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Oct 2017 *
EBOSSERT’s OCTOBER CHALLENGE REVIEW THREAD

Well, it’s that time of year again. This will be my ninth attempt at the October Challenge. Here are my results from prior years:

2008 – 34 movies (17 first-time)
2009 – 45 movies (28 first-time)
2010 – 55 movies (38 first-time)
2011 – 35 movies (30 first-time)
2012 – 59 movies (34 first-time)
2013 – 63 movies (46 first-time)
2014 – 63 movies (44 first-time)
2015 – 61 movies (41 first-time)
2016 – 47 movies (29 first-time)

I’ll be tracking my progress in the Official Progress thread, but this thread will provide the opportunity to provide my mini-reviews and hold discussions without cluttering the Official Progress thread with too many reply posts.

Total Viewings – 60

First Time Viewings – 31

1. The Green Inferno (2013, U.S.) – Recommended
2. The Conjuring 2 (2016, U.S.) – Not Recommended
3. Black Hand (2015, Korea) – Recommended
4. Alien: Covenant (2017, U.S./U.K.) – Not Recommended
5. Halloween Nightmare (2015, Japan) – Recommended
6. Halloween Nightmare 2 (2015, Japan) – Not Recommended
7. The Girl With All the Gifts (2016, U.K.) – Recommended
8. Saikyojyureiko (2016, Japan) – Not Recommended
9. Fuuin!! Hoso Kinshi Kensho Douga File Vol.16 (2013, Japan) – Not Recommended
10. Shinrei Toko Shin Shu Noroi No Doga Densetsu (2016, Japan) – Not Recommended
11. Kyo Akurei Jyusan Bon No Norowareta Toko Eizo (2014, Japan) – Not Recommended
12. Annabelle (2014, U.S.) – Not Recommended
13. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016, U.S.) – Strongly Recommended
14. Illusion of Blood (1965, Japan) – Recommended
15. Inferno (aka Kidan) (2005, Japan) – Recommended
16. The Void (2016, Canada) – Recommended
17. Sinister 2 (2015, U.S.) – Not Recommended
18. 31 (2016, U.S.) – Not Recommended
19. All Night Long 4 (2002, Japan) – Recommended
20. All Night Long 5 (2003, Japan) – Not Recommended
21. Hana-Dama: Phantom (2016, Japan) – Recommended
22. Among the Living (2014, France) – Not Recommended
23. Leatherface (2017, U.S.) – Cautiously Recommended
24. The Eyes of My Mother (2016, U.S.) – Recommended
25. Yami Douga 9 (2014, Japan) – Recommended
26. Pod (2015, U.S.) – Not Recommended
27. The Invitation (2015, U.S.) – Not Recommended
28. Blood Glacier (2013, Austria) – Recommended
29. Pumpkinhead (1988, U.S.) – Recommended
30. Zomvideo (2011, Japan) – Recommended
31. Jigsaw (2017, U.S.) – Cautiously Recommended

Repeat Viewings – 29

1. The Conjuring (2013, U.S.) – Recommended
2. House of Voices (aka Saint Ange) (2004, France) – Strongly Recommended
3. Horror Stories (2012, Korea) – Recommended
4. Dabbe (2006, Turkey) – Recommended
5. As the Gods Will (2014, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
6. Horror Stories 2 (2013, Korea) – Recommended
7. Them (2006, France) – Strongly Recommended
8. Cold Fish (2010, Japan) – Recommended
9. High Tension (2003, France) – Strongly Recommended
10. Baskin (2015, Turkey) – Recommended
11. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
12. Sinister (2012, U.S.) – Strongly Recommended
13. Strange Circus (2005, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
14. Spider Forest (2004, Korea) – Strongly Recommended
15. Dream Home (2010, Hong Kong) – Strongly Recommended
16. Greatful Dead (2013, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
17. Hana-Dama: The Origins (2014, Japan) – Recommended
18. Horror Stories 3 (2016, Korea) – Strongly Recommended
19. Inside (2007, France) – Strongly Recommended
20. Livide (2011, France) – Recommended
21. The Sleep Curse (2017, Hong Kong) – Recommended
22. Haunted School (1995, Japan) – Recommended
23. Haunted School 2 (1996, Japan) – Recommended
24. Haunted School 3 (1997, Japan) – Recommended
25. Haunted School 4 (1999, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
26. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003, Korea) – Strongly Recommended
27. Reincarnation (2005, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
28. Vampire Hunter D (1985, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
29. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000, Japan) – Strongly Recommended
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OnyxHades says:
#21, Reply to #20
Oct 2017
I thought this one was ok until the second half. Then for me it just turned into every other generic horror film out there. I didn't like the "twist" at all.
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ebossert says:
#22, Reply to #21
Oct 2017
I can see why someone might dislike the second half.
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ebossert says:
#23
Oct 2017 *
Horror Stories 2 (2013, Korea) (repeat viewing) – This is an anthology of four short films. “Beginning Story” (aka “444”) – A wrap-around story about a psychic (Se-young Lee) who reviews three death files in the basement of an insurance company. This provides a connection between the other segments and has a fairly fun conclusion. “Cliff” – Two climbers are stuck on a mountain ledge. This is not particularly scary and has some shameless product placement for Snickers bars, but it is watchable. “Accident”(aka “The Pain of Death”) – After a car accident, three girls experience strange phenomena in a desolate forest. This is slowly paced, but also moody and atmospheric, with a few spooky sets and a good ending. “Escape” – A horror/comedy about a student teacher who gets transported into an alternate dimension of his own apartment. He then seeks advice via phone conversations with a hot goth chick (played by Ji-won Kim, who is hilarious). This story is quite odd and has a few unusual moments. There are a few spooky sets here as well. As the most energetic and interesting segment, this is probably a highlight of the anthology, but that will depend on the viewer’s sense of humor. Overall, this anthology is a slight step down from its predecessor. Recommended

