| Board List | |
|---|---|
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/21/24 12:40:13 PM #153 | plasmabeam posted...
Also, Snake, it appears you forgot to include my write-up for Possession. Very sorry! Plasmabeam - Normally I dont like artsy horror stories, but this was so wonderfully fucked up and unsettling. The lead actress deserves an Oscar for the tunnel scene alone. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What's the most technically impressive PSP game? (Day 16) + DS final |
| Snake5555555555 04/21/24 1:27:58 AM #4 | Also I loved PSP used to use it all the time!
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What's the most technically impressive PSP game? (Day 16) + DS final |
| Snake5555555555 04/21/24 1:27:42 AM #3 | Johnbobb posted...
God of War: Ghost of Sparta --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Best Game of 1994 **Phase 2 of Nomination Topic** |
| Snake5555555555 04/21/24 1:26:19 AM #10 | Winner is a 3 seed
Policenauts Last place is a 6 seed (VOTE FOR TWO) Uniracers Streets of Rage 3 Last place is a 10 seed (VOTE FOR TWO) Return of the Jedi TIE Fighter Top three are 10 seeds (VOTE FOR THREE) Alien vs Predator (Arcade) Alien vs Predator (Jaguar) Contra: Hard Corps Top 4 are 13 seeds (VOTE FOR TWO) Doctor Hauzer Jurassic Park (Arcade) Top 2 are 14 seeds (VOTE FOR TWO) Heretic Banshee's Last Cry Finally, the top 4 get the final spots in the tournament (VOTE FOR THREE) Super Bomberman 2 Samurai Showdown II Wing Commander 3 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Fill in the Blank 261: Sir ___ |
| Snake5555555555 04/21/24 1:23:35 AM #7 | Galahad
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 10:36:50 PM #135 | Outlier
Jcgamer107 - 223 Inviso - 217 Fortybelowsummer - 209 Evilordexdeath - 190 Johnbobb - 169 Karo - 161 Snake - 148 Bitto - 144 Mythiot - 143 Seginustemple - 135 Lightning - 125 Plasmabeam - 123 Rockus - 119 And even after Vis loses their lowest film remaining, it's still not enough to take outlier but Forty still drops a whole two spots! --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 10:25:00 PM #134 | Rockus - I cant think of another film thats quite like this one. So much of it is unsettling because of how things just feel slightly off, from curious performance choices to the way the camera will often float around a space like some omniscient entity observing the lives of these people, detached but perhaps with some kind of power over them. Its also the kind of film I feel will have more to offer on repeated viewings because the themes here have a lot of layers to them. Like its themes on possession, and not just a kind of demonic possession that the title may allude to but the way the men in the film attempt to exert themselves as the dominant possessor in the tangle affairs taking place in the film. Its location and setting in a fractured Berlin adds yet another layer as well. A fascinating and bold film that I think will only improve on more viewings.
Fortybelowsummer - Well, going into this I never anticipated that Id watch a demonic possession scene that makes the Exorcist look like a Key and Peele sketch. Its hard to put into words how agonizingly uncomfortable that scene in the tunnel is and its one of those moments that leaves a permanent imprint. Isabelle Adjani (who Id never heard of before) gives an absolutely insane performance, not just as the wife descending into madness but as her much less demonically inclined doppelganger. The other performers are right there with her (I never knew Sam Niell had that in him), shouting and gesticulating and expressing in a manic way that feels at first like overacting but ends up being totally mesmerizing. The real horror here isnt the evolving tentacled being (although yes, that thing is fucked up (NOTE: EDITED FOR GFAQS CENSOR)) but the collapse of relationships and the psychic violence that people are capable of inflicting on each other. I loved this movie, and it was the biggest pleasant surprise of the new-to-me films. Johnbobb - How the hell am I supposed to rank this when I have no idea what the hell just happened. Nobody in this movie knows how to act and very little of it made sense but I do like weird shit in my movies so Bitto - Rating: C- This movie feels artsy. Like...comically artsy. There are scenes where it feels like the director goes "OK, Anna...you're going to argue with Mark in this scene, but also do really weird, jerky handgestures. And Mark, don't react to this at all." Or the director says "OK, Mark, you're going to call on the phone and then spin around in a circle." Sometimes, it works. The 4 minute scene of Anna screaming in a subway is...compelling, even when I did not care at all for all the screaming that happened before this. But for the most part, it doesn't. It was really hard for me to understand or relate or care about Mark or Anna. Like I just don't get them as characters. Anna just seems to...care about sex and that's it. Mark seems to go from acting kinda mature to scremaing to flirting with women he hates to buddying up with Heimrich to laughing at inappropriate things. I actually do like Heimrich, he's an interesting character to watch and I like his arc. I'll give it this: this is probably the movie in this gauntlet that I thought about the most after it ended. I probably would have rated this at 27, but it rose up nearly 10 ranks just because I think it's the most thought-provoking film here. Jcgamer107 - 2/10 Inviso - What the fuck is this movie? This is SO fucking European I cant stand it. The first forty minutes of the movie are some extremely uncomfortable scenes of a broken marriage that devolves into screaming and physical abuse, with almost nothing supernatural or entertaining to offset how fucking terrible that is. And just to further that thoughtbut the level of high-pitched shrieking that occurs in this film is fucking INSANE. Even at 50% volume, I still felt like my eardrums were getting blown out, like in the tunnel scene where Anna just has a full-blown freak out. Beyond that though, NO ONE in this movie acts like a sane or rational person. Everyone is JUST off-putting enough that I couldnt find myself connecting with or enjoying ANYONE in the movie. You have Mark, who comes across as bipolar and violent; Anna is insane; Heinrich is douchey and smug, and these are the major characters we deal with throughout the film. And I could buy into all of that because the movies title is fucking POSSESSION. It makes SENSE that people would act unnaturally. But then the plot is just so convoluted and nonsensical, even for a supernatural movieand I cant tell who is supposed to be possessed at any given time, and who is just naturally an asshole. So Mark hires a PI to track his wife because he thinks shes having a SECOND affair beyond the first one with Heinrich. The PI tracks her down and discovers that she has a second apartment where shes raising a weird, bloody mutant creature. Which I THINK is supposed to be the surviving remnants of her tunnel freakout miscarriage? Anyway, the PI gets murdered by the wife, and then a second detective is also murdered when he finds the creature. Then Heinrich finds the creature, freaks out and gets stabbed, and for SOME REASON he calls the man he cucked to try and help him. Needless to say, Heinrich gets murderedand then so is Annas best friend for unexplained reasonsand this all leads to a weird Mark clone showing up as the fully-formed end result of the miscarriage monster. Everyone dies, and Anna/Marks son comically throws himself into a full bathroom to drown, and I have no idea what the fuck any of it was supposed to be. Its baffling, and its TWO HOURS LONG. For FUCKS sake. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 10:23:46 PM #133 | 5. Possession (1981 / 142 points)
