Author Archives: surgeons of horror

Movie review: The Man Who Laughs (1928)

10 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Universal Horror

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PAUL LENI RETURNS behind the camera to direct the latest horror movie outing for Universal, following on from The Cat and The Canary, but once again, this movie feels more like a melodrama than an out and out horror.

That’s not to take away from the strength of the story which once again focuses on the plight of its main protagonist, a theme that runs strongly through the Universal movies of this time. 

It’s based on a Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Evidently another inspiration to the producers at Universal and perhaps the reason this movie was greenlit following the success of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The protagonist this time around would be Gwynplaine, a man who carries a freak-like grin due to Dr. Hardquannone’s surgery permanently scarring his face.

It is an act that is carried out by the order of King James II and the final result of this permanent smile was said to be the inspiration behind one of Batman’s notorious villains, The Joker.

The Man Who Laughs mainly centred on Gwynplaine’s plight and the torch he carries for the blind Dea, played by Mary Philbin.

By a strange turn of events it is uncovered that Gwynplaine is owed inheritance through his lineage and is urged to marry in order to restore the proper ownership of the estate.

Ultimately though, he would turn his back on his fortune in favour of love.

It’s a beautiful story and you can tell that it was wielded by a master in his field. Conrad Veidt plays Gwynplaine with a certain amount of ease and bodies the pain and torture held within with a simple look or gesture of his eyes.

Veidt himself had made a name for himself 8 years early with the silent horror masterpiece, The Cabinet of Dr Cagliari. He would go on to feature in The Thief of Baghdad and Casablanca before passing away at the age of 50.

His performance in The Man Who Laughs stands strong in the Universal Horror canon and deserves its place alongside the movies that the production company was making at the time and had a significant impact on the movies that would follow.

Significantly this is only 4 years away from Bela Lugosi stepping into Dracula’s shoes and making cinema history.

  • Paul Farrell

Episode review: The Exorcist: S1 Chapter 8 “The Griefbearers”

06 Monday Feb 2017

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NOW THAT WAS a twist of epic proportions.

But before we get a-“head” of ourselves, I’d like to dissect this weeks episode “the griefbearers” and delve into whether or not THAT moment was a shocking one or if the writers are using gimmicks to wallpaper over the cracks that are starting to appear in the storyline.

  1. “It worms its way in and lays its little eggs”

    Those be fighting words.As the 2 priests ordain to complete the exorcism of Casey, they come together in an almighty clash.

    Tempers mount and the ‘handbags’ are laid down between them.

    Despite the rift, Father Marcus and Father Tomas are able to right themselves and see it for what it is.

    The devil forcing them apart for his own gain.

  2. Back to the basement 

    In an attempt to wring out every last ounce of the original story, why not go back to where it all began?In this case when Regan/Angela first encountered Captain Howdy.

    It felt like an obvious thing to do, and the scene tried to embody emotion but it just felt forced and empty.

    It’s a Catch 22 when you’re trying to pay homage to the original but compose enough of an originator to make it your own.

    But in this instance, it didn’t quite hit the mark.

  3. Elevate good times 

    So, with one final moment of elevation, it would appear that Casey’s soul has been saved and all is right in the world. But with 2 eps to go, how will the Rance’s come together and move on?And just because we see one possessed homeless guy lull himself, is it really over?

  4. Father Bennett is outnumbered 

    After confronting the Friars of Ascension last week, it was only a matter of time before the wolves would circle their prey.Father Bennett’s demise came at the hands of someone he wrongfully trusted.Which just goes to show how wide the cult had seeped its way into the Chicago community.

    And just when you started to become intrigued by his character, he’s written out in what is probably the first tragic death in the series. (But not the last – even in this episode)

    In the end Father Bennett played things by the book, unwilling to break the rules and in doing so he met his maker.

    A lesson to be learned there perhaps?

  5. The writings on the wall for Chris McNeil 

    It was inevitable that Chris McNeil would also meet an end, especially as predicted a few weeks back when she followed in the footsteps of Father Merrin’s grand entrance.It wasn’t predictable however, how her fate would be acted out, at the hands her own daughter Regan.

