What I've learned from the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge

I've learned that I'm kind of bored of horror films. I'm just not as interested in them as I was in my teens. Maybe I'm just boring. Maybe I've matured and now I find it harder to just accept what's happening on screen. Instead I realise how problematic violence on screen can be, particularly violence against characters of colour, queer characters and women. I think there are only so many horror films you can watch before they become kind of stale. Western horror films are kind of lazy. So many of them resort to the same sort of tactics again and again and therefore they become predictable. I think I'm at the stage of my life where I'm happier with a good drama and I'm OK with that. 

I think this may be my first and last time doing the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge simply because it's hard to find the time to do the challenge and it takes a lot of self discipline. There are, on occasion, films that fall under the horror genre that I enjoy. I don't particularly enjoy watching gore. I don't like cramming so many films of a single genre into such a tight space of time. Sorry folks, that's just me... If I want horror, I want it in moderation. I had to sort of scrabble around to find and review films when I could so I didn't necessarily watch films that were all good. I got such a strange cross section of the genre which I guess is a good thing. I watched some classics and some total unknown flops.

With the storm I was put behind. I could've been merciful with myself and given myself the first two days of November for the two days I was without electricity due to the storm. Instead I just crammed movies in and got it done. I'll be happy to watch soppy romance films for the next week or so. Almost anything I watch now I'm almost waiting for the killer to step out.

Which films did I enjoy most whilst doing this challenge?
I liked Truth or Dare. It had conventional horror elements but posed an interesting setting: people being forced to face each other and they, along with us as the audience, must try to work out who sent a rather fateful postcard.

I also really enjoyed re-watching Signs. It's horror, it's sci fi but it's also a more interestingly profound film than I previously realised. It's not going to join the other DVDs on my shelf but it was certainly interesting to sit back and review the underlying religious subtext.

Screen Junkies: Most Underrated Horror Movies

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Thirty One: Jack Frost (1997)

YES! WE FINALLY MADE IT!
31 HORROR FILMS IN 31 DAYS!
I managed to complete this despite taking a laptop-free trip to Yorkshire and being without power and internet after the storm. I'm pretty darn proud with myself. I've decided, for my final film, to watch something that just sounds abominable. I enter this film with absolutely no previous knowledge of it. In fact I'd never heard of it until about an hour ago. The film is called Jack Frost and it apparently follows a giant, murderous snowman. I mean... this feels so funny to watch for Halloween as someone who gets annoyed when people don't wait for Halloween to come and go before advertising Christmas stuff.

OK, the child voice at the start is creepy as Hell. You know that isn't a child and it sounds like this could be the start of a film for children and you know it's gonna get grim. The narrator is the worst relative/guardian ever.

I like that the opening credits are made up of the names of the cast and crew painted onto Christmas decorations on the tree.

With this film I didn't even really have the energy or the patience to blog along. So here are my rough thoughts on the film. I can't believe this movie was made. This film features anatomically incorrect deaths and inappropriate sexual violence. It's a low budget mess of a film. Everything about it feels like a perversion of the most positive aspects of Christmas. It tries to create comedy from the unlikely killer and the strange Christmas themed deaths but is all in very poor taste. It's almost too ridiculous to be scary. There's nothing clever or classy about it.


AND I'M DONE.
Time to go enjoy Halloween knowing I've finished the challenge, booyah!

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Thirty: Road Train / Road Kill (2010)

This is a raw blog. By now I'm sure you know that a raw blog is where I just blurt out my thoughts and feelings on the film as I watch it in real time and then post everything uncensored and unedited.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

This film has been released under the name "Road Train" but also under the name "Road Kill"

Yeah dude. Don't mess up your Mum's jeep.

It's a bit like the beginning of Jeepers Creepers with the van.

Is this going to be like Christine but with a big ass truck?

After this and Wolf Creek maybe this is a sign to not go on a holiday to the Australian outback.

What is a big commercial airline style plane going to do for you?

Oh yes. Drinking a strange red liquid from an unlabelled can in an abandoned, scary shack.
It seems like the sensible thing to do...

There are some beautiful scenic shots of the Australian outback. It's sort of a strange mix of films like Train and Christine and Wolf Creek. I love the cyclical ending and use of music. The song at the very end was a great tune.

YES! ONE MORE FILM TO GO AND I AM DONE!

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Nine: The Ward (2010)

My film now, film number twenty nine, is John Carpenter's The Ward. This is a raw blog. By now I'm sure you know that a raw blog is where I just blurt out my thoughts and feelings on the film as I watch it in real time and then post everything uncensored and unedited. This saves me time. After this I need to cram another 2 horror films into the day.

WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

As if I needed another film that makes me anxious about hospitals and mental health facilities. This is why I never go for health checks...

I'm reminded of that line from Pitch Perfect: "I set fires to feel joy."

Can a doctor/psychologist give you pills and not tell you what they are? I'm not sure but it doesn't seem very ethical.

Oh look, Meryl Streep's daughter playing another character called Emily. You can also catch her in a show called Emily Owens, MD.