Directed by / Screenplay by: Andrzej uawski https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/81d8cc3a.jpg Why Its Significant - Possession is a harrowing exploration of marital breakdown, psychological collapse, and the terrifying ambiguity of possession. Drawing on slow, realistic drama, with cosmic horror & body horror influences, its horror lies in the realism of a fracturing marriage and doesn't shy away from the emotional brutality, the petty arguments, the desperate attempts to salvage a dying relationship. Possession presents a grotesque creature as metaphor, common in horror, but Possession took it to more disgusting & nightmarish heights and continues to be a point of reference for many modern day filmmakers. From the psychological transformative horror of Black Swan to the surreal family breakdown of Hereditary, from the break-up of Midsommar to the surprising creature romance featured in Spring, even extended to the intense symbolism of the Silent Hill series. The Rankers Karo - 1 Evilordexdeath - 2 Mythiot - 2 Lightning - 4 Seginustemple - 6 Snake - 7 Plasmabeam - 8 Rockus - 9 Fortybelowsummer - 10 Johnbobb - 19 Bitto - 20 Jcgamer107 - 26 Inviso - 28 Karo - A couple begins to have marital issues that soon spiral out of control into some truly frightening and psychotic behavior. The film is riveting to follow and there is this foreboding sense of malice emanating from our two leads, and I am constantly left wondering who is really the crazy one (or under some sort of demonic influence, given the movie's title). Eventually it is revealed that there are these creatures who apparently transform into an idealized version of a person's loved ones... or perhaps they are a personification of mental illness. Honestly, the story works out either way and that is part of what makes it brilliant. It is a unique and strange ride that takes us on a harrowing journey of twisted obsession, and I am still not exactly sure of what I watched but I think it may have been profound. Evilordexdeath - I'm pretty sure this is art, so you already know it's getting some VERY low placements on at least a few lists. It's not exactly a fun movie to watch, particularly with how the first 40 minutes or so basically consist of back-to-back domestic violence scenes that are a little too real if you grew up around that sort of thing - or probably even if you didn't. It transitions from a breakup film to an odd horror story about doppelgngers and demonic possession which are probably a metaphor for either divorce and familial alienation, the alienation of European nations by the Iron Curtain as symbolized by the setting in West Berlin and the visual presence of the Berlin Wall, or a little bit of both. It's certainly engaging to watch, with both leads being absolutely unhinged and a lot of tension coming from the expectation that they'll do something batshit insane at any given moment, (that scene under the subway in particular is incredible) and I can definitely see myself thinking about it for a long time to come, but I'd be hesitant to recommend it to someone else, put in on for company, or even watch it again on my own. Lightning - Hes very tired. He made love to me all night. Possession is a film I was only recently made aware of before beginning this project but am delighted to have had the chance to watch because it has become a new favourite of mine. The film is very abstract but provides a look into a mind reeling from divorce, which director Andrzej Zulawski was going through at the time. This is a filmmaker putting the interior of their mind on display with all the beauty and the ugliness that this entails. Here we see divorce rendered as apocalyptic, the cold war escalating to a nuclear exchange used to sell the point. At the centre of the film there is Isabelle Adjanis tremendous performance. What she does here is truly magnetic, making every little moment or small line seem anguished. In particular the famous underground miscarriage scene is like nothing Id seen before. In this scene she appears to become a puppet as her body is taken over, seemingly the possession of the title. At the end of the day this is a film about how our lives get taken over by others and put out of our control. Accordingly the film starts with a normal situation and escalated to world ending chaos. This is helped by a strong lead performance by Sam Neill, who starts as a cool, collected spy and descends into madness. It would of course be remiss to not mention the Lovecraftian monster Anna has sex with. Its a truly disturbing sight, brilliantly realised by the effects team, and it works to show the sheer disgust one may have at the idea of their partner with another. After a while it slowly morphs into Sam Neill, implying that at the end all of our relationships morph into the same thing and fulfil the same parts in our lives. This just highlights the fear of replacement at the heart of the film, it is a movie about losing yourself and being replaced by another. This film is impeccably crafted with imagery and moments not soon to be forgotten. 5/5 Seginustemple - Love it, my favorite from the list that I hadn't seen yet. On one level a breakup story charged with anxiety about the sexual revolution, the iron curtain, secularization, more simply a batshit gross-out monster flick about the principal actors competing to see who can deliver the most histrionic, spasmodic performance. Isabelle Adjani is the clear winner, she is genuinely disturbing. I know hindsight is 20/20, but when she takes a dump in that subway tunnel...you can just tell the Berlin Wall isn't gonna last. I dig the sterile visual style of it all, stark whites and baby blues that springload its darkest moments, dutifully hypnotic steadicam beset by turbulent episodes. This movie is emotionally abusive, hard to watch, undeniably powerful Snake - Possession is a cinematic fever dream, a plunge into the abyss of a disintegrating marriage, a wild ride fueled by phenomenal performances, mind-bending visuals, and a narrative that defies easy explanation. Isabelle Adjani's portrayal of Anna is a riveting descent into madness, a harrowing spectacle as she contorts her body, screams with primal fury, and embodies a level of emotional vulnerability that lays you bare and destroyed by the films end. uawski on his part crafts a nightmarish world that mirrors the emotional turmoil of the characters. Bleak, industrial landscapes of West Berlin become a physical manifestation of their crumbling relationship. Fever dream sequences blur the lines between reality and delusion. All the meanwhile, the pulsating score by Andrzej Korzyski adds another layer of unease, a constant undercurrent of dread that burrows into your bones. Possession throws out cryptic clues and refuses to spoon-feed explanations. It wants to provoke, to disturb, to leave you wrestling with your own interpretations. I see it as a reflection of my very deepest anxieties and vulnerabilities. Possessions strange and alluring creation is part of this dark magic. Is it a literal manifestation of Anna's inner turmoil, a grotesque embodiment of their shattered love? Or perhaps a more primal force, feeding off the negativity and despair that permeates their relationship? The creature starts as a pulsating mass of flesh and tentacles but it evolves, morphing into a disturbing doppelganger of Mark. It's a brilliant visual metaphor unlike any other. From its frenetic pacing to its visceral performances, every element works in harmony to create a cinematic masterpiece that defies categorization. And that is why I love it. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Do you like this character? Day 1539: Xenomorph (Alien) |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 10:13:08 PM #4 | Yes
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 10:02:13 PM #50 | MGK - My Ex's Best Friend
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Ranking 69 NPC's from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (plus minigames) (spoilers) |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 9:57:37 PM #266 | I do understand those points! Sherry shares the campaign with Jake (Wesker's son) but they're both pretty equally important to the storyline. But yeah I don't count Helena either cause she sucks XD
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Ranking 69 NPC's from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (plus minigames) (spoilers) |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 7:57:38 PM #264 | Don't count Sheva as a dual female lead? Or RE6 with Sherry & Ada getting full campaigns?
