film

Movie of the Day: Black Christmas (1974)

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Black Christmas is a movie I watch every Christmas season because I think the holiday season can be scarier than Halloween. This movie was directed by Bob Clark, who also helmed the family-centric Christmas movie A Christmas Story.

Bob Clark has a very interesting film history to his name. He was not a one specific genre kind of director. Rather, he enjoys directing across different genres, and if you look up his filmography, you will see what I mean.

Black Christmas starred Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon. It is about a sorority house receiving these obscene and creepy prank calls that lead to a killer who starts killing the ladies in the house.

Roy Moore, who wrote the script, incorporated some real-life situations and mixed them with the urban legend of the babysitter. I first heard about this urban legend when I was a child. I later found out that it is an older urban legend that started around the 1960s. (Source: Wikipedia) It is a cautionary tale about a girl who goes to babysit a neighbor’s kid, a friend’s parents’ kid, or a teacher’s kid. It is the first time they are babysitting and left alone in a stranger’s house. Later in the evening, the babysitter starts getting weird, creepy phone calls asking her about the children she is taking care of. She calls the police, only to be told that the bizarre phone calls are coming from inside the house. The end result is that when the babysitter checks on the children, the children have met a fatal demise, and the caller has left the house. Although this urband legend does have some truth behind it. It is loosely based on the unsolved murder of Jannett Christman, who was found dead in the house that she was babysitting at.

Although there was some discussion of who committed the murder, no one was ever charged with the crime.

The script was also inspired by various murders around the Westmount neighbourhood in Montreal, Quebec, during the Holiday Season. And was also inspired by the crime and killing spree of serial killers William Heirens and Edmund Kemper. Roy More’s script was initially titled “Stop Me,” but personally, I am glad they changed it to “Black Christmas” instead.

Some Fun Facts about the movie: The snow about the sorority house was not real and was foam that was given by the local fire department.

Despite it being a horror movie, Olivia Hussey said it was a lighthearted time between takes.

There is a novelization based on this movie that explains the characters more and fleshes out their actions.

Most of the actors’ clothes in the film are theirs because the movie had a limited budget.

The main reason Keir Dullea decided to make the movie was that he could visit his parents, who lived close to the location.

Better Davis was offered the role of Mrs. Mac but said no.

Rob Zombie’s favorite movie.

Source: Internet Movie Database, Wikipedia, and YouTube.

Five Unforgettable Movies to Watch (But probably not late at night…. :)

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Some movies are only worth watching once. It’s been checked off your to-watch list, and you are ready to move on. These movies that I selected are SIMPLY NOT THAT. These particular movies have left an impression on me that I tend to revisit them more often than I want to admit. They also tend to linger in your mind long after watching, and you begin to ask a lot of questions about the movie. So much so that you ended up watching them the next day to see if you could gain a little clarity about what you had just watched. Here are five movies that sprang to mind:

Santa Sangre:

Santa Sangre (1989), directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky and starring Axel Jodorowsky, Guy Stockwell, and Thelma Tixou. The first time I watched Santa Sangre was in college, when I was looking for a movie with surrealist themes. Not really knowing which direction to head in, I used the internet and searched for the weirdest surrealist movies. I got a couple of promising leads, but Santa Sangre had the more unique title, so I decided to take a chance. And OMG, when I watched it for the first time, I literally went to rewatch it immediately. I had no idea what I just watched, but it intrigued me so much.

The plot is about a guy named Felix, a former circus performer who ran away from a mental hospital and returned to the armless arms of his mother. She happens to be running a super weird cult and forces Felix to kill for her because she wills it.

Director Alejandro Jodorowsky is no stranger to making weird surrealist movies. For a movie he made in 1966 called Fando y Lis.

When the movie premiered at the Acapulco Film Festival in 1968, it so upset viewers that a riot broke out, and it was immediately banned in Mexico.

And that is just one example of how bizarre and unique his films are.

Society (1989) directed by Brian Yuzna. Starring Billy Warlock.

