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10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Before I saw this, my brother told me not to go into this movie with the expectation that it’s a true Cloverfield sequel. He said that’s what he did (and he loves Cloverfield) and was a bit disappointed at the end of the movie. Or confused, at least.

And he’s right – it’s not really a sequel. Oh sure, you could call it that. It’s not impossible to believe that this movie takes place in the Cloverfield universe. It’s just…not really related to the original at all. But that said, it’s still a good movie.

247 Degrees Fahrenheit (2011)

So, I don’t know…I have mixed feelings about this one. It’s been really hot this month and last, so I felt like this was an appropriate film choice to express how I’ve been feeling lately.

(Spoilers ahead, probably.) On the one hand, this scenario is basically my personal hell. Trapped in a sauna with no phone, with no way to hydrate myself or keep cool, and with three really boring people? Nope nope nope.

28 Weeks Later (2007)

When this came out, I remember worrying that it was going to be a disappointment or that it was going to sully the original’s good name. And then I saw that Rose Byrne was in it, and I got a little more excited. And the good news is I wasn’t disappointed at all!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not quite as good as the original. This one came out in the midst of Hollywood’s zombie zealotry and has the production value to prove it. It’s definitely geared more towards flash than fright, though it has its moments. I don’t want to spoil too much but I’ll just say that the last scene with the parents together is killer (ha ha ha) and one of the scariest moments of the film.

6 Plots (2012)

I liked this movie more than I should probably admit. I haven’t found too many Australian horror films that I can get into, but this one was engaging from the beginning and didn’t let up throughout. Sure, it’s your average “I’d like to play a game”-type slasher film, but it’s above average in two ways: the acting, and the music.

A Creature Was Stirring (2023)

This movie is just weird. I’m not sure it deserves four stars, but it kept me entertained, which is more than I can say for some other movies lately.

A Cure for Wellness (2017)

I know I’ve already made this clear, but again, obviously I don’t hate ALL movies that are over two hours. I liked this one! It wasn’t perfect, but it was mostly well-paced, and when a movie doesn’t FEEL like it drags on, it can keep going, I’m on board.

A House on the Bayou (2021)

I went into this not knowing anything about it except the short blurb, and not really knowing what to expect. And I liked it!

A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

This one isn’t quite as good as the first one, but it’s still pretty good! I love seeing Cillian Murphy in post-apocalyptic horror!

ABCs of Death 2 (2014)

Tonight’s anthology had fewer familiar names and faces than last night’s, but since Larry Fessenden was one of those names I didn’t complain too much. I’m happy to report that his segment was one of my favorites.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

I decided to finally watch this today in honor of Presidents’ Day. I’m actually kind of sad I never watched it before. It was great!

I had no idea it had such a great cast. I love Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and though I already knew Anthony Mackie was a badass, he was bad ass in this movie. I hadn’t seen Benjamin Walker in anything before this, but I thought he was great as Abraham Lincoln. Oh, and Alan Tudyk even makes an appearance!

Afflicted (2014)

This was pretty good. The acting is believable and the story interesting (if not original).

The found footage/fake documentary format is a bit tired but it works here for the most part.

It gets weirdly heavy handed with its message at the very end but otherwise it’s a very watchable, creepy horror movie. I approve!

Afraid (2024)

Okay, so…this movie. I’m feeling a little funny about it, like I’m not entirely sure how I want to rate it. I honestly was on board for most of it, but the ending was a bit of a disappointment?

After (2012)

Okay, so maybe I kind of have a thing for horror movies that straddle the line between horror and other genres. Which isn’t to say that I don’t love a good, old-fashioned, classic scary story, because I do…I just tend to gravitate towards the movies that mean a little bit more than a few terrifying moments.

And yes, that’s where this movie falls. Somewhere inside the horror genre but also squarely inside the romance genre. And yes, I’m a hopeless romantic. So of course I liked this one.

After.Life (2009)

I like this one, though definitely more for the cast than the scare factor.

Honestly, I think the only reason they went the horror direction is so they had a (reasonably) good reason to keep Christina Ricci naked on a table for most of the film. Not that I’m complaining.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

So, Alien: Romulus is coming out in theaters next month, which means it’ll probably be another couple of months until I get around to watching it at home, but I am excited for it! So I’m (re)watching this in anticipation, and because it wasn’t yet released in 2016.

Alien³ (1992)

I know I’ve said it like every day this week, but I will be so happy when this week is over. It’s been a long sleepless week and I don’t feel like I’ve gotten much done. But what I did do is watch this movie. So at least there’s that.

I like this movie. It’s not quite as brilliant as the first one and not quite as ambitious as the second one, but H.R. Giger’s nightmare of a creature has never been more terrifying than in this movie. A David Fincher film, it’s definitely more Seven than Blade Runner or Avatar (or perhaps more closely related films by those directors). Which is to say it’s dark, it’s grim, and it’s not afraid to eschew a happy ending that might have fared better at the box office.

Aliens (1986)

Sadly it’s been a long and warm and busy day today, so I don’t have as much to say as I’d hoped. Which is sad, because there’s a lot of this movie. It’s long. Like James Cameron long. Oh, and did I mention it was written and directed by James Cameron?

So the dialogue at times sounds like James Cameron, the action sequences are loud and deliberate like James Cameron’s usually are, and the actors are familiar faces that seem to be favorites of none other than James Cameron. But it’s a damn good James Cameron film at that.

Alison's Birthday (1981)

Okay, okay, I have to be honest, a four-star rating is kind of misleading here.

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

I realize there will come a day when I run out of horror movies that I really like, but luckily today is not that day. This isn’t my favorite (or even in my top ten), but it’s entertaining and a step above your standard teen slasher film.

I’ll admit that it took a while for Amber Heard to grow on me (I’m not sure whether it was Zombieland or Drive Angry that finally did it), but I was already her fan by the time I first saw this movie. Of course, had the US release not been delayed seven years I imagine I would have liked her much sooner, since she kills it as Mandy Lane (pun only mildly intended).

American Psycho (2000)

I have always had a soft spot for American Psycho, both the book and this film. I’m fairly confident I read the book before the movie came out (unlike Fight Club, where I didn’t even know the name Chuck Palahniuk before the movie came out, and then I read the book…and yeah, I realize this is essentially a non sequitur…).

I remember being glad that…that scene wasn’t displayed on screen. And also glad that they kept the Phil Collins/Genesis monologue in, for the most part.

Antibirth (2016)

Wow. Umm…this movie was certainly something. It started out weird and creepy, and ended up REALLY weird and REALLY creepy. Like, over-the-top weird. But that was only the last ten minutes or so, so I’ll forgive that.

Antisocial (2013)

I thought I’d start my 366 days of horror with a movie about New Year’s Eve…and the dangers of social media.

Okay, so it’s mostly about the latter and only minimally about the former, but it’s great. Take several young, relatively unknown actors with a decent amount of talent and working chemistry, add in a virus that turns its infected into raving murderers and is spread by…well, I don’t want to spoil it for you.

There are some neat effects, particularly when you start seeing what the infected see, and a great scene with a string of Christmas lights.

Anything for Jackson (2020)

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this movie. I think I liked it? I also think it’s more of a comedy than you’d expect from the description.

Arachnophobia (1990)

(Spoiler warning, but also major content warning if you can’t deal with spiders or mentions thereof) Oh boy, THIS movie. This movie has haunted me since I first saw it probably more than 30 years ago. In fact, I’m pretty sure I had seen this even before my OWN scary spider incident…

Arbor Day (1990)

Happy Arbor Day! Is your turkey in the oven?

Barbarian (2022)

Ok, full disclosure, I first saw this movie at a movie theater, on my own, late at night. On top of that, I dropped my phone under my seat, like ALL the way under my seat, sometime during the first half of the film, and had to wait until it ended to sheepishly ask random guy next to me to shine his phone light under the seat so I could retrieve it. Thankfully he was amenable and it was a relatively easy retrieve, but it definitely added a MOOD to the first time I watched this.

Bereavement (2010)

I like this one, but I don’t really have a good reason to. The story is interesting (if a bit convoluted and contrived) but that’s about all this really has going for it.

The pacing is all over the place – at times things feel busy and hectic and the action happens at a mile a minute, while at others the film seems to drag on endlessly while the characters prattle on about one thing or another.

Berlin Syndrome (2017)

As I was watching this rather long movie, I was thinking about why it hits so hard and feels so terrifying. I think it’s because it’s a film about the possible horrors of being a young woman…directed and written by women. So it’s more chilling and feels more real than either Men or A Thousand Little Cuts.

Beyond the Gates (2016)

I figured I was going to be in for a ride when I saw Graham Skipper’s name and I wasn’t let down.

Black Christmas (2019)

I’m a little frustrated because I feel like this film was SO CLOSE to being a five-star film, but its pacing was way off. They saved the interesting and action-packed parts for the last 20 minutes while dragging some of the other themes on too long? And I think that was a mistake.

Black Christmas (2006)

Remember how I said I hoped the cast of this one could hold a candle to the cast of the original? Of course you do; that was yesterday.

Black Christmas (1974)

I was surprised by how much I liked this movie. I shouldn’t have been, because I love Christmas and slasher films, but for some reason I had low expectations for this. I’m happy to say it exceeded those expectations.

Black Swan (2010)

I think maybe I didn’t include this movie in 2016 because I waffle at times on whether this is truly a “scary” story…but I’m coming down on the side of thinking it’s a worthwhile addition to the list. And not just because Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman get it on, though that might broaden the appeal.

Blacula (1972)

Well, we’ve made it through an entire month. And now it’s February. In the US (and Canada, I think), February is Black History Month. I want to be clear that I am not qualified to, nor do I intend to, go deep into any racial critiques here - but I did seek out movies made by and starring Black artists.

Otherwise, and as always, everything on here is strictly my personal opinion and about my personal enjoyment.

Blood, Sweat and Cheer (2023)

Okay, I’m glad June pulled itself together for the last week or so (and I guess the first week was pretty good too, so I really just picked a bunch of duds for the middle of the month?).

Blow Out (1981)

So I originally watched this last week, because it shows up on a bunch of lists for “best scary movies set on the 4th of July,” but…this movie is NOT set on the 4th of July. Who wears winter coats and hats in July in Philadelphia? No no, this film takes place on and around “Liberty Day”…but given the climax with the big parade with fireworks and Uncle Sam and ALLLLLLL the red, white, and blue throughout the movie, I can definitely see why it’s on a lot of lists. Even if they’re wrong.

Boogeyman (2005)

This is a reasonably interesting take on an old story, but it’s too ambitious for its format.

Cabin Fever (2003)

It’s my birthday, and I wasn’t quite sure which movie to watch to celebrate. I settled on this, which seemed fitting for a rainy weekend spent mostly at home. I think it was the right choice, as it’s always provided me a few laughs.

Cabin Fever was the first I’d ever heard of Eli Roth, and what a first impression it was. This has been one of my guilty pleasure movies since I first saw it. I mean, come on, Rider Strong is in it! And the “pancakes” kid! And that ridiculous call back with the rifle in the general store…so good.

Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995)

I wanted to celebrate Mardi Gras today by finding a movie somehow related to the holiday, and discovered there are surprisingly few out there. There are several horror movies that use (Louisiana) voodoo and similar folklore to build their story, but very few actually take place during Mardi Gras.

There is a movie called Mardi Gras Massacre, but everything I’ve read about it says it’s awful, and I was hesitant to do my first non-Thursday throwback review for something I knew would be terrible. Then I found that most of the events in this movie take place around Mardi Gras, and decided to make it the first sequel I’ve reviewed (it’s the second movie in the Candyman franchise) and the first throwback review I’ve done on a day other than Thursday. And I’m glad I did, because I mostly liked it.

Captivity (2007)

Okay, I’ll admit this movie is much more of a guilty pleasure than a great film. I just find it very fun to watch, so I’ve seen it quite a few times. I’ve even put it on as background noise while working more than once.

It’s not much more than torture porn, but Elisha Cuthbert is so adorable that I can pretty much forgive her anything. And believe me, Jennifer is a character who needs some forgiveness. Despite the character development they try to build throughout the film, Jennifer is not a very sympathetic character. Gary is even less so.

Carrie (2013)

I’m surprising even myself by saying this, but I think I like this one just a little bit better than the original. Now don’t get me wrong – I still think the original Carrie is classic horror and shouldn’t be skipped. But this one seemed to flow better. And the payoff seemed…more worth it?