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - Borowski vs Cykes / Viridian vs Arthur |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 7:20:04 PM #2 | Mae
Arthur --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - Borowski vs Cykes / Viridian vs Arthur |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 7:19:46 PM #1 |
Welcome to the best video game character of the 2010s, a continuation of an ongoing contest series dedicated to finding who is the best video game character introduced in each decade. The 2010s saw the amazing tail-end of the 7th generation & the rise of the 8th generation with incredible games and amazing characters from said games. Bracket - https://challonge.com/1e9oonm5 Side Bracket - https://challonge.com/ag5nvgd1 Previous Results 2B / Brok - (16 / 8) Estelle / Noctis - (15 / 10) Mae Borowski (Night in the Woods) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/5/574ccc17.jpg vs. Athena Cykes (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/654e5e9e.jpg Captain Viridian (VVVVVV) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/7adee5c1.jpg vs. Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0ba3441c.jpg Easy Vote Mae / Athena Viridian / Arthur --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - 2B vs. Brok / Estelle Bright vs. Noctis |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 6:15:09 PM #31 | up
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 4:13:17 PM #124 | Inviso posted...
It wasn't until re-reading my write-up that I realized this: Beetlejuice takes a very similar baseline plot to Hellraiser and just does it so much better. Admittedly, Beetlejuice's opening is much longer than the quick scene of crazy shit happening in Hellraiser, but still. Supernatural shit starts happening in a house following the introductory character/s being killed, and then the next thing you know, you have a meek father, his daughter, and her redheaded stepmother moving in. The stepmother is unhappy with the situation she finds herself in, the stepfather just wants to have everything be normal, and the key difference is that the lead female is far more proactive in her involvement with the story...even before she winds up summoning unspeakable malevolence into the world. I have never realized this before XD --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 2:42:44 PM #36 | Taylor Swift - I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
Most addicting song off the new album right now --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - 2B vs. Brok / Estelle Bright vs. Noctis |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 2:26:00 PM #30 | up
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 1:46:14 PM #116 | Seginustemple - Loved it as a kid, several scenes have stuck with me for decades: the waiting room w/ smoking guy and shrunken head, Baldwin and Davis stretching their faces like putty (this really freaked me out when I was young), any scene with Michael Keaton, and of course the calypso songs. Setting the 'danse macabre' to Harry Belafonte is a stroke of genius, and Catherine O'Hara practically steals the show with the all-in lip-sync performance. But Keaton's character is an all-timer, he's on a Jim Carrey/Robin Williams level of having fun here. There's great Danny Elfman score throughout as well. Like Poltergeist, watching it nowadays I can't help but notice the theme of real estate in the background, this time the newly-dead couple is trying to scare the new occupants of their home away because, wait for it - they're not ready to sell the house! Yeesh. One other element I was keen on this time was the confusion of inner/outer space, there's windows to Saturn outside the house, a model town in the attic where the movie plays tricks with scale, and the house itself has this weird outdoor wall thing going on https://hookedonhouses.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Beetlejuice-House-set-photos-Tim-Burton-44-611x343.jpg, what's up with that?
Plasmabeam - Gushing with creativity and fun. Reminded me of Wristcutters from our Road Trip list. Bitto - Rating: C+ There are so many things done right here. The overall plot is solid. The characters are all well-defined and likable. The humor is great. It's family-friendly while also capturing the spirit of horror. I could see this being a timeless Halloween classic that you could put on every year. I just have one major problem: Betelgeuse. He really messes up the flow of this movie. That's probably the joke, but...it's not a good one. The comedy just changes completely when he's on-screen and for the worse. I also don't really like his role in the plot. He seems both too important and not important enough. I think the director was going for an independent "friend or foe" character like Jack Sparrow, but I don't think Betelgeuse does enough to gain that reputation until he suddenly becomes the antagonist at the end. Karo - When a newly minted ghost couple's home is invaded by an infestation of fleshy meat bags, they turn to the services of 'bio-exorcist' ghoul Betelgeuse to drive the poor fools out. Betelgeuse himself is this vile and unpleasant creature who is not as funny as Tim Burton thinks he is, and comes across less a comedic trickster and more like just the Joker's drunken deadbeat dad. Here I would complain that the titular character is like barely relevant in his own movie, but I came to the realization that I don't really want to see any more of this fucker than is already forced upon us. Unfortunately, the movie's actual protagonists are not much better, as this lame newlydead couple are about as exciting as a mormon bachelor party. I kept not wanting them to scare away the new tenants because unlike this pair of stuffy phantoms the family was actually interesting and funny. Tim Burton indeed has a unique artistic vision, but man does he suck ass at telling a story. This is nothing more than Burton being weird and marginally entertaining and that just isnt going to do it for me. Lightning - Ive seen The Exorcist about a hundred and sixty seven times and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it! This is a film I was always aware of but never actually watched, so it was a bit unusual finally watching it and seeing things that I knew were in the movie but simply had not seen with my own eyes. Also, I loved the cartoon and in retrospect its pretty odd that that cartoon exists given some of the content here! Overall this is a fun horror comedy with some great practical effects and costumes and a terrific performance from Michael Keaton. I was a bit surprised by how little Beetlejuice (or Betelgeuse) is actually in the movie, even after he finally appears, but he steals every scene hes in. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin also do a great job of playing the sweetest ghosts imaginable. There is also a young Winona Ryder doing a good job and Catherine OHara basically playing her Schitts Creek character almost thirty years prior. Really the whole cast is great, and even though this is a film with a lot of dark ideas, they give it a real lightness. Also, the weird similarities to Dune have to be mentioned. It is very odd that there is a desert planet ith giant sandworms on it in this film. Weirder still is that it is apparently Saturn. Lastly perhaps weirdest of all it has a pivotal role in the plot at the end. It just goes to show that this film is kind of a giant collage of lots of different often tonally conflicting ideas. Fortunately most of these ideas work. 4/5 Snake - A film bursting with creativity and character, the film never really takes itself too seriously and thats a good thing. Basically from the first minute on, this film is manic and crazy, especially once Beetlejuice himself shows up, played to utter perfection by Michael Keaton. Beetlejuice is a film that's not afraid to be weird, but its strangeness is precisely what makes it so endearing. It's a laugh-out-loud comedy with clever sight gags and witty dialogue and still beneath the surface lies a touching story about loss, acceptance, and the importance of finding your own strange family. My favorite parts will always be the stop-motion effects here! Johnbobb - I've always liked Beetlejuice, but I actually rewatched this one just a little before this contest and it didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped. I'll be 100% honest, and possibly an unpopular (?) opinion here - the musical is better. Significantly better. Still an overall fun time though. Evilordexdeath - Tim Burton is definitely one of those names whose stock has gone way down since the 80s, but I like Edward Scissorhands and I... acknowledge Beetlejuice as a good enough movie. The aesthetic is very consciously built and on point, it does a good job keeping a more horror-comedy tone, Beetlejuice himself is like a little bit charismatic but not that amazing at the best of times and kinda cringe at the worst and the heroes and the narrative are pretty forgettable. It's one of those movies I have a hard time feeling anything about. Jcgamer107 - 6/10 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 1:45:34 PM #115 | 6. Beetlejuice (1988 / 142 points)
