Monthly Archives: February 2017

R.I.P. Bill Paxton

26 Sunday Feb 2017

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FOR MOST PEOPLE, (myself included) Bill Paxton entered our worlds as the unforgettable Private Hudson from Aliens.

As I heard the sad news today of his passing, I instantly started to reflect on Bill’s career and naturally of those films that fall into the sphere of horror.

So gifted a talent, Bill could transcend across numerous genres and even iconic film franchises, such as The Terminator, Aliens, and Predator 2.

As Private Hudson, Bill portrayed the cocky, loud-mouthed and patronising member of the Army Corp that would be slayed by a Xenomorphs on the Hadley’s Hope colony.

But it was a year later, playing Severen in Near Dark, that would capture the attention of this writer.

It’s a movie that probably deserves more recognition and sees Bill once again star alongside Lance Henriksson as renegade drifters, who just so happen to be vampires.

His past is never revealed but you get the sense that Paxton relished playing the more reckless, violent, and sadistic member of the crew.

It’s a role that stands out in a plethora of other movies, but to mention a couple more, Paxton’s performance of Jerry Lambert was another highlight in his career that I’d like to mention.

On face value, Lambert appears to be yet another brash and cocky performance from Paxton, but beneath the surface is a man of integrity and honour that belies this instinctive reaction to his character.

This is a testament to Paxton’s ability to portray depth to his roles and would later see him cast in the likes of Tombstone, True Lies, Apollo 13, and Twister to name but a few.

It’s little surprising that he would turn his attention to directing at some point in his career and what he leaves behind is possibly one of the most underrated movies at the turn of the century with Frailty.

The tale centres on a family led by a fanatical religious patriarch (played by Paxton) who leads them on a series of murders as they try to destroy the demons that are embedded through American society.

Bill Paxton leaves behind such an important mark on the history of film and the team at Surgeons of Horror will forever remember his stellar work over the years.

He will be deeply missed and put thoughts go out to his family at this time.

– Paul Farrell

Movie review: The Last Performance (1929)

24 Friday Feb 2017

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THE LAST MOVIE of the 20’s for Universal would also be the last performance from German actor, Conrad Veidt for Hollywood when he would return to his home country.

So the title for the film is quite fitting in this respect.

Veidt had already established himself as an actor of his time and has featured in our previous article on The Man Who Laughs, a movie where his facial make-up would bear a fixed grin.

For The Last Performance, Veidt’s portrayal of the sinister magician, Erik the Great is all delivered through the eyes with numerous close-ups to support this.

It’s a stark contrast to the role he played in the afore-mentioned The Man Who Laughs, which is a testament to Veidt’s acting prowess.

In this role, he is a more dominant and commanding figure on the stage, with a level of authority that has come from his abilities as a magician and the magnitude of his success because of it.

So righteous is he, that it seems only natural for him to hold sway over his beautiful assistant, Julie, aptly played by Mary Philbin (The Phantom of the Opera, The Man Who Laughs).

So when a young guy (Mark) enters the scene, trying to steal from Erik, the magician initially takes pity on him and takes him under his wing.

This enrages Erik’s current apprentice, Buffo, who looks to bring down this new protege by any means possible.

Jealousy, love and deception are the names of the game in this film and despite its short running time, packs a lot into the story to make you feel for all the parties involved.

So when Buffo ends up murdered on stage during a magic trick, all eyes are on the new boy in town.

But true love is emboldened as Julie defends her man, leaving Erik to decide who’s fate he should hold power over.

It’s a gem of a movie, held high because of the performance that Veidt brings to every scene that he is in, which is a shame knowing that this was his last in America.

Well worth a watch for any fans of the silent film genre to witness a true master of his craft at work.

 

  • Paul Farrell

 

Movie review: Under The Shadow (2016)

21 Tuesday Feb 2017

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IF YOU’RE ONE of these people that is tired of the lack of original movies coming out of Hollywood and are constantly searching afield to the foreign section of the movie industry, chances are you may have already stumbled across this movie.