Society is an interesting movie. I watched it due to a friend’s recommendation a decade ago. It is about a guy named Bill who feels like he is included in anything. He does not feel like part of his family; his friends look down on him and consider him a forever outsider. He definitely feels like there is some evil, hidden secret in the wealthy neighborhood he lives in. Unfortunately, little that Billy knows, his gut feelings on all of those were not wrong.

Belladonna of Sadness (1973):

Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto. Recommended by friend @astraleyez . A young girl gets abused by a low-life king and is then banned from her own town. She meets the devil on the outskirts and decides to make a deal with him regardless of the outcome. This is a very hard cartoon to watch, even if it’s in cartoon form.

Dead Ringers (1988): Directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeremy Irons and Geneviève Bujold.

I am a big fan of vintage Cronenberg movies; I love The Brood, Videodrome, Rabid, and Crash. However, it was this movie that stuck in my mind image-wise. Cronenberg does body horror super well, and this movie is about two twin gynecologists who rebel against the fact that it is tough to tell one twin from the other. Their plan to pull off this charade was working until they both fell in love with the same woman.

Hellraiser (1988): directed by Clive Barker:

I am also a huge fan of Clive Barker. I enjoy his writing, and he has a fantastic way of developing very scary characters that leave a lasting impression. When I first saw all the cenobites on the screen, it made me realize that Clive Barker’s mind for creating such crazy leather-clad characters is AMAZING!!!! Pinhead literally stole the movie because he is the movie!!!

What other movies have left an impression on your mind? Share below!!!! Until next time

Source:

Youtube, IMDB, Wikipedia

The Smurl family: A demonic Haunting in Pennsylvania.

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I recently watched the Conjuring: Last Rites movie. The movie was based on the Smurl Family from a small town in Pennsylvania.

There was a claim from the family that from 1974 until 1989, their home was taken over by a demon who wanted to cause harm and destruction to them.

The allegations about the demons were made by Jack and Janet Smurl, who went to the press. And the hauntings and possessions became a worldwide sensation, which caused Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate these allegations that were made by the family.

The Smurl family claimed that their house had been inhabited by a demon who created uncomfortable smells and loud sounds throughout the house. The demon was also terrorizing their dog, shaking various items throughout their home, making one of the family members fall down the stairs, and, lastly, different family members were assaulted both physically and sexually.

Ed and Lorraine Warren first started investigating the family and house around 1986. While investigating, Ed Warren believed that the demon that took over the Smurl house and its occupants was an extremely powerful demon.

The demon also did not tolerate music that surrounded religion and any prayers that took place in the house. The Warrens were an unwelcome presence in the house by the demon because it would give them signs on the mirrors in the house, informing them to leave.

There were also critics of the Warrens and the Smurl family during this time, especially Professor Paul Kurtz from the State University of New York at Buffalo, who happened to be the chairperson of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.

Professor Kurtz believed that the Warrens were not credible people regarding investigating the Smurls’ claims of Demonic possession. And also that the Smurl family was going through the throes of “delusions, hallucinations, and brain impairment.” (Wikipedia, 2025).

The Smurl family finally had enough ridicule from the press and non-believers of their claims and decided to co-author a book with Ed and Lorrain Warren called The Haunted.

In 1987, things with the Smurl family regarding the demonic nightmare had lessened immensely. The family felt it was because they had escalated their praying, and they decided to move from the house in 1987. When a new owner moved into the house in 1988, into the old Smurl family house, she informed others that she never felt or saw any demons in the dwelling.

What are your thoughts about this? Comment below!

Until next time!

Source: Wikipedia

Horror movies based on True Events!

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In the spirit of Halloween, here are five horror movies based on actual events. Some movies on this list are on my favorite lists. Can you guess which ones?

Poltergeist (1982), directed by Tobe Hooper.

The Herrmann family, who lived in Seaford, New York, in 1958, had scary things to tell James, the patriarch when he came home from work one day. The children claimed to hear popping sounds all over the house. In addition, many cleaning products in their house are found without caps, and they are extremely hot when they come in contact with them. James called the police many times to investigate the weird occurrences at the house, which caused the stories about the house to become public knowledge. It caused such a commotion that Life Magazine made it their cover story.

