Blood, Brews & Popcorn

Meteor (1979): A Collision Course with Disaster Cinema

2024-01-14T15:43:53Z

Meteor is a 1979 American science fiction disaster film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, Brian Keith, Martin Landau and Karl Malden. The film follows a group of scientists struggling with Cold War politics after an asteroid is detected to be on a collision course with Earth, and was inspired by a 1967 MIT report, Project Icarus. The screenplay was written by Edmund H. North and Stanley Mann.

Considering that this film comes along towards the end of the 'disaster' genre heyday, and despite receiving less than stellar reviews at the time, I think it still delivers on many levels and is very watchable and entertaining. Is it perfect? No. Is it flawed? Yes. However, in the grand scheme of things, the actors deliver great performances and it's entertaining enough when you need a disaster movie fix.

Sean Connery delivers some great lines with his usual panache and his character is made of deliciously manly stuff. Karl Malden is, well, Karl Malden in all the wonderful ways we've become accustomed to. He faces off with Connery's character and matches his intensity expertly. Natalie Wood and Brian Keith deliver superb performances.

There was some casting 'musical chairs' around the Dr. Dubov character which originally went to Donald Pleasance, who filmed a few scenes before leaving to work on another film (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band). As a result, Brian Keith who had originally been cast as Gen. Aldon was moved into the Dr. Dubov role, and Martin Landau was cast as Gen. Adlon.

If you need a reason to watch this film, it might be simply to support the work of the actors who definitely went through some hellish filming conditions during the subway tunnel scenes when they were nearly drowned in torrents of disgusting muddy water. Sean Connery fell ill during filming because of it and the actors had to stuff their ears with cotton wool during those scenes.

All in all, I enjoyed this movie and I believe it earns it's place in the disaster movie genre.

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Night of the Demon (1957): A Timeless Horror Classic

2024-01-14T14:36:59Z

Night of the Demon (also known as Curse of the Demon), is a 1957 British horror film directed by Jacques Tourneur. The film has gained a cult following over the years and is considered one of the greatest horror films of all time.

Thoughts On The Plot

The film's storyline is engaging and thought-provoking. It involves an American psychologist who travels to England to investigate a satanic cult suspected in more than one death. The plot is filled with suspense and intrigue, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

Direction

Jacques Tourneur's direction is one of the standout elements of "Night of the Demon". Known for his distinctive style, Tourneur masterfully builds tension and fear throughout the film, making it a truly chilling experience.

Cinematography

The cinematography by Ted Scaife is another highlight. The black and white shots, in particular, increase the apprehension levels as the story progresses. The film's visual style contributes significantly to its eerie atmosphere.

Sound

The music composed by Clifton Parker, along with the overall sound design, gives this film it's exceptionally creepy atmosphere. The audio effects are used effectively to heighten the sense of dread and terror.

Cast

The performances by Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, and Niall MacGinnis are exceptional. Niall MacGinnis, in particular, steals the show with his portrayal of Dr. Julian Karswell (based on the M.R. James story Casting the Runes which formed the basis for the film). The actors' performances add depth to their characters and make the story more compelling. There is some discussion around whether Karswell's character was based on the famous occultist Alistair Crowley but there doesn't seem to be any tangible evidence of this).

Legacy

"Night of the Demon" holds an approval rating of 100% on the film review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. This film has stood the test of time and continues to be highly regarded by critics and audiences alike.

To sum up, "Night of the Demon" is a standout film in the horror genre. Its engaging plot, masterful direction, atmospheric cinematography, effective sound design, and strong performances make it a true classic. It's a testament to the film's quality that it continues to be highly regarded even decades after its release. If you're a fan of horror cinema, "Night of the Demon" is a film you don't want to miss.

Link randomly sourced from Youtube. I am not affiliated with nor do I claim ownership of this content.

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Cave Horror: What Lurks in the Dark

2023-12-17T14:27:55Z

I love the cave horror subgenre. There is something about it that taps into the deep, primal fear of the dark and what may be lurking within it. It creates a sense of visceral dread that is hard to shake off.

If you’re looking for a good cave horror I can recommend “Living Dark,” it really drew me in and kept me very entertained.

www.imdb.com/title/tt2100573/

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Stalking (2023) - Unhinged Pictures

2023-11-26T13:30:19Z

So I'm back with another entry from Unhinged Pictures, 'Stalking' (2023).

I'm enjoying the movie offerings on this channel so far. They hit the spot for hand held camera work and found footage feel. This latest one was another good effort, I enjoyed it overall and although it starts off a bit slow it does pick up speed later. If you have a ~~slight~~ full-on addiction to the found footage genre like me, these guys are definitely worth checking out. I had one minor little pick about the camera work for 'Stalking,' but I would highly recommend watching this and their other movies and making up your own mind.

The more I see of this channel and others, I'd rather watch more of these indie productions than some of the big budget movies that are under the thumb of corporate interference.

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Deadware (2021)

2023-11-24T22:34:34Z

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt15225976/

I have a soft spot for low budget horror and there were some genuinely creepy moments in this movie. It has a nice retro feel of late 90's internet (although having lived through the 90's I can't say I recall being able to video chat on a dial up connection!) and the clicky keyboard sounds are strangely satisfying. The dialogue between the two friends is believable enough though maybe a little grating at times. Overall it's worth checking it out and making up your own mind.

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Unhinged Pictures: Lurking

2023-11-21T15:19:13Z

So I found a link to a found footage Youtube channel in a found footage reddit community.

I checked out 'Lurking' and enjoyed it. One of the things I love about found footage movies is that even a micro budget production can deliver some good quality scares and these guys do a really decent job of it. Looking forward to seeing more of their work. If you love found footage movies I highly recommend checking them out.

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The Blair Witch Project: Revisited

2023-11-20T13:51:30Z

This movie stood out to me the first time I watched it (way back in the day) and still holds up for me. On first watch, the documentary-style film making mixed with the supernatural subject matter instantly captured my imagination in a way that other conventional film-based story telling at the time had not done previously. Even if they technically weren't the first, this film kick-started the found footage genre and made it cool.

We start with a small group of students led by a passionate but naive project leader who together embark on a trip to investigate and document the history of the 'The Blair Witch.' It's a great hook because despite being a work of fiction, we see and experience it all through the characters' eyes, ears and psyches, which makes it feel all the more real and threatening. The raw, unedited reactions of the group, captured on shaky hand-held video, makes the whole experience feel visceral and convincing. It takes us from a place of comfortable distance and drops us into the action where we feel as vulnerable as the characters themselves. I really enjoy this filming style and it remains a firm favourite to this day.

Films like this tap into our conscious (and unconscious) fears of getting lost, losing control and the claustrophobic terror associated with being cornered and unable to escape. It's a study of how people and social structures break down, slowly and insidiously losing reason and the ability to make intelligent decisions, until finally devolving into chaos.

Many film makers have since utilised this style of story-telling to great effect and I'm happy to see it continue to inspire and propel the genre. What are your favourite found footage films and why?

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