Shocktober 2021, Week 2

This week my brother and I watched sci-fi horror films. Due to a late night at work on Thursday, we missed a day this week, which is why there are only six films instead of the usual seven...

1. A Quiet Place: Part II (2021) 

A pretty solid sequel. A Quiet Place Part II is able to recreate the tense, harrowing atmosphere of the first film while expanding on its world and further developing its character (or most of them anyways). It also compounds some of that films contrivances and lacks the same kind of emotional pay-off (though I'm not sure if trying to recreate that would necessarily be a good idea). The returning cast all do a fine job as does the always reliable Cillian Murphy. Krasinki continues to impress behind the camera, building tension slowly and largely avoiding cheap jump scares.  

Score: 8/10

2. The Blob (1988)

This remake of the 1958 cult classic (which I watched and reviewed a few years back) takes the story in a darker, more paranoid direction. It also ups the ante in terms of blood and gore and the effects work is all top-notch. Though the supporting characters are generally less likable then those in the original film the two main characters are both well written. I disliked the tacked-on sequel bait ending but, other then that, this was a surprisingly good remake. 

Score: 8/10

3. The Thing (1982)

Largely ignored on its initial release, The Thing has gone on to become an essential classic and is, probably, John Carpenter's masterpiece. His talent for slowly for building tension is at an all-time high here and the isolated, paranoid atmosphere he creates is absolutely chilling. The cast of characters (lead by an overstrung Kurt Russel) all have distinctive personalities, making the thing's ability to imitate them all the more unnerving. The brilliant but revolting effects work by Rob Bottin still holds up today. Opting to ape Carpenter's signature synth sound, Ennio Morricone's score is an unusual one for the composer. It's understated but unsettling score is a perfect complement to Carpenter's paranoid, claustrophobic thriller. 

Score: 10/10

 4. Color Out of Space (2019)

This recent adaptation of my favorite Lovecraft short-story is a strange one. While it does an admirable job slowly descending into madness, the tone is inconsistent. Though it largely plays its admittedly absurd premise fairly straight, at times it descends into camp. The film also lacks focus, and can;t seem to decide who the central character is. On the one hand, Nicholas Cage (at his, well, "Cagey-est" as the father who, more then anything, fears turning into his own abusive father) has a pretty clear character arc and his actions, more then anyone else, move the story forward. Madeleine Arthur on the other hand, gets the most screen-time as the Wiccan practicing daughter Lavinia while Elliot Knight's Hydrologist  Ward Phillips serves as a sort of inconsistent POV character. drifting in and out of the story too frequently for the conceit to really work. It's an intriguing effort but one that ultimately convinced me that this story (like much of the writer's work) is unadaptable.

 Score: 6/10

5. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Not a horror film but a fun one to watch with the family around this time of year. I have to admit that I've always been a bit befuddled by the sterling reputation of this Spielberg classic. This viewing was a better experience, overall, then my first. I really appreciate how much of the story is told visually rather then trough dialogue (John William's score is absolutely essential in this regard). The film also does a good portraying how scary but also how wonderful, childhood can be. There is an element of mystery, even of sublimity to the titular alien that evokes the awe and wonder with which a child looks at the world. My main problem is still Elliot himself. I just find the character too whiny to really latch on too (his brother and sister are far more likable). In any case the film has grown on me, but I've yet to fully understand it's lofty reputation. 

Score: 8/10

6. The Thing (2011)

This premake was better then I expected it to be. It does a fairly decent job staying consistent with the events suggested by the original film while also adding enough original material to keep things interesting. With that said, it is far inferior to the 1982 film. Director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. clearly has a love and reverence for Carpenter's film, but he lacks that director's penchant for building suspense. An early scene which takes place in the States is ill-advised and unnecessary, taking away from the film's sense of isolation and claustrophobia. The sense, in the original film, that anyone at anytime could be the Thing, is only rarely realized here. The character's are also less well drawn with only Mary Elizabeth Winstead's lead and Ulrich Thomsen's Dr. Sander making much of an impression. Reportedly the film underwent extensive re-shoots and editing at the behest of the studio, who also insisted on replacing the film's practical effects with CGI. It would be interesting to see the director's original cut but, until then this remains a frustrating film, though one that's probably better then it had any right to be. 

Score: 7/10 

Next week we're watching supernatural horror. Stay tuned!