Interestingly, while I was more familiar with some of the actors in this one, Judy Greer is the only one I felt was cast well. Well, that’s not quite true. I think Julianne Moore was excellent as Margaret White, but I didn’t believe her as Chloë Grace Moretz’s mother.

Carrie (1976)

I’ve always liked this movie. I’m sure that’s partly because my mom likes it and partly because I always secretly wanted to discover that I had telekinetic powers. I like this movie despite an unfortunate incident involving me watching this movie and a palmetto bug.

I suppose I also always liked this movie because of John Travolta. Despite the jerk of a character he plays as Billy, I even liked him in this movie. And Sissy Spacek is incredible. Carrie White is such a sympathetic character that I really felt for her every step of the way. Amy Irving helps round out the great cast, with Piper Laurie really shining as Margaret White. 

Case 39 (2009)

Overall, I like this one. It’s not too graphic (though I’d hesitate to recommend it if you’re squeamish around bugs) and it’s well acted with an interesting story. Not the most original of stories, but an interesting one nonetheless.

Jodelle Ferland plays the creepy little girl just so damn well. But let’s be honest – if you name your daughter Lilith, you’re kind of asking for evil demon trouble, aren’t you? I can never tell if I like Renée Zellweger or not and this one definitely didn’t make the decision for me. She was okay, but I just wasn’t feeling it – I have to assume it’s partly because her character is kind of an idiot in this.

Cellar Door (2024)

I genuinely have no good reason for liking this as much as I did. It’s slow, there’s not a whole lot of action, and even the creepy house isn’t that creepy!

Child's Play (1988)

I know this is one of those iconic ’80s horror movies, but I’m admitting to you all right now that tonight was the first time I’d ever seen it.

Sure, I knew most of what it was about but I don’t think I’d ever realized that Catherine Hicks (whom I know from 7th Heaven which I totally never ever watched) and Chris Sarandon were in it. In fact, I may have been confusing Child’s Play with Problem Child because I kept expecting John Ritter to pop up on screen (he never did).

Children of the Corn (1984)

I’m surprised I haven’t already reviewed a Stephen King adaptation. I realized this was one I hadn’t already seen or read, which is impressive because I’ve seen and read a lot of Stephen King. Like, a lot. Anyway, it seemed like an appropriate choice for my first Stephen King review.

I may be a bit biased, but I haven’t met a Stephen King adaptation I don’t like. I think it’s partly because King is so great at describing scenes in such detail that a visual adaptation can’t help but be true to the original. 

Christine (1983)

I’m still catching up on sleep this week so I’m a bit tired but I’ll try to do this movie some justice. I’ll admit that nostalgia may be biasing my opinion on this one – it’s another movie I remember watching with my mom when I was younger. It’s also the first place I heard the song “Bad to the Bone.”

Circle (2015)

This is an interesting movie. The storyline is compelling and ultimately relatable – it’s easy to start wondering what you would do if you woke up in a similar situation. And once that happens, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the choices others make.

I like Julie Benz, the only one of the group I recognized, but she doesn’t get much screen time until towards the end of the movie. The rest of the acting is mostly fine, although there were several instances of overacting throughout. The background music is mostly subtle, and since the circle has its own sound effects, largely unnecessary.

Cloverfield (2008)

Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday and I wanted to watch his favorite horror movie in honor of that…but tomorrow is a Thursday and his favorite horror movie is not at least twenty years old. So I watched his favorite horror movie today instead, and I’m considering actually heading to the theater on Friday to watch the recently released sequel.

I’m happy to say my brother’s taste in movies isn’t bad (or at least it’s compatible with my taste in movies). I’ve seen this movie a few times before, and I always like it. Even knowing what’s going to happen, I find myself holding my breath during some of the more intense scenes, of which there are many.

Come Back to Me (2014)

I have to admit, I think part of the reason I rated this at four out of five is because I was surprised at how interesting I found it. It’s based off of a book, and if the adaptation is true to the story at all I think I want to read this book.

Come to Daddy (2019)

Today is my dad’s birthday, so I’m watching this…in his honor? That’s maybe a little weird, I know. But I do love Elijah Wood (even more so since he showed up for season 2 of Yellowjackets!) and Stephen McHattie, so this movie already had that going for it.

Contracted: Phase II (2015)

The good news is, I was right! Contracted makes so much more sense after watching Phase II. I thought this one was a better film overall. In fact, you could probably cut the first movie down to 20 minutes, add it to the beginning of the second, and have a great movie that isn’t too long.

This one didn’t feel slow like the first one at all. In fact, I had to rewind a few times towards the last few minutes because I had to double check to see if it had suddenly turned into an action movie (it had). Similar to the first one, the acting was good in this – except for BJ.

Cooties (2014)

I was a bit skeptical of this one at first as I wasn’t sure Leigh Whannell could pull off a horror comedy, but I really liked it.

It didn’t dwell too much on the cutesy side of things and the comedy was reasonably smart.

I loved the cast and the special effects were great.

Basically this is a really fun movie to watch. I’m still sleepy today so I’m still leaving this short, but I definitely recommend this one if you’re into, umm…zombie comedies? Zomedies?

Crazy Eights (2006)

This one falls apart a bit if you start thinking about the plot too hard, but it’s pretty good. The setting is interesting (an abandoned old mansion/asylum), the antagonist is creepy (again, if you don’t try to think her character through too much), and the acting is slightly above average.

Creep (2004)

I don’t have much to say about this one. I like Franka Potente, though her character’s not super likable in this.

Creep (2014)

I’m really tired today, so I don’t have too much to say about this one tonight. I liked it a lot, it’s super creepy, and maybe I’ll come back and write more about it tomorrow.

Critters (1986)

Oh look, another Scott Grimes movie! The youngest Scott Grimes yet! And I think he’s definitely my favorite character in this, though maybe it’s just his fashion sense…I mean, that pink (it’s SALMON) shirt?? So this is my favorite Scott Grimes movie so far, AND Scott Grimes is my favorite in this.

Cube (1997)

I really feel like I shouldn’t like this movie. I mean, the acting isn’t great, the dialogue is awful, and the music is ridiculous.

And yet, somehow, I still think it’s pretty great. Even almost 20 years since its release, I could still watch this movie over and over and over again.

Cuckoo (2024)

I liked this one quite a bit, but I’m struggling to find something to say about why.

Cursed (2005)

Cursed is a very 2005 Kevin Williamson/Wes Craven production that ends up more Dawson’s Creek than Freddy Krueger. Joshua Jackson and all.

That said, I still really like it. The dialogue is cheesy and hard to swallow (I don’t think Kevin Williamson has ever quite figured out sibling relationships in his writing), but the acting is great. And the cast has a lot of relatively big names – Christina Ricci, a pre-fame Jesse Eisenberg, Judy Greer, Portia de Rossi. Oh, and of course Shannon Elizabeth.

Daniel Isn't Real (2019)

This was a weird movie, but everyone in it was so good, and the story was more interesting and original than I was anticipating!

Dark House (2014)

I picked this one because it has Tobin Bell in it and was directed by Victor Salva (of Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers 2 fame). Luckily neither disappointed me! I find Tobin Bell is usually the best part of whatever he’s in and that’s never been more true than in this movie. Tobin Bell’s kind of a badass in this one and it’s almost worth a four out of five just for that.

Dark Skies (2013)

This is another movie I’d tried to watch before but couldn’t really get into. Only this time I really got into it, and was surprised by how much I liked it. I shouldn’t be so surprised, I guess. The cast is solid, and they work really well together. They really feel like a family.

It’s hard to do well with alien abduction stories. It’s hard to find the right balance of science fiction and plausibility to make alien abduction scary rather than campy, but this one does pretty well. There’s definitely a high creep factor throughout this one.

Dark Summer (2015)

I don’t know if I’ve said this yet, but I really like Peter Stormare. He’s not the star of this film, but he’s definitely the best part.

I don’t have too much else to say about this one. It’s reasonably well paced, though it is one of those slow-feeling stories throughout. It doesn’t drag on, at least.

It’s pretty creepy when it gets going and it’s not as predictable as I expected it would be.

Darkness (2002)

There’s a lot I like about this film. It loses some of its charm after the first viewing (as I learned tonight), but it’s still pretty great.

Daybreakers (2009)

As some kind of social/political allegory this movie is a bit overbearing and riding a slippery slope in an extreme direction. As a vampire movie, it’s pretty damn entertaining. Or at least refreshing in that these vampires don’t sparkle, they don’t go to high school, and they definitely don’t get tangled in love triangles with werewolves.

No, these are traditional vampires – stakes and sunlight kills them, and they need human blood or they’ll turn into mutated versions of themselves left with nothing but a primal need to feed. And there’s a lot of blood in this movie. Just not enough to sustain a vampire population much longer.

I could have done without the heavy handed clarity around whose side the filmmakers were on – if the contrast between the gloomy blue of the night world and the bright vibrancy of the daytime weren’t clear enough, the cure (and the twist) will be. But the world this movie takes place in is an interesting one even if its characters are pretty flat, and what this movie lacks in scares it makes up for in bloody action scenes.

Overall it’s reasonably entertaining, and it does get some credit for bringing the traditional vampire story back into the mainstream. No sparkling necessary.

Deadgirl (2008)

This one is weird. And I know, I know, I like weird – and I do like this movie – but it’s still weird. And it takes on a subject that’s really easy to do poorly and offensively.

Deadly Friend (1986)

I’m going to be so honest right now that I’m watching this the day after the US presidential election and I am certain that’s having a major impact on how I feel about this film…but I found it so weird and funny and entertaining.

Demonic (2015)

I mostly liked this one. It’s well acted (I like Maria Bello and Frank Grillo – and that their names are kind of similar) and definitely creepy (though that could just be the abandoned house again).

Desperation (2006)

This is another made-for-TV adaptation of a Stephen King novel. One of my favorite Stephen King novels, in fact! It’s second only to The Regulators, which takes place in the same universe, sort of.

Digging Up the Marrow (2015)

I mentioned yesterday that there was another Adam Green film that I liked, and this is it. I still like it, and I’m still fairly certain that’s mostly due to Ray Wise. Have I mentioned I love Ray Wise?

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Okay, I was…hesitant to watch this, because it’s a two and a half hour movie, but it IS Mike Flanagan (AND Stephen King), and I watched The Shining last time around, so it had to be included here. And I’m glad it was.

Dog Soldiers (2002)

As you might expect of a film called Dog Soldiers, this was pretty silly. But it was silly in the way that only British humor can be. Or perhaps it’s not actually funny, it’s just that I love the British accent so much.

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Yes, this is kind of a weird movie. But it’s a Sam Raimi movie, so kind of weird is to be expected. I’d be worried if it weren’t kind of weird, in fact.

And I like it. It’s not the scariest movie I’ve seen, but it does have its moments. I mean, Justin Long as a professor? Terrifying!

But all joking aside, there’s a lot of joking in this movie. It’s silly and irreverent and overall is just good entertaining fun.

Emelie (2016)

I realized the other day (probably when I was watching that really awful movie) that it takes a lot more energy for me to sit through and then write about a bad movie than it does for me to sit through and then write about a good movie. So I’ve decided, at least as far as I can help it, and at least on weekdays, to only watch movies that I’m reasonably certain won’t suck or that I’ve seen before and know don’t suck.

I’d never seen this one before (it looks like it was just released last month, so that makes sense), but the poster looked interesting (there’s no saying about not judging a movie by its poster, is there?). Particularly because it featured Sarah Bolger, who’s been in a few scary movies I really liked. I was pretty sure by the opening sequence (and beautifully understated title screen) that I’d made the right decision, and definitely sure when the dramatic irony became clear in the father’s car.

Escape Room (2019)

I like this movie quite a bit, despite it doing that stupid thing of showing a scene from later in the film at the very beginning. Stop that! It’s not necessary! It definitely wasn’t necessary here!

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)

I thought watching some more scary movies would somehow make me more talkative, but it hasn’t.

Evil Dead (2013)

In contrast to the original, 2013’s Evil Dead is a movie that speaks to me. It’s a darker take than the 1981 film, it’s definitely scarier, and I like it a lot. I saw it in the theater with a bunch of friends opening week (something I almost never do), and since then it’s been one of the few several horror movies I find myself watching over and over and over again.