    Why does this leave things now?

    How long has Regan’s soul been taken over by the demon.

    Is there any hope left for the Rance’s.

With 2 episodes left to go, it’s hard to picture a happy ending.

Especially as the devil has such a firm grip on the community.

Movie review: The Cat and the Canary (1927)

03 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Universal Horror

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ARGUABLY UNIVERSAL’S next choice for the horror genre would be better delivered 12 years later by rival film company Paramount Pictures.

Certainly it received wider recognition.

Still, in 1927, The Cat and the Canary, based on a play by John Willard would serve up as their fourth outing in what later be labelled as Universal Horror.

Hired for directorial duty would be German Expressionist filmmaker, Paul Leni, who would go on to contribute to Universal for a further 3 movies before passing away at only 44 from an untreated tooth infection.

He is a forgotten master of his craft and one can only ask what would have become of him, had he not been cruelly robbed of this world just as he was starting to hit his stride.

For his debut feature for Universal though, Leni would lend his talents to produce a comedy horror gem and iconic for its time in history.

Centred on the tale of millionaire Cyrus West’s last will and testament, this silent feature unfolds across an evening.

However, a second will appears with suggestions that it were laid there by the ghost of Cyrus West which can only be opened in the event that the details in the first will aren’t carried out.

Essentially, all of his estate is to be bequeathed to his most distant relative, Annabelle, played by iconic silent screen star, Laura La Plante.

She must undergo a medical examination declaring her mentally well, failing to do so enacts the second will.

All relatives eagerly eye of her failure in order to get their hands on the fortune.

Throw into the mix, an escaped lunatic known as The Cat, and you have yourself a fun little romper of a story.

The horror element of this movie can be played loosely but does bare the one creepy moment as played in the clip above, but essentially it’s too light for the true horror enthusiast, but still marks an important entry to the canon as Universal begin to pave a way for what was to come.

  • Paul Farrell

 

 

 

Episode review: The Exorcist: S1 Chapter 7 “Father of Lies”

30 Monday Jan 2017

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OF ALL THE EPISODES so far, this one really felt like the series was treading water and stretching out the storyline.

Having said that, it still had little moments, gems if you will that kept you hooked into the direction that the series was going in.

But only just.

Let’s take a look at those moments in Chapter 7, “Father of Lies”.

Warning, there are spoilers ahead.

  1. Father Tomas steps up
    Since his fall from grace, Father Tomas has set out with a point to prove.Yes, he fell foul to temptation with Jessica, and there is doubt to be looked at still when it comes to their relationship.

    But, Casey is a member of his patronage.

    And there is a sense of loyalty on Father Tomas part to stand by his pack.

    He will strive to do what he can in order to save Casey.

    And there was one moment above all else that stood out in this episode when he stands between her and Father Marcus.

    At this moment he directs Casey to bow towards him. He is her saviour.

     

  1. The power of God
    One thing that may be worthy of noting is Father Marcus’ belief that the power of God runs through his hands.His belief is carried on from when he temporarily saved Casey’s soul last week.

    But is this self-belief going to be his undoing?

    So far, not much has shaken Father Marcus, but his confidence in his gift, could well see him trip up.

    Especially as he’s so good at pointing out everyone else’s flaws.

  1. Father Bennett challenges The Friars of Ascension 

    It was an episode that allowed doubt to creep in.Mother Bernadette doubts Father Marcus can save Casey and believes her soul is lost.

    Angela questions Tomas and his faith that Casey is still alive.

    But nothing is more potentially damning than when Father Bennett starts to question the representatives within the Friars of Ascension.

    Something is amiss and Father Bennett doesn’t back down from his hunch.

    But will this lead him down a path that he won’t be able to return from?

  1. Father Bennett’s descent into hell 

    Speaking of Father Bennett’s journey, his pursuit would lead him down a dark path, where he would discover the bloody corpses that are being used for some kind of sacrificial pact and literally has to fight his way out in order to survive.

