Synopsis:  A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.

Impressions:  This movie follows a similar formula as other Vincent Price movies (specifically Dr. Phibes), where a person takes revenge on a group of people and one by one die according to some roadmap (TOB uses shakespeare, Phibes uses the plagues of egypt.)  Since i enjoy the campy Price films, i though this was not only cleaver, but it really showed that Price was much more than a horror actor.

Social Message:  What is it about criticism that make us angry?  Even constructive criticism can make some people irritate.  When we give/take criticism we need to always think of it as not a degrading of our character and/or achievements but as a way to improve and better ourselves.

Synopsis:  A group of medical students discover a way to bring dead patients back to life.

Impressions:  I thought this movie was very interesting.  I liked how some actors who are known for their comedy take a more serious role in this film.  The concept is very frankenstein in away but puts a modern spin on the whole story.  However, the end ruined it for me leaving me feel cheated and turned off by this film.

Social Message:  In the frankenstein story we hit on the theme of man trying to play God.  This film hits on the same theme but really brings in the spiritual side of things.  When Zoe is brought back to life, she recalls a hellish scene.  Even Though she wore a cross, she still went to hell during her death.  It hits on an important aspect, that no matter what good we do, or how kind we are, that eventually we will have to face eternal judgement for our actions on earth.  For zoe, who identified with the christian religion, needed to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  She could have went to church all her life, prayed, and been a good christian girl, but there is more to it then just being good.

Synopsis: In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire.

Impressions:I liked this, the style reminded me of a jarmusch film.  The subtleness of the movement and the stark black and white picture is simply charming.  The acting and story is also to die for.

Social Message:  The film is very feministic in its approach to the vampire genre.  Most vampires are sexual, strong males, who are always in a state of seduction.  This vampire is different, the men in this film (except Arash) are vile in one way or another.  The vampire kills them because of their vile primal ways that are considered oppressive to women.  Arash is different. he is kind and loving and the times the vampire could have bit him, she doesn’t. which further shows her mission to suck the evil out of this community while preserving the good.

Synopsis: A small group of military officers and scientists dwell in an underground bunker as the world above is overrun by zombies.

Impressions: The third Dead film by Romero, is probably the weakest one i have seen.  I enjoied the plot, but i felt that the military characters were too cheesy and overacted.  However, it got a lot more gory than Night and Dawn films.

Social Message:  The idea of coexisting is interesting.  You have scientist who are trying to find ways to see if zombie and humans can coexist (or revert the dead back to life), then you have the military who just wants to kill them all.  Even with science proving that there can be some kind of coexistence between the two (humans & zombies) the military uses it’s power to shut down the research thus bringing doom to themselves.  As much as i see coexist stickers on cars around town, the reality is that it is not possible.  with to many groups who want power and/or have power they are never in the market to work together unless it is a quick fix.  anything beyond that breaks down and causes war, separation, hate, etc.

Synopsis:The murderous, backwoods Firefly family take to the road to escape a vengeful police force which is not afraid of being as ruthless as their target.

Impressions:I remember seeing Zombie’s House of a 1000 Corpses in theaters and walked away from it feeling cheated.  It had all the vibes of a exploitation horror film, but was too weak of a film.  I heard people tell me to watch this film, since it was better then Corpses.  They were right.  This film, still hits on the gritty 70s horror films in music, gore, film grain, etc.  But has a story that kept my interest.  Sure there were scenes that made me uncomfortable, but that was the point.  Overall The Devils Reject is Zombie’s best work.

Social Message:  There are two things i got from this film, Evil is infectious and evil eventually comes to an end.  The people that the Rejects come in contact with, have no choice but to be influenced by the evil.  Even the Sheriff, who would considered himself righteous, would do things that were ugly and vile.  The other thing is evil eventually comes to an end.  In film, literature, and religion there is always an end to the wicked.  So it is safe to assume that try not to be entangled by evil and know that eventually evil will have it’s final day.