If however, you’ve not yet come across this Iranian movie, Under The Shadow, I sincerely recommend that your make the effort to put this at the top of your list.

Beautifully shot and set in war-torn Tehran in the 1980’s, the film’s choice of timing and location is no mere accident.

We’re thrust into a world that is literally being ripped apart by outside forces and is a scary place to be, but it’s what lurks inside that you should really be afraid of, and this is where writer and director Babak Anvari, really comes into his own.

Following the story of Shideh and her daughter Dorsa, as they face the demons or in this case Djinn that resides in their apartment building.

It is in part, the setting that allows for these trepidations to play on the mind, that you are left pondering whether or not the danger that faces them is inherently of their own imagination or an actual entity intent on destroying their souls.

The performances are incredibly strong, particularly by Narges Rashidi who plays Shideh, and delivers a compelling portrayal of a mother struggling with her place in the world.

She’s been ostracised from the medical world following her political protests.

And she also struggles in her relationship with her daughter Dorsa, finding the need for compassion lacking and constantly questioning her own worth and comparing herself to her husband, Iraj, who seems naturally gifted in this field. Dorsa recognises this too and often turns to her father for comfort.

So when Iraj leaves to aids the military in a heavy conflicted area, Shideh and Dorsa are forced together under trying circumstances and conflicts arise as a result.

It is however, the unquestionable love that Shideh has for Dorsa that is tested and the attention paid on their relationship that proves to be the real winner in this movie.

I cannot recommend Under The Shadow enough. I found it so rewarding to watch a movie that was intelligent, strong and impactful, much like the performances that were on display throughout.

And it’s a front runner for best movie of 2016 as a result.

  • Paul Farrell

Movie review: The Darkness (2016)

21 Tuesday Feb 2017

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WHAT HAPPENED GREG MCLEAN?

You delivered fine horror vehicles with Wolf Creek 1 and 2, and even croc shock horror movie, Rogue pulled some pretty deft punches in the genre.

But The Darkness leaves is decisively under par in comparison.

You have a strong A-Lister in Kevin Bacon and equally strong actress Radha Mitchell alongside him and yet the movie fails to deliver any scares or thrills.

My hunch is that this is perhaps down to a stark difference between McLean’s previous movies and The Darkness.

The previous films rely on exteriors and the external threats to our protagonists (which is no easy feat to convey so hats off to McLean on these previous outings) and how they deal with these attacks in order to survive.

The Darkness has to rely heavily on the internal struggle.

The audience must see the plight of the family and the fractures between them already that the Djinn can then exploit and take advantage of.

In other words the foundations need to be set in play before the troubles can really begin.

Instead, we see the family on a trip to the Canyon where they disturb a sacred ground.

In doing so, the demons follow them home and then start to ebb away at their flaws.

If enough focus was shone on their weaknesses beforehand there would have been more elbow room to play with here.

Instead, when the chances arise to cause a rift between them all, it feels too forced and contrived.

And in some cases, it feels like an after-thought to be tacked on after the plot line has been put together.

“Oh wouldn’t it be great, if we revealed that he has an affair?”, or “What about if we reveal that the daughter has bulimia?”

It would be one thing if the performances themselves were believable but they’re not and your left with one big mess, where nothing really ties together because of it.

It’s a real shame as I do like McLean’s work and hope this is just a momentary blip in his career. Based on the trailer for his next movie, The Belko Experiment, there’s hope that this might be the case as it does look promising. 

Fingers crossed.

  • Paul Farrell

Episode review: The Exorcist S1 Chapter 10 “Three Rooms” review

20 Monday Feb 2017

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AND SO IT COMES TO PASS.

We have reached The Exorcist S1 Finale and The Surgeons ask ourselves ‘Was the journey worth the wait?”

We’ve given 10 hours of our time to reach the conclusion to the tales of Father Marcus, Father Tomas and The Rance’s”

But was it worth it? Did the Season satisfy our bloody curiosity?

Let’s take a look and dissect Chapter 10 “Three Rooms”.
Warning, there are spoilers ahead.

