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Geek Culture / Modern horror, what is it's problem!

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Van B
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 15:33
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Hiya,

Watched the new Hills have eyes yesterday, and it was exactly as I expected, pop-horror!. The original Hills is a great film, and the remake does follow it a bit, but I just wanna rant and compare these 2 films for a bit.

First thing is the plagiarism, and obvious it is too, but I was more disapointed in the lack of tangible characters, I mean these folk are supposed to be mutated, not disfigured!. The screwdriver through the foot was ripped right outta True Romance to an embarassing degree. Big Brain is basically Rubber Jonny (Aphex Twin), anyone who's seen the Jonny video will spot this immediately - it's rediculous. Did we see Papa Jupiter more than once!, never noticed!.

The original movie had these character, proper characters, not regurgitated frankenstein and his brothers - but there was a kinda tribal vibe to them, they were close, cared about each other, didn't pistol whip each other. Anyone who's seen the original will remember Mercury and Mars conversation just before Mercury is killed by the dog, it's great - and the reaction from Mars when his brother falls from the cliff, there is nothing like that in the remake at all.

Papa Jupiter was in the original a lot, as a sorta evil influence, keeping things ticking over, keeping them excited about baby-toe pies etc. The remake doesn't mention eating the baby, but it does get graphic with the rape scene - so these days showing a rape is fine but mentioning eating a baby is not (note to self).

Really, next time your looking at DVD's and are drawn towards the new Hills, grab the old version and wait 3 months on the new versions price dropping to £5.

I've found these new horror movies always suck in comparison to the originals, but all new horror seems to have this vibe, where instead of being scary, it's ok to be brutal and grotesque instead - Saw, Hostel, Saw2, Hills remake, Dawn-Dead remake, Final Dest'4... ...the list goes on.

Compared to this crud, classics like Pumpkinhead, Aliens, Hills, American Werewolf deserve a place in everyones collection.

Any thoughts?, please give me examples of how modern horror sucks for you too!

Aegrescit medendo
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Lukas W
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 16:12 Edited at: 14th Jun 2006 16:14
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first of all, i've never seen a more scarier movie than Alien 2.
if you've seen that movie, all horror movies (where monsters is a main priority) suck. secound, if you've seen The Ring, The Eye, The Grudge or any other asian horror movie, all the horror movies where ghosts/supernatural is the main priority sucks compared to these films. i remember watching the asian version of the ring, then watched the american version. the american version was such a dissapointment. :/

i still haven't watched the exorcist yet, and i don't think i will.
films like that scare the ** out of me
i remember watching an episode of "is it real" on NGC, where the topic was about "does 'the exorcist' posses people with demons" and i watched for a while then when a clip from the girl in the bed appeard i felt sometihng i've never felt before :/ and i didn't like it. so i don't think i'll watch that movie

edit,
that's the old Exorcist i'm talking about.

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Freddy 007
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 16:23
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Quote: "then when a clip from the girl in the bed appeard i felt sometihng i've never felt before"


It was luv, baby, pure luv...


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Van B
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 16:31
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Hehe, yeah the Excorcist, I went to the cinema to see it when it was re-released a couple of years ago.

It's probably not as scary as you expect, didn't make me jump - but then I'm desensitised far too much. Deformities creep me out more than anything - David Lynch movies creep me out more than any horror movie.

Lukas, preaching to the choir mate - Aliens is my all time favourite film - nothing even threatens to come close to how much it owns.

Aegrescit medendo
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Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 17:00
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Quote: "It's probably not as scary as you expect"
Too right. I saw it when it was re-released in the cinema on halloween. At midnight as it happens. We just laughed our heads off. Probably not a good idea after most of the audience (and us) being off our faces from drinking all night. Although added to the film somewhat when a girl threw up in the aisle (honest). But c'mon classic 70's doctors smoking away in the emergency room (and pretty much everywhere else). Class.

