| Board List | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Topic | Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 9:38:13 PM #46 | Of course even with that impressive trick, the movie just works as an action horror. The Predator design is great, and the scenes involving it are all incredibly tense. The jungle setting gives the whole thing a hot, forbidding atmosphere. In the mostly dialogue-free last act Arnold gives one of his best ever performances. And of course there are some great supporting performances too, including from the late great Carl Weathers. There is some really good worldbuilding about the Predator and his previous visits to the area. I do find the happy freeze frames in the credits a little odd, but that just gives it one more memorable thing to it. This would have been a competent action film if played straight, but every other aspect takes it to the next level.
5/5 Snake - I dont use the term perfect movie to describe just any ol flick - Predator IS a perfect movie. Its perfect because Predator wears many different hats at once and excels at showing them all off with style and aplomb - its at once a masterpiece of 80s action cinema, a perfect blend of thrilling sci-fi, gory horror, and balls-to-the-wall machismo with who else but just the most iconic action star of all time, Arnold Schwarzenegger, taking center stage. Arnold is in top form as Dutch here, musclebound as you would expect, but what really sets Dutch apart is his ultimate reliance on wits and tactics to take on the Predator as the threat becomes more tangible and deadly. The rest of the cast round out a crew of perfectly serviceable action archetypes - the rival CIA agent, the geeky tech guy, stoic badass, gun-crazy dude - but it's the performances, the way they play off each other, and their grizzly deaths that make the team have a more tangible sense of realness and weight to them compared to similar action films. Of course this film is nothing without its true starring character, the titular Predator. The film builds up suspense expertly, showing us only from the Predators perspective for a long time, leaving the audience in total suspense on what this supposed ultimate killing machine striking such fear into hardened soldiers actually looks like. The film creates an atmosphere of constant dread and paranoia. The lush jungle feels like a living entity, teeming with danger both natural and man-made, sometimes made by the group themselves. The Predator's POV scenes, complete with thermal vision, add another layer of tension as you see the heroes unwittingly walk into the sights of their unseen enemy. And the actual reveal - is both horrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. Predator has always been one of my favorite horror / sci-fi monster designs of all time. Predator is also relatively unique since its antagonist isnt mindless, but works on a code of honor, giving up its weapons to fist-fight Dutch. Its the kind of thing that nearly threatens to be goofy, but instead it works so well because of the stakes, tension, performances, and everything else that had led up to that morning thus far. It makes perfect sense in-universe and is a stunning conclusion to one of my favorite films of all time. Predator stands as a testament to how action films can be more than just explosions and one-liners, and how horror films can be way more than mindless deaths or based around one type of victim. Predator subverts traditional elements to create a suspenseful and thought-provoking experience, by presenting a vulnerable hero against an unknown enemy, and offering a unique commentary on similar stories in a way no film has done better since. Bitto - Rating: B I unfortunately watched this in a way that was not ideal. Way too much light glared on my screen, which sucked for this movie especially. But I still really liked what I saw. Great premise, great pacing, and great execution. My only real issues are that I feel like the Predator's powers don't always feel consistent and that this is just kind of a movie that doesn't appeal to me. I generally just don't like movies where the military play a major role. Plasma - Another great sci-fi horror entry on this list. Obviously the monster is cool and memorable, but the characters themselves shine here as well. Evilordexdeath - Le Prdateur - Apparently some American companies think all Canadians speak French. There are only a few times Ive encountered the consequences of this: as a kid I once visited a McDonalds with a sort of video arcade where they had Gamecubes that were set to reset every 5 minutes and arcade cabinets that were in French, and a while back during a family visit we were scrolling idly through Netflix as one does and all the movie posters were in English except one that read, in big bold letters Le Prdateur. Now I cant think about Predator or see its poster without saying Le Prdateur out loud. I've always thought of Le Prdateur as more of an action movie than a horror, but it does have some things in common with a slasher. It's fun. It definitely doesn't measure up to something like the first two Alien or Terminator movies, which it's hard not to compare it with, but Arnold is always cute and Le Prdateur is a cool antagonist. I like how he has rules for who he can and can't kill. This is a very manly film full of big bare-chested men and thats something I always appreciate. Johnbobb - I feel like half of watching Predator in modern times is just recognizing the memes. Predator definitely walks that line of maybe not really being a horror movie while still being a horror icon, and the best thing about the movie is the titular Predator. Everything about its design, movement, lethality makes it clear why it became such a legendary movie monster. That clicking growl is just so good. The movie itself is alright. I couldn't help but be pretty bored for about half of its runtime, but then that last half hour hits and it's just a thrillride, which makes it super hard to rank as a whole. Rockus - Predator is part monster movie, part 