  1. “How far are you willing to take this?“
    The words uttered by Pazuzu to Father Tomas as he challenges him hangs on the lips of every viewer that has stuck it out thus far.
    How far are the writers willing to push the Angela / Regan storyline? And how deep are they willing to go for this final conflict?
    But… first things first? 
  1. “I’m dying for Him”
    When the Friars of Ascension challenge Father Marcus devotion to the church by slitting his wrists, they receiving a damning response as he declares his undying passion for the Lord.
    One that cannot be questioned or taken from him, so devoted to the Lord, he is willing to die for Him.
    Oh and did we mention that Father Bennett is still alive? (Although barely)
    And we are gifted with something of a buddy priest moment as our two victims meet again whilst tied up to chairs and bleeding to death.
  1. Family meetings can be torture
    Especially if Pazuzu is the one holding the talking stick.
    With arms potentially being pulled from their sockets, kneecaps smashed, and lives threatened, one is reminded of family gatherings at Christmas dinner.
    But one thing that proves trying for our demon on a mission is how blood is thicker than water, no matter how much of it he tries to spill.
    Despite their fractured lives they are willing to stand together until the bitter end. 
  1. Father Marcus’ mission
    Freeing himself from the shackles of imprisonment and near death, Father Marcus then ventures off to save the Pope.
    Yes that’s right the Pope.
    But not without first pushing Maria Walters to give herself to the demons.
    Free to then prevent an assassination on the Pope b y preventing Father Simon, who by this point has curiously turned into a warped version of Father Jack from Father Ted, if such a thing were at all possible.
    Once Marcus thwarts the plan by killing Father Simon, all is right in the world, which once again feels a bit of a week effort on the part of the Friars of Ascension.
    They’ve been hatching this plan for a while, only to leave all hope of success in the hands of one priest.
    You’d think they’d go all Agent Smith and duplicate themselves to a frenzy in order to act out there task.
    And what happened to all the possessed homeless folk?
  1. “You want me, come and get me”
    On the other side of Chicago, the Rance’s have a battle of their own going on.
    It’s revealed that part of Angela/Regan’s psyche still resides inside her mind as she gains in confidence and with the power and belief in the lord behind her, finally faces up to Pazuzu.
    Meanwhile in the outside world, Father Tomas comes too and in a moment that was somewhat reminiscent of Luke Skywalker’s confrontation before The Emperor where he tells his foe that he is a Jedi.
    Except in this case, Father Tomas declares that he is an Exorcist, before acting out God’s will and using the words of the bible to take on the demon aided by the Rance family who provide a chorus behind him.

EPILOGUE. Three Priests walk into a bar
So Pazuzu is defeated, left as a bloody pulp in the recesses of Angela/Regan’s mind.
Father Tomas, Father Bennett, and Father Marcus collect their thoughts and once again act chummy over a nice cup of char.
If The Exorcist were to have any life beyond Season 1, this relationship is the one to explore.
Hardened Priests forced together to defeat a common enemy in a life that no one else can or will ever understand.
The Rance family meanwhile take up residence in a remote setting to start life afresh, presumably in a house conveniently left by the now deceased grandmother, Chris McNeil.
And we’re left wondering if Angela/Regan really is free of her Demons and as safe as she proclaims.
My final verdict is that it felt a little too easy by the end of it.

So much promise for a final conflict but it was resolved with the bonding of a family and the words of the Lord.

And I guess that therein lies the issue when you have to have a complete narrative to tell within 10 episodes and not knowing if that story could extend further into a second season, plus you are limited by the direction taken within the Exorcist franchise parameter.

This leaves you confined within the parameters and if Season 2 arise, the series needs to be free to break down these walls and get a whole lot darker.

Only then will it be able to soar above and become an entity of its own.

Without that freedom, its wings will be clipped and it will never fly onwards.
– Paul Farrell

 

Movie review: Scare Campaign (2016)

20 Monday Feb 2017

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AUSTRALIANS HAVE A CERTAIN knack for delivering successful horror films throughout the ages.