Synopsis: Oskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.

Impressions: Anything from a foreign country is going to be weird, gruesome, and some times confusing.  This film has all of these elements and build upon and interesting story based on friendship.  Its a movie that is charming as much as it is disturbing.

Social Message:  The saying goes that misery loves company.  In this film, it is the outcast that stay together slay together.  The unusual friendship between Oskar and Eli is a love story of two outcast who find love.  Eli in a way is Oskar’s guardian angel as he is constantly being abused in his life.  The really moral is for the abusers that justice will come for you eventually if you continue to abuse others.

Synopsis: The commercial vessel Nostromo receives a distress call from an unexplored planet. After searching for survivors, the crew heads home only to realize that a deadly bioform has joined them.

Impressions:  I have never seen this film, just bits and pieces of it.  For a first time viewer, it was a bit dated but it had some great things going for it.  The abset of music in some places made you feel on edge, the close ups of the alien, gave it a idea of a big, gruesome being, and the lighting gave it a great feel.  overall i enjoyed this film.

Social Message:  I couldn’t find a social commentary on this film, but i believe it was the first time a sci-fi/horror had a strong main female hero (jamie lee curtis might have been the first in halloween) with the two female on board, weaver’s character was the most bold and strong one.  Even Though there were a lot of males who would take leadership, they eventually all died leaving the strength and power to a female.

Synopsis:  A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.

Impressions:  This was recommended by a friend.  It was an interesting concept and would keep be guessing on what i was watching was the real situation, or a faux.  I loved the concept, and the story but there were spots in between that did not keep my interest.

Social Message:  It’s very interesting to look at this film through the eyes of the children from their perspectives as children and adults when looking at their parent’s marriage.  When you strip away the horror elements, you see the crumblings of a marriage from it’s flirtatious, loving beginning to it’s deadly conclusion.  When you look at failed marriages, it takes it toil on the kids.  Even when they grow-up to be adults, they tend to have a negative view of themselves, love, and marriage.

Synopsis: Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.

Impressions:I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with David Lynch.  His films are so interesting that it keeps you attention for the whole film, and at the end you felt like you wasted your time, because you do not understand what you just saw.  The black and white filmography, acting, sound, and story is a beauty to experience as well as a horrific experience.

Social Message:  One thing i picked up on was just the hardships of being a parent.  Having a child (disability or not) is a difficult task to achieve.  When Henry’s girlfriend can’t handle the child and leaves henry is alone to take care of it.  Throughout the film, certain things like dating, work, etc. are difficult for him to do because he has a child to take care of.  As a parent, I am grateful that my wife is my partner in trying to raise a child.  I also have a lot of respect (more so now after watching this film) for single parents who do their best to raise their child.

Synopsis: Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.

Impressions:  What a creepy, gem of a movie.  It was hard for me to appreciate the horror aspect of the film, while i am being beaten by the message of the film.  As much as this film is laced heavily with a social commentary, it ended up becoming a film to enjoy once but have no means of revisiting.

Social Message:  Where do i begin?  One theme you see is it is heavily influenced with feminism.  Werewolves have historically played by men.  Going back to the Lon Cheney jr.’s version, he was a small, wimpy man, who became a strong, angry, masculine beast.  Ginger, when she begins her transformation, is empowered by her feminine prowess.  Even when you look at her family dynamics, the male figure, says little to nothing at all.  Females have the power and any male authority figure who tries to intervene get’s killed.

The other element that i picked-up on was ho much a change to adolescence is hell.  When Ginger gets her period (and attacked by a werewolf). she begins to change into what is expected from becoming a woman.  experimentation with drugs, sex, looks, etc.  This disease is something that she has a love/hate relationship.  The dynamics between Brigitte and Ginger are also strained as bridget, who has not have her period (not bitten by a wolf), is at odds with her sister and does not want to change like her sister does