Shocktober 2022 Wrap-Up

In addition to the horror movies I watched with my brother, we also watched a few more family-friendly options with our younger siblings.  

1. Coraline (2009)

Probably the best stop motion film ever made, Coraline is elevated by its excellent source material but credit has to be given to the filmmakers for the movies amazing visuals. It does take some liberties (there's an entirely new character voiced by Robert Bailey Jr.) and the tone is a bit wonky at times but, for the most part, Director Henry Selick and the production team do a great job bringing Neil Gaiman's book to life. There's also more Michigan connections here as Coraline has moved from the Great Lakes State to Oregan (another change from the book, which takes place in Gaiman's native England) and she brings with her various memorabilia including a snow globe from the Detroit Zoo (a place I've visited countless times). 

Score: 9/10

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Probably the archetypal Tim Burton film, for all the good and bad that entails, Edward Scissorhands is one of the directors most brilliant works, visually. The contrast between the decrepit gothic castle that Edward lives in and the exaggerated, brightly lit suburban neighborhood of his adopted family is striking. Burton is obsessed with the outsider and Edward (Johnny Depp) exemplifies this archetype more then maybe any of his other characters. The films biggest weakness is the love interest, Kim (Winona Ryder), who is completely selfish and, as a result, unsympathetic. Edward's unquestioning love toward her, though understandable given his complete lack of experience, is more frustrating to watch than anything else. What's worse is that the film treats this relationship not as a cautionary tale but as something romantic.

Score: 7.8/10

The Addams Family (1991)

Though not at all familiar with the original show or the comic strip that inspired it, I immediately fell in love, at least with this version, of Morticia, Gomez Addams, Uncle Fester, Wednesday and Pugsley Addams. First time director Barry Sonnenfeld (taking over for Tim Burton who left the project in favor of Batman Returns) displays his penchant for zany comedies which he would later perfect with Men-in-Black. Like that film, the zaniness of The Addams Family is grounded by a solid emotional core. The film is perfectly cast, in particular Christina Ricci as Wednesday.

Score: 8.2/10

The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Though based on actual events the plot of The Ghost and the Darkness is, essentially, Jaws with lions, complete with a larger-than-life animal terror; a protagonist who is something of an outsider; a hard drinking, rough-around-the-edges hunter; and a greedy, politically motivated authority figure. The film has a more polished, big budget feel its more famous, water bound predecessor (though it also has some stodgy effects work occasionally) and feels a little less grounded as a result. Nonetheless, this film distinguishes itself with its authentic period setting, and (relatively) historically accurate story. It also has a strong cast particularly Val Kilmer in the lead (despite his questionable Aussie accent) and Michael Douglas as the fictional hunter Charles Remington.  

Score: 8.2/10

Shocktober 2019 Ranked 

1. Nosferatu (1922)

The granddaddy of all horror films, 100 years later Nosferatu is still one of the best. 

2. Army of Darkness (1990)

While not the tightest film in the Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness is the most fun. 

3. The Evil Dead (1980)

It's not a great film in the conventional sense, but I find Sam Raimi's cult classic infinitely re-watchable. 

4. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1977) 

A truly sublime horror film. 

5. Coraline (2009) 

Maybe the best stop-motion movie ever made, Coraline is elevated by its excellent source material. 

6. The Birds (1963) 

A masterpiece of terror. 

7. Evil Dead II (1987)

A zany, off-the-wall sequel/retcon of the Sam Raimi's original cult classic, its probably the best film in the trilogy, even if I prefer its cheaper predecessor and its (at times) overly ambitious follow-up.

8. Aliens (1986) 

The only good Alien sequel, even if it betrays the spirit of the original. 

9. Stalking Moon (1968) 

A solid western film with some slasher movie vibes. 

10. Tower of London (1939)

It's basically Shakespeare's Richard III by way of a 40's b-movie, which is right up my alley. 

11. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) 

A hilarious send-up of horror films that somehow manages to be heartwarming despite all the blood and gore. 

12. Scream (1996) 

Wes Craven's deconstruction of the slasher film is arguably more of a thrilling who-done-it then a horror film, but it's held up pretty well in any case. 

13. The Exorcist (1973) 

Though I still take issue with some of the more over-the-top moments, this film has really stuck with me in a way that most horror films usually do not. 

14. Child's Play (1988)

A surprisingly restrained slasher film, I enjoyed Child's Play more then I was expecting to. 

15. The Addams Family (1991) 

A funny and, at times, heartwarming adaptation of the cult classic comic-strip. 

16. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

It has some major issues, but I still have a soft spot for Tim Burton's goth rom-com. 

17. The Ghost and the Darkness (1998)

A suspenseful thriller and a solid historical film. 

18. Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Though it's not in the same league as the first two films, Son of Frankenstein is one of the more solid Universal sequels and is a ton of fun. 

19. Death Line (1972) 

A harrowing film. Mind the doors indeed. 

20. The Invisible Woman (1940) 

A fun little screwball comedy.

21. Village of the Damned (1960)

A solid little sci-fi thriller, directed with restraint by Wolf Rilla.

22. The House of the Seven Gables (1940) 

Though a terrible adaptation of the novel, The House of the Seven Gables is a solid enough drama in its own right. 

23. The Invisible Man Returns (1940) 

A fairly solid sequel, The Invisible Man Returns trades the black humor of the original for a more emotionally resonant, though at times a little maudlin, story. 

24. Child's Play 2 (1990)

Though better than most slasher sequels (and head-and-shoulders above the films that followed it), Child's Play 2 still lacks the heart of the original film. 

25. The Mummy's Hand (1940) 

A run-of-the-mill sequel held back by clunky pacing. 

26. Black Friday (1940) 

A diverting enough 70 minutes. Karloff is great as usual while Lugosi is underutilized. 

27. Friday the 13th (2009)

More or less what you'd expect from a late 2000's slasher remake, Friday the 13th has its fair share of trashy fun but lacks the grit and low budget charm of the older films. 

28. Curse of Chucky (2013)

A step in the right direction after its loathsome predecessors, Curse of Chucky is held back by its limited budget and sense of mean-spiritedness, which had plagued the series ever since the first sequel. 

29. Child's Play 3 (1991)

Bland and inoffensive, Child's Play 3 is the dumbest film in the series but it's far from being the worst. 

30. Cult of Chucky (2017)

A sad ending to a sadistic series.

32. Seed of Chucky (2004) 

It's dull, depraved, and almost entirely lacking in any merit outside of an almost insane sense of dedication on the part of the filmmakers to move forward with the bizarre direction the series had taken by this point. 

31. Bride of Chucky (1998) 

While not as dull as the film that followed it, Bride of Chucky may be the most vile, degenerate film I've ever sat through. 

Well, that about wraps it up. Thanks for reading everyone!