The movie lures you in with a powerful start and stays strong throughout. The effects are well done, the pacing is comfortable, and the cast is awesome (and should be familiar to some horror fans). Jane Levy (as Mia) was one the only one I hadn’t seen in anything else before this, and I was really impressed with her performance.

Evil Dead II (1987)

Ah, here’s an Evil Dead movie I can really get behind. I mentioned way back when that I wasn’t a huge fan of the original, but I liked the others, and watching this again today…yeah, that’s still true.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

I was on the fence on how to rate this one, but ultimately decided on four stars over three because it was pretty entertaining. This one is maybe the least comedic of the Evil Dead movies? And yet also somehow still absurd?

Excision (2012)

This is an interesting movie. Interesting in a good way, though. I really like that the scares in this one build over time – it’s no action-packed slasher film, but rather a glimpse into the dark side of suburban family life and mental illness.

I don’t think the pacing will suit everyone. It’s a bit slow to get going (although you wouldn’t expect that from the awesome opening sequence), opting for character development over shock value, but this works well here; by the time you realize the depths of Pauline’s troubles you’re already feeling sympathetic towards her.

Fear Clinic (2014)

I’m a bit tired tonight, but I liked this movie. The acting was good (I love Robert Englund), the story was interesting and original, and the twist was done well.

It’s definitely disturbing but it’s also scary as hell so I’d recommend it if you’re into that kind of thing.

Final Destination (2000)

I don’t have much to say about this one but it definitely takes me back. I remember when this came out! I don’t think I saw it in theaters, but I know I liked it because I had a huge crush on Devon Sawa (I mean, so did most of the other girls in school at the time).

Anyway, it’s well paced, interesting, and well acted (y’know, for a bunch of post-teenagers trying to play high schoolers). It was really scary the first time I saw it (I mean, Tony Todd is in it!) but less so the second, third, or fifteenth time. I’d still recommend it pretty broadly if you’re into scary movies – it holds up pretty well 16 years later!

Final Destination 2 (2003)

I’m a bit sick this weekend and looking at computer screens isn’t helping so I’ll be brief.

This is a decent sequel, though it feels a bit more dated – it’s like they try to use technology to seem hip (like…Mapquest) but it’s not working so well over a decade later.

Was it a necessary sequel? Not really, but few are. Still, this one was reasonably well acted and reasonably entertaining.

Final Destination 5 (2011)

I’m feeling better tonight, finally. Getting over this cold or sinus infection or something.

Anyway, this movie wasn’t so bad. I definitely was able to sit through these with much less trouble than the last few Saw movies.

And the very end? I guess I should have seen that one coming. Well done.

Flatliners (2017)

I love it when remakes/reboots are meaningful and can stand on their own, and I feel like this movie does just that. I liked it about as much as the original, which is impressive considering that that was a Joel Schumacher film, and you know I love those.

This one’s also a bit darker and scarier than the original, also impressive given its PG-13 rating.

Flatliners (1990)

Maybe it’s that thing I have for Kiefer Sutherland (or Oliver Platt), but I’ve always liked this movie.

Perhaps it’s because Joel Schumacher seems to have a thing for Kiefer Sutherland as well? Regardless, Joel Schumacher does know how to entertain me.

Okay, the last scene and the end credits score are a bit cheesy, but it actually feels like a nice payoff to all the tension build up here.

The acting is great – aside from Platt and Sutherland there’s also Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, and Billy Baldwin to round out a rather spectacular cast. Everyone was believable and pretty impressive here.

Flight 7500 (2014)

I remember I was pretty excited for this one when I first saw the trailers. Planes are such a neat setting for stories since there’s nowhere for passengers to escape, and some long-haul international flights get even more interesting when you consider how much time is spent flying literally over seas with minimal options for early landing.

Plus the cast is awesome! Jamie Chung, Ryan Kwanten, and Johnathon Schaech are all great actors, and I’ve always had a thing for Amy Smart (y’know, because she’s Amy Smart… and I’m Allie smart). So I was pretty excited to finally watch it today, and I’m happy to report it did not let me down.

Follow Me (2020)

I worry it’s going to be difficult to say too much about this movie without spoiling it, but I’m going to try, because I liked it more than I anticipated.

Frailty (2002)

So, I had mentioned before that there’s a Matthew McConaughey horror movie I knew I liked, and this is it.

Friday the 13th (2009)

It’s hard for me to tell if I liked this movie more than the original because it was a better movie or because it had a more familiar cast (but no Kevin Bacon), but whatever the reason, I did like it more. It’s got a decent cast, well done background music, and a couple of good one-liners.

This is another one of those remakes that’s more like a sequel than a remake, and one of those remakes that tries to be scarier or darker than its original, and in this case, both of these work. It feels more polished and sure of itself than the original.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Oh, now THIS is a Friday the 13th movie I can get behind! How did I not know that (very young) Corey Feldman was in this? That’s not the only reason I liked this, but it certainly helped.

Fright Night (2011)

I’m tired and my clothes smell like Downy so I’ll be quick. Tonight’s movie was better than last night’s movie in practically every way.

Also, it has David Tennant. And of course Anton Yelchin. Watch this movie. Don’t watch the other movie.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

I’ve been feeling a bit off this week and today I kind of wanted to watch something silly that I’d seen (and liked) before. Originally I was thinking Planet Terror, but then I remembered it’s Thursday and Planet Terror is definitely not 20 years old yet. So I picked the next best thing.

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since this movie came out? Okay, I’ll be honest, I can totally believe it, especially with how young George Clooney and Juliette Lewis look in it. But you know what? It still holds up.

Frozen (2010)

This movie isn’t really a horror film, but it’s definitely a scary story. And since everything that happens in the film could technically happen in real life, it’s even more terrifying.

It’s interesting how a movie with essentially one location and three characters can be so engaging, but there wasn’t any point in the movie that dragged on or seemed unnecessary. The character development is impressive, though I suppose a movie like this would have to do that well. It definitely wouldn’t work if the characters weren’t sympathetic.

Funny Games (2008)

I like this movie, but it is hard to watch.

Ganja & Hess (1973)

I thought this movie was beautiful, hypnotic, weird, and smart, and just a little too long.

Get Out (2017)

I like this one a lot. It has so many familiar faces who are all fantastic. It has the perfect score. It’s well-directed and well-paced.

Ghost of Goodnight Lane (2014)

I kind of figured this one was going to be pretty ridiculous when I watched the trailer, and I was definitely right. But I’m pretty sure it’s meant to be ridiculous.

I mean, come on…the over-the-top special effects, the completely ridiculous plot, that hilarious scene where they can’t send an email but they can “search, like literally for anything,” that even more hilarious fight scene soon after…it’s quite honestly a ridiculous masterpiece.

Ginger Snaps (2000)

First, content and mild spoiler warning for early talk of suicide and some pretty gory imagery, especially for dog lovers.

Okay, so, apologies, this is another primarily nostalgia-driven rating. Why? Because I love Katharine Isabelle SO MUCH, and the scene where…well, where Ginger snaps, is so good.

Glorious (2022)

I…am surprised by how much I liked this movie? It’s so weird, but it’s short, and it’s fun, despite primarily taking place in a rest stop bathroom?

Green Room (2016)

Funny enough, I didn’t realize that tonight’s movie starred both Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots – just like last night’s movie. And I’m rating this one four out of five, also like last night’s movie. But aside from those two things, this movie is nothing like last night’s movie.

Halloween (2007)

So. Rob Zombie’s remake of John Carpenter’s Halloween. Sorry, I should say reimagining. In some ways, it reminded me of Michael Bay’s Nightmare on Elm Street remake. But mostly it didn’t remind me of that at all. And mostly I liked this one. I just wish it weren’t so long. It’s really long.

Halloween (1978)

There’s not much I can say about this movie that hasn’t already been said better elsewhere.

Happy Death Day (2017)

At this point, I don’t even know why I let myself be skeptical of things anymore. I finally got around to watching this movie, because it’s almost my birthday. I’d been avoiding it because it has a silly name and a bunch of unknown actors and I just feel like that rarely works out?

Hereditary (2018)

I don’t think I like this movie as much as Midsommar, but I still like it quite a bit. So it’s maybe a low four stars for me. It definitely feels as long as it is, but there’s a LOT packed into those two hours.

Hidden (2015)

This is a really interesting movie. It starts out strong and follows through until the ending. The acting is believable, the scenery incredibly creepy, and the suspense almost palpable.

I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this one. It’s about family, sure, and survival. It’s about doing what needs to be done to protect the ones you love. And it’s about zombies. Sort of.

His House (2020)

I liked this movie. It’s a bit slow for me, but it’s also short, so that kind of evened things out.

The story is deep, and dark, and creepy - and there are some terrifying moments and jump scares.

Honeymoon (2014)

In addition to scary movies, I really like ice cream. In particular, I really like fancy small batch ice cream. Like these Double Hazelnut or Brown Butter Plum flavors made by a brand called Honeymoon. If you ever get a chance to try this brand, go for it. So far I like what I’ve tasted.

So I watched this movie partly because I’ve been eating a lot of Honeymoon ice cream, and partly because I remembered I’d liked it before. And I still liked it now. It’s very well done and the pacing is excellent.

Hostel (2006)

This movie is Eli Roth, through and through. Well, mostly anyway. I wavered a little on how highly to rate this and decided if I didn’t give it at least four out of five, I’d be lying to myself.

Watching it again now I find this movie a bit less impressive but at the time it was an original. And it’s still not bad, if you’re into this kind of thing – just make sure you’re really into this kind of thing, or you’ll probably regret watching it.

House at the End of the Street (2012)

I saw this movie in the theater (gasp!) by myself (double gasp!) outside Universal Studios in Los Angeles on a very hot day in 2012. The good news is, I still like it even when I’m not just using the theater for its air conditioning. The bad news is, that story is way less relevant tonight when it’s a brisk 58 degrees Fahrenheit outside in the middle of June (literally, the middle of June).

It’s not a perfect movie, but it kept me entertained a few years ago and it kept me entertained tonight. It’s probably not for folks who aren’t into thrillers, but it’s not terribly graphic or disturbing and the story is both intricate and intriguing.

Howl (2015)

I’m a bit tired tonight so this will be short.

Hush (2016)

I’m a little less tired today (mostly because I did nothing all day), but I still wanted to watch something good. It’s rare that I see a scary movie on Netflix rated anything above 3 stars, but this one had 4 so I figured I’d give it a try.

Would it be too cliche of me to say that it starts less with a bang than with a whimper? This is my 100th review, so I figure I’m allowed to be a little cliched. Anyway, I can see why it was well rated.

I See You (2019)

I went back and forth a bit on how highly to rate this movie, but it eventually won me over. There are a lot of pieces that don’t add up…until they do, and then they really add up.

I Spit On Your Grave (1978)

I can see why this movie was controversial when it came out. Like The Last House on the Left, it shows a lot of graphic violence and rape. Unlike The Last House on the Left, this movie at least attempts to provide some character development to all sides.

While I certainly wouldn’t call the men sympathetic characters, I appreciated that this movie tried to be about more than just violence and rape.

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

You know, I had already watched this recently (past couple years, I think?) for some reason, and even still had forgotten how fun and funny this one is. I think I may have watched it after some video talking about Jack Black’s ridiculous character? Who definitely adds to the fun, by the way.

I Will Follow You Into the Dark (2012)

Though the tears on my face may indicate otherwise (or not), I’m really glad I watched this movie tonight. I really liked it.

I still think of Mischa Barton as Marissa Cooper no matter what role she’s playing, which works sometimes more than others. It worked for this one.

Idle Hands (1999)

I chose this in honor of my favorite ex-husband’s birthday today. It has been a long time since I watched this movie. I’m glad to see it mostly holds up! As a horror-comedy that has a decent bit of both horror AND comedy!

In Fear (2013)

I’ve been procrastinating everything today, and cutting it close with this post, but here I am! I don’t know about all of you, but the first thing I want to do when I get bad news is to scary myself silly. And I got some pretty bad news today, so I knew I wanted something I’d seen before that was dark and scary but not too…thinky.

This one fulfills all of those needs and then some. I think the first time I saw this was a year or two back when it popped up as a Netflix recommendation. I’d never heard of it before, but was really impressed. It probably helped that I was watching it alone in a dark room at the time, but this movie has a lot going for it.

