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Surgeons of Horror

~ Dissecting horror films

Surgeons of Horror

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Movie review: Under The Shadow (2016)

21 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

babak anvari, Horror movie, iranian horror movie, narges rashidi

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

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

greg mclean, Horror movie, kevin bacon, radha mitchell

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 8 “The Griefbearers”

06 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

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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.

18 movies that shaped Australian horror

26 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by surgeons of horror in Australian Horror, Uncategorized

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Tags

Alison's Birthday, Bloodmoon, Body Melt, Lake Mungo, Long Weekend, Night of Fear, Patrick, Razorback, Roadgames, Saw, The Babadook, The Cars That Ate Paris, the Horseman, The Loved Ones, Undead, Wolf Creek, Wyrmwood

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

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

23 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by surgeons of horror in The Exorcist, Uncategorized

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Alan Ruck, Ben Daniels, Geena Davis, The Exorcist

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

A look ahead at horror in 2017 pt.2

05 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Horror movies, It, Patient Zero, Raw, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Rings, Saw Legacy, Split, Suspiria, The Mummy, World War Z 2

It

Release Date: 7 Sep
The story of a group of kids who take on a killer clown entity only to face their demons once more in adulthood.
Prediction: It’s the Stephen King tale that confirmed my love for his work and as much as people praised the mini-series, in particular that of Tim Curry’s performance, (of which I concur) there was a slight lacking in the fear factor that the entity creates that is captured in the book.
If they can do that then they’ve hit a winner in my book.

The Mummy

Release Date: 8 Jun
As Universal Pictures look to resurrect their horror movie franchise, they turn to the familiar tale of the Mummy.
In this instance keeping the action adventure feel but dialling it up to 11+ and casting Tom Cruise in the lead.
Prediction: Someone described this online as Mission Impossible with a supernatural twist which I feel is an adequate description.
This movie will probably be a case of all style and no substance, but will be a hit regardless.

Patient Zero

Release Date: 17 Feb
A pandemic outbreak in the form of a mutated version of rabies turns humans into a new species called ‘the infected’.
Stars Doctor Who’s Matt Smith and Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer, this definitely has a British vibe and will tread that line of drama and realism with adequate aplomb.
Prediction: Better than your average movie and could be a surprise hit as a result.

Raw

Release Date: 10 Mar
The French film and television industry are starting to generate some deliciously disturbing stories of late and Raw is the latest to fall into that mix.
Following the story of a vegetarian who takes part in an initiation ritual that leads her to becoming a cannibal.
Prediction: Believe them or not but there have been reports of medial services being called out to attend to audience members fainting over the graphic nature involved.
This merely piques my interest further and leads me to believe that this could be the sleeper hit of the year.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Release Date: 26 Jan
Alice and friends must team up one last time against the evil Umbrella organisation and save humankind.
Prediction: There are fans of the series who will love this film and the makers will give them all they what they expect and more.
For other mortals, this will be yet another exercise for Paul WS Anderson to delve into the franchise that he has dedicated most of his career to by taking one last bow.

Rings

Release Date: 23 Feb
It’s starting to feel like the year of the franchises and there’s a couple more to come yet.
The American version of the J Horror success gets its third outing.
Set 13 years after the last movie, but the twist this time is the discovery of a movie within the movie of the cursed videotape.
Prediction: More of the same with nothing new on the table will make this a tired exploration of a tried and tested genre.

Saw Legacy

Release Date: 27 Oct
Another film franchise set to return with its traditional Friday before Halloween.
Prediction: Most people will want the gore factor heightened and the traps to be extravagant and near on impossible to escape.
With the Sperig brothers at the helm, I feel that this could a triumphant return for Billy The Puppet.

Split

Release Date: 26 Jan
An American psychological horror thriller film from M. Night Shyamalan.
His last film The Visit showed signs of his former glory but can the story of three girls being kidnapped by a guy with multiple personalities continue his upward trajectory?Prediction: Shyamalan may only be saved by James McAvoy’s performance. That’s a lot of pressure resting on his shoulders.

Suspiria

Release Date: 14 Oct
All is not as it seems behind the walls of a prestigious Dance Academy in Berlin.
What lies behind the grisly murders?
Prediction: What can I say about this remake?
It’s hard to shake the attachment I have for the original, which is one of my favourite horror movies ever.
But IF I were to remove my snob hat for a moment, the leafs hold a lot of potential, with Chloe Grace Moretz, Dakota Johnson, and Tilda Swinton.
Let’s pause judgement and say that this could prove to be one of the surprises of the year.