  1. Father Tomas goes off the rails 

    The pressure becomes too much thought for Father Tomas and he spirals downwards.
    Believing that all could be lost, he loses his normally cool demeanour and God-like ways and lashes out on one of his flock.With no one to turn to, he calls upon Maria Walters, much to her delight.

    Will she now be looked upon kindly by the demons that she is so devoted to?

  1. Angela’s decent into madness 

    And what was actually an incredible performance (which I was surprised to see from Geena Davis) was Angela’s loss of faith in all around her when she truly believes that Casey has gone.It was both believable and tragic when she learns that all is not lost, at least not with Casey, but perhaps now the Demon has his ultimate prize in his sights?

    The soul of Angela is there for the taking.

Movie review: The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

27 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by in Universal Horror

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UNIVERSAL HORROR’S follow up to The Hunchback of Notre Dame would continue to see that success flourish further and continue to explore Gothic Literature as its source, this time with Gaston Leroux’s masterpiece.

Once again Lon Chaney would appear in one of his finest on-screen transformations as the titular Phantom and the film would generate over $2million at the box office despite critics generally calling it an average movie.

It has since found its place and recognition as a significant impact in film history by the Library of Congress.

Personally I feel this movie suffers from the similar lag in pace as its predecessor, a fault that is entirely a subject of its time and place.

It’s also hard to reflect upon when you learn that the original ending was to involve the Phantom dying of a broken heart, instead of the ultimate chase sequence and brutal death at the hands of the mob.

Pacing aside, I still can’t help but marvel at the lengths that Chaney would go to in order to become the monsters on-screen and there’s nothing finer than the make-up reveal when the Phantom’s mask is revealed. It’s a credit to his time, commitment and craftsmanship.

If you’re a keen horror movie fan and would like to take a look at one of the genre’s earliest influences in celluloid history, I would highly recommend giving this a go.

If however, the thought of sitting through a silent, black and white feature as too archaic and far-removed from the modern format with all the blood and gore at its highest depiction, then maybe this ones not for you.

As for me, I love to indulge in the genre, no matter what its form.

We maybe that doesn’t include Uwe Boll’s work.

  • Paul Farrell

18 movies that shaped Australian horror

26 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in Australian Horror, Uncategorized

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It’s Australia Day.

So here at Surgeons of Horror we thought that we would look across the years at the movies that helped shape the horror movie genre in our Southern Land.

So without further adieu, here’s our definitive list, let us know if you agree.

  1. Night of Fear (1973)
    Dubbed the first Australian film of the renaissance, (and closely resembling Texas Chain Saw Massacre in style, released another 2 years later) you can see why this movie is well respected among horror movie lovers.

  2. The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
    The legendary director Peter Weir would debut with this fantastic comedy horror that he also wrote.
    Set in the fictional town of Paris where the towns inhabitants forage off the remains of car accidents, the movie has established something of a cult following.

  3. Long Weekend (1978)
    One of my favourites on this list and fittingly released on the year that I was born.
    Long Weekend wasn’t initially well received upon its initial release, but has a strong message from director Colin Eggleston, where nature fights back on a disrespectful couple.
    It has since been remade in 2008.

  4. Patrick (1978)
    The first of two films by Richard Franklin in our list, this science fiction horror is often cited by fans of the genre.
    Part of the Ozploitation movie scene, Patrick tells the story of a comatose boy with psychic powers.

  5. Alison’s Birthday (1981)
    It’s got all the right ingredients for a horror movie, with ouija boards, spirits from the beyond, demonic possessions, and that killer ending.
    All good reasons why this independent movie makes the list.

  6. Roadgames (1981)
    It’s the movie most noted more recently because of its vocal nod from Quentin Tarantino.
    Starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis it follows a truck driver and a hitch hiker who take it upon themselves to track down a serial killer on the loose.
    Oh and yet another soundtrack from Brian May.