Influencer (2023)

I liked this one more than I expected, but since I’m still watching this post-election (as opposed to yesterday’s movie which I actually watched pre-election), I’ve got very little to say.

Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

I knew there was a reason I put off watching this movie for so long. I felt like the story was complete after the second one, and this movie doesn’t do much to convince me otherwise. It’s still an above average scary movie, but only by a little, and probably partially because of how much I liked the first two movies.

It becomes apparent pretty quickly that this is not a James Wan film. It’s actually Leigh Whannell’s directorial debut – which kind of shows. James Wan is a practiced horror movie director whose films are maturing as he is. Leigh Whannell is a practiced horror movie screenwriter who might want to consider sticking to writing (and acting, actually).

Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Ugh, honestly, has there been any franchise I like more than Insidious? I have not rated an Insidious movie less than 4 stars yet, and this one isn’t the one to change that. I guess we’ll see how tomorrow’s movie does, but for now, I just…clearly I love this series.

Insidious: The Red Door (2023)

I have never SO BADLY wanted a franchise to be good and done with forever as much as this one. Not because this was a bad movie, but because it was a good one. Please, let it end on a good note.

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

I forgot how long this movie was. I don’t think it’s the longest movie I’ve watched so far, but it may be the longest that wasn’t originally a TV miniseries adaptation of a Stephen King novel.

Intruders (2016)

Apparently there are several horror/thriller films called Intruders. I reviewed a different one earlier this year. I’m considering watching another one tomorrow night but haven’t settled yet. I suppose it’s a good sign that watching this film makes me want to watch others with the same name.

Intruders (2011)

I would rate this movie at four out of five just for the acting in it. I try not to use the word “superb” lightly, but I feel like everyone in this film just did a superb job.

It (2017)

It’s a big undertaking doing a new adaptation of a Stephen King novel, especially when the original was such a classic. And the original was long enough, but this is even longer. Sure, it’s split between two parts…but the original was a TV miniseries split between a few parts also, and this first part alone was OVER TWO HOURS.

But I have to give it credit where credit’s due. This movie is pretty scary, pretty interesting, and has some really fantastic performances by both the kids and by Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise.

It Follows (2014)

I went into this one expecting to be disappointed (as I usually am when something is overhyped like this movie seemed to be for a while). But you know what? I wasn’t disappointed at all. In fact, I liked this movie quite a bit.

It was scary, well acted, and an original story. I’m a little sad I didn’t watch this earlier, but glad I finally got around to it. I do think I went into it with the right expectations (read: low ones) to be thoroughly entertained.

Jack Frost (1997)

I’d never seen this one before, so it was finally time to get around to it. Honestly I knew it was going to be good from the start, with the fake kid’s voice and the ridiculous narration and the hilarious camera angles…I knew this was going to be a ride for sure.

Jack Goes Home (2016)

This was weird, dark, and disturbing, and entirely about family, love, and loss, so of course I liked it. I’m continually impressed with Rory Culkin’s performances, especially after tonight. He didn’t just play Jack here – he was the titular character.

Jason X (2001)

Happy Friday the 13th! Hope you’re all doing something spooky to celebrate!

I’m so happy this movie exists. It’s so silly and stupid and I was so entertained.

Jaws (1975)

I always liked this one, though its PG rating is a bit deceiving (it’s another from before the PG-13 rating existed).

Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003)

I definitely like the first movie better, but this is a pretty entertaining movie overall. As a sequel it has some problems, but as something to keep you entertained for just over an hour and a half it’s above average. This is mainly because the Creeper is still incredibly creepy, but also because the setting (a broken-down bus on a highway on a road that doesn’t seem to have many other cars) is an interesting one.

Oh. And also because of Ray Wise. Who doesn’t love Ray Wise? Even “old” Ray Wise at the end of the movie is pretty bad ass.

Jennifer's Body (2009)

This is a silly movie, and I like it. It’s the first thing I ever saw Megan Fox in, which is probably why I like her so much. Amanda Seyfried is great in this, and there are even cameos by J.K. Simmons and Chris Pratt!

Sure, it’s not the scariest of movies. I’m not sure Diablo Cody knows how to write real horror, but she does know how to write teen drama. So this is another film that ends up more like a primetime teen drama and less like a really good scary story.

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)

So, I didn’t realize this movie isn’t even the ORIGINAL original of the whole “Grudge” series? There are two “Ju-on” movies BEFORE this one…but I didn’t add them to my calendar, so you’ll have to watch those on your own, I guess. Here I’m going for this one first, and then the American remakes…for better or for worse.

Jug Face (2013)

Okay, can I just be a fangirl for a minute here? Not about this film (though I do like it), but about Lauren Ashley Carter (who plays Ada). She was awesome as Peggy in last night’s movie, awesome as Ada in this movie (though – oh, and spoiler warning – I do wonder if she’s going to get pigeonholed as the girl who gets pregnant by a close relative), and apparently awesome in real life.

June (2015)

Much like last month’s, this month’s inaugural movie is related to the month in name only. And, also much like last month’s, I rather liked this movie.

Possibly it’s because I hadn’t seen Victoria Pratt in anything since the TV show Day Break was cancelled. Possibly it’s because I have a secret thing for Casper Van Dien. Or possibly it’s because I really like Eddie Jemison, though I had no idea what his name was until just now.

Kill Theory (2009)

I’ll admit, this one was better than I was expecting it to be. It wasn’t great, but it had enough going for it that I felt it deserved a four out of five.

The cast worked well together and there didn’t seem to be any out-of-place terrible actors in the bunch.  The story made sense for the most part and the tension definitely built up throughout the movie.

Where it falls apart is in its exposition. I felt like the cards were shown too early and there wasn’t much payoff from the “twist” at the very end. Like, you already know who’s holding them captive…no one does anything surprising…and it ends basically as you’d expect.

Krampus (2015)

This was another fun holiday horror movie, and I’m kind of glad I waited to watch it until it was Christmas this year. Merry Christmas, by the way, if that’s your thing.

Kristy (2014)

This is yet another film I remember enjoying more the first time around. (Spoiler alert) Honestly, maybe this year I’m just more sensitive to the dogs getting killed? I feel like I should have run my whole calendar through www.doesthedogdie.com before watching anything?

Late Night with the Devil (2024)

I’m honestly not too sure how to write about this movie. Not because I didn’t like it, but because I did, and I don’t really have a clear explanation for why.

Let Us Prey (2014)

I think I have a thing for Pollyanna McIntosh. She’s just so good in everything she does. Well, okay, she’s normally not good (character-wise) but her acting is fantastic. Here was no exception. Well, okay, it was kind of an exception – her character was actually good in this one. (Spoilers ahead) In fact, she was really the only good one in this movie.

Life (2017)

Ok, it’s really difficult to say…well, much of anything at all about this film, without spoiling it. So, I’ll start by saying I think this movie is really good, really tense and intense, and terrifying, and horrifying. And dark.

Everything else has spoilers ahead.

Lights Out (2016)

This one definitely had promise based on its trailer, and I’m happy to say it wasn’t a disappointment. It’s got a good cast and decent production value and that shows. I’m glad to see that people are still making decent scary movies rated PG-13 or lower. I don’t think it’s the swearing or graphic violence that makes a movie scary, and this movie helps prove that.

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

So, I’ve had some trouble with horror-comedy films this year. Several of them haven’t been great on either the horror OR the comedy side, and they’ve been kind of a slog to get through. I’m happy that this month seems to have redeemed the horror-comedy genre a bit for me.

Longlegs (2024)

Finally getting around to yet another hyped up 2024 film. I do like Nicolas Cage, though, and I was pretty excited about this one. And today’s the 14th, so it felt…fitting.

Lord of Illusions (1995)

This is another movie I liked more than I really feel I should. It definitely didn’t earn it.

Seriously though, where has this movie been hiding from me? No wait, don’t answer that, I already know – 1995. This movie is all ’90s, through and through.

The first clue? Scott Bakula is first billed in the cast. Don’t get me wrong, I like Scott Bakula, I just…haven’t seen him as a leading man since the ’90s.

Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010)

I liked this one. A lot. Like, a lot. I don’t think I’ve ever loved every film in a series so damn much. The first one in a class of its own for all sorts of reasons, but these second two because Edgar Frog is just a fantastic character, and Corey Feldman, well, is Edgar Frog. In fact, if you told me that vampires do exist and Corey Feldman actually slays vampires, I’d probably believe you. Or at least I’d really want to believe you.

I think I’m glad that it took 21 years for these sequels to come out. They seem to have been thought through pretty well. Corey Feldman has only become more Frog-like as he’s aged. And I don’t think I even saw the original until 10 years after its release (though in the years since then it’s made quite an impression on me).

Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)

I was a little hesitant to watch this since I loved the original so much and sequels (especially horror sequels) often aren’t as good as their predecessors, but I gave it a shot because of Corey Feldman.

And you know what? It wasn’t bad! In fact, I rather liked it. Not quite as much as the original, but that movie is such a huge part of who I am now that I can’t really expect many other movies to mean as much to me. And Edgar Frog is still an awesome character.

Lovely, Dark, and Deep (2023)

I liked this movie! It was quiet, but not slow. Georgina Campbell (also excellent in Barbarian) was great, which is good because it’s just her we see through most of the film.

M3GAN (2022)

This is another movie that I liked, but I don’t have too much to say about it.

Ma (2019)

This is a weird little movie with a lot of surprising familiar faces. Octavia Spencer obviously, but also Allison Janney AND Missi Pyle AND Juliette Lewis (who, by the way, is also in Yellowjackets)!

Maggie (2015)

I liked this movie a lot. I was surprised at how much I liked it. I was surprised at how much I liked both Abigail Breslin and Arnold Schwarzenegger in it, in particular. I’ve seen them both in many things but never really considered either of them great for scary movies.

Then again, this isn’t really a scary movie. It’s a sad movie. It’s a zombie movie. But it’s not really scary, and that’s okay.

May (2003)

It’s the first of May, so of course I had to watch this one. In fact, I waited until today to ever watch this one at all. I’ve known about it for years, and I like Angela Bettis, but somehow I never got around to this one until now. It’s pretty good!

I didn’t realize Jeremy Sisto and Anna Faris were in this one as well! So that was a pleasant surprise. I was surprised at how much I liked Anna Faris as Polly. The whole cast worked really well together, in fact. I was definitely hooked early on.

Midsommar (2019)

Ok, I’m more torn on this movie than I have been in a while. But here’s the thing…it’s over two hours with just the theatrical cut, and even longer than It: Chapter Two with the director’s cut, and I’ve STILL watched it, by choice, at least three times.

Mirrors (2008)

Wow. It’s been a whole year. And what a year it has been.

Mockingbird (2014)

I’m no longer surprised to see just how low the ratings are on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes for most of the movies I like. Wait, let me clarify…for most of the horror movies I like. Generally my opinions are in line with the majority’s for other genres. Except for Melancholia. That movie is the worst movie I have ever seen, ever, and I’ve seen The Cable Guy. And somehow Melancholia has a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.1/10 on IMDb.

On Netflix, however, I find that the ratings tend to be a bit more in line with my own. So I was a bit surprised to see that this movie had only one star on Netflix. And, of course, being the person that I am, I had to watch (and write about) it. Because I’d seen it before, and I knew I definitely would have rated it above one star. And watching again has only confirmed that, and maybe confused me. Who can I trust for scary movie recommendations now, if not Netflix?

Mom and Dad (2018)

It’s my mom’s birthday today (happy birthday, Mom!!), so I chose this movie. This is a silly movie, and I liked it.

Monstrous (2022)

Have I already mentioned how much I love Christina Ricci? Because I LOVE Christina Ricci. (EVEN MORE than I have since forever now that she is also in Yellowjackets!)

Mortuary (1983)

This was a weird little movie that I wasn’t sure about at first, but that won me over in the end. I think I might even recommend it quite broadly!

Mosquito (1994)

I was going to rate this three out of five instead of four out of five, but I’d be lying if I said this movie wasn’t way more entertaining than any of the three-star movies I’ve seen recently. Which isn’t to say it’s a good movie. But it feels like the kind of movie I would write.