World War Z 2

Release Date: 8 Jun
The Zombie outbreak that was based on a pretty good novel only to disappoint with its massive snooze fest of a film.
But it managed to gain a wide release and success which only means one thing. A sequel.
Prediction: Despite Brad Pitt apparently coming back and the promise of a whole new direction, I can’t help but feel that this movie is going to be yet another let down.

Back to Part 1

A look ahead at horror in 2017

05 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

A Cure For Wellness, Alien, Alien Covenant, Amityville Horror, Annabelle 2, Chucky 7, Flatliners, Friday the 13th, Get Out, Horror movies, Insidious 4, The Belko Experiment, The Bye Bye Man, The Dark Tower

2016 PROVED TO BE quite a big year for Horror films with the successes of Don’t Breathe, The Conjuring 2, and The Witch to name but a few.

But can this year prove to be as fruitful in delighting our senses and twisting our minds?

Let’s take a look at the movies that lie ahead…

Alien: Covenant

Release Date: 18 May
Is it me or is there more hype around this movie than Prometheus?
It might have something to do with the return of our beloved xenonorph and its predatorial instincts that once again see humans in a fight for survival.
Prediction: With Michael Fassbender reprising his role as the ‘synthetic’ David, along with a strong cast, this looks and feels like the Alien franchise is back on form.

Amityville: the Awakening

Release Date: 30 Jun tbc
This marks the 18th entry into the Amityville franchise, which by my reckoning makes this the most in a  series.
This time the story focuses on Belle and her twin siblings, one of whom is comatose until strange paranormal occurrences awaken him.
Prediction: With the movie changing hands through the selling of Miramax plus poor preview screenings have seen this movie delayed on several occasions.
If this movie does see the light of day, I expect that it will be yet another poor addition to the franchise posing the question why bother returning to it at all.

Annabelle 2

Release Date: 10 Aug
The sequel to The Conjuring spin-off that sees the possessed doll wreak havoc on an orphanage.
Prediction: Another weak entry. The plot line seems farcical.

The Belko Experiment

Release Date: 17 Mar
Think of this as Battle Royale set in a high-rise building as 80 participants are told by an unknown voice that they must play a game of kill or be killed.
Prediction: Brought to the screens by the visionary mind of Australia’s Greg McLean (Wolf Creek, The Darkness) this could be a pleasant surprise albeit using familiar territory. Expect a gruesome battle of survival to occur.

The Bye Bye Man

Release Date: 13 Jan tbc
The concept behind this movie sees three college students find themselves stalked by an entity that can take control of your mind simply if you think or say his name.
Prediction: Sounds like a shit version of The Candyman.
Shitty title, shitty premise doesn’t bold well in my opinion, but hey, I’m happy to be proven wrong.

Chucky 7

Release Date: Dec
Not much is known about this movie yet other than writer of the all six instalments and director of the last two, Don Mancini has resurrected the killer doll for another on-screen outing.
Prediction: If this heralds the right kind of comedy this could be the best version since Bride of Chucky.

A Cure For Wellness

Release Date: 16 Mar
When a young executive goes to retrieve his CEO from a wellness centre, he finds himself spiralling into a world of secrets where his own sanity is tested.
Prediction: Director Gore Verbinski can be a bit hit be miss and if we’re honest more miss of late.
Judging by the trailer though, this could well be a return to form and perhaps one of the better horror movies of 2017.

The Dark Tower

Release Date: 27 Jul
The science fantasy western horror book series from the mind of Stephen King gets the movie treatment.
The film in this instance has been described as a ‘quasi-sequel’ to the books.
Prediction: With a lot of big names producing this movie and the likes of Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey taking the leads there is a lot of high expectations on this being a success.
I for one feel that they won’t be disappointed.
A hit that will likely bring more from the universe in further outings.

Flatliners

Release Date: 28 Sep
Again not much has been announced around the details of this movie other than it being a sequel to the 90’s classic with Kiefer Sutherland set to reprise his role of Dr Nelson Wright.
Prediction: This movie sits on the precipice of success or failure.
With Ellen Page attached I have a feeling this could be better than your average flick and could take this franchise into bold new territory and reawaken a tinge of nostalgia. “Today’s a great day to die.”