  7. Razorback (1984)
    Australia’s creature feature and our very own Jaws movie albeit about a wild boar on the loose.
    Say all you like about it, but this is a classic in its own right.

  8. Bloodmoon (1990)
    This slasher film may have come late to the Ozploitation, but such was its impact and not necessarily in a good way that it nestles amongst some great titles here purely for its shocking comedy.
    So bad, it’s positively good.
    And features music from Brian May.
    Again this might not necessarily be a good thing.

  9. Body Melt (1993)
    The influence of Peter Jacksons early work is evident to see in this satirical horror.
    It’s got gore to the max and delights in every possible way.

  10. Saw (2003)
    Yet another Australian horror film that would ignite a genre with horror porn, which some don’t have the stomach for.
    In this instance it generated a horror icon in Jigsaw with its glorious deadly traps and launched the careers of both James Wan and Leigh Whannel.
    It also spawned a massive franchise with a success that only falls short of being the best in the entry by The Friday the 13th movies.
    All that could change though come the release of the next instalment, Saw: Legacy this year.

  11. Undead (2003)
    This movie should be better than it is, and goes all guns blazing in the first third of the film before losing the plot entirely.
    Film critic Roger Ebert to say it’s so bad that it’s bad, but despite its flaws, the film still resonates and is a bit of fun at the end of the day.
    And it did launch the careers of the Sperig brothers, who have gone on to direct bigger movies with a lot more fan fare.

  12. Wolf Creek (2005)
    Inspired by the afore-mentioned Roadgames, director Greg McLean has made a strong name for himself in the horror genre with movies such as Rogue, Wolf Creek 2 and the eagerly anticipated The Belko Experiment.
    Part of its appeal was capitalising on the daunting and dangerous world of the Australian Outback and made Mick Taylor on of modern horror movies most glorious villains thanks to John Jarratt’s chilling performance.

  13. Lake Mungo (2008)
    One of a couple of movies on our list to adopt the doco style of storytelling, Lake Mungo received fairly positive reviews of a family coming to terms with the loss of their daughter, hinged on a supernatural component.
    It’s a slow film but worth the wait for its gripping climax.

  14. The Horseman (2009)
    A revenge thriller with violence dialled to the extreme and may not be everyone’s taste.
    Personally though, I feel that this film speaks to the fringes of human emotion, evoking rage, heartbreak and empathy all in the space of its 96 minute running time.

  15. The Loved Ones (2010)
    Sean Byrne is still a director to keep an eye on and I for one can’t wait to see his follow up Devil’s Candy.
    His debut feature though would gain a huge following with its gender swap of a damoiselle in distress and a female killer played by the delightful Robin McLeavy.

  16. The Tunnel (2011)
    The second movie to adopt the doco style of storytelling, but through the medium of found footage horror.
    The Tunnel shook up the movie industry with its new approach to distribution, allowing viewers to buy frames from the movie as a means to raise the quota to cover the budget and leave room for a little profit.
    It was a business model that was both brave and rewarding for the producers, but more importantly, the film itself seemed to echo that sentiment.
    It’s a bold movie that keeps you hooked as a camera crew delve into the hidden tunnels beneath the city of Sydney only to find more than they bargained for.

  17. The Babadook (2013)
    One of the more recent movies to make the list and one that has the Surgeons sitting on both sides of the fence.
    Jennifer Kent’s debut feature deserves the recognition though as this psychological horror starring Essie Davis tackles a strong subject matter and tells it in a unique fashion.

  18. Wyrmwood (2014)
    Rounding out our list is this balls-to-the-wall bloody fantastic roller coaster of a movie.
    There is nothing predictable about this movie about a zombie horde let loose.
    Rumours are abound that there is a sequel in the works too.

    • Paul Farrell

Podcast: The Eduardo Sanchez interview

25 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in The Blair Witch Franchise

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18 YEARS AGO The Blair Witch Project was screened for the first time before a cinema audience.

Yep, you read that right. 

This classic film has grown up and reached adulthood.