Mother's Day (2010)

It’s Mother’s Day in the USA (unintentional rhyme, sorry?), so this is…well, it’s not really “appropriate” but it’s…fitting?

My Bloody Valentine (2009)

I feel a little guilty rating this one 4 out of 5 because I liked it mostly for how over-the-top ridiculous it was. And it was way over-the-top ridiculous.

My biggest regret is not having gone to see this in 3D when it came out in theaters. I think that experience would’ve had me on the floor laughing. As it is, it’s one of those movies you can tell was made to take advantage of 3D – watching it on a tiny screen (while wearing headphones) without 3D means that some of the climactic scenes don’t really land. I mean, a pickaxe coming towards your face? Scary. A pickaxe moving around the center of your iPad screen? Not so much.

My Little Eye (2002)

I have told people on more than one occasion that this is my favorite horror movie, so I figured I’d watch it again to see if it holds up. About 15 minutes into this viewing, I remembered that I don’t say it’s my “favorite” movie, I say it’s the “scariest” movie. And that definitely still holds.

I’m a big fan of minimalism in horror movies. I think the scariest things are those that could actually happen, and the fewer special effects a movie uses, the more realistic it seems. This movie takes place in a single location and for most of the film stars just five young adults in an old house surrounded by webcams. And then the deaths start adding up.

My Soul to Take (2010)

I may be biased towards anything Wes Craven, but I liked this movie. It wasn’t quite as haunting as A Nightmare on Elm Street, but it was a relatively original story with a decent cast (Frank Grillo is always awesome…and Max Thieriot delivers the quiet creeper like no one else), and Wes Craven’s direction and use of background music elevate it above the typical teen slasher flick.

Sure, the pacing is weird (and changes halfway through) and the dialogue is only partly believable, but Wes Craven yet again delivers terror just under the surface – the idea that one of your friends could be a murderer unbeknownst to you? The idea that…you could be a murderer unbeknownst to you?

Nope (2022)

Okay, this proves you don’t have to be a short movie for me to like you. Just don’t fill the minutes with drawn-out slow sequences, I guess?

I am kind of glad I waited until now to watch this movie, and also glad that I managed to basically avoid spoilers beforehand?

Oculus (2013)

I’ve watched this movie several times (and a couple this year alone!) but haven’t written about it yet because I haven’t quite figured out what I want to say about it. I like it quite a bit, but it’s hard for me to pinpoint why.

Maybe it’s the cast — Katee Sackhoff and Rory Cochrane are great as Alan and Marie, the parents. Kaylie and Tim were great — both past and present versions were believable and the family chemistry worked wonderfully. And it was kind of neat seeing James Lafferty in this, since I’d only ever seen him in One Tree Hill before.

Old (2021)

(Apologies, probably lots of spoilers for this one) It’s hard to really talk about this one without spoiling it, but I want to talk about it, so I guess I’m going to spoil it?

Open House (2010)

There’s been an “Open House” sign on my street for the past few days so I was inspired to watch this one again. It’s a good one. A bit disturbing, but then again, so am I. Also not unlike me, this movie has a lot going for it.

Have I mentioned I’m a sucker for a good understated title screen? Maybe once or twice? This movie is a perfect example of that. And the movie starts much like its credits – unassuming and quiet. Things start to get creepy pretty quickly, though, and keep building from there. I love that the background music is largely absent, and perfectly timed and placed when it’s not.

Orphan (2009)

My birthday is this Sunday, so I figured I’d spend the week leading up to it watching (and writing about) some of my favorite scary movies. Starting with this one. I’ve watched this several times now, and even knowing what’s going to happen I find myself at the edge of my seat every time.

I love Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard, but I was blown away by Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther. In fact, all of the kids in this movie were superbly believable, which just added to the creep factor.

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

Okay, so I looked back at my rating for the original movie and now I feel like my rating system means nothing. “Pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it” with an “interesting” story and “believable” acting gets only three stars? LIN SHAYE only gets three stars? I thought I was MORE generous back in 2016 but it seems like I’ve just always been inconsistent.

Paranormal Activity (2007)

I liked this when it first came out. I still like it now, though my opinion is slightly less favorable this time around. Perhaps it’s because there are now so many similar movies it’s hard to keep track.

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

If you’ve seen both endings to the original, you’re probably understanding why the theatrical version was, well, the theatrical version. This serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the first and does a pretty good job at both.

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

So far, this is definitely my favorite of the franchise. Maybe it’s because Katie and Kristi are much more likable (or relatable?) as kids.

Parasomnia (2008)

I don’t know how to say this nicely, and I don’t really know why this was my first impression, but this movie had no right to be as good as it was?

Pathology (2008)

This is an interesting one. It’s not for the faint of heart, though. It’s far more disturbing than it is terrifying, though. And you can’t even close your eyes to get away from it, since the group details (excruciating detail in some cases) aloud each cause of death.

But if you can stomach that kind of movie (no pun intended, I swear?), this might keep you entertained for an hour and a half. It’s a little slow to start but it picks up quickly and keeps that pace all the way to the final scene. I guess that’s unsurprising from the writer of Crank (and Crank: High Voltage!), though.

Patrick (2013)

I finally feel mostly caught up on sleep, but I don’t have much to say about tonight’s movie. I definitely liked it, though.

It had Sharni Vinson and Charles Dance! Both of whom were awesome (Charles Dance a bit more chilling in this role than the last role I saw him in, Sharni Vinson not quite as awesome in this role than the last role I saw her in).

The story is an interesting one, the setting a wonderfully creepy one (have I mentioned I like old abandoned buildings?), and the accents adorably Australian ones (well, except for Charles Dance and Rachel Griffiths, but that’s probably for the best).

Pet (2016)

This movie starts out simple enough: your typical boy meets girl, girl rejects boy, boy kidnaps girl and keeps her in a cage in a basement story.

Phenomena (1985)

I definitely should not have enjoyed this movie as much as I did. It’s a bit longer, and feels that way…it’s not really scary (unless you’re scared of insects in general), and a lot of it is just silly.

Possessor (2020)

I don’t really remember what I thought of this movie when I first saw it, but I remember thinking it was weird, and I definitely still think that. I guess it’s to be expected from a (Brandon) Cronenberg film?

On rewatching it…well, it’s still weird, and I’m still not quite sure what I think about it.

Preservation (2014)

I like this movie a lot. It’s got a lot going for it. Like the music, for example. The music in this film is fantastic. It’s like, Philip Glass level of expertise. From the main title theme to the general background score, it’s fantastic.

Prom Night (2008)

Well I definitely liked this better than the original. For a few reasons, really. But it’s definitely not perfect.

Prometheus (2012)

I can’t believe it’s July already. I mean, I can believe it, but I can’t really believe it. I saw this movie in theaters (albeit for a Sunday morning matinee if I recall correctly) a few years back and as I went in with no expectations, so I enjoyed it.

It was nice to see something in the Alien universe (even if only tangentially) and this was definitely better than last night’s contribution. It at least added something new to the universe.

Rabid (2019)

It’s probably no surprise that I like this one better than the original. I mean, it was directed (and written) by the Soska sisters, of American Mary fame, and it’s no secret how much I love that movie. And while this movie does NOT have Katharine Isabelle, it has Laura Vandervoort, whom I’ve already mentioned at least once this year. And Stephen McHattie!

Ratter (2015)

So, this movie is not without its problems, but…I liked it a surprising amount. I thought Ashley Benson did a great job as Emma, who goes through most of this film unaware of what’s happening around her (while the audience is placed in a voyeuristic position). And the more you see of her just going about her normal days…honestly, the scarier the film gets.

Ravenous (1999)

This movie kept popping up on Netflix so I figured I’d finally watch it. The cast was definitely appealing – Guy Pearce, Jeffrey Jones, and Robert Carlyle? Yes please!

I’ll admit that for most of this movie, I had no idea where it was going. Normally that wouldn’t be a great thing, but this movie really pulled it off. The story was interesting, and the suspense just kept building and building until it started to get really, really creepy. And then it kept going…

Ready or Not (2019)

This movie is a lot of fun. Samara Weaving is excellent, and the supporting performances are great. I do love a good Adam Brody scary story.

Red State (2011)

After the disappointment that was Yoga Hosers, I had to go back and see if I still enjoyed this one as much as I remembered from my first watch. Plus it’s been a while since I’ve seen Kyle Gallner in a scary movie. I’m not going to lie though, this one hits a little harder this year than it did in 2011. A lot harder, even.

Ringu (1998)

Sometimes I worry that I’m too Americanized and I only like heavy Hollywood horror…but then I watch things like this that have at least a little more subtlety, feel a little more “indie” (or at least, not full-on Hollywood), and I remember what I like about them.

Rise: Blood Hunter (2007)

Overall, I really like this film. It’s well cast, well acted, and beautifully filmed. It’s not perfect, and it’s not scary, but it is entertaining.

Run (2020)

I like this movie. I’ll admit that it’s a bit less compelling on a second viewing, but it’s still interesting and so well acted.

Run Sweetheart Run (2020)

I feel this is going to be a polarizing movie. It’s definitely…weird, and absurd, and over-the-top, and campy. I’d seen it before, but watching it again it really reminded me of Sissy, which isn’t a bad thing!

Santa's Slay (2005)

I’ve only gotten about two hours of sleep in the past 36, so I’ll be quick here.

Satanic Panic (2019)

I really liked this one. I had a lot of fun with it. It’s ALMOST 5 stars, but I think I’m settling on rating it a very high 4 stars.

Saw 3D/The Final Chapter (2010)

Well, we’re finally at the end. I wish I were a little less sleepy tonight because this one actually wasn’t bad.

I felt like the story was a bit truer to the intent of the original movie. I was happy that mostly everyone got what was coming to them. And I was happy to see (spoiler ahead) Dr. Gordon make his appearance.

I’d definitely give this one four out of five stars, and for more than just Sean Patrick Flannery! Oh yeah – he’s in this too.

Saw III (2006)

Okay, now here’s an addition to the franchise I can get behind. This movie was engaging and entertaining and unlike the previous film actually got me excited about watching the next one.

I think perhaps my favorite part of this one (or at least the most well done part) is how, just when you start thinking that they’ve strayed far from the intent and rationale behind the first movie, the twist is revealed and the original meaning restored. It’s epic and quite satisfying.

Saw X (2023)

Thankfully, any misgivings I originally had about this film were unwarranted. I mostly enjoyed it!

Scary Movie 2 (2001)

I fear I’m in the minority here, but I like this movie so much better than the first one.

Look, this movie has Natasha Lyonne, Tim Curry, and possibly my favorite Anna Faris scene ever. It branches out from teen slashers to all sorts of horror movies, and many horror movies that I love!

Severance (2006)

I wasn’t expecting too much out of this one so it was a pleasant surprise to find that I rather liked it. Sure, it could just be the British accents. I do love a British accent.

But really, this was a horror comedy that did pretty well on both fronts. After a few bad attempts at this genre I’m happy to have found a new one to recommend.

The music is a bit much at times and there are definitely parts that drag on, but for the most part this is a cute, clever little black comedy that I really enjoyed.

Sinister (2012)

The nights are getting longer and it feels like these movies are too.

Okay that’s not really true. I like this movie. It’s got Ethan Hawke. And a very interesting story.

But I can’t say I’ll be sad to see this year end (and maybe cut back to a movie a week instead of a movie day).

I do recommend this one if you’re into scary movies, though.

Sinister 2 (2015)

I liked this one a bit better than the first one. While the events from the first film inform this one, they both tell their own stories and either could stand alone. (Spoilers ahead)

Siren (2016)

If I were going to wish for a feature-length adaptation of one of the V/H/S segments, I’m not sure “Amateur Night” would have been my first pick.

Slumber (2017)

I guess I’m feeling slightly less impatient this week, since this was kind of a slow-burn movie, but I still enjoyed it.

Smile (2022)

I think how I feel about this movie might actually be a reversal from how I’ve felt about many other movies this month. That is to say, I remember NOT being impressed with this one the first time I watched it, and I have a new appreciation for it this time around.

Spiral (2019)

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It’s got the feeling of a slow-burn horror, but it’s reasonably paced and I liked it! It’s not perfect, especially when it comes to some of the reveals, but I genuinely enjoyed it.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)

It’s been a while since I’d watched a Saw movie. I was a bit worried - especially since the last one I watched was originally billed as the “final chapter” (though I did like that one).