80s roided action flick. A great choice to use the first act as a way of establishing what a cool and unstoppable force Arnolds group of mercenary commandos happens to be. That way when the predator shows up and starts picking them apart one by one its even more threatening. One of the main things the movie has going for it is the cast of supporting characters and the big personalities they bring to the table. That way when they start dropping one by one slasher style its genuinely disappointing to see them go. Karo - This special strike team is dispatched into the jungle to try to rescue some hostages, which they do by charging straight into the rebel camp wielding grenade launchers and mininguns, with enough buildings exploding to make Michael Bay hard. If these people are the 'very best' I'd hate to see the worst. After confirming that yes, the hostages are indeed all now dead, they head back only to find our they are being hunted by an alien for sport. It's gonna be one of those days. It takes forever for the Predator to actually do anything, and when he finally does everything just degrades into one of those monsters killing everyone kind of movies where characters are bumped off one by one. It eventually culminates on a 1v1 duel between the Predator and Ahnold, where being covered in mud somehow defeats advanced alien technology because of course it does. It has a good soundtrack, but that is really the only positive thing I can say. It is a heavily commercialized sci-fi action movie (not a horror one) that minus a few quotes, I will have completely forgotten in a couple of weeks. --- 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 9:37:58 PM #45 | 9. Predator (1987 / 162 points)
Directed by: John McTiernan / Jim Thomas, John Thomas https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/d2b4ee6b.jpg Why Its Significant - Predator was a unique cross-breed that melded the prevalent genres of action, sci-fi, and horror into one unforgettable film. Predator flipped the script on slashers spectacularly, instead of featuring vulnerable teenagers, the victims here were a group of elite soldiers, hyper-masculine, presumed apex predators themselves. The Predator itself was an instant horror icon, with heat vision, cloaking ability, and advanced weaponry introducing a terrifying level of intelligence and tactical cunning rather than just the blunt deaths delivered by its peers. It can be called ironic that Predator influenced as many action films as it did since it spends the majority of the runtime deconstructing that notion, but some of the biggest films in the genre like Die Hard (also directed by McTiernan) and The Matrix owe credit to Predator. Predator also influenced a wave of action-horror hybrids, most evidently seen in films like From Dusk Till Dawn, Dog Soldiers, Underworld, Ghosts of Mars and The Purge and I would also count the Resident Evil series in the conversation too. Predator was followed by 4 main installments and a giant franchise with too many things to name, eventually even becoming well-intertwined with the Alien franchise. The Rankers Inviso - 1 Seginustemple - 2 Lightning - 5 Snake - 5 Bitto - 7 Plasma - 7 Evilordexdeath - 11 Mythiot - 15 Johnbobb - 18 Rockus - 18 Karo- 21 Forty - 22 Jcgamer107 - 30 Inviso - This movie is a masterclass in how to set a tone via show, dont tell. I love the fact that the starting plot of the movie is your standard tough guy military black ops squad getting sent on a mission to rescue hostages (which is really a cover for taking down a rebel base with munitions and narcotics and all that good stuff.) And they do a near perfect job of it, literally sneaking into the perimeter of the base, taking out the guards, and then Arnold sends a truck rigged with explosives right into their front door, before the squad just blows EVERYTHING up. Its just a wave of bullets and explosions that likely gave Michael Bay an erection the first time he saw it. And thats the first half hour, JUST establishing the characters as being badasses (complete with Jesse Ventura getting shot and shrugging it off with the line I aint got time to bleed.) in comparison to a full compound of rebel fighters. Throughout this sequence, weve gotten hints at the ACTUAL plot though. The squad finds the skinned bodies of a trio of soldiers that Arnold knew, and we get regular cutaways to heat vision, implying something is going on. Then the fun begins, because all these tough guys find themselves faced with an enemy theyre unprepared for, and they start getting picked off, one-by-one. I love how all of the squad feel unique, rather than just being a bunch of interchangeable manly men. So when they react, it gives a variety of reactions to the Predators arrival, rather than just a bunch of standard, cookie-cutter responses. Hell, theres even a point where they try to make a stand, because theyre soldiers goddammit. It all fails, but it manages to build the Predator up as a deadlier foe by showing how even this group of trained badasses cant compete with it. And in the end, everything winds up coming back to Arnold. Hes the last survivor (aside from rebel prisoner Anna), and he winds up finding a flaw in the Predators hunting style). He exploits this, and we have a great final showdown. Its especially good because Arnold legitimately gets his ass kicked in a fist fight for a bit, rather than puffing up his ego by making him unbeatable. He uses his intellect and ingenuity to win, but still, its a lopsided fight in the Predators favor until the very end. And even then, I love how the Predator goes full YOU DIDNT WIN! mode, by setting off a mini nuke rather than let his body fall to some human prey. Its just a perfect characterization of monster and victims across the board. As an addendum, Ive gotta give commendations to the other characters. Billy is my favorite member of the squad because hes a stoic badass (but even he winds up cracking up at one of Hawkins pussy jokes), and Mac is so professional that his agony over Blains death feels like it hits harder than it should