Another round of horror movies

[singedsun]

Last week impala_chick posted this link of horror movies available on Amazon Prime that were worth watching. Horror movies are a bit like comfort food, it's just something to put on so my brain can let go of the wheel for a little while.

I started with a Netflix movie, "As Above, So Below" which gave me so many interesting thoughts about where that story could go after the movie ends. Like enough that I might just add it to my Yuletide noms at the end of the year, because I've got about a page worth of ideas that would be worth putting out into the universe, whether I write them or not.

But then with this list, I've movied on to:

The Descent
A movie I'd somehow missed out on when it came out. I don't know why, maybe bad marketing where I live? I'd heard about it a few times and I know a few people that LOVE it. It was definitely a good movie to follow "As Above, So Below" with, given the general theme of caves and enclosed spaces with limited resources. I can also very much see now why so many people described the novel The Luminous Dead as The Descent but in Space. The creatures of the cave remind me of the pale orc from The Hobbit. I didn't really feel attached to any of the women in the movie, so as they started to die, I didn't really care? And I wasn't too freaked out by the creatures or the "jump"scares, so that didn't feel too scary to me either. Honestly, this felt less like a horror movie and more like a shark movie... if that makes sense? You know the horror, it's the ocean and the things inside it and it's your own fault for being there.

Climax
Oh. My. Everloving. God. What is this fucking movie. Listen. Please tell me someone else has watched this movie and then tell me what you thought about this movie. Because this movie is both a literal and metaphorical trip. Climax, is a Gaspar Noe movie about a group of dancers put together for a tour (what appears to be a kind of house party troupe, their choreography is VERY reminiscent of something straight out of a drag house competition. It stars Sophia Boutella as one of the lead dancers of the troupe and (maybe?) one of the organizers of the group. Anyway, after a long three days of rehearsal, the group has a party in what appears to be an old church where they've been living/working. During this party the camera pans from person to person to person catching strange conversations, flirtations, and brief dances amongst the group. Shit takes a turns about halfway through after literal credits run. IDK man. It's not what I expected and not really what I'd consider a horror movie either... it's definitely weird though.

Anna and the Apocalypse
The best by far, so far anyway. This came highly recommended and did not disappoint, despite how much it's trying to do all at once. This is simultaneously trying to be a high school movie, a musical and a zombie comedy movie and honestly it succeeds on all fronts. My only minor complain is that I definitely felt that the woman playing Steph should've been the lead, her voice was far stronger and more interesting than the lead character's. I also found the actual "villain" of the movie to be a bit of let down, in an 'evil just 'cause' kind of way. But the rest of the movie is just an enjoyable ride. Highly recommend if you like a musical and like a fun zombie flick.

I've pulled the full list from the site and definitely plan to make my way down what I haven't seen from the list. For the most part, I'm going in order, skipping what I've seen. Although there are some old favorites on there too, so I might do a rewatch of those just for funsies. I did recently rewatch "Cabin in the Woods" though, so I probably won't do that one again anytime soon.

Any comfort movie genres you guys are dipping into?

Comments

[woerot]

I don't remember the last time I watched a truly "good" horror movie! In my younger years (maybe about 15/20 years ago), I was all about them. My horror collection of DVD's was rapidly expanding, and then I just kind of moved away from them.

But I've been indulging (when time allows) in the big epic battle movies; Braveheart, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, movies of that kind. I love them, and it saddens me that there aren't many movies made like that anymore.

[bemused_writer]

All of your film choices sound really interesting! I have a few films on my to-watch list that I haven't quite gotten around to such as A Quiet Place, Paprika, and Perfect Blue, but I might have to add some of these as well.

As for other comfort genres, lately I've also been seeking out subtle horror or surrealism, maybe. I've had the most success finding that in games lately such as Kentucky Route Zero being a recent example. I also tend to seek out comedy shows I can watch or just listen to. Most recently I've started up Key & Peele and I've been keeping up with Brooklyn Nine-Nine and What We Do In the Shadows. I recently finished up Psycho-Pass as well, which fits in more with the eerie/sci-fi theme. ^^

[singedsun]

Ah yes, comedy my other good comfort genre. I've been rewatching Black Books after my recent Miranda rewatch. And I'm thinking about going back and rewatching The Vicar of Dibley when I'm done with Black Books. Either that or Black Adder. I'm also loving the new season of What We Do in the Shadows. I don't keep up with many current sitcoms but I also watch Superstore and Brooklyn 99. I'm going to be sad when those season are over for this year.

[bemused_writer]

Oh, I started Black Books; it's a great one. I need to watch Black Adder as well. And same with What We Do In the Shadows; that show has been so consistent. I'm just loving it. ^^

[queenhera]

I've been keen to see Anna And The Apocalypse for a while, but I find horror hard (even unconventional horror). Could you tell me how much gore it has? If it's not very gory I'll check it out.

[singedsun]

Hrm. Do you have a base level movie where I can gauge what kind of gore you're okay with? I feel like they cut away from most of the actual bloody scenes and there's nothing actually I'd consider GORE so much, no lingering shots of body parts or skin or what have you like in "serious" horror/zombie flicks. This is supposed to be a comedy musical first I think. A little High School Musical meets Shaun of the Dead. I don't know if that helps.

[queenhera]

Thanks. <3 I don't have a good horror movie comp because I find most horror difficult... shots of dead bodies and blood are not my thing. Anything to do with head injuries is usually more upsetting to me because of trauma. (As an example, I found that infamous episode of GOT with Oberyn's death to be very upsetting.)

I did think the blurb of Anna and the Apocalypse sounded cool, though.

[singedsun]

It might not be for you then. While I *think* the shots are few and far between, given that it's a zombie movie there are a few specific head shot/trauma moments as they figure out what works to deal with them. My tolerance for all things blood and gore is very high so I'm trying to err on the side of extreme caution.

I think it was extremely tame all things considered, but would recommend only watching on a day you feel either extremely equipped/supported or with someone who knows your issues well who can pre-screen.

[queenhera]

Thanks, it's good to know that. <3 I think I'll skip it, all things considered. My partner watches horror movies so I sometimes get a retelling from him, which is like watching the movie without having to see the gore... I think he'll want to see this one.

[impala_chick]

Yay, you've started on the list too! I watched some older horror i.e. Friday the 13th and Child's Play, but I want to dive into the list next.

Okay so I am half way through Climax and I still have no idea WTF is going on. It's all so catty. It sort of feels like walking through a modern art museum where there are random performers. How was this classified as a horror film?

[singedsun]

OMG WHAT EVEN IS THAT MOVIE? It's wild. Let me know how you feel after the second half.

[impala_chick]

Okay I finished it and I still don't know wtf was going on. Was the point just to show how "bad" LSD is? Or to show that human nature is wicked? That whole ending made me super uncomfortable, but maybe that was the point.

Anna and the Apocalypse was solid! Super fun zombie movie, and I do love zombie movies. I agree about Steph's voice! I liked her character and I'm super glad she made it. I was sort of hoping just the ladies would make it out.

[singedsun]

It's so weird. I read online later that the director basically showed the actors some clips of people on LSD and told them to pick actions that stuck out to them to replicate/exaggerate. So it's like everyone improving these super over-the-top reactions to LSD. Which yeah, just like turned into some people being horrible people, some people blissed out and some people just fucking???? I guess.

[impala_chick]

Whoaaa that is such a weird way to make a film!

[singedsun]

RIGHT? Like the whole film was bizarre enough.