Anyway, I guess this is technically a standalone story? With Darren Lynn Bousman returning to direct. And I was pleasantly surprised by it.

Splinter (2008)

I liked this one quite a bit. From the beginning (and the “I ♥ bikinis” hat) you know it’s going to be interesting – I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked the effect of jumping between the opening scene and the opening credits, but it was interesting either way. Luckily it stays interesting throughout.

Spree (2020)

So I don’t know if you’ve watched Stranger Things, but if you have, you might recognize Joe Keery, who plays Steve. Well, Kurt Kunkle is not Steve. Not even a little.

Spring (2014)

Yes, another thematically appropriate movie. This one was better than yesterday’s, though. I watched this about a year ago and was surprised at how much I liked it. I think it was because it was a completely different feel than I expected.

I’ve seen Lou Taylor Pucci in a few things before, but he really impressed me in this one. He was so believable and the character development was so well done. And the chemistry between Evan and Louise is incredible. Definitely the right cast for this.

Starry Eyes (2014)

I liked this one a lot. I feel like it had essentially the same story and overall message as The Neon Demon and told it way better. I know The Neon Demon was going for flash (quite literally at times), but I found this one much prettier. The camera work was well done, the music was fantastic, and I love the scenes where the camera flash looks just like a full moon.

Stephanie (2017)

I feel like this movie is a surprising sleeper hit. Maybe it’s because it’s been a few months since I’ve watched anything with Frank Grillo, but I liked this one more than I anticipated.

Strangeland (1998)

Ahh, thankfully a much better (if much older) movie with Amy Smart in it! It’s too bad all of her scenes are the ones with the worst “netspeak” and movie computer magic.

Straw Dogs (2011)

Okay, it is true. I definitely liked this more than the original. The story is more tightly told, with the scare factor and tension being built up much earlier and more consistently.

Suitable Flesh (2023)

I had fun with this film! I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve seen anything with Heather Graham, and even longer since I’ve actually liked something I’ve seen her in.

Summer Camp (2016)

Amazon recommended this to me and I figured it was seasonally appropriate so I figured I’d give it a shot. I liked it way more than I thought I would.

I say that mostly because this movie didn’t seem sure of what it wanted to be and I usually hate that in a film. Somehow it worked for this film?

It wasn’t quite a horror comedy, but it was funny (and not in that terrible, so bad it’s funny kind of way). It wasn’t quite a parody either.

Summer of 84 (2018)

Okay, July is definitely turning out much better than most of June! I liked this one! I was originally going to say that it was less strictly “horror” than I expected (especially considering the cover art!), but the “horror” definitely picked up towards the end. Honestly this movie was so much fun.

Sunshine (2007)

This might be my absolute favorite Alex Garland work. He wrote it, and Danny Boyle (28 Days Later) directed it, and it’s very good.

Superhost (2021)

I had fun with this one. Much of that fun was from seeing just how well Gracie Gillam plays a total creeper. She is SO GOOD.

Sweetheart (2019)

This movie started out a bit slow, and had me worried. Films relying on very little dialogue can be a bit rough, but not always a disaster (see The Monster, and Silent House which I could’ve sworn I already reviewed but apparently need to fit into this year’s schedule instead…).

And this film picked its pace up quite nicely and kept me entertained throughout. And it turns out I really like Kiersey Clemons? She was fantastic in this.

Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)

I know this isn’t a good movie, but I think I’m feeling particularly nostalgic this week. And Tales from the Crypt is definitely hugely nostalgic for me.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)

I don’t really have much to say about this one. I liked it for the most part. It’s an anthology of three stories (plus a wrapper story) and they’re all pretty entertaining.

Tales from the Hood (1995)

I had fun with this one! Despite, or perhaps because of, how awfully relevant each of these stories still feels today.

Terror Train (1980)

This isn’t the first (or even the second) horror movie I’ve watched that takes place on a train, but it might be the most fun. Despite the standard “mean prank gone horribly wrong” revenge trope, this movie is campy 80s horror fun, Jamie Lee Curtis included.

This movie was so fun that despite all the murder, I still kind of want to go on a train party? A party train? Conceptually, trains are such a neat setting for stories. Trains running in endless loops around the world. Trains stopped in the middle of the woods late at night. Trains where everyone conspires to murder a passenger and cover it up. Trains where Keanu Reeves is taller! There’s something about the limited escape options – and generally limited intruder options – that gives trains their own personality and ambience as a setting.

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

I really liked this addition to the franchise. I liked that it serves as a sequel (in fact, it starts directly after the events of the original) while also providing some interesting and relevant background to the original.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

It seems a lot of people didn’t like this movie, but it’s under an hour and a half, well-paced and well-acted, and has action pretty much from the start.

The Advent Calendar (2021)

A new day, a new December. And a new movie just in time to start your own advent calendar? I have complicated feelings about this one.

The Babadook (2014)

The Babadook was all I heard about in horror movies for months last year, and worried it wouldn’t live up to its hype, I decided not to watch it until that hype had died down somewhat.

Well, I finally watched it! And I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie started out strong and stayed strong throughout.

The Believers (1987)

Maybe it’s just Martin Sheen’s soothing voice hypnotizing me into acquiescence, but I liked this movie. I’ve been watching The West Wing for the first time recently – I know, I know, late to the party – so when I saw that Martin Sheen was in a horror movie (that was available on Amazon Video!) I had to watch it.

The Black Phone (2022)

I guess my streak of liking movies more the second time around has ended? I still liked this one, but I think I found it scarier and more impressive the first time I watched it.

The Blackcoat's Daughter (2017)

Ok, so this isn’t technically a “Christmas” movie. And I think most of it takes place in February (an alternative title for the film, actually). But it feels quite…Christmas-y. Or at least wintery.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

I first saw this in theaters with my mom, and I admit the fourth star in my rating might be more for nostalgia than the film itself. I also admit that having seen this film multiple times, and seeing the actors in other things since, I have also lost some of the initial charm and mystery as I write this.

The Boogeyman (2023)

Before I get into this movie, I want to go on a little tangent about something neat that’s happened in the past few years: some really great horror TV shows, namely From (which I briefly mentioned last week), and more importantly to today’s film, Yellowjackets. I love Yellowjackets SO MUCH, and Sophie Thatcher (Sadie in this movie) is my favorite on the show.

I could go on for paragraphs upon paragraphs about Yellowjackets, but I’ll just say I highly recommend it if you are ok with a lot of questions being asked and not always answered (it’s two seasons in, and now that the writer and actor strikes are over, hopefully seasons three and beyond will be out in the not too distant future!)

The Breed (2006)

I know I have already said a few times not to watch things if you’re a dog lover…well, this is like the epitome of movies not to watch if you’re a dog lover.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

There’s a lot I like about this movie. It’s got Amy Smart and Ethan Suplee, for one (or two). And Ashton Kutcher is actually pretty good in it as well. Oh! And I’d forgotten Cameron Bright is in this – a small but important role he plays adeptly.

The Butterfly Room (2012)

Butterflies are thematically appropriate for spring, right? In any case, I’m happy to report that I liked this one more than I anticipated…though I admit that could just be because the story actually made sense in this one. Yes, it used flashbacks, but it used them well, and I was able to follow along with the plot and understand what was going on.

And it was scary! The tension builds throughout and things just get creepier and creepier. I love the opening sequence…the way the credits appear on screen is amazing and the background music is really well done. I also like that they used a flashback for the opening sequence – way better than using some moment from later on in the film.

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

I know The Cabin in the Woods isn’t really a “scary movie” in the strictest sense, but it is definitely worthwhile and entertaining for any fan of horror films. I was hoping it might be worthwhile and entertaining for any fan of Joss Whedon who might not be a fan of horror films, so I could start the slow, subtle process of turning my “not a horror fan” boyfriend into…well, at least into my “not not a horror fan” boyfriend.

Did it work? You’re damn right it did. The movie is well paced, the cast has incredible chemistry (and some big names!), and the dialogue is on-point and Whedon witty. Sure, there’s lots of blood and gore, but because the movie isn’t trying to scare you, it’s well-placed and fits in without being too disturbing.

The Canal (2014)

Oh good, a movie I enjoyed more than I was expecting! Feels like it’s been a little while since I came across one of those.

The Cellar (2022)

I was a bit surprised how much I liked this movie. Maybe it’s because it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Elisha Cuthbert in anything, and it was somewhat disorienting to have her play the “mom of a teenager” as opposed to practically being the teenager herself. Am I feeling old??

The Children (2008)

Wow, it’s been almost another full year. Just this movie and tomorrow’s, and then it’s 2025! I’m glad I mostly liked this movie, and we’ll see how tomorrow’s goes…

The Cleaning Lady (2018)

This movie is…a lot. I guess it makes it pretty clear from the first scene that it’s going to be a lot, but somehow it still left me kind of…I don’t even know, it’s just a LOT.

The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)

First and foremost, happy birthday to my little brother! This one’s for you!

The Collection (2012)

Interestingly I have less to say about this one than about last night’s movie. It’s definitely the one with the higher budget and a more familiar cast, and while it doesn’t have quite the same feel to it, it’s an entertaining watch nonetheless. Oh, it turns out I really like Josh Stewart (Arkin). He was pretty badass in this one, and I was glad to see him back.

I’m a little confused about some parts of the story – wasn’t she Arkin’s ex-wife in the first movie? Why all the character development for Elena? That seemed out of place for this kind of movie, but it worked in this one. Maybe they were trying to justify Lucello’s existence (you know, aside from as a plot device)? That slow reveal about what happened when Elena was younger was a bit distracting and unnecessary, though.

The Collector (2009)

I’m not quite as sleepy today, but I am hoping to get to bed early, so I’ll be brief here. I like this one. It’s got a mostly unfamiliar cast – well, except for Madeline Zima (you know, the little girl Grace from The Nanny) – that’s pretty good, a decent soundtrack, and an interesting story. It’s even paced pretty well.

The Conjuring (2013)

I’d been putting off reviewing this one (and finally watching its sequel) because I had vague memories of not being all that impressed the first time I saw it. I think maybe I was just distracted the first time because it definitely impressed me tonight.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

I liked this one. Fans of the first one in general should like this one. The truth is, this basically is the first one – but set in London with a different family and a different demonic presence.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

I don’t think I’ve actually watched any of the original Conjuring films since 2016, so maybe I was just too far from the franchise (and too disappointed by the Nun entries?) to enjoy this one as much as I could have. Also a bit too impatient, despite this one being the shortest of the three (though it’s only a minute shorter than the first).

The Damned (2014)

It must be a long week. And it’s only Tuesday. I’ve got another early morning tomorrow and haven’t been sleeping well. Maybe all the scary movies are catching up to me and keeping me up at night.

Anyhow, you know this has to be good if there are subtitles for a not insignificant portion of this movie and I still highly recommend it. Actually, all those years of Spanish I took in high school were helpful for this one. I mostly understood what was being said without reading the subtitles.

The Dark Stranger (2016)

Can you believe there are only two weeks left in the year? Maybe it’s just me, but 2016 as a whole somehow seemed to rush by all at once while each moment within 2016 seemed to drag on and on and on. Like many of the movies I’ve reviewed this year, in fact.

The Darkness (2016)

I’m surprised I only just learned this existed. It’s got a pretty high-profile cast (Radha Mitchell and Kevin Bacon are the stars, but Paul Reiser and Ming Na-Wen make cameos as well!) and apparently a decent production crew.

The Deaths of Ian Stone (2007)

I like this one. I think there are a lot of underrated good ones in the 8 Films to Die For collections, and this is definitely one of them.

The Deep House (2021)

Similarly to last night’s movie, I liked this movie more than I expected, but it kind of fell apart at the end.

The Den (2013)

I haven’t been sleeping well this week…and watching this movie tonight will definitely not help with that. Aside from some computer movie magic, there’s nothing in this film that couldn’t happen, and those stories are always the scariest.

Likely because it’s pretty scary, I liked this movie. It’s paced weirdly so there are parts that drag on but overall this is an above average scary movie. The story is interesting, the actors are believable, and there’s no need for fancy special effects or impressive background music so it’s really just the audience and the increasingly scary stuff happening on screen.

The Exorcist (1973)

I’ve been hearing a lot about the new series lately so I figured it was a good time to watch this one. I’ll admit I haven’t yet watched the TV series, but I’ve heard good things about it.