Biggest let down was Blair witch. Had to smack everyone around though who said things like "Yeah, but I heard they were actors, but then no-one saw them again like". Grief. Total let down though as it was totally not scarey for me (apart from the end which gave me a slight hair raising -literally- feeling). And I'm a total girl when it comes to horror movies. Closing eyes, using cushions, crossing your eyes to make them go out of focus; I use the lot. But not on this steaming pile of rubbish. That out of focus eye trick is pretty good when you are out with a bird. Looks like you are still watching (real man me) but you aren't really Doesn't really work though if they don't watch and ask you what happened. Erm... just make it up...

Quote: "Aliens is my all time favourite film"
Yep, mine too. Predator and Terminator came close for me, but not quite.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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Lukas W
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 18:30
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i just got home now, i've rented 'Saw'. So many people i know say it's the scariest movie they've seen, so i'm like yea.. and now were going to see it. allthough some of them saw it on cinema.

anyway, i hope it's worth the money, and time, afterall i would rather be doing some coding than watching a movie. but i guess i have to socialise a little once in a while too.

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Van B
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 18:59 Edited at: 14th Jun 2006 19:02
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SAW is like a cross between se7en and a NIN video .

I thought it was ok, but maybe that was a sick fascination with the traps - I love gadgets. Good job you rented it instead of buying it - it's really good once, but once you know what happens the horror aspect is paper thin. Know what I mean?, some horrors still make you jump even after watching a dozen times - like in Pumpkinhead when he pushes the guys face through the kitchen window, only very playfully!, something unervingly human about that scene.

All the best horror monsters have human tendancies, killing machines are hard to care about - when the serial killer has a valid point, then you know you have a decent thriller on the screen. Things like the Alien queens maternal insticts, and the way the Aliens in 'Resurrection' are prepared to screw each other over for the greater end, it makes them more believable I think.

EDIT: If you want a really warped thriller, check out The Cell, starring J-Lo, it's like 'Lambs' but with a really freaky dream VR thing that should be idiotic and I should rightfully hate; but the dream scenes really make up for it. It's like a NiN video - a LOT, but visually it just sucks you right in.

Aegrescit medendo
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Oddmind
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 20:18
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meh im not a big movie watcher, I didnt think the saw was all too bad... tho i knew the "twist" at the end was the case thru most of the movie. The excorsist just stands today as a big leap in the film industry thru development standards at that time. I havent seen it but it seems to be just all nasty imagery and stuff.

I hate the final destination movies as well... its always either the black guy or the horny guy that goes first...

formerly KrazyJimmy

I'm the lizard king, I can do anything.
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Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 20:23
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Quote: "i've rented 'Saw'"
I saw the trailer for Saw 2 and that was enough for me. Any descriptive sentence that involves the words "bear trap", "on head", "key", "behind own eyeball", "time limit", and "scalpel" all together just freak me out. No thanks matey. Staying well away. That and china dolls from like 100 years ago. *Shiver* (for some reason).

Oh and the movie that scared the s**t out of me the most was when I was a kid (suprisingly), and I watched the Medusa touch. I couldn't get to sleep for bloody ages after watching that one. Talk about night sweats.

Cheers

Ps. Feeling better now, iPod has shuffled up Stayin' Alive. Oh yes. Disco moves here. Hehe, I love typing while this song plays. Must. Drink. More. Beer. And. Not. Wear. Atari. T-shirts.

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 20:39
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Quote: "welcome to geek culture"
Welcome? I practically invented it Luckily lots of beer keeps the feelings down.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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adr
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 21:23 Edited at: 14th Jun 2006 21:24
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Quote: "the end [ of blair witch ] which gave me a slight hair raising -literally- feeling"

I have to agree, 99% of the film was pure crap... except for that bit. You know. That bit. Trying to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen it.

Quote: "Looks like you are still watching (real man me) but you aren't really"

Except when she looks over and see's her hot date is totally cross eyed. Kinda kills the mood I think.

I'm not a horror movie fan. I don't like being scared - can't see the buzz.... I mean, you're looking at a person who still hasn't played HL2 because of the barnacles in the tunnels.

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QuothTheRaven
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 22:06
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Jacob's Ladder guys, Jacob's Ladder.

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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 22:30
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House of Wax was really bad. My favorite part was watchig Paris Hilton getting a rusty pipe stabbed through her face. That's really all the movie is worth, watching Paris Hilton getting owned. I don't even bother going to see new horror movies. I'll just grab some of the classics from the rental store when I've got friends over for the night.


