin in the Woods - 2012 [TRAILER]

Horror fans tout Cabin in the Woods as a modern classic. Is it particularly scary? No. But it does provide an ample serving of self-aware humor and cliche-bending twists. I don't care much for self-aware horror movies, but Cabin in the Woods does it right, offering one of the best works of pop culture entertainment that the horror genre has ever seen.

Suicide Club - 2002 [TRAILER]

With an opening scene of 50+ Japanese schoolgirls jumping in front of a train, I can confidently say that Suicide Club is one of the most hardcore horror movies of all time. The movie follows a wave of unexplained suicides and slowly pieces together a rather nebulous mystery. Answers, however, are few and far between, and I am still not sure if I actually like this movie. But for anyone who is looking for something a little bit darker, this is for you.

Battle Royale - 2000 [TRAILER]

Before the Hunger Games, there was Battle Royale, which happens to be set in a  similar dystopian universe, wrought with unemployment, crime, and malcontent. Each year, a randomly selected 9th grade class of Japanese, khaki-donning schoolchildren are outfitted with exploding shock collars and given an assortment of weapons. They are then forced to hunt each other down until there is only one left. Long story short, it's the hunger games with an R rating, and if I am not mistaken, this controversial child-massacre-gore fest was banned for a time. But for real, this movie rules, topping its big-budget, modern successor with tons of style, as well as a healthy dose of dark, humorous cynicism. If you felt that the Hunger Games didn’t have enough teen gore, then this movie is for you.

The Devil’s Backbone - 2001 [TRAILER]

A haunting allegory of the Spanish Civil War, Guillermo Del Toro's film presents a chilling school house ghost story that stands as a masterfully produced piece of cinema. It's heavily atmospheric, emotionally fraught, and above all else, spooky. This fable is one of Del Toro's best and is a must watch on this list.

Creep - 2015 [TRAILER]

Laced in dry humor, Creep is another slow burner that masterfully builds upon a foundation of discomfort and creeping uneasiness that relies little on jump scares (although, it does not forgo them). The two fold script prompts some of the best acting on this list - and rumors state that much of it was improvised. Creep is proof that you don't need to have a big budget with CGI jump scares to make a compelling horror movie. Did I mention that it's available for Netflix streaming, too?

Gerald's Game (89% RT) [TRAILER]

The plot begins with a dude named Gerald, who, with his wife, depart to an ocean side cabin for a sexy-time retreat. Except their sexy time, in typical Stephen King fashion, goes horribly wrong. Next thing you know, Gerald is being eaten by a dog and she's handcuffed to the bed and then the boogieman starts to come out at night. Hopefully I didn't just ruin the movie for you, but for real, it gets really good - and the boogieman is one of the best horror spooks I've seen in a long time. The wife, Carla Gugino, gives nothing short of a stellar performance, too.

The Witch (91% RT) [TRAILER]

The Witch centers itself around a (Puritan?) family who is banished to the outskirts of the New England wilderness in the 1600s (where an ancient and foreboding evil lurks). Shortly after, the crops die, people get possessed, someone's nipple is eaten by a demon crow, and Satan appears as the family goat, named "Black Philip." Despite what I just said, the Witch bares little, but what it does reveal is absolutely brutal. But the real horror is not what hides in the woods, but rather the evil that makes its way inside of the characters. Overall, it's an exceptionally well made period piece that will marinade you in dread... and thus the Witch is one of my favorite horror movies of all time.

Under the Shadow (99%) [TRAILER]

Under the Shadow is an art house masterpiece that serves as one of the greatest horror movies ever made, yet it is mostly unknown outside of horror circles. The movie is about an Iranian mother and daughter, living in a bombed out Tehran in the middle of the Iran-Iraq war. Her Husband, a doctor, is drafted to serve at the war front and they are left behind when an undetonated missile comes crashing into their apartment building (followed by a superstitious neighbor spouting about how the missile brought with it a middle eastern demon, or Djinn). Things start to get creepy when random items being to go missing, the daughter's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and the Mother is plagued by horrible nightmares. But most unnerving of all is the isolation and desperation of a mother and daughter trapped in urban chaos.

IT (86% RT) [TRAILER]

An ancient, child devouring evil lurks under the town of Derry, Maine, who manifests itself physically as the apex of one's fears. Over the centuries, It has developed a taste for children (whose fears are easier to conceptualize, apparently), and thus It's preferred manifestation is that of a google-eyed, drooling, and mildly pedaphilic clown named Pennywise. Without drenching this write-up with my slobbering love for this movie, please know that the director and actors absolutely nailed it. The book presents 1200+ pages of historical world building with time-jumping plot lines - and the movie does an amazing job portraying the phantasmagoric and fantastical, yet demon-beleaguered town of Derry. Director, Andres Muschietti and co. deserve every penny of the 300 million dollars it has grossed since release.