for the guy whose whole portrayal prior to death was being a beacon of machismo. RIP Carl Weathers, but I love how hes painted as the government stooge, but he turns it around and shows loyalty to the squad when they might need his help. It couldve been so easy to have him at the end with Arnold, but instead he sacrifices himself keeping an eye out for Mac. Its all just really solid storytelling overall, and Im glad to rank it as high as I have. Seginustemple - I've seen this at least 20 times and it never gets old, it's the movie that made me fall in love with movies as a kid. The intoxicating jungle setting, bombastic orchestral score, layered creature design, the larger-than-life characters, it all makes for a perfect pulp sci-fi/war/horror combo. I still remember on that first viewing I missed the first minute or so with the spaceship, so the alien was a complete surprise. It's a great example of a tight three-act structure, in which each act flips the previous on its head in a satisfying way. It's part "Most Dangerous Game", part "Aguirre, The Wrath of God", it functions as allegory for the Vietnam war, while more directly alluding to ongoing CIA ops in Central America at the time. Ultimately I take it as a cautionary tale about the later stage of a culture that glorifies combat and fetishizes violence. Where the Xenomorph invokes the unknowable other, the Predator is more like a cynical projection of what we could become, a creature no more enlightened from traveling the stars than from splitting the atom. Lightning - If it bleeds, we can kill it. In 1987 director John McTiernan directed Predator and Die Hard back to back, not only directing two of the most iconic action films ever made right next to each other but also giving us two great nerd darlings. What Predator is though is a little bit more subversive than your typical action film, twisting the usual tropes and of course introducing some alien horror into the mix. This starts as a very conventional action film with big burly tough guys going into the jungle and wreaking absolute havoc with some very huge guns. There are even some classic Arnold one liners (Stick around!) in that initial action scene. But this scene reveals a darker government conspiracy at play, which then leads into an alien Predator hunting the leads. In other words, these apex predators themselves become the prey when faced with a greater threat. In the end, Dutch is only able to defeat the Predator by outsmarting it and using his brain rather than his brawn. In that sense this movie is setting up an archetypical 80s style action movie and turning it on its head. --- 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 Dreamcast game? (Day 14) + Xbox final |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 8:35:32 PM #2 | Gonna go with Dead or Alive 2
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four hub worlds are on the Video Game Hub Worlds Mount Rushmore? |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 8:09:09 PM #41 | I never got to experience PS Home :(
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four hub worlds are on the Video Game Hub Worlds Mount Rushmore? |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 7:32:04 PM #19 | It connects to all the "levels" and you return to the streets after every one!
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four hub worlds are on the Video Game Hub Worlds Mount Rushmore? |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 7:30:18 PM #17 | Peach's Castle (Super Mario 64)
Firelink Shrine (Dark Souls) Silent Hill Time Twister (Crash Bandicoot: Warped) --- 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 04/18/24 7:20:47 PM #2 | -
Armstrong --- 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 04/18/24 7:19:19 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 Ellie / Sazh - (17 / 10) Cave / Emet - (21 / 6) Joker (Persona 5) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/97c9e4c9.jpg vs. Penitent One (Blasphemous) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/656acca8.jpg Steven Armstrong (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f47f8979.jpg vs. Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII) https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/9dd4318e.jpg Easy Vote Joker / Penitent Armstrong / Lightning --- 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 - Ellie vs. Sazh / Cave Johnson vs. Emet-Selch |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 6:38:18 PM #32 | final bump
--- 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 5:40:41 PM #40 | Looking over the episodes and it really does seem that way! I absolutely love horror history & analysis.
--- 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 5:27:46 PM #38 | Just saved the podcast to Spotify!
And yeah you're right about the remake thing, and Sam Raimi did originally have a totally different vision for the film. It's more like a re-do than anything. --- 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 5:11:55 PM #30 | By the way, next ranking, the first #1 of the project drops!
--- 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 - Ellie vs. Sazh / Cave Johnson vs. Emet-Selch |
| Snake5555555555 04/18/24 4:26:11 PM #28 | 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 04/18/24 2:27:30 PM #24 | But yeah, having other characters in the film allows for greater range of scenes, and interplay between characters with regards to the demons attacking them. Jake being cowardly in contrast to Ash works much better than Ash having to play cowardly and heroic all to his lonesome. And Jake actually gets some funny moments, namely when Annie accidentally stabs him and then keeps slamming the door on his still-conscious body while trying to secure the cabin. All of that for him to get sucked into the basement to an insane torrent of blood water. And of course, once the other characters show up, Ash works better as the leader of a group of survivors, and he generally gets to be a badass in the face of demonic possession and whatnot.
