The House of Mystery #204

I love this 1972 Bernie Wrightson cover.  Man, that guy.

-Matt

A Fistful of Underappreciated Horror! (Matt’s Picks)

    With October in full effect, it’s time to celebrate the Horror genre once again.  We’ve talked a lot about the classics of Horror, established masterpieces like The Thing, Night of the Living Dead, Glitter, etc.  So, this time around, we’re going to look at those Horror films that don’t get the love they deserve.

5.  Dust Devil:  There are two key versions of this film, one of which is frustratingly unavailable.  The original theatrical cut of the film is good, but only the ‘director’s cut’ has been put out on DVD.  Either way, there’s a strange, haunting vibe to the film.  A quest across southern Africa, a mysterious spirit traveler who seduces lost souls, an emotionally broken old cop.  Very moody, and very atmospheric.  Unfortunately, it’s director Richard Stanley’s only good work.

4.  The Stuff:  Larry Cohen made this ultra-80s wackado study of American consumerism and fad.  When a white goo bubbles up from underground, it becomes the new snack sensation.  But the snack has something else in mind.  Like a Lovecraft story, filtered through the neon soaked underworld of early 80s discontent.  Conspiracy, commercialism, survivalists, and sweaty palms.

3.  Monsters:  Nobody saw this low budget kaiju movie when it came out in 2010, and that’s really too bad.  Here’s hoping next year’s release of Godzilla will inspire folks to see director Gareth Edward’s first movie.  After a space probe crashes to Earth in Mexico, bringing with it an alien corruption, walls are built and the whole area becomes a no-man’s land.  A young socialite and a photographer need to get back to the States in a hurry, but things are falling apart.  A journey across Mexico is harrowing and educational.  The movie was shot on a very low budget, yet ends up being more effective than many big budget blockbusters.

2.  The Ninth Gate:  When I first saw this film, I wasn’t into it.  It seemed kind of goofy, a bit slow, what the heck was that ending?  For some reason, I sat down and watched it again one day.  And it was weird, but I really, really liked it.  The music, the look, the characters, and the scenes of journeying across Europe were all fascinating.  When I had the chance, I bought the DVD, listened to the commentary, and went on to read the novel it was based (loosely) on, and somehow, it became a favorite film of mine.  It was also when I realized I was a Johnny Depp fan.  Now, I can pop this movie in any time and enjoy the heck out of it.

1.  Lifeforce:  It starts as a space exploration film.  It becomes an alien invasion film.  And then it becomes an apocalyptic zombie film.  And it is one of the very few vampire films that doesn’t …hem…suck.  A great cast of UK character actors and a sprawling story help make a film that feels like the best of classic Hammer, specifically the Quatermass films.  The movie was not well received and has never seemed to pick up a particularly large audience, and that’s too bad.

    Looking back over this list, I can’t say I’m surprised at all that all five of these films share aspects of Lovecraft’s work and the work of his fellows.

-Matt

The Godzilla Teaser Has Landed

    If you read this blog, you’ll know already that Brad and I enjoy some kaiju madness.  I don’t think I’d raise any hackles if I said that I’m something more of a fan of Godzilla and his friends than my co-Dork Brad, but suffice to say, we both enjoy the giant beast battle films like any overgrown child should.  And, it should also come as no surprise that I prefer the older films to the newer ones, and obviously to the horrible Roland Emmerich silliness.  You may be surprised that while I love the film, the original Godzilla (or Gojira) is not my favorite.  I’m more of a Terror of Mechagodzilla man.

    This past summer, we got a big budget adventure film featuring some kaiju carnage, Pacific Rim.  And while the movie was fun, and the world building interesting, the storyline (pretty much Top Gun) was bland, and the lead actor was a lifeless puppet (even compared to the CGI).  Still, that Tokyo attack flashback scene captured the magic and terror of the classic films in a way even they rarely approached.  And soon, the director of the little seen but shockingly good Monsters is bringing the great allegory back to the silver screen.  And this time, it looks like Godzilla is getting some respect.  When I heard that Gareth Edwards was going to direct, I felt a spark of hope grow in my chest.  When I saw the first poster, that spark became an ember.  Now that I’ve seen this trailer, I think there may even be a fire in there.  (Don’t worry about my heart; I don’t have one).  I’m not quite giddy right now, but I do have a smile on my face.  If this works out, if this Godzilla film is good and successful, might it mean a rebirth of the genre?  Might we see a Half Century War adaptation?  Could such awesome things happen?

                                                     Dang it.  Trailer has been pulled.  How about this in its place:

-Matt

Godzilla Christmas Tree is Nerd (& Dork) Approved!

Found via Nerd Approved, this Godzilla Christmas Tree resides in the Aqua City Odaiba mall in Tokyo, Japan.  If only this glorious beast would reside in my merry abode.

--Brad

A Fistful of Monsters! (Brad's Picks)

Okay, Halloween is practically upon us.  I've been watching at least one horror film a day for the last 29 days.  I've seen a lot of monsters.  But how can you possibly pick just five...it's a tough task we've given ourselves here at ITMOD.  And after several days of careful debate, this is what I've come up with...again, the choices seem sorta obvious--I would have loved to have pulled from left field with The Green Slime or The Sun Demon, but I gotta go with my heart and my heart says...

5.  The Gremlin (Twilight Zone: The Movie):  I love, love, love the original "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode of The Twilight Zone--how could I not being the mad Shatner fan that I am--but I gotta admit that the creature design on George Miller's theatrical short definitely surpasses the fluffy mushface tv version.  I believe every ounce of John Lithgow's sweaty fear cuz that slippery beast on the wing of the plane is absolutely freaking terrifying.

4.  The Xenomorph (Alien):  The first movie monster to really scare the hell outta me as a kid, there is just something primevally scary about HR Giger's Alien design.  Sure, the chestburster stuff is terrifying and gross but it's that moment where Tom Skerritt meats the bugger in the vent that will crawling all over the couch.  The Alien terrorized Ripley for three more films but it's that first slasher film that I just can't shake.

3.  The Werewolf (An American Werewolf in London):  The Wolf Man is my favorite of the original Universal Monster movies, and I love John Landis' love letter to Lon Chaney Jr...so much so that I think it easily surpasses the original  film.  There's a lot of humor to be had in An American Werewolf In London, but it's the  tragedy of David that ultimately seals the deal for me...Jenny Agutter crying in the alleyway, it's just brutally sad.  And Rick Baker's Werewolf design, yeah the transformation is utterly amazing but I love the big beastie too.  Just a big damn wolf munching on Piccadilly Porno patrons.

2.  The Thing (The Thing):  Whether you're asking me about my favorite horror movies or my favorite movies in general, I'm going to keep bringing up John Carpenter's The Thing over and over and over again.  1.  Rob Bottin's effects in this film have yet to be matched and they are out-of-this-world gross.  2.  The paranoia and tension produced by the existence of such a creature is endlessly fascinating.  3.  The Thing is not just one monster its an infinite collection of monsters.  Just freaking terrifying.  And of course, it's isolation setting only adds to the creep factor as well as the sense of desperation.

1.  King Kong (King Kong):  King Kong is the King of Monsters, anyone who says differently just doesn't know what they're talking about--The 8th Wonder of the World!  Personally, I grew up on the hindsight is 20/20, absolutely terrible Jeff Bridges version but in college I eventually discovered the '33 Kong and realized the true beauty of the beast.  He's a brute you can root for, whether he's cracking T-Rex skulls or absorbing machine gun fire atop the Empire State Building.  I Heart You, King Kong.  Maybe, next time you'll reign supreme over man.

--Brad