Directed by: Tim Burton / Screenplay by: Michael McDowell, Warren Skaaren https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/a/a18c0c43.jpg Why Its Significant - While not a straight-up horror film in the traditional sense, it took the familiar tropes of ghosts haunting a house, then injected them with slapstick humor and dark absurdity. Tim Burton's signature gothic style found full expression in Beetlejuice. The Maitland house, with its peculiar architecture and dusty interiors, was one part of the equation; Lydia Deetzs signature stark black wardrobe and snarky deadpan personality with a penchant for the macabre and fascination with the afterlife was the other. The film's mainstream success arguably helped bring Goth elements, like dark makeup and dramatic clothing, into the pop culture eye, normalizing the subculture for a wider audience. The film also has a visually unique atmosphere that was both whimsical and unsettling at the same time, which made the film a gateway horror film for a younger audience that were able to approach scares on a digestible level. This influence, along with further Goth culture, can be seen in later films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, and The Addams Family, which all embrace a darkly whimsical aesthetic. I know it's important to acknowledge that Beetlejuice's influence isn't solely on horror. It's a landmark film in fantasy and comedy as well. However, its impact on horror is undeniable. Along with other films from the 80s, it paved the way for a lighter, more humorous take on the genre, making horror more accessible to a wider audience. Beetlejuice received a TV series, video games, musical, and is FINALLY receiving a sequel this year! The Rankers Inviso - 4 Rockus - 4 Fortybelowsummer - 5 Mythiot - 9 Seginustemple - 10 Plasmabeam - 11 Bitto - 12 Karo - 12 Lightning - 12 Snake - 14 Johnbobb - 15 Evilordexdeath - 17 Jcgamer107 - 17 Inviso - This is a solid horror comedy, and I love the world-building they do here by creating a scenario where our main characters have to slowly gain an understanding of the rules of how to be ghosts. I know Tim Burton has lost a step in recent years, but this movie is right up his alley with a creepy, macabre aesthetic, and it plays into all of his grimmest thoughts about life and death. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis play beleaguered everyman (or everywoman) characters perfectly, because theyre not SPECIAL in any way. Theyre cute and charming, but theyre just as in the dark about a lot of the plot as the audience, so they make perfect audience surrogates in that regard. But additionally, theyre also kind of clueless, so we get to watch them trying to make all of these rookie mistakes about what ghosts SHOULD do and how ghosts SHOULD act, which is endearing in and of itself. On the other side of the equation, the Deetz family is wonderfully cast. Catherine OHara is uptight, while simultaneously a free spirit who hates being confined to such a low-key lifestyle (after growing accustomed to life in the big city), while Jeffrey Jones just wants to relax in quiet and comfort. So already, you have a haunted house beset by these two polar opposites (and youd think thered be more talk about how the Maitland ghosts approve of Charles, rather than solely focusing on how much they hate Delia), but then you throw in Lydia, the goth girl who its implied lost her mom and is stuck with Delia as a stepmom, and shes the perfect conduit to guide the Maitlands, since even reading their Recently Deceased manual overwhelms them at first. So yeah, you have this plot about a loving couple who die and get stuck haunting their house, and a city family that comes in and tries to change everything, and the Maitlands are in WAY over their headsso they call for back-up. Theyre suckered in by a ghost conman, and Michael Keaton gets to ham it up in the best possible way. The titular Beetlejuice (Betelgeuse) is crass and vulgar, but he promises to scare off the humans in exchange for assistance getting back to the realm of the living. He even manages to coerce Lydia in on this plan, holding the Maitlands hostage to do so. Hes a big and brash character, but I think it speaks volumes that, though he serves as a ghostly antagonist, this film could still stand up without him, as a story about untrained ghosts trying to get by in a world where everything they knew it upended by these New York yuppies. On top of the plot, the aesthetic is great, Tim Burtons gothic style is on display in full force (particularly with Delias shitty, horrifying sculptures), and I LOVE the music in this movie. Its the perfect soundtrack for any sort of ghostly encounters. The Ghostbusters theme might be more iconic, but thats a song dedicated to the Ghostbusters themselves. THIS movies soundtrack is dedicated to the bizarre world of the afterlife, from the perspective of its ghoulish inhabitants. Oh! And I love the fact that the afterlife, when not haunting a house, is portrayed as a boring waiting room where the dead from all over has to take a number to talk to a bureaucrat about their situation. Its a fun twist on what could easily have been painted as a boring heaven or hell setting, and I think thats the sort of create choice that really helps sell the vision of this movie. Rockus - Tim Burton was at his peak in the 80s and 90s and Beetlejuice is a clear example. Its choice to flip the script on the haunted house movie as we follow the ghosts trying to repel their homes new owners and its depiction of the afterlife as a bureaucratic office barely keeping things together are both brilliant choices. Keaton and Ryder are perfectly cast in some of their most iconic roles, and the film in constantly visually inventive. Tim Burton combines his admiration for German expressionism with his own candy cane gothic aesthetic to make something unique and refreshing. With its great stop motion animation, visual effects and makeup, and morbid sense of humor the film has graduated from being just a modern classic to a timeless one. Fortybelowsummer - Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. (Had to do it). I dont watch a lot of movies multiple times because I usually prefer to take in new stories, but Ive seen Beetlejuice numerous times. Its probably fair to say its one of my favorite movies, and although I never became goth I think it made me appreciate and admire goth sensibilities. I feel like Tim Burton kind of gets crapped on by the horror community, but I love his style. The visuals are so much fun to look at and theres always something to catch your eye, whether its the crazy Dietz interior design, or the wild Maitland transformations, or the wacky ensemble of characters, living and dead. The makeup, of course, is amazing (Academy Award winning), as are the set pieces, especially Beetlejuices model town. Michael Keaton is the best and its hard to imagine anyone else as the crude, morbid bio-exorcist. Hes the ghost with the most, babe, and totally nails it. Originally, the movie was supposed to be a lot darker and less comedic but Im glad it ended up as is because its really something special. From the trailer, the new movie looks like it will take this darker route, but fingers crossed that it doesnt disappoint. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 12:25:32 PM #34 | Right now
Killswitch Engage - My Curse --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What's the most technically impressive DS game? (Day 15) + Dreamcast final |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 12:59:41 AM #2 | Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Fill in the Blank 260: ___ Lady |
| Snake5555555555 04/20/24 12:25:12 AM #15 | Crazy Cat
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What is your favorite political show? |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 9:17:37 PM #5 | Parks & Rec counts right
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 9:13:32 PM #98 | I don't say this maybe as much as I should but it always warms my heart just a little when someone like Karo likes a film like Videodrome. It just makes running the project feel that much more worth it for me.