The Final Girls (2015)

I went into this one not knowing what to expect. Was it horror? Comedy? Comedy-horror? I was pleasantly surprised to find that whatever it was, it was entertaining and engrossing throughout.

I thought the cast was chosen well, although I did laugh a little at the fake crow’s feet on Malin Akerman’s present-day self. I love Taissa Farmiga, I thought Adam Devine was perfect, and this was by far the most likable character I’ve ever seen Alexander Ludwig play.

The Fog (1980)

So I apparently made a mistake watching the remake of this one before watching this one. More on that remake tomorrow, but basically I found it so boring that I never bothered to watch the original. I guess I figured there was no way that a movie from 1980 was going to be that much better than its remake.

I should have given John Carpenter the benefit of the doubt, of course. This one was pretty good. Not like The Thing good, but good. And while I think the remake suffers from taking itself too seriously, this one doesn’t have the same problem. John Carpenter knows exactly how seriously to take his movies, but no further.

The Good Neighbor (2016)

I’m still pretty tired, and there’s a lot to process after watching this movie, so this will likely also be brief.

The Good Son (1993)

I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve given a truly nostalgia-driven rating, but this might be it. I remember watching (and rewatching) this movie around when it came out, and being creeped out by Macaulay Culkin back then.

The Gravedancers (2006)

I watched this movie because until I watched Tales of Halloween I’d never seen anything by Mike Mendez, and since I liked Tales so much I figured I’d have to like his other works at least a little (right?). Luckily I wasn’t wrong!

The Green Inferno (2013)

I like Eli Roth. He’s got a good eye for what scares people, even if I think he sometimes veers a bit too much in the direction of shock value over terror.

And this one definitely sits over on the shock value side. Which isn’t to say the premise itself isn’t terrifying, because it is. The idea that you could fly to a foreign country to do what you think is a good deed, only to be mistaken for the enemy by the very natives you were trying to protect…that’s pretty dark and disturbing on its own.

The Grudge (2019)

Okay, I think this might be my favorite of the American Grudge films. A lot of the problems I had with the previous films were mostly gone or otherwise solved in this one, and I found it genuinely entertaining.

The Grudge 2 (2006)

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie! After the mild disappointment of last night’s movie, I was skeptical and a little worried. But I enjoyed this!

The Hitcher (2007)

I mentioned yesterday that I saw this version first and liked it. And it’s true – while I didn’t really like Michael Bay’s remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, I did like this one. In fact, aside from seeing his name in the opening credits, there was only one point during this remake where I even remembered that it was a Michael Bay movie (the car crash scene, specifically).

I didn’t realize this until seeing the original, but there were some interesting choices made for this film that I kind of liked. For one thing, it’s clear early on that the gender balance is better in this version – I don’t know if they realized that Sophia Bush would sell better than Zachary Knighton (whose real name I never remember but I just finished watching all of Happy Endings again so I couldn’t help but think of him as Dave Rose) or what, but the character in this one gets an upgrade to girlfriend and road trip companion.

The Hitcher (1986)

I saw Michael Bay’s remake of this movie a while back (more on that one tomorrow) and didn’t even realize it was a remake until recently so I figured I’d give the original a try. With C. Thomas Howell (as Jim) and Rutger Hauer (as the hitcher) I figured it couldn’t be all bad. And it wasn’t!

There were some interesting choices made in the remake that make more sense now that I’ve seen both films, but I really like both of them. I think I like them in slightly different ways, though. In this one, it’s because Rutger Hauer is a total creeper and C. Thomas Howell is so believably distraught that the whole movie was really compelling.

The Hole (2001)

Ah, Desmond Harrington. I like him. This certainly doesn’t depict his best side (well, not for most of the film anyway), but he’s good in it just the same. Add in Thora Birch with a weird British accent and Keira Knightley to round out a beautiful cast (oh wait, and Embeth Davidtz!) and, well, you’ve got yourself The Hole.

The House of the Devil (2009)

I like this one quite a bit, though I have very little to say about it.

The Houses October Built (2014)

Hopefully this weekend I’ll have more energy to give you some real reviews (though I am throwing a Halloween party…), but this’ll have to suffice for now.

The Invisible Man (2020)

Okay, this is a longer movie that feels long, and definitely has its parts that drag on…but Elisabeth Moss is just SO GOOD that it’s hard to give this one anything under four stars. Plus it was directed by Leigh Whannell of Insidious and Saw fame!

The Invitation (2022)

I have some mixed feelings on this one. My biggest question, I guess, is why some of the cover art is a bit of a spoiler on its own? I guess not terribly so, but somewhat.

The Last House on the Left (2009)

I’m really tired today, so I’m happy to say that this one is mostly an improvement on the original. I’ll keep this short.

This version focuses more on the story and on character development than on exploitation. There are still some disturbing scenes, but this one has an R rating, so it’s not nearly as graphic.

The Last Man on Earth (1964)

I hesitate to admit that I tend to stay away from movies made in the 1960s or earlier. I don’t have a great reason for it, either – I finally saw a Hitchcock film (Vertigo) this year and thought it was pretty good, and it’s not like I’ve had many bad experiences that might steer me away from old movies.

The Lazarus Effect (2015)

I remember being really excited for this when the first trailers came out. I mean, a horror movie with Donald Glover? Yes, please! But then it came and went in theaters (as movies often do for me), and I didn’t watch it until it appeared on Netflix a little while back.

Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed. The first time I watched it or this time. It’s a good, scary movie from start to finish.

The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

I’ve always liked this movie. I’m actually surprised I didn’t review it in 2016, since it’s been around for years! I think I actually read the short story, probably when I was much younger and into splatterpunk? But this movie is fun. And gory. Very gory. Like, take as much gore as you would expect from a horror movie and then add some.

The Mind's Eye (2015)

This movie raises a lot of questions (and eyebrows), but I found myself unable to turn away from it. From the straight-out-of-the 1980s soundtrack to the sudden, over-the-top violence, this movie is ridiculous and weird. And, you know, I like that sort of thing.

The Mist (2007)

Here’s another Stephen King work that I’ve read and liked. I originally read this one before seeing the movie and was expecting to be disappointed by the adaptation. That wasn’t the case, though! While I probably would have done some things differently, for the most part I really liked the choices that the filmmaker (and screenwriter!) made here.

There are a few points that drag on a bit but for the most part this movie is well paced and wonderfully suspenseful. The creatures are terrifying and the humans often even more so. And I love how well the background music works, especially during the climactic scenes.

The Monster (2016)

I know I said I was going to watch another “intruder(s)” movie, but when I saw this was available on Amazon I couldn’t resist. I think Zoe Kazan is adorable and I like this director, so I had high hopes for this film.

And Zoe Kazan doesn’t disappoint. Her performance as the mother was compelling and believable, and the tension between mother and daughter as palpable as their fear of the titular monster. And the girl’s performance was also awesome.

The Neighbor (2016)

I liked this one, which is unsurprising in a few ways. The screenplay was written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, two writers whose work I’m familiar with.

The cast has a couple of familiar faces: Alex Essoe of Starry Eyes and Josh Stewart of The Collector/The Collection(apparently Marcus Dunstan likes Josh Stewart), both of whom are great.

The Other Side of the Door (2016)

I don’t have too much to say about this one, but I did like it. I mean, it is about family and love and loss, after all.

The Others (2001)

I’m still really tired so this is still really short.

I like this one. The acting is great (even the kids!), the story is interesting, and it’s definitely creepy.

It’s a bit slow at times but not overly so. It’s not too graphic or disturbing but it might give you nightmares for a while.

The Pact (2012)

Watching this movie tonight, I realized I’d never seen it before. Which wouldn’t be worth noting except that I’d watched its sequel last year because I thought I’d already seen this one. I probably should have realized this when I didn’t recognize any of the characters or context from the original in the sequel, but nope. It took watching this in its entirety to realize I’d never watched it before.

The Pact II (2014)

Okay, a lot of things make more sense the second time around now that I’ve actually seen the first film. Not everything, though. This film left me with about as many unanswered questions as the first. Which is okay – I don’t expect every story to be perfect, especially in horror movies. And for the most part the plot makes sense and there aren’t any obvious holes.

The Perfect Host (2010)

After a few not so great movies, I wanted something I knew I’d like. This was a good choice. While it’s not the most terrifying movie I’ve ever seen, it’s well made and really interesting. Definitely a step above the last few movies I’ve watched.

Besides, it’s got David Hyde Pierce. Okay, that’s an understatement. It stars David Hyde Pierce, and he’s great in it. The rest of the cast was unfamiliar to me, but they all did pretty well.

The Perfection (2018)

This is a weird movie with a lot of weird happenings and I am mostly here for it.

The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018)

Okay, so this movie reminds me a LOT of The Autopsy of Jane Doe. Like, a LOT. But I really like that movie, so I wasn’t so mad about it.

The Purge (2013)

I always liked this one. It’s not perfect, but it’s got a great cast, an interesting premise, and some tense moments.

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

So, while the first one was more about family and survival (no surprise I liked it then, eh?), this one was definitely more about the Purge. Oh, and Frank Grillo. It was also about Frank Grillo.

And I liked it! Unlike some other sequels, I felt this one actually added to the story. The Purge is an interesting concept and it’s sort of glossed over in the first film. You get enough context to feel like you understand the universe but not quite enough context to feel like all your questions have been answered.

The Quiet Ones (2014)

This wasn’t a perfect movie, but I liked it a lot anyway. The storyline is compelling on its own, but in this movie the cast really sells it.

There are a lot of jump scares in this one, but they don’t feel cheap. They’re placed perfectly so that the tension is already built up when they get you – meaning I fall for it every time.

The Returned (2013)

I liked this movie a lot. It’s a zombie movie, sort of. (Some spoilers ahead) It’s like this…post zombie apocalypse story of humanity at its worst. And it’s great. The music is well done, the acting is good, and the story is riveting. The pacing is wonderful so the suspense builds and builds and the climactic scenes really pay off.

My only real problem with it was that I kept thinking the guy who played Alex was the guy from Coldplay. Which, all things considered, isn’t the worst possibility?

The Ring (2002)

Since I didn’t watch anything last week, I figured I’d do a double feature this weekend. In honor of the new movie Rings that came out last week, I decided to watch this one…and its sequel. No, not the one that just came out. That other one from a few years after this.

The Ring Two (2005)

Unfortunately, this is going to be kind of a disappointing double feature. I don’t really have much to say about this movie.

It tries to emulate the feel of the first one, but the pacing is too slow and rather than feeling dreary it just feels long. It picks up right where that one left off, with Rachel trying to save Aiden from Samara.

The Shining (1980)

Here’s another Stephen King work I haven’t yet read. I should probably get around to it, because a sequel was released a couple years back that’s apparently pretty good. Speaking of which, I should probably also get around to reading the Dark Tower series, what with the film version being talked about now…

Anyhow, if Stephen King plus Stanley Kubrick seems like a win to you, you’re right. And I can’t imagine anyone better than Jack Nicholson to help them out. I mean, even if you’ve never seen this movie, you know Jack Nicholson’s face and his timelessly creepy “Here’s Johnny!” And Jack Nicholson isn’t the only cast member who delivers a stellar performance. Everyone in this movie is spectacular, including little Danny.

The Silence (2019)

So, I think this movie had the bad fortune of coming on the heels of a couple similar, highly regarded films (Bird Box, which I’ll be watching tomorrow, and A Quiet Place, which I’ll be watching later this year once the third one is released). A lot of reviews pan it because it’s too similar to those films and “not as good”. I respectfully disagree. And not JUST because the main character is named “Ally”.

The Strangers (2008)

Generally, I really liked this one. I remember it being one of the first in a long time to really get to me. And I love Scott Speedman (I have a special place in my heart for Felicity right next to all this blood and gore).

That said, it isn’t without some issues.

The Strays (2023)

This is a TENSE movie. It’s slower than I normally prefer, but it works here - because a lot of the tension is internal, the slow build and slow unraveling of everyone involved fits with the storytelling and doesn’t feel too drawn out.