Ive also gotta comment on the ending, because it is amazing. The movie foreshadows The man who fell from the sky early on, and then while sealing away the ancient evil, Annie opens a portal to another realm. Ash gets sucked back in time with his car, boomstick, and chainsaw, and suddenly he becomes the slayer of monsters in medieval times, and becomes worshipped by the knights that have arrived to see his victory. Its great to see them all in awe of him, while he clearly wants NOTHING to do with this location, and its just another heaping helping of shit on his life. Its a great capper to the movie, and its a set-up to a sequel that would still work even if Army of Darkness never got made. Thats funny to me. Karo - Some idiots fuck around with the necronomicon and that goes about as well as it usually goes, as an unspecified evil is set loose to wreck havoc upon the world with bad special effects. It feels somewhat different in its handling of horror elements with a certain kind of comedy that is rarely seen in the genre. Sometimes it works very well, such as the antics of Ash vs his evil hand, but more often it doesn't, especially towards the end. It needed a lot more of this kind of humorous levity and a lot less of just shit faced ghouls going rawrrr for what it was trying for to truly work. The premise started to get real old by the time the movie was over, as silliness has a tendency to do. It tries to be unique at least, but ends up being just... too much everything and I don't really have any desire to watch more of the franchise. Plasmabeam - Infinitely better than the original, but not my thing. Snake - I really hate how low I have to rank this since Evil Dead II is a treat. The over-the-top violence and slapstick humor is incredibly well-done here. Bruce Campbell of course shines as Ash, delivering a performance that is both charismatic and hilarious. His witty one-liners and over-the-top reactions as he battles his dismembered hand or the possessed Henrietta are iconic for a reason. I guess one point that knocks it down for me is the simplistic plot if I had to force myself to say a negative but really its not something I even think about when Im watching here! Jcgamer107 - 4/10 Johnbobb - The order I've watched the Evil Dead franchise: Army of Darkness -> Evil Dead Rise -> Evil Dead II I watched Army of Darkness as part of the 90s horror list, and ended up placing it 35th/40. I feel like these movies are kind of "you had to be there" kind of thing. Like seeing Ash Williams put the chainsaw onto his stump arm is more of a "hey he did the thing" moment for me rather than a "woah that's so cool!" moment as I expect it would've been seeing it for the first time in the 80s. It's funny sometimes; not like hilarious but it got the occasional chuckle. I definitely liked ED2 more than Army of Darkness but that wasn't really a high bar. Overall, just okay. Evilordexdeath - I'm watching these movies in chronological order and writing these blurbs immediately after I finish, so the last two films I saw prior to this one were Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and The Fly. In both of those writeups I talk about how I feel more frightened by more grounded and realistic horror movies. Evil Dead II is well known for being pretty much the polar opposite of something like that so I wasn't expecting to like it very much, but god *damn* did I hate this movie more than almost any other I've seen in my life. I wanted to turn it off after 10 minutes because I felt like everything else would be minor variations on the exact same shit and at the end I felt completely justified in that assumption. Scary thing pop up, everyone scream, Ash smash with axe, blood splatter, rinse and repeat for God was it only 84 minutes? This felt like a 4 hour film. I haven't seen too many legendarily bad movies like Disaster Movie or what have you. I would say the worst movie I've ever seen is Movie 43, which from what little I sat through was basically just people vomiting, pissing, menstruating etc. on each other for two hours or something with no attempt at wit, structure, overarching narrative or any of the components that go into a watchable film. This reminded me very much of that except as a horror movie, with its main advantage being that Movie 43 is also a profoundly lazy film and this at least has some definite effort put into the direction, set building, special effects, even shot composition and there is some sense of imagination in the different creatures and setpieces and all that. But the sense of complete meaninglessness and repetition, the deep exhaustion at how dull it all was, and the overwhelming desire to turn the movie off 10 minutes in were all the same. I know this won't be last in the rankings - in fact I expect it to be in the top 10 in one or two lists, and I can see how it could be fun to get drunk and watch this with your boyfriend or something, but personally, I was immediately convinced I had found my #30. --- 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 2:27:17 PM #23 | 10. Evil Dead II (1987 / 176 points)
Directed by: Sam Raimi / Written by: Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/2/297a4cde.jpg Why Its Significant - The smoldering question no one was asking - why wasnt Evil Dead 1 on the list instead of 2? Its because anyone who knows this film knows the obvious answer - Evil Dead II is the first film, only better in every regard. Instead of being a mostly serious, straight-forward horror movie, Evil Dead 2 remakes the first film with a coat of slapstick comedy, forming the splatstick horror Evil Dead would come to be defined by and most associated with going forward. Series protagonist Ash is fully-formed here with several iconic quotes and of course the chainsaw arm coming from this film! Evil Dead 2 had many films aping its style, such as Peter Jacksons Dead Alive, Tucker & Dale vs Evil, Bubba Ho-Tep, Demon Wind, Cabin Fever, and who knows how many countless other b-movies out there, and even helped inspire DOOM. Evil Dead 2 was followed by three sequels & a TV series and a massive multi-media franchise. The Rankers Lightning - 3 Mythiot - 5 Rockus - 5 Bitto - 6 Seginustemple - 8 Fortybelowsummer - 9 Inviso - 12 Karo - 17 Plasmabeam - 17 Snake - 19 Jcgamer107 - 22 Johnbobb - 23 Evilordexdeath - 30 Lightning - Groovy. The Evil Dead was a small gory horror movie that was made on a shoestring budget by people with no care or knowledge of typical genre conventions, leading to an instant classic with a distinct style and a bit of camp to it. Years later this led to a sequel, Evil Dead II, which amps up the horror while also introducing a lot more camp humour and slapstick. Most importantly, director Sam Raimi goes absolutely wild here with his directing, the camera flies around, there are incredible transitions, there are moments where the screen almost seems to warp and tear, or when the whole frame turns around. It is a truly dynamic movie and it makes it feel like a huge horror blockbuster despite being a low budget movie mostly confined to a cabin. The word for Evil Dead II is