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 9:08:20 PM #96 | Outlier
Fortybelowsummer - 203 Inviso - 192 Jcgamer107 - 191 Evilordexdeath - 176 Karo - 151 Johnbobb - 146 Snake - 138 Mythiot - 137 Seginustemple - 134 Bitto - 123 Lightning - 118 Plasmabeam - 115 Rockus - 113 Long live the new outlier --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 8:48:52 PM #94 | Seginustemple - An imaginative and bold critique of media desensitization and depravity packaged into a biomechanical fever dream. Head goes into the tv, tape goes into the gut, you become what you consume. It's a rickety construction plot-wise but the themes and ideas appear to grow more relevant with age, as we find ourselves in an ever more media-fixated and gun-crazed culture. There's one weakness I gotta pick on though, I hate to say it but I think the great Howard Shore phoned it in on this one. It sounds like a first take noodling on a keyboard along with the footage instead of a composed score, and knowing how good he can be (see: The Fly) makes me wish this one had a little more going on in that department.
Fortybelowsummer - Death to Videodrome! Long live the new flesh! So, which one is more anti television: this or Poltergeist? I love how bizarre, surreal, and unpredictable this movie is. You never really know whats real or whats a hallucination. Including, I learned recently, Debbie Harrys character. Speaking of her, I dont generally comment on actresses appearances because its usually irrelevant but man she almost makes you want to dabble in a little S&M. The character is great and really embodies the theme of sex, violence, and entertainment as a dangerous concoction. The visual effects are awesome and the grotesque body transformations are classic Cronenberg (gotta love the literal hand gun). Its not just gross-out stuff, as it philosophically explores mans relationship with violence and the media. Really, its more relevant than ever as society has become so intertwined with technology, having the ability to call up and engage in all of our darkest pleasures at a whim. Although it gets a little slow and the ending is pretty bad (I believe they started filming without even knowing how it would end) its still a fun, weird, thought-provoking viewing experience thats one of a kind. Lightning - Long live the new flesh. Melding psychological intrigue with gruesome body horror, Videodrome is one of the more famously confusing horror films of the 1980s. It does manage to effectively mix Cronenbergs skills at suspense with his famed body horror and effects prowess, though the end result is maybe a little bit too messy and abstract to be truly top level stuff. There are many different ways you can interpret this film, both in terms of its themes and the events happening onscreen. How much of this is real? For instance, you wonder if the whole film after he puts the headset on is not real as you never see him take the headset off, but also the unreality is seeping in before he puts it on and even that might be an invention of the mind. Are we seeing a vague recounting of events that is partially but not fully the truth? For instance it could be that he really does lose his mind and kill himself but the physical transformations and the melding of technology and flesh are not real at all. Ultimately the film lets you decide. Like another Cronenberg body horror film on this list this is a film concerned with what modern technology is doing to our bodies and to our minds, and in this also critiquing the culture of the time. However, because of the slightly jumbled, often jarring storytelling I think this is less effective at it. The actual base elements of the film work well however. James Woods is not a good person but performs well here, the effects are suitably disturbing and the video elements are quite effective in their criticism of our increasing desire to see more and more extreme content. While the film is given when it released criticising video, it is very easy to see this as quite ahead of its time. After all, is this not what the internet has done to large parts of society? This is messy, but very interesting. 3/5 Inviso - I did not understand this movie at all. It somehow manages to come across as preachy and trying to pitch a message (about violence in American media ruining and corrupting the population), yet it does so via a violent movie that barely feels horror-coded, aside from the grotesque body horror of Max Renns transformation into some weird, video-programmed assassin? This feels like an early predecessor to the shock imagery wed later get in the torture porn genre, because so much of this movie revolves around sadomasochism (even before you get to the twisted, horror stuff). I mean, a part of it feels like it carries the same tone as They Live, but just told in a far less fun and far more disturbing fashion. Thats probably what gets it ranked above a few other utterly objectionable movies on this list. But its still very much not good. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 8:48:31 PM #93 | 7. Videodrome (1983 / 147 points)
Directed / Written by: David Cronenberg https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e7a64162.jpg Why Its Significant - Videodrome explores the merging of flesh and technology, with hallucinations manifesting as physical growths and technological implants. Its central theme revolves around the manipulative power of media. The mysterious Videodrome signal not only bombards viewers with violent content but also alters their perceptions and even controls their minds. In the age of social media and targeted advertising, the film's message about the potential dangers of media consumption feels more relevant than ever. Videodrome eerily predicted the rise of the 24-hour news cycle and our constant bombardment with information and explores the desensitization to violence and the blurring of lines between reality and entertainment. Today, with our constant connection to screens and the overwhelming amount of content available, Videodrome seems like a cautionary tale come true. Videodrome's impact can be seen in countless horrors that followed - some of the most notable being Tetsuo: The Iron Man on this very list being one such direct offspring, the Ring books and films, Pulse (for some reason Videodrome influenced a lot of Japanese media in particular), & the Black Mirror TV series. The Rankers Johnbobb - 2 Plasmabeam - 2 Evilordexdeath - 3 Karo - 3 Rockus - 3 Snake - 3 Jcgamer107 - 14 Bitto - 17 Seginustemple - 17 Fortybelowsummer - 19 Lightning - 19 Mythiot - 20 Inviso - 25 Johnbobb - https://i.imgur.com/HWS3i7n.gif Plasmabeam - The best surprise on this list. Feels like a Black Mirror episode that was written in the darkest corners of hell (or Pittsburghtake your pick). I had never heard of Videodrome till now, and Ill be rewatching it ASAP. Evilordexdeath - Starting out with what could be read as an examination of TV brainrot whose themes have only become more relevant with the advent of the internet, this film pretty quickly spirals into a narrative of hallucinations and secret conspiracies whose true meaning I wouldn't try too hard to grasp. It's fun to watch and