I'm going to eat you!
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Cian Rice
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 22:31
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I personally thought SAW was the only good horror film to come out in recent years that's made with a foreboding sense in mind. Of course with this in mind I loved the half hour of Slither I saw before my friends started getting creeped out and begged to leave; it really captures that B-movie horror style. But now, onto great comedies; horror movies that are more funny than scary. And in that "what a joke!" kind of way. Case in point - Stay Alive. No, just no.

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 22:50
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I have the original Hill Have Eyes, remembering how scary it was when I watched it at the age of about 18. Then when I watched it again at 40+ it wasn't really that good. So really I am looking forward to seeing the new version.

I like The Cube, and Jeepers Creepers, and quite a few modern horrors.

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Jeku
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 23:01 Edited at: 14th Jun 2006 23:02
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Maybe I'm desensitized but I thought the Exorcist was crap.

Saw was one of the best horror movies to come out in a long time. What is it with noname actors/directors and cheap budget horror movies being the best? Might be something with the unjaded talent.

And I don't agree with the fact that scary movies must make you jump. I literally hate that, as it's a "fake scare" situation. There's somebody looking around the corner, the camera's zoomed into their face, then out of nowhere a cat jumps on her. Come on.

True horror is something foreboding, something that just feels unsettling--- like something darker is happening behind the scenes. Even if they don't have any blood & guts (i.e. Blair Witch), the movie can be pretty damn creepy.

When I was a kid I saw The Shining, and since then it tops my list of creepy. Not Jack Nicholson's craziness, but the two girls, "Hello, Danny. Come play with us." Then it shows them axed on the ground--- damn freaky. And the hotel has some kind of dark, foreboding existance, like something deep and evil.

It also helped that the Shining had some of the best music to ever appear in a movie.

Sorry for the rambling, but if any of you like the really gory kind of horror, you should check out--- oh, crap, I forgot that name. I've mentioned it on here before, but it's one of the ones that inspired Blair Witch, about a group of filmmakers that go into the jungle and do research on cannibals, they disappear and all that's left is their footage. That was just a really unsettling movie for gore fans.

It was banned in a bunch of countries upon release, because the authorities were alerted that the story was real and they weren't actors. Hehehe...

EDIT: And I agree with Pincho, Jeepers Creepers and Cube were great too.

"I understand creative people. After all, I worked with towel designers." - Ray Kassar, former head of Atari
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 23:28
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I thought the Final Destination movies were comical.

Saw 2 was abit lame though.

"Hey, I think I'll crawl into this open oven. What are the odds of...oh I dunno, the door shutting and me burning?"


It's like a Megaton Cat radar, 24 hours a day.
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Jiffy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2006 23:57
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I totally agree, Van.

I haven't seen a new "horror" movie that's made me scared in the slightest in years. Both Saw's were all good and dandy, but really, I'd rather see a movie like the original Hills than either of them.

And has anyone noticed that Hollywood isn't [ijust[/i] doing remakes anymore? Now they're doing prequels! I felt so embarresed for everyone on the set of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning", because I just know how bad it'll be. Reminds me of that god awful Exorcist prequel that came out last year. Worse 2 hours of my life--the end almost got sort of better, but two minutes into that the credits started rolling. Ugh.


Evil has a new name. Demo out now!
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Jeku
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 00:31 Edited at: 15th Jun 2006 00:40
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Sweet! I found the name of the movie I was referring to--- Cannibal Holocaust.

I almost want to watch it again just for the music.

EDIT (link removed):

Okay--- some of the images on that site are a little too graphic for the kiddies here

"I understand creative people. After all, I worked with towel designers." - Ray Kassar, former head of Atari
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Philip
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 00:36
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The scariest thing around at the moment remains Cherie Blair.


On a more serious note, I'm a strong advocate of the gothic horror era. You can't go wrong with H. P. Lovecraft and great shambling groaning tentacled monsters from beyond time and space with undescriptive names like "the nameless horror".