maximalist. Everything is turned all the way up. Bruce Campbell is incredibly heightened and hes great here. The gore is strong, the horror is strong, and the humour is very big. In a sense this film feels like a ghost house ride that lasts for two hours but never gets boring, and never feels cheap like some of todays jump scare heavy horrors. It also builds on the mythology set up by the first film, going from a straightforward demonic possession tale with a bit of zombie imagery into a full blown fantasy with different worlds, magic, and even time travel. It is the kind of film where there are simply so many different aspects to it that just writing about it makes it sound like its not even real. If there had been any restraint imposed on it it just would not have been the same. My only real issue with the film is the first five minutes, which sort of recap the first film with only two of the characters. This doesnt quite work and feels a little jarring. The film is also clearly intended to follow the first film and often references it with shots like Ash peering out through the trapdoor. You get past this part very quickly however, and after that its an absolutely wild rollercoaster of a horror film. 5/5 Rockus - Not quite a remake and not quite a sequel, Bruce Campbell called it a requel, but Evil Dead 2 appears to be when the Evil Dead franchise became fully formed with its brazen dark comedic voice. Sam Raimi and crew took the no budget inventive mentality from the first film and only got even more creative and more ambitious with it. Bruce Campbell gives an iconic performance that should have made him a full blown star as he fully commits to every bit and gag without hesitation. A true classic and I think the best film of both Raimi and Campbells careers. Bitto - Rating: B This is just a fun movie to watch. I especially like the filming in the movie. I haven't really seen...hammy filmmaking, but I guess this would be it. There's just some wild shots, some for artistic purposes and some for comedic purposes, but it definitely leaves an impression. The most iconic and emblematic scene has to be the badass scene of Ash getting a chainsaw for a hand...and then saying "Groovy." Speaking of Ash, he's just a fun character to watch throughout. I really like the scenes where he's in the process of getting possessed. The other characters are fine too; though, I really did not expect the thieving locals to be longtime characters in the film. They're fine. The ending is fucking wild. It really feels like they made that the ending just so people can go "I watched a movie with a crazy ending" to their friends. Seginustemple - Notoriously as much of a remake as a sequel, because it's pretty nonsensical if this is all following after the first. Although it is kind of funny that it would imply his type is just blondes named Linda, and he brings a second Linda back to the cabin. I like the original for what it is, but II outdoes it in so many ways it's easy to write it off as a false start. Bruce Campbell goes full live-action cartoon mode in the best way, the lore has fun time-travel shenanigans, deadites have more attitude, the evil point-of-view chases are thrilling. The early one running through the entire cabin is ridiculously cool. I have to be in a silly mood for the all the splatstick to land, but it's the some of the best there is. Fortybelowsummer - Its a no-brainer to have this one on the list rather than the original low-budget-but still pretty-great Evil Dead. While the first movie is more pure horror, this one really ramps up the quirky silliness that the series became known for. Bruce Campbell is actually one of the best physical performers Ive ever seen. Hes super fun to watch battling his own severed hand or disembodied girlfriend head or various other deadites with his iconic chainsaw and boomstick. The decision to go the funnier route but retain the geysers of blood and strewn body parts is brilliant. Its hilarious and gross and I love it because theres nothing else like it. Inviso - For the first third of the movie, I was questioning why the fuck this movie has such a great reputation, because I found it kinda boring. I think part of the problem for me is that, while there are funny moments, and wacky hijinks, and just general slapstick for that whole portion of the movie, none of it feels earned. It feels like a segment in a horror anthology movie that got stretched out just a little too long. Part of that is how detached from everything Bruce Campbell is, which doesnt work for me when hes operating as a one-man show. Its just thirty minutes of a guy doing zany slapstick shit without any real reason. Hes in a cabin in the woods because thats the setting, and bad things are happening because he listened to a recording, but that plot feels like it has NOTHING to do with him, or the girlfriend he kills VERY early into the movie. With all that being said, youd expect the movie to be much lower, right? Well lets just say that once the other characters show up at about that 30-35 minute mark, the movie starts to settle into something resembling an actual MOVIE instead of just a prolonged sketch show segment. Annie arriving gives the audience and emotional investment in the plot, because she actually has a justification for why shes at the cabin, and she has her fears and worries and just generally feels like an actual CHARACTER. Not the most complex of one, but you really need someone like Annie, who is largely the straight woman of the film, to stand in contrast to other over-the-top characters (like Ash). --- 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 2:04:42 PM #22 | LightningStrikes posted...
Other: Near Dark. Hint was more effective than I expected! --- 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 1:36:33 PM #138 | Support:
+ SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS | Completeness Under Incompleteness ("true prooF" Long ver.) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhdmLj-zlvw + Blue Reflection: Second Light | A Hopeful Astraea | https://youtu.be/-0ArjCS80gQ --- 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 04/18/24 1:09:16 PM #7 | +5 Sweet Home
+4 Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse +4 Castlevania +3 Friday the 13th +3 Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom +3 Batman: The Video Game +2 Chiller +2 Uninvited +2 Life Force +2 Ninja Gaiden +1 Maniac Mansion +1 Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos +1 Super Mario Bros. +1 Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! +1 Contra +1 Spy Hunter +1 Metal Gear +1 Final Fantasy +1 Metroid +1 NARC I might like to provide a few write-ups --- 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 3:45:53 AM #13 | Watch your tongue boy if you like this job!
--- 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 1:28:05 AM #11 | Society's great! I'd probably struggle with writing it's inclusion blurb though.
--- 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 12:48:29 AM #9 | I didn't include Return of the Living Dead since it was done in a previous ranking!