The Substance (2024)

This has to have been one of THE most hyped movies from this year, especially from my real-life circle of friends and family, so I was hesitant to watch it. I’d also tried not to spoil too much for myself before seeing it, which was difficult because there were so many “ending explained” or other spoiler-filled reviews popping up immediately after its release. But I think I mostly succeeded and finally sat down to watch this. And I’m going to try not to spoil much for you in this review.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Here’s a Michael Bay remake I can get behind. Sure, that’s mostly because I wouldn’t have realized Michael Bay had anything to do with this if I hadn’t looked it up, but still.

The Thing (2011)

Before you ask: yes, I know this is technically a prequel rather than a 30-years-later remake, and I know that the original I’m referring to is technically a thirty-years-later remake of a Howard Hawks film.

That said, it’s a pretty damn good homage to an incredibly damn good film. I just wish it weren’t trying so hard to show off that it had three times the budget and thirty years of special effects advancement behind it.

The Uninvited (2009)

Despite its distinct lack of Lauren Ashley Carter, I liked this movie. I realize it’s a remake of the Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters, but since I’m generally subtitles-averse it’s unlikely that I’ll watch the original any time soon. But I like Emily Browning (I have a thing for wide-eyed brunettes I guess?) and I liked this movie.

The Veil (2016)

Netflix told me that I’d be interested in this one and I figured it was worth a watch, especially since I like Jessica Alba and Thomas Jane.

The good news? In this case, Netflix was right. This movie was well acted and well paced…and incredibly creepy. There were a few jump scares, but the film didn’t rely on them to set the mood. The background music was understated throughout and worked nicely to add to that mood.

The Voices (2014)

Okay, so I didn’t actually go to a movie theater today. 10 Cloverfield Lane will have to wait for some other time (possibly after it’s been released on Amazon Video or Netflix). Instead I decided to watch this movie for a second time, because I’m not sure I gave it my all the first time I watched it. To be fair, I was on an airplane at the time, so I’m not sure I would have been able to give any movie my all, but still.

I liked it the first time, but I thought there might be pieces I’d missed. Watching it this time one thing stood out that I didn’t think about the first time: this movie is really terrifying. Not in the typical slasher film manner, though. This one is terrifying because you’re right there with the killer the entire time, seeing the world as he sees it, and you **still **don’t know what he’s going to do next.

The Void (2016)

This has been a bit of a long week for me, so this will be another I don’t have much to say about. BUT I did like it.

The Ward (2010)

This wasn’t what I’d consider John Carpenter’s best work, but it was pretty good. Carpenter knows how to scare without being overly gruesome or graphic, and this mostly works here. There’s a definite creep factor throughout the film, and the 1960s setting, from the outfits the girls wear to the medical treatments being used, serves to amplify this.

Plus the cast is good. Like, really good. I know I’ve mentioned I like Amber Heard before, and she was great as Kristen. The rest of the girls were also great – I’ve recently learned I like Danielle Panabaker a lot. And all of the medical staff were expertly creepy.

The Watchers (2024)

So, this is M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter’s filmmaking review. She directed the film, and wrote the screenplay adaptation of the novel by A.M. Shine (which I haven’t read, but am considering it now). My immediate thought was, is this going to be any good, or is it Hollywood nepotism at work?

The Woods (2006)

I mentioned in my post about May that I realized Lucky McKee was the director for this movie as well and that I was thinking of watching it again soon, so here it is. I vaguely remember watching this movie years ago, but there were a lot of details about the movie I didn’t remember.

Like Bruce Campbell! He doesn’t play a small part either, so I’m surprised I didn’t remember until the opening credits. He was pretty good in this movie, though he didn’t get much of a chance to show off. I did remember Patricia Clarkson and Agnes Bruckner, who were also great as Mrs. Traverse and Heather, respectively. Rachel Nichols was another familiar face, and she did just fine as Samantha.

There's Something Wrong with the Children (2023)

I liked this movie more than I expected. Turns out I really like Zach Gilford in scary things! I also like Amanda Crew, and while I don’t think I’ve seen either Alisha Wainwright or Carlos Santos in much before, I liked them both here. And the kids…well, there was definitely something wrong with them, but not with their performances.

They (2002)

I don’t have too much to say about this one except that I’ve always liked it. It’s creepy and it capitalizes on a couple of my darkest fears – being alone in the dark and feeling like everyone thinks you’re crazy.

Anyway, it’s creepy and interesting and well paced. Laura Regan is always great, and Ethan Embry and Marc Blucas are also pretty good in this. It’s only PG-13 so it’s not too graphic or disturbing, but it’s definitely entertaining. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a good scare.

They Live (1988)

I decided to watch this one tonight because…well, because it seemed fitting.

Torment (2013)

It’s been a long day and I’ve got an early morning so I don’t have much to say tonight. I love Katharine Isabelle and she’s in this movie, so I like this movie a lot. It’s ostensibly about family, but really it’s about, well, torment. It gets a bit graphic and disturbing at times. The story is reasonably interesting and the ending satisfying.

Torn Hearts (2022)

I had a lot of fun with this one! I didn’t know much about it going in, which I think helped, as I didn’t really have any hopes or expectations. And it was a lot of fun!

Totally Killer (2023)

YES, finally, a recent horror-comedy that’s both horror AND comedy. And, y’know, about love and loss and family, so…I really liked it. Plus it has more Lochlyn Munro AND Julie Bowen AND Kiernan Shipka, all of whom I really like.

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

I like this movie. It’s another Halloween anthology film, though all four (well, technically five) of the stories are by the same writer and director (Mike Dougherty) in this one. Four stories are called out but Leslie Bibb and Tahmoh Penikett star in the fifth story that’s effectively a prologue (…epilogue).

Tusk (2014)

Having seen all of Degrassi: The Next Generation, I had a pretty good idea of what Kevin Smith thinks about Canada going into this. And yep, that’s essentially what this movie is about: what Kevin Smith thinks about Canada.

Underwater (2020)

This may not be a great movie, but it is a dark movie. Not in tone, although there’s a bit of that, but in lighting. I get it, I get it, you’re underwater (see what I did there?), it’s dark…but that doesn’t make for easy viewing unless you’ve got a large, bright screen and a very dark room.

Unfriended: Dark Web (2018)

This was a better movie than the original Unfriended, and also not a direct sequel (which makes sense, as the original didn’t really leave room for a direct sequel). So this was better, but also almost a totally different kind of scary movie.

In fact, this one reminded me a lot of The Den (which might be kind of a spoiler already?), which isn’t a bad thing!

Unsane (2018)

I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this movie before! It seems right up my alley - Steven Soderbergh directed, shot entirely on an iPhone 7 Plus, some familiar faces in the mix.

So yeah, I liked it.

Urban Legend (1998)

I like this movie a lot, though admittedly that’s probably more for the sense of nostalgia and whimsy I get watching it than any cinematic achievements of the movie itself. It’s a very dated movie, and while the story holds up after almost two decades, most of the pop culture references don’t. And there are a lot of pop culture references in this film.

The dialogue is awful at its worst and just slightly off at its best, and the characters are just as flat and cliched as the urban legends they’re studying. There are a lot of stereotypes and folks who seem more like caricatures than characters in this film, but none more so than Natalie’s (played by Alicia Witt) roommate Tosh the goth (wait, seriously?) played by Danielle Harris. Harris wasn’t bad, but are the writers expecting me to believe that anyone who considered themselves goth would actually ask a chatroom if any “gothie boys” were around? Because, well, I definitely don’t believe that.

V/H/S (2012)

VHS seems like a strange concept for an anthology made in 2012. The concept is questionable when the one “tape” contains footage from a secret spy camera in someone’s glasses and even more questionable when another tape contains a recorded FaceTime interaction.

V/H/S: Viral (2014)

Well, this is definitely the most surreal of the three V/H/S films. Which seems fitting right now.

V/H/S/2 (2013)

Listen, I could say a lot about this movie but let’s be honest: the live results of this election are the scariest thing I’ve watched all year.

Vampire (2011)

I watched this movie not knowing what to expect except for Kevin Zegers. I definitely got a lot of Kevin Zegers (I secretly/not-so-secretly love him) along with a steady parade of other familiar faces. I think Katharine Isabelle was the most surprising face to see – which is silly, because she’s popped up in a lot of the movies I’ve watched this year. And there’s not even the pretense of secrecy around how much I love Katharine Isabelle.

Vile (2011)

I have some problems with this movie but it’s above average in terms of entertainment value. As far as movies about a bunch of strangers waking up together in a room and realizing they’re totally screwed go…this one’s pretty good.

The cast is full of mostly unfamiliar faces – IMDb tells me they’re mainly from soap operas and single-episode TV drama cameos. The only face I really recognized was Maria Olsen, and I just learned her name tonight. As it turns out her IMDb filmography reads like a to-watch list for this blog, so you might be hearing more about her in the future.

Village of the Damned (1960)

This is partially a nostalgia-driven rating, but also this is truly just a classic horror movie. Made on a shoestring budget with minimal special effects, this movie is apparently a pretty faithful adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Midwich Cuckoos, which I admittedly still have yet to read.

Viral (2016)

So, I have a lot of thoughts about this movie but very few of them are cohesive enough to write out. I’ll start with this: I liked it. I liked it quite a bit. It was reasonably well acted and there were moments when it was downright terrifying.

So I liked it. But it definitely wasn’t perfect. I say it was well acted, which is true, but I didn’t buy the roles for the two sisters – having only seen Sofia Black-D’Elia (Emma) as Sage in Gossip Girl and Analeigh Tipton (Stacey) as the girl next door in Crazy, Stupid, Love I just couldn’t get behind that casting decision. I would have switched the girls’ roles if this were my movie.

Visions (2015)

This was another Netflix recommendation, and I have to say that Netflix has been on point lately. I really enjoyed this one.

The opening sequence was neat, and the background music was perfect. I also figured it was off to a great start when the opening credits listed Isla Fisher, Gillian Jacobs, John de Lancie, Jim Parsons, and Eva Longoria, and I was not disappointed. Everyone in the cast was awesome.

Vivarium (2019)

Well, this is a weird little movie.

We Need to Do Something (2021)

This is a weird movie. I think I liked it better this time around. The first time I watched it, I may not have been quite “ready” for a slow-burn film about being stuck in a room with your family, no clear way out or idea when (or if) you’ll be rescued.

We're All Going to the World's Fair (2022)

This was a weird little movie, and I feel some kind of way after watching it, and I’m not sure how to describe it? The feeling OR the movie.

What Keeps You Alive (2018)

When I was watching (and not totally enjoying) Jigsaw I was thinking a few of the actors looked really familiar (in addition to a barely recognizable Laura Vandervoort), and it turns out, yes, two of them are in THIS movie I’d seen before.

When Evil Lurks (2023)

This is another movie that I heard a lot of hype about last year when it came out. People really liked it! I was surprised by how much I heard about this movie, particularly for a Spanish-language film.

White Settlers (2014)

Have you ever had the desire to go off the grid and move to the countryside in the middle of nowhere? This movie will shake that desire out of you pretty quickly. In fact, you might just find yourself shaken in general after watching this one (I certainly did).

Wishcraft (2002)

This is not a four-star movie. Honestly, it’s probably not really a three-star movie. But it was SO FUNNY, I have to give it extra credit for that.

Wolf Creek (2005)

I haven’t watched an Australian movie in a while but I have been talking to a lot of Australians recently so I felt it only fitting to watch this one tonight. To be clear though, no one I’ve been talking to is anything like anyone in this movie, except for the fact that they’re a person (and these characters are barely that).

Would You Rather (2012)

I have a giant soft spot for torture porn movies, and this one fits very nicely into it. It’s nothing groundbreaking or amazing, but it’s got solid acting, great pacing, and a wonderful lack of annoying background music.

Plus I got to watch Brittany Snow get stabbed in the side, so there’s that. Anyway, if you aren’t squeamish and you’re into this kind of thing, I’d definitely recommend this movie. It’s better than many others like it and should keep you entertained throughout.

You're Next (2013)

I really like this one. I remember talking about this one with my friend Art who also really likes this one. It’s the first thing I ever saw AJ Bowen in (whose name I can never match with the face at first), and the first thing I ever saw Sharni Vinson in. And Sharni Vinson is awesome in this movie. She kicks some serious ass.

She kicks so much ass, in fact, that the first time I watched this movie I looked her up and immediately watched as many of her movies as possible. Okay, really I only watched Patrick, which is awesome and also has Charles Dance in it, but that’s a story for another night.