well-constructed, with nice payoffs like James Woods hiding a gun in his chussy in what appears to be a fever dream only to take it out and use later on, and the inscrutable narrative with its potential questions about how much was part of the film's reality and how much was hallucination provides intrigue that makes it amusing to think about after you've watched, but there is a part of me that feels like the conspiracy narrative ends up being mostly meaningless while the initial premise could've delivered more ~~~substance~~~. And that's okay, art is supposed to be a sensory and emotional experience so ~~~substance~~~ isn't necessarily everything, and I think this film works very well as that type of experience - the ending is probably the sequence I've been most haunted by after watching all these movies - but still that's what's keeping it from quite breaking into my top 2. Karo - Video pirates encounter a TV broadcast that causes mass hallucinations and loss of touch with reality of its victims. By that I mean one other than Fox News. The protagonist's search for the source of the program leads him down some strange paths, such as turning in to a human VCR and having sex with his television set. The film carries a sense of innovation and novelty that is rarely seen in the movies of the decade, and its plot about the effects of media manipulation in the populace before the advent of the internet and 24 hour news cycle was very very ahead of its time. It is very disturbing and thought provoking, and although it is indeed very weird it manages to avoid the aura of silliness that plagues so many of these movies. Rockus - Another great David Cronenberg body horror picture. A surreal nightmarish fever dream on television, and by extension other modern screen media, in controlling and shaping us. Constantly visually dynamic and visceral. Like a number of horror films of the era, Possession and Hellraiser included, its themes and ideas are layered in complex ways that it might require multiple viewings to get to everything it has to say. It just might be the quintessential David Cronenberg film. Another masterpiece. Snake - Videodrome is a sensory overload, a waking nightmare that burrows into your brain and won't let go. James Woods delivers a performance that's electric as Max Renn, a sleazy TV executive hungry for the next shock sensation. Debbie Harry, a surprising but mesmerizing addition to the film, a captivating presence who adds yet another layer to the film's exploration of sex, violence, and the blurred lines of perception. The lines between reality and TV blur, with Max experiencing hallucinations that are both horrifying and strangely titillating. Cronenberg doesn't shy away from the grotesque but it's not just about shock value. Videodrome is a brutal satire on our insatiable appetite for violence, a prophecy of our media-saturated world. We're bombarded by negativity, and Cronenberg asks the terrifying question: is the line between entertainment and manipulation even there anymore? Videodrome (in film) isn't just entertainment; it's a weaponized broadcast designed to manipulate viewers. It critiques the idea of a passive audience, suggesting the media actively shapes our thoughts and actions. By the time Cronenberg's trademark body horror comes into play, were already disoriented, suitably off-put, and confused, but these elements take the film to even higher and more frightening levels. Max putting the gun inside himself, the distorted and contorted flesh-like TV set that pulls Max inside, witnessing his body develop strange growths and orifices, its all suitably disgusting and portrayed with the grim desperation it deserves. I feel the gun becomes an extension of his body, pulsing and throbbing with a life of its own, is is pure Cronenbergian brilliance and I think the single best thing hes ever done effects-wise. This is a film that feels ahead of its time, a chilling glimpse into a future where technology becomes an extension of ourselves, and the very fabric of reality can be warped by unseen forces. The score by Howard Shore is a perfect complement, a throbbing, unsettling soundscape that mirrors Max's descent into madness. Videodrome isn't just a film; it's an experience that left an indelible mark on my psyche. Long live the new flesh. Jcgamer107 - 6/10 Bitto - Rating: C I wasn't born in the 80s, so I have no idea if this movie is prophetic or not. But it's interesting to watch now. It's actually kinda boring because I have such a clear idea of what this looks like in modern times so the plot was really predictable. I really like the overall tone of seduction in this movie, probably most highlighted by the video and the TV literally moaning and pulsating. I think the "long live the new flesh" part is really interesting, but it doesn't really get much time to breathe. I also really do not like the programming aspect where Videodrome starts to hijack and control Max. It just felt...inconsistent with the rest of the plot. Max going and killing his other board members with no intervention is also completely absurd. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 8:47:20 PM #25 | rwlh posted...
It's SO GOOD I definitely had a feeling in my head that you in particular would love it! --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 8:43:23 PM #22 | rwlh posted...
David Szymanski - It Wakes (Iron Lung OST) :) --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 8:17:39 PM #19 | Now in my head
Elle King - Ain't Gonna Drown --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - 2B vs. Brok / Estelle Bright vs. Noctis |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 7:20:22 PM #3 | 2B
Noctis My predicted winner lost so RIP my bracket! --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - 2B vs. Brok / Estelle Bright vs. Noctis |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 7:19:13 PM #1 |
Welcome to the best video game character of the 2010s, a continuation of an ongoing contest series dedicated to finding who is the best video game character introduced in each decade. The 2010s saw the amazing tail-end of the 7th generation & the rise of the 8th generation with incredible games and amazing characters from said games. Bracket - https://challonge.com/1e9oonm5 Side Bracket - https://challonge.com/ag5nvgd1 Previous Results Joker / Penitent - (10 / 12) Armstrong / Lightning - (19 / 8) 2B (Nier: Automata) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/eb2aea40.jpg vs. Brok (God of War) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/965c9b07.jpg Estelle Bright (The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/2/2a328360.jpg vs. Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy XV) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/b644ec28.jpg Easy Vote: 2B / Brok Estelle / Noctis --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 6:39:33 PM #91 | Agreed! When I was first making the war list (quite a few years ago) I had not seen it or really didn't even know much about it but now... yeah... it feels like a must
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 6:32:44 PM #89 | I was thinking of Come and See but not The Battle of Algiers.