Friday the 13th

Release Date: 13 Oct
Another reboot is on the horizon marking this as the 13th instalment.
Not much else has been announced other than it being delayed til later in the year.
Prediction: This needs to be delivered with the right blend of humour and horror in order for Jason to truly terrorise the screens again.
I so want this to be a success but I feel like this might be the final nail in Jason’s coffin.

Get Out

Release Date: 24 Feb
A horror satire from the insatiably brilliant mind if Jordan Peele sees Chris, an African-American man, try to escape from an estate where its black residents go missing.
Prediction: The comedy horror hit of the year.

Insidious: The Last Key

Release Date: 30 Oct
The latest chapter of supernatural horror franchise continues this time with James Wan’s previous partner in horror, Leigh Whannel at the helm.
Prediction: Better than the previous outing but not a par on the original.

Horror Movies in 2017 pt.2

The Blair Witch franchise (1999-2016)

20 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Blair Witch, Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez, Heather Donahue, Horror film, Horror movie, Joshua Leonard

blair-witch-project
WHAT DEFINES A successful modern day horror film?

Can The Blair Witch Project lay claim to this prestige or does the myth that surrounds it cloud our perception?

One things for sure, it was a landmark movie in not only the style in which the movie is delivered which effectively launched found footage horror to the forefront of the movie mainstream but also in the mode of establishing a new style of marketing that connected with audiences worldwide.

It had a pulse and substance to it that resonated on a massive scale and it was for this reason that USA Today went on record to state The Blair Witch Project was the first movie to go ‘viral’.

A trend was then set with numerous movies hoping to follow suit and creature a hit with a low budget feel.

What does that mean today though?

Does the movie still stand the test of time?

There have been books released, a rushed-to-production “unofficial” sequel released the following year in 2000 with Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.

And just recently an “official” sequel has been released, Blair Witch, which all lend weight to the mythos of The Blair Witch legend for good or ill.

Join our discussions on The Blair Witch franchise in a Surgeons of Horror Special podcast below.

https://surgeonsofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/soh-blair-witch-franchise.mp3
  • Paul Farrell

The Shallows (2016)

04 Sunday Sep 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Blake Lively, Horror film, Horror movie, Killer shark

The-Shallows JOIN THE Surgeons of Horror team in our first ‘reaction’ podcast, dissecting the recent Blake Lively vehicle, The Shallows.

Get our gut reaction and comments and of its entry into the killer shark universe.

Will it prove to be out of its depth, try to stay afloat and attempt to tread water, or prove to be a bombora pioneer?

Check out our thoughts and views in the podcast below.

https://surgeonsofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/surgeons-of-horror-the-shallows.mp3

 

LINKS:

The Jaws Franchise (1975-1987)

The Jaws franchise (1975 – 1987)

04 Sunday Sep 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in John Carpenter, Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

classic horror, Horror film, Horror movie, Killer shark, Richard Dreyfus, Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, Steven Spielberg, Summer blockbuster

Jaws WHERE DO YOU begin when attempting to dissect Jaws and the franchise that it spawned?

It is so iconic, so embedded in the psyche of fans of film and the culture that it hails from.
Hell, it pretty much gave birth to the modern film and created what is now known as the summer blockbuster.

To say that it’s huge is a gross understatement.

Director, Steven Spielberg was only 26 when he made this movie and from the success of this went on to become one of the most successful directors in the industry.

But the final product could have been very different.

Its troubled production has been well reported upon from its lack of script, last-minute casting, and a mechanical shark that didn’t work.

It should have taken 55 days to film but it went on to take 159 days to complete running significantly over the production schedule.

So why and how did this film become so successful?

Its success would inevitably lead to similar themed movies and inspirations; chief amongst these was Joe Dante’s Piranha. A film that doesn’t shy away from the fact that it was a blatant rip off.

The Surgeons of Podcast team had a tough assignment before them in order to tackle such a subject as this.

One could say that we’re gonna need a bigger podcast session in order to carry this thing out. [Sorry, I couldn’t resist]

Either way, the team gathered our thoughts and opinions and tried to suppress them into the below discussion, hopefully for your hearing pleasure.

Take some time to listen to 3 individuals crammed into ‘The Cabin” in order to convey the impact that this movie had on us as individuals and the bragging rights over who was the most affected by it.

Have fun.

https://surgeonsofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/soh-special-edition-jaws-franchise.mp3

 

Links:

The Shallows (2016)

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