I've always wondered how H. P. Lovecraft's monsters made sure that they got their post. If you are a postman, it must be difficult to deliver post to "The Great Cthulhu, Ryleth". Who? Where? Wuuh?

Bet they got their tax demands though. Those always get through.

But I digress.

Cheer if you like bears! Cheer if you like jam sandwiches!
Quote of the week: "I highly recommend Philip's Vector Tutorials" (RiiDii)
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Fallout
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 00:46
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I saw Steven King's I.T. when I was a nipper. That messed me up. You shouldn't watch films like that when you're 12. I can happily watch that film now, but it still creeps me out ... there's something deeply unsettling about a clown that kills children. The whole film is long and unsettling and arduous, like the existance of the people in it, and it just feels wrong. Something is just wrong all the time. I just think it's well done.

The shining is also awesome. The remakes were a sham, but the original is great. The same great wrong unsettling feeling throughout the film. The hotel is a bit forboding, without going over the top. I don't think it's truly scarey, but its not pleasant.

Candyman worked well on me too. How many people watched the Candyman and couldn't say his name 5 times afterwards? Even now it feels a bit wrong to say it (I have done, obviously, but I couldn't for a few weeks after watching the movie). There's very little gore in that, but that worked well on me.

Nightmare on elm street too. Not the comedy crap later on, but the original couple of films were pretty nasty. I watched those when I was young too and throught twice about going to sleep. 1,2,he's after you,3,4,better lock your door,5,6,grab a crucifix,7,8,better stay up late,9,10,never sleep again. Spooky songs like that always get me.

But yeah, no modern films have worked on that level in a long time. I guess directors and writers have just lost the knack.

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Van B
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 01:03
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Candyman was awesome, they should never do sequels to movies like that, like Children of the Corn, damn there's some crud sequels out there.

The blade movies are ok though, 1 and 3 at least.

Aegrescit medendo
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Pincho Paxton
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I like 'IT' but the end is really pooooor! Not saying the end on here, because someone might want to watch it, and it's worth watching the rest of the film. Stephen King films can be very entertaining. The Langoliers is absolutely absorbing, and the 3 hour film makes you want another hour, it is that easy to watch.

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Van B
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 09:44
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I remember seeing IT quite young, creepy as hell because as a kid, we should not be thinking that a clown is gonna kill us!. Probably why I hate porcelain dolls too, but the very worst bit in IT is the first 3 minutes, that's just hell - I tend to FFWD that horrible little bit with the storm drain.

There's no question after that, IT is pure evil. The book is really long and detailed, like the barrens where the kids hang out sounds like a great place, had something just like it as a kid, but very little of that was shown in the movie. For instance IT is actually an alien that has been on earth for millions of years, since evil in fact, the kids do an old indian leaf-burning sauna trick that makes them see these visions of IT's arrival on earth.

So as much as the film did closely follow the book, all the missing bits really make the book better than the film, just the humanisms Tim Curry missed (he did an excellent job with Pennywise it has to be said).

There are a few good Stephen King movies, a couple of real turds but if you consider...

Pet Semetery
Thinner
The Green Mile
Shawshank Redemption
Carrie
Christine
Misery
Children of the corn.
Cujo
The Dead Zone
Maximum Overdrive

Gotta stop now because there's just too many - but thing is that most of them are damn good horror movies, even the borderline ones like Thinner are still worth watching.

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Fallout
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 10:06 Edited at: 15th Jun 2006 10:07
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Yeah, the ending is rubbish. With Van filling in the blanks a bit, it makes more sense, but either way, the ending is nowhere near as scarey as the rest, which was a bit of a shame. Pennywise the dancing clown is by far the scariest villian of any horror movie for me, but then again it did mess me up when I was 12! Much like Van, seeing a film about a clown killing kids when you're a kid is wrong. And its one of those annoying things where if you don't believe in it, you're fine. It's not real .... it's not real .... but it is real ... IT IS REAL .. THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF IT'S NOT REAL .... but it's not real .... Nasty stuff.

Would you like a balloon? They all float down here .... and when you're down here, you'll float too ...



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QuothTheRaven
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 10:50
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IT, the movie, should not be enjoyed by anyone other than the severely mentally handicapped. Read the book instead, it's amazing.