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - Joker vs. Penitent / Armstrong vs. Lightning |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 5:51:36 PM #31 | up
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | [VGMC] Video Game Music Contest 18: Nominations |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 5:01:47 PM #276 | New:
+ Devil May Cry | Karnival [Ancient Castle Night Stage ~ Plasma Appearance] | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9clZh3f3xAI + Castlevania: Lament of Innocence | Statue Enchanted by the Darkness | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXY1W0D596A + Rollerdrome | Kara's Theme (Vincenzo Salvia Remix) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3QPamnkFe8 + Nun Massacre | Death Organ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU3Q1bcjrI0 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What song is currently stuck in your head? |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 3:48:17 PM #7 | Senses Fail - Calling All Cars
(this has been stuck in my head for like a month) --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Video Game Character of the 2010s - Joker vs. Penitent / Armstrong vs. Lightning |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 3:17:39 PM #29 | up
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | How long until the remake Jaws? |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 2:43:17 PM #15 | They should make a legacy sequel with Hooper and the shark survived the explosion somehow and comes back all scarred and disfigured and he has an apprentice shark now.
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 2:09:08 PM #76 | To me an actual art film is a lot more esoteric. I think an art film counterpart to Henry would be The House That Jack Built.
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8's Top 20 NES Games: Voting Topic |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 1:58:42 PM #33 | I would do write-ups for Sweet Home, any Castlevania, Friday the 13th, Batman, Chiller, Uninvited, Punch-Out, Metal Gear, & NARC.
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 1:54:47 PM #73 | Bitto - Rating: C+
The three main characters: Henry, Otis, and Becky are interesting to watch. Good, because we spend a lot of time with them. Henry and Otis in particular make a captivating pairing and it makes you think about who is the worse of the two. To me, it's generally Otis because adding sexuality and perversion just makes all the killings feel more grotesque, but I can see an argument for Henry. Becky is really interesting; though, I really cannot believe she has no idea about any of the murders going on. I honestly thought Becky and Henry might actually become a couple at the end, which does a great job of selling their relationship. Of course, once the radio plays, it becomes clear that, no, Henry never had any feelings towards Becky and wanted to kill her too. The ending is haunting, too. Fortybelowsummer - A lot of movies are described as gritty but watching Henry is about as comfortable as rolling around naked in a burlap sack filled with sand. Theres no artsy polish here, everything from the settings to the performances are stripped down to the bare bones, creating, unquestionably, one of the most disturbing viewing experiences that there is. This isnt your Freddy, or your Chucky where you can watch the carnage yet still feel a certain sense of glee. Its just a grainy, nasty time spent with a character based on a real-life serial killer whos a bona fide dead-behind- the-eyes psychopath. Part of what makes it so effective is that we generally see just the aftermath of Henrys work, and he does treat murderin like its his job. The exception of course is the home invasion scene which is probably the most shocking moment in all of our movies. One of the best, no frills viewing experiences Ive had. Seginustemple - I love how different this is stylistically than most of the other seletions - slow, serious, and deliberate. Long takes, lots of space in the dialogue, measured pacing with a painful build of tension. There's a lo-fi, gritty aesthetic to all it that feels more like a 70's film. The tableaux of victims with synth swells are chilling, I would say some of the few truly successful uses of electronic music on the list. Michael Rooker is totally unnerving in the lead role, and the final on-screen kill is one of the most gut-wrenching I've seen. There's a true crime backing to it that adds a lot of weight, although I would note that most of the Henry Lee Lucas murders were later deemed to be false confessions. This is one of those movies that's really well-made but one watch is about all you can stomach. Snake - An unflinching portrayal of violence, the film doesn't shy away from the brutality of Henry's crimes, but also avoids reveling in it. The violence serves a purpose, further amplified by the film's documentary-style cinematography, which lends a sense of authenticity and immediacy to the horrific events unfolding. Rooker's performance is a masterclass in understated menace. He portrays Henry not as a monster, but as a deeply disturbed individual devoid of empathy or remorse. His flat affect and casual brutality are far more unsettling than any over-the-top theatrics. It is not an easy watch to say the least, but as a raw, unflinching portrayal of evil, its one of the most effective in the genre. Jcgamer107 - 6/10 Rockus - What sets this apart from a lot of other films on this list is the straight forward matter-of-fact depiction of the violence, making it obviously seem more realistic than a heightened 80s slasher and thus making it all the more frightening because it could happen right down the street. The fact that its inspired by real events and a real serial killer is no surprise. The writing is kind of thin though but its carried by Michael Rookers undeniable great performance. Its almost unbelievable that this is his feature film debut because its like the work you would expect from a seasoned veteran performer. Inviso - Apparently this was semi-based on a real guy? I guess that makes sense, because I feel like if you were creating a fictional serial killer in a movie, you would at least try to give them some sort of compelling personality, or maybe make them do things that induced excitement. Instead, this is just a really dull movie about a bunch of dull, white trash characters doing very stereotypical white trash things (see: incest with a guy who winds up hitting on and trying to rape his sister). Otis is loud and obnoxious, which makes him more INTERESTING than Harry, but hes also aggressively scummy, and every moment hes on-screen is him being the biggest asshole imaginable. Henry seems disarming by comparison, despite murdering his way throughout the movie in a way that never shows any consequences (which almost makes the killing feel pointless, rather than frightening). I dont knowthere were just no stakes to this movie, and no one was charming or likeable or anything like that to warrant praise. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 1:54:39 PM #72 | 8. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986 / 159 points)