--- 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 12:45:41 AM #115 | + Paranoia Scape | Symptom | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkUH4uxucpk
+ Okage Shadow King | Baroque-Dowaruk | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W1kebOH_ik + Fobia: St. Dinfna Hotel | The Hall | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GceXStbCmxc ++ Silent Hill: The Short Message | My Heroine | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfVz-PbNAKk + Iron Lung | It Wakes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARVjaXkjdcM --- 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 12:37:37 AM #7 | Evillordexdeath posted...
https://tenor.com/view/latios-licks-pikachu-gif-6431863923421164287 Cute --- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 11:45:33 PM #500 | Next topic here
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80749967 https://i.imgur.com/seJorXr.gif --- 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 258: San ___ |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 11:37:44 PM #7 | Andreas
--- 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 04/17/24 11:36:13 PM #1 |
Remaining Films: The Shining (1980) Possession (1981) The Thing (1982) Videodrome (1983) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) The Fly (1986) Evil Dead II (1987) Predator (1987) Beetlejuice (1988) And their points: 51 64 91 122 142 142 147 159 162 176 Current Outlier Fortybelowsummer - 174 Evilordexdeath - 148 Inviso - 146 Jcgamer107 - 141 Karo - 126 Snake - 117 Johnbobb - 114 Seginustemple - 111 Mythiot - 105 Bitto - 104 Plasmabeam - 99 Lightning - 93 Rockus - 82 --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four games are on the Least Horny Video Games Mt. Rushmore? +TIEBREAKER |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:52:04 PM #64 | FFDragon posted...
Oh come on, Mavis can get it First of all LMAO Second of all this is still a Mt. Rushmore so the games have to still be somewhat notable while still being as nothorny as possible so I think it still fits :P --- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:50:34 PM #486 | Is this the longest time gone without someone losing their #1 yet?
--- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:46:11 PM #485 |
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four games are on the Least Horny Video Games Mt. Rushmore? +TIEBREAKER |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:23:40 PM #50 | Dancedreamer posted...
Depression quest was developed by Anita Sarkeesian. Very much wrong, it was Zoe Quinn --- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:11:13 PM #477 | And thus, your top 10:
The Shining (1980) Possession (1981) The Thing (1982) Videodrome (1983) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) The Fly (1986) Evil Dead II (1987) Predator (1987) Beetlejuice (1988) --- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:04:35 PM #476 | Plasmabeam - Im not as high on Hellraiser as most, but the creativity is a firestorm and the drama has a sharp, satisfying edge to it.
Karo - A hedonist looking for some experiences that are out of this world activates an ancient artifact and ends up chopped into bits and turned into an unknown creature who lives in the walls, only appearing when human blood is shed (and possibly at scuffed childrens' book festivals). The mother is the real star here, her decent into madness as she lures into human sacrifices to feed to her grotesque boyfriend while her family remains oblivious. However, the ending goes completely off the rails in the worst possible way. The Cenobites, who are supposed to be these mysterious and violently hedonistic higher beings, are reduced to lame foddderistic ghouls to chase the main characters around. Plus a random fucking bone dragon for no reason! Yay. This was something that had such incredible potential that was squandered just for the sake of repetitive horror elements and shifting the focus of the horror from very scary humans to marginally scary monsters just for the visual jerkoff. Though sadly they apparently didnt destroy things enough to avoid making ten fucking sequels to the movie. Rockus - So compelling that it almost makes you forget that the majority of the action takes place in a single location. Initially feels underwritten as it briskly introduces characters and moves through its setup, but Im more of a themes guy than a plot guy which makes Hellraiser my kind of jam. Like Possession this is another film that will likely unearth more understanding upon repeat viewings with its mix of body horror with sadomasochism and BDSM. An extremely wet and goopy horror film (in a good way!) with some terrific effects, and the cenobites are wonderfully designed and conceived horror icons. Johnbobb - https://i.imgur.com/HWS3i7n.gif Evilordexdeath - Honorary #16 - Pokmon Movie 05: Mizu no Miyako no Mamorigami Latias to Latios I like the part where Latios tackles Pikachu but then makes up for it by licking him. Actual #16 - Hellraiser The big takeaway I got out of this movie is that the God Hand from Berserk are clearly inspired by some of the cenobites. That comparison is not very favorable for Hellraiser in terms of narrative depth though. This was fine. I think my favorite part was when the lady was luring men into her attic to feed to her ghoul bf, there was an enjoyable sense of building tension in those parts, and a sense of inner conflict when the guy eventually told her to kill her husband. The cenobites are cool visually although in both this and Berserk I feel like the funny little glasses guy makes them slightly harder to take seriously. They definitely represent a much more hardcore section of the BDSM subculture than I can get into though. Bitto - Rating: C Frank really shows how evil humanity can be. He's just a scummy person all throughout and, unlike other entries on this list, I don't think the movie ever paints Frank in a sympathetic light at all. In that sense, he might be the most effective antagonist in this gauntlet. Unfortunately, no one else is really interesting. Julia is pretty bad. I get no sense why she's so into Frank. The one interesting thing she does is her line in the sand about Frank killing Larry, but that goes away by the end. The Cenobites have good scenes, but they...surprisingly don't do much until Frank is dead. Lightning - We have such sights to show you! Dark, mysterious and a little bit sexy, Hellraiser seeks to do what the subjects of the film do and combine all the pains and pleasures of the flesh (or in this case, gory horror with erotic thriller). It mostly succeeds at