Also, the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a very well made horror film. The newest TCM wasn't bad.

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Hobgoblin Lord
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 11:07
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For me the scariest, or creepiest, movies are often the ones with little blood but a main character who could be real like perhaps Hannibal Lecter, Kevin Spacey's character in Seven, people like that. I do have to say however I don't think there was ever a movie that scared people as much as JAWS, people were just so scared at the beach and still scarfed today I think.

Fun fact: more people drown on a golf course each year then are killed by sharks.
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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 11:35
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Shawshank Redemption was Stephen King? It seems to happy for him.


I'm going to eat you!
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Fallout
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Quote: "more people drown on a golf course each year then are killed by sharks."


They should put up warning signs on that golf course.

Btw, I've always found realistic horror movies less scarey. The paranormal type ones get me because there's always a chance to take out the baddy in "realistic" ones. If someone comes at me with a knife, I'm gonna unplug the TV and start swinging it round my head like a war flail. If someone comes at me with the supernatural ability to rip my bowels out with the blink of an eye, I'm going to die painfully.

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Lukas W
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 11:55
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Quote: "more people drown on a golf course each year then are killed by sharks."

according to NGC; "each year more people die by eating shark than die by being attacked by a shark."

anyway, after watching SAW i was shocked.
I thought they made something good.
i though my grandmother made that.
I thought somebody made it using Windows word.
is that a horror movie, a comedy movie or a 3yr old drawing?
i really think that it's 3yr old drawing!

if that is the horror for todays audience, i really think that they need to reconsider the fact that it's NOT scary.

it was more like a thriller but with characters too stupid to think of what just Might happen. i guess when it's your life your gambling with you would probably to anything to survive, even if it means you must risk your life.

but the movie wasn't good at all. the ending was really bad.
i guess you have to see the first movie to really enjoy this one.

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 13:36
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Saw was the first movie, you must mean Saw 2.

Anyhoot I like them both.

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Saikoro
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 13:41
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Quote: "Modern horror, what is it's problem!"

It's all for the pesos now man, I'm tellin ya.

"One World, One Web, One Program" -Microsoft ad.
"Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer"(One People, One Kingdom, One Leader)-Adolf Hitler.
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Dazzag
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 14:33
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Quote: "I like 'IT' but the end is really pooooor!"
Nah, the whole film was pants. Partly because of the low budget bad acting, partly because of ole John boy, but mainly, I think, because the general ideas don't really pan well on a movie for some reason. The book was awesome mind. Although this generally goes for pretty much all King movies. Brilliant books and 'King awful films My main exception is Misery. Shawshank is slightly different as it wasn't horror. It was a short story initially. And the name was totally different. Think it was named after the poster on his wall.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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indi
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 14:47
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Hollywood Directors lost control of the "method" to make movies in the 30's.
If it doesn't fit a money making pattern it wont be made.
You can blame studio managers for the downturn of art vs cash.

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Saikoro
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 14:55 Edited at: 15th Jun 2006 15:00
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VS



And cash always [edit]except for once on Google fight[/edit] wins.

In the end, its really all about the shillings in movies, games, music, or anywhere else creativity is a part. Thats probably why indie projects turn out to be much more interesting and involved than massive projects (there are exceptions, but I've still found non-monetary based flicks to be the best, such as Requiem for a Dream, A Clockwork Orange, and that type). Not everyone likes them, but they're undoubtedly more involved than, say, Pretty in Pink.

"One World, One Web, One Program" -Microsoft ad.
"Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer"(One People, One Kingdom, One Leader)-Adolf Hitler.
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indi
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 14:58
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lol google fight! says art wins

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=art&word2=cash


that was pleasing to the eye, i figured cash to be more key-worded, ah the world isn't so crazy as expected.

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 15:56 Edited at: 15th Jun 2006 15:56
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Quote: "Hollywood Directors lost control of the "method" to make movies in the 30's.
If it doesn't fit a money making pattern it wont be made.
You can blame studio managers for the downturn of art vs cash."


Really? The method to make good movies will make more cash, so I don't see how you can seperate the two things. I only buy good movies, so how do they make a bad movie that makes more money?