Gratuitous shower scene because of reasons.

Ha! For the first time in ages a horror film made me jump. The jump scare in the shower scene got me and it's the middle of the day and I'm surrounded by people, not too vulnerable, and I jumped which is rare for me.

This film is actually kind of interesting at the point. I'm very interested in the treatment of women in mental health throughout history. Please tell me that this is all because of some vengeance seeking ghost of a woman who was poorly treated decades ago?

Alice Hudson, a previous patient at the hospital. Did I not say? Did I not kinda call it?
I was close, I guess. Not right, but close enough.

Another excellent jump scare.

This was a decent enough film. I like something with a good twist and it actually made me jump. Normally horror films don't have that much of an impact on me so that was good. Decent enough flick.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Eight: The Evil Dead(1981)

OK so you know how this goes: I'll be raw blogging along with the film as I watch it. This is the first time I've seen The Evil Dead. I know, I know! But hey - isn't this what the challenge is for?

Ok so a raw blog is a blog that I just write whatever I think and feel at the time as I go along with the film and then upload the post without editing. For me it just saves time. WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

One of the actors reminds me of Liam Kyle Sullivan.

I feel like this film was essential viewing before watching Cabin in the Woods. Like... I've seen plenty of cabin centred slasher/horror flicks but this, I'm assuming, is the archetypal cabin horror.

Adorable daisy cups.

Is that a The Hills Have Eyes poster in the basement?

I live near a forest and I've never seen weird mists like this when I walk around at night.

OK. So I've come to the scene with the tree. Is that honestly necessary? Has violence against women in film become so accepted that we need to put them through new horrors like being raped by a tree? I'm not pleased. That's one of the most uncomfortable film scenes I've ever had to watch.

This film is full of creepy, gross effects that add up to create some excellent Halloween viewing. It's particularly good for the experimental use of sound throughout the movie. I love old school movie effects. So much is done with CGI and digital technology now. I like to see someone transformed into a zombie or someone covered in wounds using only man-made prosthetics and make-up.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Seven: The Children (2008)

You know the drill by now, guys. I'll be blogging along with the film as I watch it. This is a raw blog so I just write out thoughts and feelings as they come and publish them unedited to save time. WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

Yeah! Film 27! We're getting close guys.
I've now learned just how many horror films are up for free on YouTube. Wow. How do these not get taken down by YouTube asap? They don't even seem to have the setting where you have to confirm you're over 18 to watch them.

This is one of those films I'd always see in the HMV Horror section.

The lead young female character looks like a pre-teen Avril Lavigne. FILLED WITH ANGST BENEATH ALL THAT EYELINER.

Creepy little kid walking into a room full of jubilant adults... reminds me of the opening scene of The Exorcist.

OH GOD NO.
IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO THE CAT.

Again. Teens. Just do what you're told. It's for the best.

I can't watch something with a creepy child in a red raincoat without thinking of the film Don't Look Now.

Cat doors: perfect for setting a curfew for your children whilst maintaining safety. Why don't we market this? Oh yes...

What's with all the other children? I guess I kinda would like to know exactly what it was that caused all of this to happen but I also like that we don't know... I'm unsure where I stand on the matter.

I like endings like this where the protagonists escape but there's still that looming threat so you're not entirely sure what happens next. Brilliant.

The film has good pacing and taps into basic human anxieties, reminding us that children can totally own a horror film. It doesn't show you too much. It doesn't have to show you the moments of impact. It doesn't have to rely on every shocking moment. It shows you just enough to make you feel queasy. There are some really excellent but subtle shots like the lips on snow and then blood spreading through snow turning it from white to red. I liked the more subtle moments of this film. It felt more fresh and less formulaic than most horror films.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Six: Cabin Fever (2002)

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. This film promises gore, sexual scenes and horror so hopefully it'll be better than the last two films. Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

Yeah! Film 26, we're getting there!

The dog is clearly dead. People in horror movies are stupid. 

A nice little village store run by racist Hillbilly Santa.

Did she just say "Don't be gay" to that guy for expressing some emotion/interest in dating her? Ugh. Real classy, Eli Roth. Did the dude also say he was gonna kill squirrels because they're gay? There's nothing more horrific than homophobia, kids. 

Apparently all teens and young adults like weeds... enough to let a creepy stranger join their party.

This is the exact kinda film that has served as fuel for the film Cabin In The Woods.
Can we talk about Cabin In The Woods though? Cabin In The Woods is amazing. 

I'll be honest. If someone comes to my door and their face is falling off I'm not letting them in. 

Finding an infection on a thigh before sex almost seems like a bad metaphor for STDs. Get tested, folks. 

The bath tub scene... Ugh. It makes me never want to shave my legs again.

Time for me to develop a severe drinking problem where I only consume beer. 

That ending...

This film is an unabashed homage to rural horror films of the 70s and 80s with some truly memorable moments. It's not a film I'll forget. Suddenly I really want a beer....

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Five: Life Blood (2009) / Pearblossom

This is yet another blog-along post where I'll be blogging along as I watch another horror film as part of the 31 Horror Films in 31 Days challenge. 
Warning: Since I'm blogging my thoughts whilst watching the film THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.