It Comes at Night (89% RT) [TRAILER]

It Comes at Night is a psychological slow-burner, relying on the fears of the unknown, of mistrust, and of post-apocalyptic desperation. The plot revolves around the plight of a family, isolated and hidden, in their forest home as an undefined and unnatural blight ravages the outside world. One day, another destitute family comes stumbling into their home, who are cautiously taken in. Paranoia and mistrust slowly begin to boil between the two families, awakening an evil greater than the zombie-esque disease they seek to hide from. It's an unnervingly fantastic film that will stick with you long after viewing.

Get Out (99%) [TRAILER]

You can't have a “best of horror” list without mentioning "Get Out." The plot, which involves a bi-racial couple making a visit to the girlfriend's (white) parent's house, is both sharp and nimble in its often satirical portrayal of racial tension. The over-the-top plot initially focuses on a particularly awkward form of racial envy, which quickly derails into something much more sadistic - all the while tinged with director Jordan Peele's trademark humor. It is a movie that gives hope to the genre and has absolutely cemented itself as one of the best horror flicks ever made.

Train the Busan (95%) [TRAILER]

A father and daughter find themselves fleeing through the countryside (via train) amidst a zombie apocalypse. It's predictable, gory, and over-the-top, but in our cinematic world, over-peppered with every kind of zombie flick conceivable, Train to Busan still explores nuances amidst its campy and relentless action. Simply put, "Train to Busan" is a well-made and exceptionally entertaining film that still offers a dose of originality from within its South Korean setting. Just try not to take it too seriously.

The Wailing (99%) [TRAILER]

In a quiet south Korean village, a strange visitor appears, and soon after people start violently killing each other. In a panicked desperation, the police consult the occult to aid in solving the mythical blight that threats to spread beyond the village's outskirts. The Wailing is best enjoyed without knowing too much, but this phantasmagoric and gritty film is a cemented gem of Korean horror. It has some flaws and is exceptionally long, but the exploration of creepy eastern cult-mythology makes it well worth the trek.

The Banshee Chapter (75% RT) [TRAILER]

A man goes missing after consuming some CIA branded psychedelic research chemicals - and his friend decides (with the help of a gonzo-inspired journalist) that she’s going to track him down.  They acquire the aforementioned chemicals and proceed to smoke them, which apparently allows an evil deity to invade their lives (this particular deity takes the spooky meter and sends it to level 10). The plot is, admittedly, pretty lame, but if you can embrace the campiness, you'll find the movie is legitimately terrifying. I was prepared for a b-movie cheese fest, but for real, this movie is exceptionally spooky.

Hell House (76%) [TRAILER]

A malfunction occurs in an Halloween attraction set on the site of a hotel with a nefarious past, causing the death of 15 people. A half decade later, a documentary crew decides to investigate the tragedy and end up acquiring some tapes of the incident. It's a bit cheesy, but the plot and the acting are pretty damn good for a straight-to-VOD, found footage B-movie. Most importantly, though, is that "Hell House" is extraordinary creepy; completely worth watching for the thrill of horror.

Hereditary (89% RT) [TRAILER]

Cemented by Toni Collette’s wonderful performance, Hereditary is easily the best horror movie of 2018. The movie presents one menacing sucker punch after another as it rips apart the ground beneath the security of home. Both devastating and anything-but-subtle, Hereditary is recommended to those who like ancient demons, candle lit seances, and the occult.

A Quiet Place (95% RT) [TRAILER]

A Quiet Place’s plot, both affecting and inventive, throbs with (at times) agonizing, hold-your-breath tension. At the core you will find a family of four, struggling to survive in a world inhabited by invasive, sound-sensitive creatures who would prefer the extinction of humans. John Krasinski serves as both director and acting lead, which is good news for those of us who could care less for the recent stream of superfluous action movies he’s been producing.

A Dark Song (91% RT) [TRAILER]

Brooding and methodical, A Dark Song is set-piece pagan horror at its finest. It features only two characters: A mother in mourning and an arrogant occultist whom she seeks the aid of. The duo lock themselves in an old mansion to enact a lengthy and risky ritual, one that (ideally) results in a wish being granted. The acting is both fantastic and believable as the characters, in typical horror movie fashion, make mistakes that send them into a descent of madness. It’s witchcraft-gone-wrong; a slow burner with the relentless dread and chaos of a waking nightmare. This is one of my all time favorite indie horror movies. Highly recommended. 

1922 (89% RT) [TRAILER]

Unreliably narrated via the confession of a father who murders his wife (and who also ropes his hesitant son into the act), 1922 is a brooding tale of a man driven to madness by way of guilt. There are no jump scares to be found, as the movie favors the father’s slow-rot suffering and his futile and increasingly desperate attempts to bury his festering guilt. Psychological horror at its finest, this King adaptation is another excellent addition to Netflix’s diverse and original collection of horror movies. The Ritual (71%) [TRAILER]

While imperfect at best, this B-movie, set in northern Sweden, provides an interesting set (creepy, frost-dusted hinterlands) inhabited by four bros and an imaginative monster who’d prefer they were hiking somewhere else. Ankles are sprained and tempers swell as the friends become increasingly lost amidst a forest of their misjudgment. This movie is the definition of “pretty decent” with enough substance to hopefully see you through to the “less than decent” finale.