The audience in question would be attendees of the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and Artisan Entertainment would pick up distribution rights and a nationwide release would follow in July of the same year.

The result would see the a new wave of found footage Horror that is still trying to be replicated to this day, such was The Blair Witch Projects success.

Many have tried to emulate it but none have ever captured the hearts and imaginations of its audience.

Now that this film has reached a level of maturity in its 18 year history, the Surgeons of Horror team had looked back to see if it still stands true today, which you can check out our thoughts here.

But nothing could be finer than hearing what one half of the creative mind behind The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sanchez has to say on this much-loved film.

Thankfully the Surgeons team got that opportunity when Sanchez glacially stopped by albeit via a Skype phone call to discuss everything from the process of making the movie, its impact at the time, plus some of his other projects both old and new.

Heck, we even got to talking about life in the film world under a Trump Presidency.

It’s deep and a privilege to have spent that time with Eduardo.

Check out the podcast interview below.

Episode review: The Exorcist: S1 Chapter 6 “Star of the morning”

23 Monday Jan 2017

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THE EXORCISM has been performed albeit without the desired results that Father Marcus and co. were hoping for

So… Where does that leave things for this series?

The writers and producers would have known that there was only so much rope to tie around the Rance’s possession, and with last week’s revelation that Angela is indeed Regan, where does that leave things?

What more damage can the demons accomplish?

Well, let’s take a look at Chapter 6, “Star of the morning” to see if there were any clues.

Warning, there are spoilers ahead.

  1. Chris MacNeill sold out
    Towards the beginning of the episode we are provided with something of a flashback.
    Basically, in the series version of Chris MacNeill, there is a lack of empathy towards her.
    After the ordeal that her daughter went through during the exorcism, Chris’ acting work dried up and she was left with the option of writing a book exploiting Regan’s demonic encounter entitled The Devil In My Daughter.
    The impact that this had between her and Regan was evident in the latter moving away and changing her name.
    What does it mean now that Chris is back on the scene though?
    Can she really change her ways and more importantly, will Regan forgive her for her sins?
    There is a moment in the morgue when it is revealed that the body is not Casey, that suggests there is hope there yet when both Chris and Regan hug, but again, is this just a false ray of hope for what is to come? 
  1. Father Tomas’ descent
    It appears that the Friars of Ascension’s hopes of luring him into their fray has come undone by the temptation of Jessica that they unleashed upon him.
    His distractions have led him down another path, but can he be saved and will he redeem himself yet?
    It appears that he is still willing to prove himself to Father Marcus.
     
  1. The Friars of Ascension
    The main focus moving forward does appear to be on the devil cult known as the Friars of Ascension, who have attained some pretty powerful representatives from the city of Chicago.
    Chief among these gatherers, priest aside, was the Chief of Police, hand picked by the demon himself to become, “One of Us”, much to Maria Walters chagrin.
    With the demon / devil attaining more and more power from Chicago’s officials, what is the end game here?
    And why is Father Tomas so important for their succession? 
  1. Dead bird gorging on the river bank
    When Father Marcus finally does catch up to Casey, it is via tunnel network underground riddled with the possessed homeless.
    We see Casey in full demonic mode, and even taking on the spider walk to make good her escape.
    Father Marcus persists however, stumbling across Casey by the river, washing away her sins in a baptism as he performs his last exorcism upon her and freeing her soul.
    It all seems a little too easy by this point.
    Why does the demon give up on her now?
    Now that Angela has revealed herself as Regan, does the Demon want to exploit this further and claim her as his prize?
    We’re well and truly past the halfway mark now, with four episodes remaining.
    We’ve made it thus far, but can’t help hoping that they’ve left some kind of ace up its sleeve as the show is in danger of losing interest fast.

 

  • Paul Farrell

Movie review: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

20 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by in Universal Horror

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IN 1923 Universal Pictures embarked on a series of horror movies that would stamp their mark on the genre for decades to come.