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indi
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 16:00
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yeah really, read a few books on the subject and get up to speed. there is a plethora of information about this in depth subject. producer vs director.

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 16:32
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Quote: "yeah really, read a few books on the subject and get up to speed. there is a plethora of information about this in depth subject. producer vs director."


Books are often wrong. My opinion is that people buy the best films, go to see the best movies.

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Miguel Melo
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 17:04
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I used to be a Horror film junkie as a teenager, back in the late 80's but my interest died down and I didn't watch anything like that for a long while.

Recently I decided to watch a few scary movies just to keep up with the joneses and, although most of them ware crappy, I did like 28 days and the remake of The Ring. Must say I found the latter one of the most unsettling films I watched in a long time: I really liked it.

The final part or Blairwhich was ok. The Skeleton Key and Dark Waters were watchable, I guess. Land of The Dead was pants.

Haven't had the chance to watch the Japanese version of any of the films above that have one.

Oh, and in the 80's and 90's I probably watched every single Stephen King-based film and I found them all to be as weak and predictable as they come. I never read anything by the man, but I sure hope his books are lightyears better than their movies!

Curiously I am currently reading "At the Mountains of Madness" by HP Lovecraft and am really enjoying it. Are there any Cthulhu-based movies worth their salt?

I have vague plans for World Domination
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 17:09
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Quote: "Oh, and in the 80's and 90's I probably watched every single Stephen King-based film and I found them all to be as weak and predictable as they come. I never read anything by the man, but I sure hope his books are lightyears better than their movies!
"


Stephen King is the most unpredictable writer you can imagine. The ends to his films are weird, you would never guess them.

Try the Langoliers. You will never predict that movie.

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Van B
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 17:24
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My favourite Stephen King book(s) have to be the Bachman trilogy.

Not strictly horror, more like short stories but decent lengths, 100 pages or so each. But there's the awesome Running Man story, nothing like the arnie film, very very cyberpunkish, would have made a good movie in it's own right. There's a messed-up 1000 mile marathon, set in a brutal future - where there's only one winner/finisher/survivor. The 3rd story is about a schoolkid who goes postal, but the writing style is a bit of a break from King's usual methods. It's clearly King, but a lot less preachy, damn Stephen King can harp on for pages about stuff nobody cares about anymore, like 8-track tapes and crud from the 60's.

I would say that out of all the King books I've read, IT is definately my favourite, he is to horror what J.R.R.Tolkien is to fantasy adventure.

Aegrescit medendo
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Dazzag
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 17:37
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Quote: "Stephen King is the most unpredictable writer you can imagine"
He used to be my most favourite writer (after Herbert went off the tracks a little) but I never thought he was that unpredictable. My personal favourite horror writer is Richard Laymon. Amazing stuff. Read the Island (not the newish sci-fi movie). Has the best ever last line of any book I've ever read.

Best Bachman story IMO was the one not in the Bachman collection: Thinner. Very good. Although Running Man was a top story (almost totally different idea to the film).

That marathon was neverending as far as I remember. Think you basically had 3 strikes or something. Go below a certain speed for a length of time and you got a strike against you. After a while you lose the strike. Get 3 strikes and they shoot you in the head. Nice When there is only a few runners (starts with loads) then they basically get ready with the finish line. Last one standing (ie. alive) wins and gets whatever they want (literally). Liked that big hill after a day that kills off loads.

Christine was always my favourite of Kings as it was the first of his I read. Although not my favourite horror book, which goes to The Fog by James Herbert. Mainly because it was the first grown up horror I had read, and it totally blew me away.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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Miguel Melo
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 17:51
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Quote: "Stephen King is the most unpredictable writer you can imagine. The ends to his films are weird, you would never guess them."


But that is exactly my - contrary - point: when I watched films based on his stories (pet cemetery and misery come to mind) they didn't move me at all and I could forsee their ending from a mile away!

I didn't particularly like shining or children of the damned (or something like that) either.

I know that films can kill a story... and that's why I certainly hope that his books, when read, are a good deal more creepy and obscure than the films.