One only need to look at the likes of Wake In Fright, Razorback, Saw, Wolf Creek, to name but a few to see how influential this country is at producing Horror gems.

So, when I heard that the Cairnes brothers, Cameron and Colin were returning behind the camera following their hugely delightful bloody romp, 100 Bloody Acres, I eagerly anticipated where this new direction would take them.

At first glimpse, the premise behind Scare Campaign sounds awesome.

A TV prank show that delights in scaring the bejesus out of unsuspecting participants only to come a cropper when they prank the wrong person.

All the right ticking points are in place for what should be a great movie.

There’s an old mental asylum that hosts the location of the prank itself which adds the perfect sense of eeriness needed for atmosphere.

There’s the girl with a heart, Emma, who cares for the people being pranked, perhaps a little too naively, and played brilliantly by Meegan Warner.

There’s the absolute tool of a guy, whose arrogance and lust for success which can only lead to ruin, Marcus. Again played really well by Ian Meadows.

Add a psycho on the loose chasing down our victims and you’ve got a good chemistry to play with.

So why did this movie not elevate itself into the mainstream?

Instead it slipped under the radar a little with very little impact at all.

The problem that I see is that the premise in itself.

It’s a prank show where the audience are supposed to be in on the joke, so they are already expecting or suspecting that all is not as it seems.

So when the reveals occur along the way, we (the audience) have already guessed the outcome.

I did read one review that proclaimed that we don’t see the twists coming, but I completely disagree with this statement.

The twists are evident and it’s a shame, but you need to be extremely clever to pull off the storytelling device that the Cairnes brothers were going for.

It’s a tough ask and in my opinion they fall short in this area.

Likewise the menace isn’t as impactful as you hoped it would be.

The introduction of the Masked Freaks at the beginning holds a lot of promise and if more focus were aimed at this tribe, then we might have been in for a genuine scare.

The masks look fucking fantastic and the special effects team are pulling some crazy effects in here that it’s a joy to watch each character face a unique and grisly demise.

So, it’s not all doom and gloom despite my negative declaration.

The film is enjoyable to watch and if you allow yourself to be taken on that journey, the cast (including the supporting players, notable standouts being Sigrid Thornton and Olivia De Jonge) and the SFX allow for a fun and gore-filled story to unfold.

So if you did instinctively skip this movie based on initial feedback from critics or lack of cinema screenings, or if it merely slipped you by, I would recommend watching it. It’s a far cry better than some movies out there and deserves a lot more attention than it actually received.

  • Paul Farrell

Movie review: The Last Warning (1929)

17 Friday Feb 2017

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PAUL LENI would round out his trio of Universal movies with The Last Warning before his death from blood poisoning.

Laura La Plante would also return for both Director and Universal having received success from her most notable role, The Cat and The Canary.

With The Cat and the Canary, Universal planned to recapture that lightning in a bottle moment by re-teaming Leni and La Plante.

The plotline itself is actually quite an interesting one.

5 years ago, a theatre closes its doors when one of the actors is murdered on stage.

A producer then decides to try and solve this mystery by re-staging the play with the same cast, only to have yet another murder occur.

It’s a great concept, filled with intrigue and menace that could play a deeply unnerving spectacle had it been delivered in the right manner.

As it stands though, Leni was unable to ignite that same level of supernatural element from his previous movie and in doing-so, The Last Warning loses the horror element and merely plays out as a mystery, albeit with a good tale.

Unfortunately some of the scenes have been lost in this movie over time, but it still stands a part of the canon in the lead up to Universal’s golden era of horror.

– Paul Farrell

 

 

 

Podcast: The Ring Franchise (1998 -)

13 Monday Feb 2017

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BACK IN 1998, a little known horror film based on the novels by Koji Suzuki would ignite a new wave for for the genre known today as J-horror after its Japanese influence.

That film was called Ringu and gave birth to a modern icon in Sadako, which has been repeated ever since (with the woman in white and long black hair) but arguably has never had the same impact on its audience.

Centred on its female heroine, Reiko, (a deviation from the book by switching gender) who hears of a curse attached to a videotape and her journalistic instincts lead her down a well of despair in order to free her soul and to save her son from a twisted fate.