that, but stumbles a bit when it turns into effectively just a pure creature feature at the very end. The film also creates a genuinely unnerving atmosphere throughout, and it almost makes the whole film feel like something you shouldnt be watching but cant tear yourself away from. This is probably the goriest film on the list, some of what happens here like the hooks going into somebodys skin is truly gnarly. There are some really unpleasant images too like the initial summoning. Yet the film also plays itself a little bit erotic. Here the film manifests the kind of dynamic its all about, that interplay between pleasure and pain. It also just provides a pretty intriguing set up, almost working as a sort of home invasion thriller rather than a supernatural horror film. The basic beats of the plot are actually relatively down to earth, a wifes ex-lover hides in a family home and attempts to replace the father. Only with a twist of interdimensional sex demons. The Cenobites themselves are great creatures, its no wonder they became so iconic. I also didnt realise until watching that they are the clear inspiration for the God Hand from Berserk, one of the designs nearly feels lifted straight from here. Unfortunately the Cenobites also form the films big weakness of the last fifteen minutes, once they just become monsters chasing the lead through her house they lose their power. And frankly it felt like they went down a little too easily. The last act slightly spoils the film for me, I was really with it until then. Still, this is a unique horror movie that has a lot more on its mind than the typical schlockfest. 3/5 Inviso - I was not looking forward to this movie on the list, because even thought its iconic (specifically, Pinhead is iconic), Ive always heard less than pleasant things about the visuals. And in a way, thats truethe introduction of Pinhead and the Cenobites isgross. The monster designs in this movie certainly get the point across of testing the limits of my ability to hold my hurl. Plus, the movie both starts and ends with a pretty major gross-out kill scene (technically of the same guy both times, albeit different actors). But even then, its not the WORST thing Ive seen on this list thus far, and while I wouldnt want to watch it again, I was able to get through it. The reason Im ranking this as low as I did is because of how fucking boring it is. The movie starts on a creepy scene, but then its just a lot of scenes of a British woman fantasizing about her dangerous brother-in-law until he gets resurrected from the Cenobites BDSM dimension, at which point she starts luring men to the house to blandly kill them with a hammer and feed them to Frank to help rejuvenate them. Meanwhile, her actual husband is likethe most milquetoast human being on the planet. He gets led around by Julia and doesnt realize that shes both cheating on him with his dead monster of a brother, and also murdering people. He doesnt realize this until he himself has been skinned and killed. The problem is that the viewer KNOWS, perhaps due to the nature of Franks resurrectionor the opening scene, that theres more the movie is capable of then generic, bland serial killing. And it takes SO LONG to get that far, until skinless Frank tries to hit on his niece and she steals the demonic puzzle box. Kirsty solves the puzzle box and this is around the 80% mark, Id wager. This summons the Cenobites finally and they try to drag Kirsty to hell, but she sells out her uncle, who isnt supposed to have escaped from their torture. This leads to them being off-screen for another scene as theres more boring stuff with Kirsty and Julia/Frank (while Frank is wearing Larrys skin to fake being Kirstys dad)and its all just dull, with a frosting layer of gross when the Cenobites show up to kill Frank once and for all. --- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 9:04:21 PM #475 | 11. Hellraiser (1987 / 180 points)
Directed / Screenplay by: Clive Barker https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/ddb8b47a.jpg Why Its Significant - Hellraiser seemed to be an instant classic, storming cinema with a unique blend of sadomasochistic imagery, philosophical explorations of desire and pain, and the on-screen introduction of the iconic Pinhead character. Clive Barker had already been a prominent horror writer for a few years before adapting his own novella, The Hellbound Heart, into this memorable film. I think easily one of the most interesting influences this film has is bringing BDSM culture to a more mainstream attention, as Barker frequented the scene and was openly gay and fingerprints of that are all over the novella and film. Hellraisers horror influence can be seen in everything from media franchises like Star Trek to individual films like Cube or Dark City. It could even be considered a sort of precursor to the so-called torture porn genre. Hellraiser was followed by a whopping 9 sequels, a reboot, comics, famous metal song by Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde & Motorhead, references in many forms of media, and tons of canceled projects. The Rankers Snake - 6 Jcgamer107 - 7 Fortybelowsummer - 8 Seginustemple - 9 Plasmabeam - 10 Karo - 11 Rockus - 11 Johnbobb - 13 Evilordexdeath - 16 Bitto - 18 Lightning - 18 Mythiot - 26 Inviso - 27 Snake - Hellraiser is a descent into a depraved and darkly beautiful underworld. The story, while deceptively simple, is layered with themes of obsession, forbidden desires, and the inescapable consequences of transgression. Frank Cotton, a man consumed by a relentless hedonism, unleashes a terror beyond comprehension with a mysterious puzzle box. The box itself is a marvel of design, a perverse work of art that hints at the grotesqueries that lie within. Clare Higgins embodies Julia's simmering discontent. Julia is a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, yearning for a past passion that consumes her. Higgins portrays this frustration with a quiet intensity. Her longing glances and repressed desires hint at a darkness bubbling beneath the surface. When Julia succumbs to temptation and becomes entangled with the forces unleashed by the box, Higgins masterfully navigates the character's descent. She transforms from a yearning wife into a desperate and ruthless individual, driven by an insatiable hunger for pleasure and power. Ashley Laurence, on the other hand, represents innocence thrust into a horrifying situation. Kirsty is a teenager caught in the crossfire of her parents' troubled marriage and Frank's sadomasochistic obsessions. Laurence portrays Kirsty's initial naivet with a relatable