I have vague plans for World Domination
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Van B
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 19:01
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The thing is, there's a lot of King books and despite the recognisable style they do vary quite a lot in how far from the point they stray. Like Bag of Bones for instance; he'll go on for 5 pages about a slightly creepy cat clock in the kitchen of this lakeside house, and how his ex-wife was great in bed.

Disregard the fanboy fodder that often crops up, Hearts in Atlantis is another example, kinda like a geek culture post about a card game and it keeps going off-topic. If you want to check out some good King books, grab some second hand classics like IT, Christine, Needful Things, Green Mile, The Stand.

The first King book I read was Christine too (my school library was actually really good), then Carrie which is quite strange, Kings first book and it's kinda in reverse and disjointed but it's still a good read (plus it's real small).

I tend not to read much horror these days since reading Thomas Harris' Lecter trilogy - the remake of Red Dragon is great, it actually follows the book exactly and does a great job of it. These days I find I have to kinda force myself to read anything but Pratchett, very far from horror but he just cracks me up, Death rocks .


On a different note since you guys might know - I read this awesome serial killer book years ago, about a guy who'd keep women in his cess pit, this one woman escapes and helps catch him. Anyone know what that was?, completely no clue about who wrote it or what it was called, twas like 10 years ago or something - been meaning to track it down.

Aegrescit medendo
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Hobgoblin Lord
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 19:13
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ACtually my favorite thing by King was a little short story. Battlefield, nothing like your little green army men having an atomic bomb
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Jeku
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Posted: 15th Jun 2006 20:38
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Quote: "My opinion is that people buy the best films, go to see the best movies."


I think it's the opposite, unfortunately. More people will go see Date Movie or Scary Movie 4 (the worst movies this year so far) than Donnie Darko in the theatre. The *average* person enjoys predictable, heartwarming movies with happy endings. Or really stupid Adam Sandler comedies.

"I understand creative people. After all, I worked with towel designers." - Ray Kassar, former head of Atari
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 16th Jun 2006 00:40
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Donnie Darko is not a good movie for the average person. It does not even properly identify the scientific aspects properly. I mean, supposing you can go around changing things, altering time for the better, it should be portrayed in a less ambiguous fashion. Scary Movie 4 may attract people to the Cinema, it looks OK, what's wrong with that? The movies doing well at the moment are...

Harry Potter...Best selling books, great movies! Fits my category of people go to see the best films etc..

Lord Of The Rings... best books, best films, fits my example again.

The Matrix... same thing.

I don't see why people would go to see rubbish movies.

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Miguel Melo
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Posted: 16th Jun 2006 02:54
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I also think that Donnie Darko was slightly overrated. It was OK, but not what people were making it out to be. A bit like Magnolia, now that I think of that.

Now, instead of DD, if you were to give as an example of an awesome film that no one watches "Memento", I'd totally agree.

Harry Potter books are good, films are OK.

LOTR book is very good, films are - in my humble opinion - some of the best things ever in celluloid (check my IMDB ratings profile and you'll see that I mean it).

I have vague plans for World Domination
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Wiggett
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Posted: 16th Jun 2006 03:29
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lol tim curry is always scary, clown or long john silver, he just shouldn't be near kids.
As for hills have eyes I could tell by the trailer that the new version wouldn't be any good. But I haven't seen the original.

Someone mentioned the jap horror films. HECK YES!!! japan seems to have horror down to a nickel, if that is correct terminology.. Basically all the new release horror films you see from hollywood today are rehash's of japanese cinema hits, yes thats right, the ring, the grudge, dark water and several others. Seems history is repeating itself, but instead of samurai's turning into cowboys, it's poor struggling japanese women raising a kid turning into helen hunt trying to raise a kid. what really grinds my gears?! the ring, i saw the jap version before i knew it was coming out from hollywood. THAT MOVIE WAS HORRIFIC SCARY! the faces of the people saduko got to were damn freaky and they used crap all makeup! the american version tried using special effects makeup etc and it come sout looking like meryl strepe. LAME, and the damn horses? way to hack up the original work america. As my msn name says "Horror films, Japan= 1, Hollywood= not as good."



Syndicate remastered: Corporate persuasion through urban violence.
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