Directed by: John McNaughton / Written by: Richard Fire, John McNaughton https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/2/25acf140.jpg Why Its Significant - I purposefully chose Henry, one of the most controversial and oft-censored films of the decade (its one of the primary films responsible for establishing the NC-17 rating and was rated X upon release), for how it uses horror to delve into the terrifying plausibility of a disturbed mind. The film loosely bases its characters on real-life killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. As it says so boldly on the poster (hes real"), Henrys main point of reference was how it contrasted with the slasher films of the 80s. This connection to true crime adds a layer of unease, forcing viewers to confront the horrifying reality of such violence. Michael Rooker's chilling performance portrays Henry's detachment and emptiness. We witness his crimes not through a lens of spectacle, but through the disturbing mundanity of his actions. Henry paved the way for a new wave of films that focused on psychological realism with true crime and horror elements, films like Se7en, The Silence of the Lambs, Monster, The Poughkeepsie Tapes, & Zodiac being among them, along with our continuing modern day obsession with serial killers shown in productions like Dahmer & the recently released What Jennifer Did, and even further still, extreme horror like Man Bites Dog, August Underground, Murder-Set-Pieces, & A Serbian Film. The Rankers Johnbobb - 3 Karo - 6 Plasmabeam - 6 Evilordexdeath - 7 Lightning - 10 Bitto - 11 Fortybelowsummer - 11 Seginustemple - 12 Snake - 12 Mythiot - 16 Jcgamer107 - 18 Rockus - 21 Inviso - 26 Johnbobb - With 80s horror being particularly loaded to the brim with over-the-top wackiness and body horror and prosthetic schlock, it's good to get back to the good 'ol boy type of horror. Just a simple man and a car on the open road, with the occasionaly family homicide. Brad Paisely would be proud. Jokes aside, still easily one of the most realistic and grimy serial killer portrayals I've ever seen. Also I know Henry is like evil and stuff, but Michael Rooker was a shokeshow in the 80s, goddamn. Karo - So this is a slice of life about serial murderers, which... works better then you would expect? All too often in horror movies the killers are just mindless monsters, unknowable and inhuman, who hide behind their masks and skulk in the shadows. Not Henry. No, he is portrayed as an undeniably human character who while still very evil doesn't just turn into a cartoonish heel to boo and hiss at. Nor does it throw a bunch of softballs and make him an antihero the way Dexter does. Henry is a true murderer rather than some noble vigilante, the audience is forced to reconcile his humanity with his deeds and maybe actually use their brain cells for critical thinking once in their life. While the ending is not unexpected, I would much rather have it be implied that this would be Becky's eventual fate rather than him just sawing her to pieces the very next day. The movie does characterize Henry as a horrible person, but not as one completely lacking in all self control the way Otis is. It just seems weird for him to go and off Becky immediately for no apparent reason other than 'well he's a serial killer', thereby burning away all the goodwill that had been built up to this point. Sigh. Still a very good movie, though. Plasmabeam - Brilliant. A nasty, honest, and compelling story that explores three well-drawn characters and their horrible choices. One of the best surprises on this list. Evilordexdeath - If the point of horror movies is to scare you, then at least for me, the ones with the more realistic villains have an advantage. As terrifying as it would be to imagine the creature from The Thing coming into contact with human society (and how quickly it would probably wipe us out, as the film suggests,) any nightmares about The Thing can be quelled by remembering that it isn't real, and that it would be so dangerous precisely because it was made up by filmmakers to be as threatening to human beings as possible. So Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer definitely stands out on a list that's mostly full of really goofy supernatural horror stories, where the few that are based on real human relationships, like say The Shining and Possession, are still built around metaphors of the supernatural. This movie is a lot more raw than that, filled with drawn out and disturbing scenes of two killers doing things like breaking into a couple's home and then torturing and murdering them, along with their teenage son, while recording it on VHS to then rewatch it together at home. What makes it more disturbing is that the film makes a point of humanizing both of them in certain scenes, in between the incredibly cruel and violent acts they commit on random people. Killers like this could exist, and in fact they are based on a pair of real life serial killers although what happens in this movie is pretty damn different from the actual facts of their case. I used to have nightmares about people breaking into my home when I lived alone, and I think for me this is the most frightening, (though "disturbing" is really the better word), film on the list. But I don't really think the point of horror movies is to scare or disturb you as much as possible. People ultimately go to horror media for the same reasons as most others - either they want to have fun or they want the work to say something about life. I don't think I'd want to watch this movie again. It's definitely not fun and it's not the most meaningful, but it does have a certain amount of strength in the characterization and an effectively haunting ending. Lightning - How about them bears? / Fuck the bears. The 1980s was a time when, following the 1970s, serial killers were very much on the public consciousness similar to how they are now. I think generally there is a real risk of media glorifying serial killers, and it remains a subgenre which has a lot of concern around it, especially when there is a real subject involved, which is the case here although somewhat obfuscated. To be honest I was a little apprehensive going into this as I find that serial killer media can be exploitative and this looked like it might be a bit too unpleasant. To my surprise, I found this to be an absolutely gripping film. Michael Rooker gives an incredible turn here and its stunning that this was pretty much his first role, he seems almost exactly like he is today. The film does not dwell too much on the violence until its shocking denouement, which just makes it even more impactful. The cinematography gives the film not just a grimy feel but also makes it feel like you are looking in on something real in an almost voyeuristic sense. This is a film that leaves you feeling almost as bad as possible but you never want to look away. This all culminates in a shocking ending which you still always know is coming eventually. The film feels like it has a grim inevitability about it but it still doesnt lose its power. 4/5 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 12:47:38 PM #71 | Espeon posted...
Snake, you have exdeath at 11 for changeling and predator Whoops Changeling should've said 12 actually --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Fill in the Blank 259: Lady ___ |
| Snake5555555555 04/19/24 12:49:25 AM #9 | Vengeance
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Raetsel Raetsel Inc.'s fifth music ranking! [NOMINATIONS] |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 11:59:57 PM #180 | WOLFPACK | LYCANTHRO PUNK (2:43)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc65B72gCJ4 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 10:00:20 PM #49 | Outlier
Fortybelowsummer - 188 Jcgamer107 - 174 Evilordexdeath - 170 Inviso - 156 Karo - 145 Johnbobb - 136 Snake - 130 Seginustemple - 120 Mythiot - 116 Bitto - 110 Plasmabeam - 108 Lightning - 104 Rockus - 96 HUGE leaps for jc & exdeath catching up to Forty's once daunting lead but is it enough? --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | [VGMC] Video Game Music Contest 18: Nominations |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 9:46:57 PM #219 | Support
+ MementoMori | Rage | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoV38KwtAIQ + Ghosthunter | Astral - Prison | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hezVqUKhGIA ++ Turgor/The Void | Grains of Mood | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKR-LFV71H0 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 9:39:17 PM #47 | Forty - Theres bound to be some debate on whether Predator is horror. My two cents is that its just Action/Si-Fi, but at the end of the day its a suspenseful movie with a monster that kills people one by one and flays them so you wont hear me complain that its on the list. Anyway, its muscles vs. monster in this peak of 80s badassery. It starts out with a standard rebel camp raid, all big guns, explosions, and one-liners and then evolves into something way more sinister than a bunch of guerillas. The slow reveal of the predator is great, from the initial infra-red first-person view to the final one ugly mother fucker form. He has a truly frightening presence and theres a reason hes one of the most iconic movie monsters. If this were Action/Sci-Fi, Predator would most definitely be in the top 5 but as a horror film I feel like I have to (begrudgingly) place it fairly low.
Jcgamer107 - 2/10 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Board List |