It’s simple storytelling told with enough tension along the way that keep you gripped to the screen as the virus spreads to those who watch the videotape, we too are consumed by its intoxication and succumb to the power that Sadako injects into her victims.

Watching it now, it still stands strong and is a testament to director Hideo Nakata and his vision that perfectly encapsulates the menace and enhances that fear in all of us.

It’s success spawned a sequel in the same year: Rasen (Spiral) based on Suzuki’s follow up to Ring and to capitalise on the story surrounding the curse, but such was the success of Ringu that Rasen was lost in its shadow and had since become forgotten.

Which is a shame because it’s a great film in its own right and owes a lot to Suzuki’s storytelling. 

It does deviate from the original by shifting its focus on the curse itself which has mutated into a cancerous form that attacks the heart. So you start to go down a more medical avenue as it follows Surgeon, Mitsuo Ando as he delves into this strange anomaly whilst still suffering from his own heart ache after losing his son.

Nakata would however revisit this storyline for another attempt at a sequel with Ring 2, which had a lot more focus on the mysticism that surrounded Sadako and also Reiko’s son, Yoichi.

A 3rd movie was also made in this instalment entitled Ring 0: Birthday, which wound the clock back to the beginning, unearthing the origins of Sadako and how she became such a tortured soul with a grudge to bear.

It was inevitable that the American movie would pick up on the interest surrounding this franchise, such is the richness of substance within, so in 2002, The Ring starring Naomi Watts would hit the silver screen and scare a whole new audience on the Western Hemisphere and transporting Sadako into Samara to fit into the different dynamic that sits on the other side of the pond.

This time it was directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) and added his own unique touch to the story with a much bigger profit.

The result was a huge success at the box office and generated its own sequel, The Ring 2 (2005), which similar to its Japanese counterpart focused on the son and his consummation by Sadako as she tries to get her grips into his soul.

Since then, all went quiet on the Sadako front until 2012, when she received a 3D treatment in Japanese cinemas with a new tale entitled Sadako 3D, based on Suzuki’s novel, S.

And despite little fanfare, this film also has a sequel the following year, 2013, entitled (not so originally) Sadako 3D 2.

This film also didn’t set the movie world alight but did trigger a reawakening of sorts with a horror movie face-off battling to of Japanese horrors finest villains of late, Sadako v The Grudge.

Hollywood weren’t to miss out on this re-awakening however and after a 12 year absence, Samara is set to return and scare audiences again in 2017 with Rings.

It’s a move that hopes to introduce the story to a whole new generation and go deeper into the mythology for fans of the franchise.

So while Australian audiences wait for the release of the latest movie, the team at Surgeons of Horror decided to dissect this movie franchise in our latest podcast discussions, which you can check out below.

Episode review: The Exorcist S1 Chapter 9 “126” review

13 Monday Feb 2017

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THE PENULTIMATE EPISODE has a tough task to undertake.

It’s sole purpose is to tie up all the strands that have been laid down prior and build itself up with enough of a teaser to allow the final episode to produce the climax.

What will become of the Rance family now that Angela has given her soul to Pazuzu?

Will Father Marcus follow the breadcrumbs left by Father Bennett?

Will Father Tomas finally resist temptation?

Let’s take a look and dissect Chapter 9, “126”.

Warning, there are spoilers ahead.

 

 

