#abcsofhorror

We're up to day 16 of #31daysofhorror and J is for Japan on my horror-by-country list. I watched "Kairo" (Pulse) from 2001, directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. This movie, centering around an Internet scare/apocalypse theme, had some promise and an allure to discover the cause of all the disappearances that occur. It however flounders due to plot holes, length, and an attempt at parallel story lines that only confuse the viewer further. Maybe it would have been more effective in 2001... #pulsemovie #japanesehorror #abcsofhorror #internetscaremovie

I is for India on day 12 of #31daysofhorror and I watched "Bandh Darwaza" (The Closed Door) from 1990, although it looks like a much earlier production, and directed by Shyam Ramsay and Tulsi Ramsay. This is Dracula, Bollywood-style including the melodramatic ballads ("...I was a spark but now I'm only darkness...") and long weaving storyline. One sees the influence of folktales (Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) as well as popular 80s horror (e.g. an entire scene made to look like "Suspiria" and an utter rip-off of Harry Manfredini's theme from "Friday the 13th"). In the end, an entertaining experience and better than, say, "Vampire in Brooklyn"... #bandhdarwaza #indianhorrormovie #indianhorror #bollywoodhorror #vampiremovie #indianvampire #abcsofhorror #worldcinema

H is for Hong Kong on day 11 of #31daysofhorror and my horror-by-country list. I watched "Black Magic" (1975, dir. Meng Hua Ho), a Shaw Brothers production. This was a fun watch with its old style fake blood, fight scenes, and cheesy effects (stop-motion decomposing head and force fields). This has inspired me to check out more Hong Kong horror from the 70s and 80s. If you're curious to check out something a bit more recent, I'd highly recommend "The Eye" (2002, dir. The Pang Bros.) #hongkonghorror #hongkonghorrormovie #blackmagicmovie #blackmagic1975 #abcsofhorror

G is for Germany on day 10 of #31daysofhorror ! I watched "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) from 1920, directed by Robert Wiene. I'm slightly embarrassed to say this was my first time watching (though I studied scenes and researched the film in school, I never sat down and watched it through). Arguably THE first horror movie, this is well worth a watch! I love the set designs and overall style of the film with all its points and curves showing us how this world is neither a normal nor a safe place. Even the town church in the backdrop appears as a demon face watching over its residents. Dr. Caligari and his "somnambulist," Cesare, make a genuinely creepy pair and it's a bit unsettling just how much control/power Caligari has here and how seemingly helpless almost everyone else is. In one scene we find Caligari feeding Cesare spoonfuls as the human-puppet sits up in his coffin bed obeying his master like a well-behaved child. I could go on but I'll just say watch this film! There a few versions on YouTube for free. #thecabinetofdrcaligari #dascabinetdesdrcaligari #germanhorrormovie #germancinema #silentmovie #worldcinema #abcsofhorror

D is for Denmark in Day 7 of my horror-by-country list for #31daysofhorror - I watched "Frygtelig Lykkelig" (Terribly Happy) from 2008, directed by Henrik Ruben Genz. Dark, unassuming thriller about a cop reassigned to a small town who becomes tangled in the affairs of the locals. Like many Scandinavian films, I like the steady, patient pace of this one, which allows the viewer to spend some time with its characters and really bask in the atmosphere being presented. In this case, it's mainly a bleak, lackluster world on display, a powerful device in creating a near unshakeable mood for the majority of the film. Don't want to get into too many narrative details but, I would recommend! Also, according to the World Happiness Report, Denmark is no. 1.... #danishhorror #terriblyhappy #terriblyhappymovie #abcsofhorror #worldcinema #danishcinema

C is for Croatia in my personal horror-by-country challenge for #31daysofhorror and I watched "Izbavitelj" (The Rat Savior) - 1976, dir. Krsto Papić. Ooh boy this was a weird one but essentially a broke author finds a secret society of rats impersonating humans while squatting in an abandoned bank. I still can't tell if the rats had special powers to become humans, or if they were humans who adapted rat-like features but could also appear as normal humans if they wanted, or if the rats were making duplicate fully human looking rat people to do their dirty deeds. Either way some fun human-rat make-up, an "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"-esque story and underlying allegory about living in Yugoslavia in the 70s. #izbavitelj #theratsavior #croatianhorror #croatianhorrorfilm #31daysofhalloween #rathorror #ratpeople #abcsofhorror #worldcinema

For Day 4 of #31daysofhorror I watched "Patrick" (Australia, 1978, dir. Richard Franklin) which tells the story of a killer using telekinesis to harm his victims while lying comatose in a hospital bed. Couple of good jump scares here and interesting idea, but also a bit slow in delivery. I've decided to set a goal for the 31 days of horror challenge: watch one new (to me) *foreign* horror film through an alphabetical list of countries (one for each letter, to the best of ability). Today's A in horror is for Australia, tomorrow will be B for Brazil... #31daysofhalloween #patrickmovie #australianfilm #australianhorror #aussiehorror #horrormovie #telekinesis #typewriterhorror #worldcinema #isntallcinemaworldcinema #abcsofhorror

Today at http://psychodrivein.com ABCs of Horror 2016 Day 29: W is for Dee Wallace When Dee Wallace was asked what it was like to work with kids and dogs, she laughed and responded, “I don’t think I would have had a career if it weren’t for kids and dogs!” --- Read more of Jessica's article at the link in our profile! #deewallace #abcsofhorror #thehillshaveeyes #cujo #ettheextraterrestrial #thehowling #thehouseofthedevil #thelordsofsalem #halloween #exithumanity