charm. However, when faced with the horrors unleashed by the puzzle box, Laurence delivers a powerful performance of resilience and courage. Kirsty evolves from a terrified victim to a resourceful heroine, determined to fight back against the Cenobites and protect herself and her family. The dynamic between Higgins and Laurence is a key element of the film's narrative. Julia becomes a twisted maternal figure, manipulating Kirsty while simultaneously yearning for a connection. Laurence holds her own against Higgins' seasoned performance, creating a believable and emotionally charged conflict. Their contrasting portrayals of women caught in the nightmare highlight the film's exploration of desire, consequence, and the fight for survival. The best part of Hellraiser though lies in its visual aesthetic. Barker, with a background in comics and illustration along with his writing, brings his nightmarish visions to life with stunning practicality. The Cenobites, the demonic engineers of suffering, are unlike any other monsters in horror. Led by the unforgettable Pinhead, with their stitched flesh and piercing intelligence, they are the embodiment of a horrific yet strangely alluring sadomasochistic order. Their world, glimpsed in terrifying flashes, is a labyrinth of industrial machinery and glistening viscera, a place where screams become symphonies and flesh is putty in their cruel hands. Again, like with Tetsuo, industrial horror is M Y A E S T H E T I C and its even better demonstrated and utilized here. The transformations, the eviscerations, they all feel real, uncomfortably real, because they were achieved with a tactile ingenuity that grounds the film's outlandish concepts. Its still one of the boldest horror debuts of all time to me, endlessly quotable, and filled with fantastically memorable characters and set-pieces. A truly unique marvel of the genre I return to with painful glee every time. Jcgamer107 - 7/10 Fortybelowsummer - I love Pinhead so much that Ill go ahead and pop Hellraiser into my top 10, even though the entirety of the movie itself isnt the greatest. Its pretty much Julia picking up dudes the whole time and bringing them back to sacrifice to Frank, which is cool, but it does get a little old. Pinhead himself is only in the movie for like 9 minutes, but he still has a huge presence (I know, its an androgynous being but Ill just use he for convenience). Its actually better that he remains somewhat mysterious because in later movies, when he starts appearing and talking more, he loses a bit of his mystique in my opinion. Hes interesting because he isnt built like other horror villains. He's intelligent and articulate but also ethical (I guess?) in that he doesnt just mindlessly kill. For me, as a youngster, when I would peruse the horror section of the video rental store but wasnt allowed to rent them yet, Hellraiser always felt the most forbidden. The leather clad Hell Priest gazing at you holding the ominous lament configuration, then hearing about or catching glimpses of the the sadomasochism, the gruesome vicious violence. It feels like Hellraiser almost has an aura about it even now after seeing all of them (except the new one but Im interested in the female portrayal) and now having finished writing this I feel comfortable with a top 10 placement, hell, I might even bump it up. Seginustemple - Another childhood favorite, this one I probably saw a little *too* early. The Cenobites have some of the coolest mythology in horror, a party of interdimensional BDSM bodymodders - and though the sequels dig into these characters' backstories more I prefer the unknowability invoked in their brief appearance here. Pinhead isn't even named in this one, he's Lead Cenobite. Where the unknowability doesn't work so well is with the puzzlebox logic, I think the Lament Configuration is kind of a cop-out safeword/MacGuffin that can do whatever the plot needs at any given moment, but the name sure does sound cool. The makeup/sfx work is fantastic, especially for Frank's intial reconstitution scene where he coalesces together. I forgot that there's some cheeky humor to his character, like there's a point where he's still skinless but puts on a dress shirt & tie, and casually smokes a cigarette. And I realllly forgot that he ends up taking his brother's face, completing the whole kinky affair with a layer of incestuous roleplay. Poor Garak. I get his character more now too, he's the inverse of his extremist brother: squeamish, faints at the sight of his own blood, strictly a missionary guy. But Ashley Laurence is the only one I really root for, I love how pissed off she gets at the mind-melting shit that's happening around her. No time for disbelief or despair, she just gets angry and starts barking at demons. The exasperation is relatable. --- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four games are on the Least Horny Video Games Mt. Rushmore? +TIEBREAKER |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 8:56:32 PM #33 | Flowers are romantic as hell what are people on here
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Topic | What four games are on the Least Horny Video Games Mt. Rushmore? +TIEBREAKER |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 8:22:17 PM #8 | Elmo's Letter Adventure
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Desert Bus Sensible Train Spotting --- 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 Xbox game? (Day 13) + PS2 final |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 7:54:31 PM #3 | Doom 3 but I do like the Splinter Cell pick
--- 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 - The Rankings |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 7:48:08 PM #473 | All great points, I agree with a lot of that but at the same time I never personally put my stock in whether a film is "art" or not. I mainly rank films, especially horror, on visceral impact. Like Tetsuo. It's a chaotic mess, but it punches you right in the gut with its visuals.
Ambiguity can definitely be powerful too. It forces you to engage with the film on a deeper level. That's something I value a lot. Not just being a passive observer. But ultimately, a good story is a good story. Art isn't about categories or labels for me. It's just about finding something that resonates with me. --- 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 - Ellie vs. Sazh / Cave Johnson vs. Emet-Selch |
| Snake5555555555 04/17/24 7:23:33 PM #8 | also not me misspelling Labrys on every poll option lmao
--- I've decided to put my fears behind me. I'm not going back. If you're gonna scream, scream with me |
| Board List |