These are raw blog posts. I start and I write until I finish without any editing afterwards. I just post the raw thoughts from the film as they occur. I enter this film with absolutely no prior knowledge. Enjoy, 

Apparently this film is also known as "Pearblossom"

UH OH. LESBIANS. THURRR BE LESBIANS. I hope this is handled tastefully, dear God I do...

Uncomfortable threat of sexual assault isn't fun to watch. No wonder the actress in this role has since tried to downplay her role within this film. At least the rapist was confronted and is depicted as an utter jerk. 

I suspect a case of Schroedinger's douchebag.  

I, like Amelie, cannot stand when characters don't pay attention to the road when driving. AND LOOK THEY KILLED A POSSUM AS A RESULT, AH GOD NO.

So wait... is Rhea more sad about the death of the possum than her friend now? Not that I think the lives of animals are less than that of a human. 

I like how the possum has become a big thing. The possum was a sign apparently. A SIGN. A sign of a potentially shitty film.

When is this film meant to be set? A lot of the make up styles, hair styles, clothing etc it seems very modern but is meant to be set in the 60s or something?

Two deaths and an angelic lesbian vampire... they're kicking off the year in a pretty interesting manner.

"I promise you... we will make you proud" - If I were in this situation I think I'd be a little more creeped out by everything. Carmilla The Vampire, it is not. Happy New Year! ...You're a vampire. Enjoy!

Creepy truck driver just casually driving past two potentially unconscious women...

OK maybe it's just this scene but things have turned pretty comedic. I thought this was a horror film. I do like that this film depicts people calling out other people for being sexist or for attempting to rape someone. It's pointing out wrongs.

How exactly does Rhea know that they've been underground for 40 years?

Bill has such a funny voice/way of speaking. It's the best part of the film so far...

This is a pretty decent B Movie horror film following two lesbian vampires with a tendency of calling out people for being shitty and for treating as sex objects. Of the two lesbians, Rhea and Brooke, one represents good and the other represents evil. Brooke provides the immoral horror and gore and Rhea is a moral breath of fresh air. They kill some people and take over a small gas station store. It's not the strongest film but it's better than many.

Isn't it sad when vampirism tears a couple apart?




Watching this film has made me realise that I haven't read Le Fanu's "Carmilla" and as a self professed vampire connoisseur I think I really owe it to myself to read it. The actress playing Brooke looks a lot like model Rebecca Romijn.
This film is actually more interesting and way more promising than I initially thought it would be. My expectations for films such as these are usually very low.





If you suspected something weird was going on at a gas station, would you really stay?

So far, and I must now be a good way into the movie, there hasn't been as much horror as I'd expect.

"Dude I think she's a vampire, run!"
Finally, a knowledgeable person in a horror film...

Oh wait, I spoke too soon. There's another little dash of horror...

"This is the Pearblossom Police!"
That sounds like a group from a bad TV show for toddlers.

This day at the gas station has gone by really quickly.

I think it's interesting to leave the film with a moral vampire who aims to use their powers to rid the world of evil. As far as B Movie horror films go this one was way better then most are. It has some virtues and I'll probably mention it in conversation with people when discussing vampire movies without the urgent need to buy the DVD. It was fresh, not overdone at all. It was a strange and pleasant surprise.

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Four: Survival Of The Dead (2009)

So for film 24 in the challenge I've sat down to watch Survival of the Dead.

Having recently watched Night of the Living Dead, I've learned this film is another instalment of a long list of "Living Dead" films by Romero. This, however, lacks the quaint charm of "Night of the Living Dead" where we can forgive the newness and the innocence of the genre exploring new boundaries. Survival of the Dead is a poor quality flick and the zombies are unbelievable and tacky.

This film is interesting in that characters are keeping their undead relatives "alive" by keeping them in their zombie form until a cure can be found. This, of course, leads to problems. It's a nice idea for zombie films, the idea of holding onto hope of a cure and keeping your loved ones, but it's an awful film.

My partner just said "Ha, so this is a comedy? This is meant to be a joke, right? Yeah... this is a joke."
Says it all, really...

This film is so bad it's good really bad.
I'm glad I survived this movie...

31 Horror Films in 31 Days Challenge: Film Twenty Three: Wolf Creek (2005)

Since I've been cramming in horror films this will be more of an observation and collection of my thoughts on the film rather than a blog along post as I watch the movie. I fancied a break from blogalongs.

For me, this was a fairly forgettable film. Once you're done watching it, not much of it stays with you. Whilst I was watching I did feel awful for the victims, especially in those moments when a victim realised they had no hope at all and that running was truly hopeless. Finally! A character I had some sort of real sympathy for! That's all I ask for: something human in a character that makes you feel a pang of fear when you really want them to make it through the movie. This is a crisply shot film with a great opening. Then, as the plot turns sinister, the film is simple a depressing exercise in mutilation and torture as the group of holiday-goers are picked off one by one. I don't think it makes a good, memorable movie.