It’s a new year and a continuation of this column, many found it interesting, with the simple premise would one’s viewpoint change after reviewing a film from previous years, would time and a maturity of understanding of various filmmaking techniques change, would new influences alter the standpoint? Well, let’s dive into the first month of the new year.
The Mutilator [1984]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: A college student, who accidentally killed his mother as a child, decides to take his friends to his father’s fishing cabin during fall break, not knowing that his crazed father is stalking the place.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: Many times, though for this review it was October of 2016.
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 5.2/10
MY RATE THEN: 5.0/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: No, it’s a standard slasher film of the era, delivering the intent to gorehounds, the clichés seem a bit more pronounced, as I likely understand them now more than before as it has been 8-years since I reviewed it. Rewatching brought back fun and some amusement for the revisiting a slasher, which has a sequel nearing full release which stars Terry Kiser (Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood [1988]).
***** ***** *****
The Lock In [2014]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: In the spring of 2010, a church lock in at First Baptist Church was organized by Pastor Chris. In the first hour of the lock in, one of the students, Justin, had an unusual “incident” and was “inconsolable.” It was reported that he calmed down and kept to himself for the remainder of the event. Two days after the lock in, Justin reportedly broke down to his parents that he experienced something “evil” at the lock in. He also claimed he captured everything on tape.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: January 2021
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 1.8/10
MY RATE THEN: 1.5/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: It has not changed at all, this was one of our original D.O.A. reviews, (Dead on Arrival) meaning one of the worst films ever created in the horror genre; while it does fit under the subgenre of religious horror, it confines itself to absolute dumb found footage aspects. The story focuses on the possession of an adult magazine that corrupts the youth, primary only the boys in a church setting, this is a Christian Horror propaganda flick on the evils of pornography dressed around a lame and horrendous horror movie.
***** ***** *****
After School Massacre [2014]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: After being fired, a high school educator goes on a killing spree, stalking his former female students at their slumber party.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: November 2014
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 3.1/10
MY RATE THEN: 3.0/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: Yes, slightly, in fact the IMDb now rates it at 2.9, as previously admired by some critics for inventive killing devices, now stand corrected as I pointed out previously horror movies that deployed them insanely more graphic terms. I originally thought for a massacre movie it had some saving grace and the special effects were equally good, although rewatching the movie, and re-reading the review from 10-years ago, I admit I was incorrect, and that the film deservers the lower rating of 2.5…
***** ***** *****
DeepStar Six [1989]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: A team of navy personnel stationed at a temporary base at the bottom of the ocean and tasked with setting up nuclear missiles discovers a huge underwater cavern which houses a giant prehistoric creature.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: I saw it at some point in the early 1990s.
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 5.3/10
MY RATE THEN: 5.0/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: Nope, this is a typical b-movie creature feature horror movie, an oversized sea beast living somehow in its own ecological world is unleashed and begins to mirror the classic movie Alien [1979].
***** ***** *****
House on Haunted Hill [1959]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: A millionaire offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his wife.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: Ah, too many times to determine this date, but every time was a good time.
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 6.9/10
MY RATE THEN: 7.0/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: No way, I still enjoy this flick, it’s simple tale that wouldn’t scare any modern horror audience but, it’s that mischievous suave look from Vincent Price that sells the role, he’s obviously up to something, However think Carol Ohmart, as Annabelle Loren excels with those terrifying screams, repeating one after another, such intensity sells the fear. Nevertheless, William Castle delivers the goods, with the film and his marketing that generated lines at the theaters and inspired another film to try his hand at low budget horror, which was Alfred Hitchcock and his film Psycho [1960].
***** ***** *****
Clown Kill [2014]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: Locked in an office block with a sadistic clown, the staff must work together to survive the night.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: March 2019
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 3.4/10
MY RATE THEN: 2.5/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: Yes, but only worse, even the IMDb rating has dropped from where it was to now 2.4, and hence so has my thought about this dreadful film, I feel it much closer to a 2.0 which if reviewed now it would be an infamous D.O.A. Stylized-Review. The Characters are weak, tissue paper thin as well the execution of the storyline and production. The rawness of every portion of the movie just drags on for far too long, this might be better as a short 20 to 40-minute flick.
***** ***** *****
Velvet Buzzsaw [2019]
SUMMARY PER IMDB: A thriller about the contemporary art scene of Los Angeles, where big money artists and mega-collectors pay a high price when art collides with commerce.
WHEN I SAW IT DATE ORIGINALLY: April 2020
THE IMDB RATE AT TIME OF REV: 5.7/10
MY RATE THEN: 5.5/10
HAS MY VIEW CHANGE: No, this is still for the most part an art-house thriller with horror undertones, though some might find the slow burn aspect annoying and usage of sarcasm to broad to entice the viewer to engage in a philosophical journey of determining what is art, and who decides its values. It still is clearly not for everyone, as it splatters a lot of elements onto the canvas however they seem to lack the ability to sell a convincing cohesive storyline.
***** ***** *****