Halloween 2020: Count...up!?

Welcome back to my annual tradition, dear reader; my review of my yearly Halloween night viewing. Three things watched that I'll go over now. But be warned: these reviews may contain spoilers, because come on, they're all pretty old news...

Paranormal Activity 2

I began my night's viewing with this 2010 sequel. I'll be honest and disclose that it was actually a re-watch, I had seen this before but remembered really liking it that first time around. Seeing that Netflix had every Paranormal Activity sequel, and that it was a relatively short 90 mins, I decided to see how well it held up. The first thing I noticed was how much slower it seemed. Without the nervous tension of examining the screen's every shadow and empty space in fear of what may jump out at you, the first 45 mins were actually pretty dull. Granted they serve as important to establish all of the characters, their connection to the first movie and the tense mood but this build-up was just a touch too slow for me this time, not helped because the film's conceit means you're watching either a home video or CCTV footage, hardly the most aesthetically pleasing things in the world. This also means that, although competently handled, the director Tod Williams doesn't really have a chance to put any stamp on this.

Things improved in the second half as the film established itself more firmly in the "lore" of the first movie, as well as it's place in relation to it, this being more a prequel than sequel, with a dash of "side-quel". As I recalled a little more I was definitely more invested, however I had to look up the first movie on Wikipedia to recall it fully and I can say that this film does not stand-alone too well and would be a little confusing and possibly irritating without having seen the first movie at all. Whilst I'm dealing with negatives, this film also has a latina character who falls horribly into the "mystical foreigner" trope, seemingly only existing to allow her racial superstition and stereotypical ideology to bring a sense of reality quickly to an outlandish idea. In 2020, honestly, this comes off as more than a little racist.

Where the film does better is in the acting department. All involved sell the increasing nightmare and the building fear, charting a course from mundane, everyday folk to the terrified victims of a demonic tormentor believably. Similarly the last 30 mins or so, when things really ramp up, the film does an admirable job of utilising special effects and scary plotting to really dig in to the viewers nerves, culminating in an exquisite horror link to the first movie. 

Ultimately a movie of two halves but where not much really happens. These movies clearly work better on a first watch, with the unknown being more scary than anything you could be shown and occasional jump scares that you wouldn't see coming. In this regard I do think it establishes tension well for first-time viewers. The actors deserve praise for the whole piece, the writers and directors for the last half or so but as a re-watch this felt flat and less than thrilling.

** (2/5) 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

I was excited for this one, continuing what seems to be a tradition of breaking out my blu-ray box set on Halloween to watch the Nightmare sequels I haven't seen. I'd heard rave reviews of this one and lots of good things, many friends and critics naming this the best or second-best sequel in the franchise. Whilst I've seen odd clips of all the Elm Street movies, and a few scenes in passing, this was a first time watch and, honestly, I'm very slightly disappointed. I expected a little bit more to be honest, and the film seemed to be building to an epic climax that never came. However there was an awful lot that I loved during the course of the film as well.

So I'll start with the good things I found, or which I loved. Firstly I have to give massive kudos to the special effects department on this film. The "kills" are inventive, surreal and contain imagery and creatures rendered practically which, especially for 1987, are unbelievably good. A stop-motion puppet, skeleton and worm-like monster could, and should, look silly, but they really don't. Perhaps then director Chuck Russell should get kudos for this too. Likewise there are fake corpses, Freddy busting through a television and some grotesque transformation moments that are all incredibly impressive. Whomever dreamed up these inventive murders, and their link to the victim's inner demons, has a twisted mind, but also deserves praise. The writing is actually really great. The decision to set this in a mental hospital adds an air of uniqueness that feeds perfectly into this franchise's own identity. The frustration of the characters is echoed in us watching authority incompetently and stubbornly fail to accept the truth. Each character is also well drawn with enough personality to stand out in a packed ensemble. The decision to bring back Nancy (and her father) though is still a welcome one which adds yet more to a brilliant group. It also weirdly closes a Nancy shaped loop for me, having already seen A Nightmare on Elm Street and New Nightmare.

