Nosferatu (1922)
This is a true masterpiece of silent movie magic. Listed as one of the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," on Ebert's greatest films list, and even on the Vatican's best movie list, this film will amaze and disturb on every viewing.
It succeeds on several fronts. First of all, atmosphere: the setting, lighting and pacing of the film are brilliant. Freeze frames at just the right moments. Music that perfectly sets the scenes. And even though this was obviously filmed in daylight instead of dark the creep factor and integrity of the film holds up. Shadows are used to up the tension and creep factor.
In addition to atmosphere Nosferatu features amazing acting by a great cast of characters. Even the smallest parts stand out, from the townspeople at the beginning of the film to the sailors at the end. Greta Schroder and Gustav von Wangenheim are totally believable as a young, naive married couple. von Wangenheim provides occasional comic relief and Schroder excels as a woman both easily tempted and strong enough to defeat the vampire in the end. Max Schreck, of course, was so believable as a vampire that people actually thought that he was one. He doesn't even blink for most of the film.
Finally, the greatest achievement of the film, in my opinion, is the special effects. Granted, you have to view them while factoring in the extreme difficulty of creating special effects at the time. How did they make items move on their own? How did they make you believe the paranormal events depicted? Best of all, the most memorable scene, when Graf Orlok stands up from his coffin without bending his body. It looks so real that it is likely the scene you remember most. It certainly is for me.
We had mummy dogs, ghostly donuts, and mimosas for breakfast to accompany the feature. Great way to start off.
1408 (2007)
In a completely different vein, we have 1408, based on a short story by Stephen King. A paranormal debunker finds himself trapped in a haunted hotel room that is really haunted. I have to believe that King wrote this one after too many nights on book tour and wwwaaaaayyyy too many banal hotel rooms. Mike Enslin wrote one great novel from the heart after his daughter died and followed it up with several kitschy books like 10 Haunted Graveyards.
This time he's stuck in a room that always, always, kills its guests. I love how King writes horror that deals with our own innate, mundane human fears in the most terrifying ways imaginable. As Samuel L. Jackson's character says, "Why do you think people want to believe in ghosts?....they provide a hope for life after death." Mike wants to deny that hope because he is still bitter over the loss of his daughter. Room 1408 uses that against him in every way possible.
There is also the terror of repetition, the same one you feel when watching Groundhog Day when the alarm clock keeps playing Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe." In this film, its The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun," but the effect is the same. That dragging fear that your life means nothing and the triviality of it all will never end. The platitudes of the hotel staff prove that no one really cares.
We even get the nightmare trope of waking from a dream repeatedly to find that you never really escaped, you just think you did. In the end Mike accepts that there is no escape and that death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you. Even when he does escape at the end, he can never fully believe that he is not still in the room.
It is interesting to note that Cusack and Jackson co-star in another King film in 2016, Cell. Neither 1408 nor Cell did all that well at the box office, but they encompass the stories they are based on quite well.
Snack was Children of the Popcorn and Rice Crispy Monsters.
Gerald's Game (2017)
From one Stephen King story to another....So far this one is pretty much exactly like the book. Gerald is an asshole, Jessie is legitimately tired of his shit, and the terror has just begun.
Lesson one: always have a safe word.
Lesson two: don't leave your door wide open.
Lesson three: feral dogs are always Cujo and people are food.
Lesson four: you are a lot stronger than you think you are.
Lesson five: Their shackles can be broken but only you can break them.
Lesson six: "Huh, you're a lot smaller than I remembered."
Lunch: Stuffed Pepper o'Lanterns, toxic macaroni, devilish eggs, and reverse caramel apples.
Event Horizon (1997)
My husband has probably made me watch this one a hundred times, but it is still a horrific version of the future of space exploration. The crew of the Lewis & Clark travel beyond Neptune on a top secret mission....with Sam Neil. Honestly, if Sam Neil is in a movie in the 90s, you probably don't want to be there; they usually end badly for his companions. The crew is no exception.
They find a ship that Neil designed to create wormholes and cut travel time in space. Unfortunately, it disappeared with all hands on board. But now it is back...and it's hungry. Apparently the ship went a bit too far and pierced the universe into what appears to closely resemble Lovecraft's parallel dimensions where the Elder Gods live. Wherever it went, whether Hell or S'glhuo, it is not a good place. In parts this movie also resembles Barker's Hellraiser.
Either way, only 3 people survive and we once again have a scene at the end where the survivors are not sure that they actually got away. Like Alien's tag line, "in space no one can hear you scream."
Snack: Toasted pumpkin seeds and Nancy Drew blondies.
Now a break to watch Jeopardy....
Wish Upon (2017)
Premise is pretty simple. Unpopular girl's father finds a magic box that will grant 7 wishes and gives it to her. Girl makes some wishes and discovers that there is always a price in the form of someone she cares about dying. After the seventh wish, girl's soul will be the final price. Should she continue to make wishes?
Kind of reminds me of Final Destination with the tension to see who will die next. Also has that "Monkey's Paw" thing going on. It was okay. Pretty good for what it was but the main characters got a bit irritating after a little while. There is even a mean girl. Sort of a mix between a teen movie, slasher film, and Dr. Faustus. If your looking for some teen angst and gruesome murder, here ya go!
Dinner: Decapitated meat head, boo-tatoes, and witch's fingers with witch's brew cocktail.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Finally, we're ending with a comedy about "evil" witches. Strangely, it's at this moment that I realize pretty much all of these movies had to do with family. In this one, sisters are the primary topic: sisters to save and sisters who kill. We have Winnie, the sister with the powerful book; Sarah, the sister with the powerful voice; and Mary, the sister with the powerful nose. Then we have two brothers, one who failed to save his sister and became immortal to defeat the witches and one who could become their newest victim. Oh, and resurrecting kitties and zombie boyfriends, can't forget those.
Much of the comedy springs from the Sanderson Sisters not really understanding the "modern" world. And virgin jokes, of course. What teen movie of the 80s and 90s didn't have virgin jokes?
I do wonder what the Town of Salem thought of this one. Did you know that Sarah Jessica Parker is in fact descended from one of the women accused of witchcraft in Salem? How cool is that!
Midnight (well 10 pm) Snack: Bloody cups (chocolate with cherry filling)
Okay, so we are now done with our movie marathon. What movies would you choose for a horror movie marathon?
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