Their choice of story to launch them into a world of Gothic Horror and literature would be in the guise of Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame. And considering it we’re still talking about a movie in the silent era, the success that the movie received was enormous and understandably would Universal would capitalise on this success.

With every great story though, a great actor would be needed to portray the lead role.

In this instance Universal would score big with “The Man of a thousand faces” Lon Chaney as Quasimodo.

Part of Chaney’s appeal was his devotion to his craft, dedicated to transforming himself physically, particularly with the aid of make up, which helped style his performance of these dark, twisted, and tortured souls.

The movie itself can feel incredibly slow in the first half as Quasimodo is ordered by his master, Johan to kidnap the fair Esmeralda only to be thwarted by the dashing Phoebus, who instantly falls in love with his damsel.

The result leads Quasimodo to be tortured and ridiculed by his captors and the townsfolk.

It’s only in the latter half of the movie when the people start to revolt against the regime and free Esmeralda once again that it really does start to gain enough momentum to keep your interest.

Essentially it’s a tragic tale and if it were not for Chaney’s performance, this would be instantly forgettable.

As such, he carries the movie and his attention to detail and characterisation is a journey worth the wait.

  • Paul Farrell

Episode review: The Exorcist: S1 Chapter 5 “Through My Most Grievous Fault”

16 Monday Jan 2017

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THIS WEEK’S EPISODE appeared to follow firmly in the footsteps of its inspiration.

For sometime, this series has been circling around some issues that were questionable and at times uncertain of direction.

But with last night’s reveal, things began to cement itself in place and a clearer direction was left in place.

So let’s open up the operating theatre to dissect the latest episode and delve into this plot a little deeper with 5 key points taking from Chapter Five, ‘Through My Most Grievous Fault.”

Warning, there are spoilers ahead.

  1. Angela is Regan
    It was the elephant that had been in the room staring us in the face with no one daring to utter the obvious.
    Yes, the reason that Angela was so quick to recognize her daughter’s possession is that she had witnessed a similar episode before firsthand.
    What’s more she is Regan from the original storyline and inspiration for the series, now all grown up with a new identity.
    A secret that she even kept from her husband Henry. How will there relationship play out now that this has been revealed?
    We all know that the past has a way of catching up with you now matter how hard you try to run away from them.
    And there’s no hiding from these feelings from God or the Devil for that matter, for they know all.
    Now that the demon has found Angela again though, what is his grand plan? Why the fascination with her?
  1. The temptation of Jessica part 2
    Speaking of fascinations, the inevitable occurred when the demon explored Father Tomas’ one weakness, his feelings for Jessica.
    Sex is one of the Devil’s greatest assets to exploit and greater men have crumbled.
    Left with his tail between his legs, how will Father Tomas come back from this? Especially as he ‘sowed his seed’ with Jessica anyway,
    Can he truly redeem himself after exploiting his temptation and giving in to his desires?
     
  1. Katherine’s Lament
    She may have had her heart in the right place but boy did Kat play into the Devil’s hands.
    She firmly believed that she was helping her sister by calling the police, but all that she enabled was to let the devil roam free.
    Will her good nature be her own undoing?
    Has turning her back on her family only pushed her further away from them?
    The cracks have will and truly appeared and there’s no knowing if they can reunite together again. 
  1. The return of Chris MacNeil
    This is one area that caught me off guard a little.
    I liked the nod to the ray of hope cast from the street light and the expectation that this savior could be another expert priest arriving on the scene, but the reveal that this was Chris MacNeil left me deflated, it was all very well leaving us to believe that Regan was back on the scene but to introduce her mother too felt a little too far fetched.
    But is this revelation a false hope?
    Will her introduction and its likeness in symbolism to the original film spell out doom for her?
  1. The Devil on the run
    And what of Casey? Having finely tune her devil’s side and giving an Ambulance and its occupants a fine work over that would make the likes of Michael Myers blush, she is now on the loose.
    What end to this game of cat and mouse?
    Will she be found and in what state will she be in if they find her?

 

 – Paul Farrell