What's not so good for me is mainly the ending. As I've said it somehow seemed anti-climactic. I recall, if I'm honest, seeing clips of a "final girl" character who combines all of her friends' strengths to take on Freddy in an epic final battle. I'm assuming this was from A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 but even disregarding that the film rather seems to just end very quickly. On a related note I do not agree with the decision to kill Nancy and her father, but especially the former. Undercutting everything that the first and third film establishes just to seemingly end with a big shocker moment, even her killing of Freddy is undone literally minutes later at the movie's end. I have to say also that I truly despise the added back story that this movie gives Freddy. Every scene involving the ghost of his mother (insert eye roll) is extremely hokey, almost offensive and actually detracts from the more mysterious villain of the first movie. His "creation" via mob justice is already established and this feels like a hat on a hat, again designed solely to provide the film with a fast conclusion, which is of course entirely ineffective anyway! I also found myself annoyed at the sexism on display. I realise it was the 80s but having a woman appear "beautiful and bad" only in her dreams wearing a punk dominatrix outfit sends an unfortunate message, as does the archetypal shot of bare breasts that exists solely for audience titillation (pun intended). Finally the protagonists' "dream powers" also bothered me. Establishing that Kristen has a near-superpower with throwaway dialogue is not great but worse is the fact that none of these "powers" works against Freddy, until randomly one finally does thanks to Joey. I know it may be a lot to expect for a horror film to have firmly established and followed "rules" but without them everything is arbitrary.

But I've been far too harsh. The film was definitely engaging and entertaining. The "kills" are flawless and much of the dialogue instantly iconic ("welcome to prime time bitch!). Even Freddy's much maligned turn into a more comedic sadism I found enjoyable. And the acting by all involved, but especially Heather Langenkamp, is good to great. I'd absolutely recommend it, but maybe dial down some of the high praise.

***1/2 (3.5/5)  

The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror IV

Okay, full disclosure. I had initially planned to re-watch and review the movie Scream 4, until time and age got the best of me and a two hour movie didn't seem like the best idea. But I had a theme going, darn it! (the numerical "count up" of this post's title). So I decided to follow another seemingly frequent pattern and watch this Simpsons Halloween episode. From the earlier years of the show, of course it's one of the best episodes and best Halloween episodes. 

Split into three individual stories, as always, with a wraparound featuring Bart introducing paintings in a parody of Night Gallery, this also gives one of the best gags as looking at the infamous painting of dogs playing poker drives Homer insane and Bart admits that anything based on that would be "far too scary" so they "threw together something about vampires". The references to other bits of popular horror culture are many and varied here; The Devil and Daniel Webster, the Chernabog from Fantasia, The Twilight Zone (series and movie), 1993's Dracula and more. Every one hits the mark and often encompasses some great jokes to boot. Clearly the writers are horror fans, and it shows.

Outside of these pop culture references though there's more to like. The gag of Homer being force-fed doughnuts as an "ironic punishment" but wholly failing to get sick or go mad is hilarious, whilst the explanation that Marge already has Homer's soul is clever and touching. And the absurd imagery of Homer with a doughnut head that he cant resist eating, as a litany of cops wait for him to emerge from his house, is laugh out loud funny. It's also always great to hear the late, great Phil Hartman, here as smarmy lawyer Lionel Hutz. The second segment is less impressive, relying heavily on it's nature as a straight-up parody although it does introduce the character of Uter the exchange student and fire off a few good roasts at Principal Skinner's expense. The final piece, too, leans heavily into parody but there are enough great jokes within that to keep it entertaining (Homer staking Mr. Burns through the crotch, "today he's drinking blood, tomorrow he could be smoking") and a neat Lost Boys reference. A memorable final twist also leads into a weirdly appropriate-seeming rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing as snow falls, parodying A Charlie Brown Christmas. Well Halloween is over, so what's next?

The Simpsons at it's best, firing on all cylinders. Only the middle segment lets the side down slightly.

****1/2 (4.5/5)

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween and stayed safe. These times continue to be trying for us all but hopefully we can keep entertained and sane long enough to reach this same milestone next year. Look after each other, and maybe enjoy a good scare in the comfort of your home.

MM