Fire In The Sky (1993), directed by Robert Lieberman:

Based on a book by Travis Walton. Travis and his friends were hanging out one night when Travis was reported abducted by aliens.

The Entity (1982), directed by Sidney J. Furie:

The paranormal case in 1974 of Doris Bither is a book and movie that recounts her extremely terrifying experience of being sexually attacked by ghostly spirits or poltergeists.

Devil’s Pass (2013), directed by Renny Harlin:

This movie is based on the actual event of the Dyatlov Pass Incident ere, On Februay 1-5, 1959, nine hikers from the Soviet Union were in the Ural Mountains and passed away in unknown and eerie situations.

The Haunted (1991), directed by Darrah Cloud:

This 1991 made-for-TV movie is based on the Smurl family’s hauntings between 1974 and 1989. The family claimed a demon was haunting them.

Source Wikipedia and Youtube.com

Five Criterion Collections Wants!

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The Criterion Collection is having a spring sale until May 27, 2024. Here are five Criterions that are on my want list!

To Die For (1995):

Spine number 1213. Directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix.

Based on Joyce Maynard’s book with the same title as the movie, this dark comedy revolves around a character named Suzanne Stone, who dreams of becoming famous and being on TV by any means.

The link to buy is here:

https://www.criterion.com/films/32358-to-die-for

Risky Business (1983):

Spine number 1227. Directed by Paul Brickman and starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. (this is a preorder date of July 23, 2024). I didn’t watch this movie until three years ago, but it is one of my favorite movies from the 1980s.

The link to preorder is here:

https://www.criterion.com/films/33808-risky-business

Peeping Tom (1960):

Spine number 58. Directed by Michael Powell. Starring Carl Boehm. This movie is one of those films that sticks with you after you watch it. One man’s weird and addictive addiction to voyeurism turns deadly.

The link to buy is here:https://www.criterion.com/films/235-peeping-tom

My Own Private Idaho (1991):

Spine Number 277. Directed by Gus Van Sant. Starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves as two young swindlers on the streets with no home or attachment to anyone or anything other than the two of them.

The Link to buy is here: https://www.criterion.com/films/249-my-own-private-idaho

Umberto D. (1952):

Directed by Vittorio De Sica. Vittorio De. Sica is one of my favorite directors, and this movie makes me cry every time I watch it.

What movies are on your to-buy list for the spring? Comment below!!!

Until next time!

Happy Anniversary Hairspray!

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Hairspray premiered on February 26, 1988. The first time I watched Hairspray it was on a Sunday afternoon and it was the Sunday movie on channel 20. I was cleaning my room and wanted to have some background noise so I decided to turn on the TV. This was the first image I saw on the screen:

My first thought was “OMG that hair!!” But then I decided to watch it because it felt so much fun and there was so many interesting dance moves that I automatically became a fan of the film.

Hairspray is one of those movies that stays with you and I have often quote it with friends.

Here are some interesting facts about the movie:

This is director John Waters only PG-rated Film.

Baltimore director John Waters and drag queen extraordinaire Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, share a light moment outside the Senator Theatre at the world premiere of “Hairspray” in 1988. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)

The amazing Rachel Sweet sings the title song: Hairspray:

The great Jerry Stiller who play the role Wilbur Turnblad in the 1988 version of the movie:

Divine stands next to Jerry Stiller in a scene from the film ‘Hairspray’, 1988. (Photo by New Line Cinema/Getty Images)

Plays Mr. Pinky in the 2007 version of the movie:

At first the role of Edna Turnblad was wrote for Christine Jorgenson but when the role of Tracy Turnblad was rewritten. John Waters decided to also rewrite the role of Edna in order to keep Divine in the movie.

This was also Divine’s last movie with John Waters.

John Waters decided to cast Pia Zadora when he saw her in the movie Voyage of the Rock Aliens:

What is your favorite John Waters movie? Comment below!!!

Until next time!!

Source: Internet Movie Database and Youtube