  1. “Take me instead“
    If any of you were wondering, at what point Angela had given of herself to Pazuzu, your query was answered this week.
    The torture that was constantly being inflicted upon Casey was too much to bear, so to save her, Regan pleaded for her daughter’s life in exchange for her own.
    All of which curiously led to “3 Little Dogs sitting on my doorstep, growling a sweet growl”
    And time for Pazuzu to tie up lose ends. 
  1. The Friars of Ascension meet their match
    Just how powerful is Pazuzu and what demons lie behind or entwined within the Friars of Ascension cult.
    Pazuzu is certainly powerful enough to force the cult members to bow to his demands.
    We see throughout this episode the extent of his manipulation, both physically and mentally.
    So it’s interesting to see that despite resistance, they are unable to fight Pazuzu.
    Does this mean that the Friars are less threatening as a result?
    Perhaps.
  1. The Rego’s get too close to the fire
    The first of our victims would turn out to be The Rego’s.
    Too much snooping cost them dearly and so Lester and Cherry, The Exorcist’s answer to the Lone Gunmen (X-Files) met their maker.
    I guess someone had to go, and God forbid it should be any of or leads.
  1. The victory lap
    Content on bringing about an end to those that crossed him, Pazuzu then sets his eyes on Mother Bernadette. “There’s been a great disturbance in the force.”
    You could almost hear her saying this when she mentions sensing Pazuzu’s entrance.
    What Mother Bernadette probably didn’t predict was just how damning and vile this demon can be as Pazuzu snuffs out her life like one would to the flame of a candle.
    Another character that had promise but felt as though was cruelly robbed of any further exploration in order to prove the daunting task our Exorcists will have if they have any chance of destroying him.
  1. The Set Up
    And so we come to our 3-pronged storyline and what will inevitably be our final conclusion to the Rance family possession.
    Firstly – Father Marcus has the devil in him.
    His drive for revenge leads him to Father Simon. And boy does he let loose.
    But it’s not enough to finish off Father Simon yet (of course) as he is saved by a couple of lackeys and Marcus is whisked away.
    And Father Tomas receives a revelation in the page of a book by Chris McNeil, proclaiming that the demon will chase Regan/Angela until the end of time.
    Cue him chasing back to the Rance household to break up a family meeting.

Are we set for an epic conclusion?

Will The Exorcist reach a satisfying end to this chapter?
The Surgeons will tune again next week to give our final assessment.

Competition: Win one of 5 double passes to Rings

13 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Competition, Ring Franchise

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THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

To celebrate the release of Rings, Surgeons of Horror along with Paramount Pictures are giving you the chance to WIN 1 of 5 double passes to see the film.

Want to submit your entry? It’s simple, just send us an email to surgeons.of.horror@gmail.com with all your details and simply tell us which iconic villain is set to return and scare for this much-loved franchise?

To keep up to date on all of our latest giveaways, just like our Facebook page here  and keep an ear out for our film podcast sessions.

Please read all the rules and T&Cs at the bottom of the page before entering.

Film Synopsis:
A new chapter in the beloved RING horror franchise. A young woman becomes worried about her boyfriend when he explores a dark subculture surrounding a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after he has viewed it. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a “movie within the movie” that no one has ever seen before…

LINKS:

Facebook: facebook.com/ParamountPicturesAU

Website: www.RingsMovie.com.au

Twitter: @ParamountAU

Instagram: @ParamountAU

#RINGS #SamaraReturns

IN CINEMAS FEBRUARY 23

RINGS – FEBRUARY 23 2017

©2016 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Surgeons of Horror Competition Rules:

  • Competition is open to Australian residents only.
  • Only one entry will be accepted per person. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.
  • Closing date for entry will be Feb 19 @ 8.30pm EDT. After this date, no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
  • No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.

Surgeons of Horror Terms & Conditions:

  • Surgeons of Horror’s decision as to those able to take part and selection of winners is final.
  • Surgeons of Horror will judge the competition and decide on the winners once the competition has ended, which will be picked at random from all complete entries via this page.
  • Winners will be announced on our Facebook page the day after the competition has closed.
  • Staff of this site and their immediate families are not eligible to participate in the competition.
  • You must be at least 18 years of age to enter this competition, or have parents or guardians permission.
  • By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  • Surgeons of Horror and Paramount Pictures take no responsibility for any delay, loss or damage to prizes sent to winners.
  • Surgeons of Horror shall have the right, at its sole discretion and at any time, to change or modify these terms and conditions, such change shall be effective immediately upon posting to this webpage.
  • Surgeons of Horror also reserves the right to cancel the competition if circumstances arise outside of its control.We look forward to hearing from you.