Trailer: https://youtu.be/zy2jjS4jdpY
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ebossert says:
#24
Oct 2017
Them (aka Ils) (2006, France) (repeat viewing) – A couple is harassed by a group of hooded assailants. After a solid opening sequence, the next 15 minutes are a clinic on how to develop likable characters in the shortest time possible. Soon thereafter, the viewer is treated to an incredibly long suspense sequence. The violence is very tame, but the tension is ubiquitous as the camera follows the protagonists as they navigate within their gigantic home (as well as the surrounding woodland area) in an attempt to avoid being killed. The running time is a slender 77 minutes, which helps the filmmakers to avoid wasting time on superfluous baggage. The use of background sound is expertly used, the pacing is non-stop, and the ending is chilling. Strongly Recommended
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ebossert says:
#25
Oct 2017 *
Illusion of Blood (aka Yotsuya Kaidan) (1965, Japan) – This is another adaptation of one of the most popular Japanese ghost stories. It involves an overly ambitious samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) and the hauntings he experiences. This is nicely shot, with some solid set designs. The corpse effects are cool, but I found the facial disfiguration effects to be underwhelming. The fake rats are also unintentionally funny. This is not as impressive as the 1959 adaptation, but it is good. Recommended
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ebossert says:
#26
Oct 2017
Cold Fish (2010, Japan) (repeat viewing) – A timid, repressed family man becomes unwillingly involved with a murderous businessman. This is one of Sion Sono’s weaker films, but has enough to sustain interest. This has a slow buildup, only one adequately developed character, and a basic plot, which means that the 144-minute runtime feels too long and repetitive. There is bloody violence throughout, but the ending is quite frankly ridiculous in how it unintentionally exposes its own superficialities, which demotes this film to a level below some of this director’s best works (and their fascinating, complex characters). If a critic called this film “garbage” I would have difficulty arguing a counterpoint. However, Sono’s talent for blending perverted elements with traditional filmmaking qualities is at least partially intact here, with good direction and performances by the cast. The actresses are all insanely hot, by the way, but Asuka Kurosawa (“A Snake of June”) plays the psychotic, bi-sexual, horny, sadist wife to perfection. She’s so much fun to watch; this film is worth seeking out for her alone. Also, this director takes his time to develop all of the scenes slowly and meticulously, which is definitely a positive. In the end, it’s the violence, perversions, craziness, and Asuka that make this entertaining. Recommended
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foz says:
#55, Reply to #26
Oct 2017
i've only seen a handful of Sono's feature films but i like Cold Fish. Mainly for the characters, the weak guy, the psycho, the fked up lady all good. plus the usual craziness. totally defer to your knowledge on this, but hey, just my opinion
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ebossert says:
#58, Reply to #55
Oct 2017
A lot of people like Cold Fish more than I do, so you're not alone.
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foz says:
#61, Reply to #58
Oct 2017
think i saw on another thread that you're not a huge fan of Noriko's Dinner Table, with you on that one! Do like Suicide Circle though.
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ebossert says:
#27
Oct 2017
High Tension (2003, France) (repeat viewing) – A woman’s visit to her friend’s farmhouse turns into a hellish ordeal as a murderous drifter pays an unwelcome visit. This film excels greatly in its non-stop suspense sequences, which are very enjoyable. There are some extremely violent and gruesome scenes, but they do contribute to the intensity of the situation. One of the things I like most about this film is that the woman hides within the drifter’s vicinity for long stretches of time, resulting in some truly memorable sequences. This film also contributes an outstanding score and sound design, which is seriously creepy and one of the best in recent memory. Some people criticize the ending, but the sheer tension of this film is great. Strongly Recommended
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ebossert says:
#28
Oct 2017
Inferno (aka Kidan) (2005, Japan) – The story centers on the strange case of a graduate student who went missing for a time, only to return with a case of amnesia. She travels to a secluded Christian village with an unorthodox archaeologist (Hiroshi Abe) to find out the truth. This is a theatrical horror film with good production values that somehow never got a release outside of its home country, despite being produced by the prolific horror producer Takashige Ichise. Much of the atmosphere is earned thru the forest/rural environments, which are captured beautifully by the filmmakers. There are a few creepy moments and no jump scares at all. There’s also quite a bit of religious content and discussion, mostly involving Japanese adaptations of Biblical scripture. That alone gives this movie a nuance that feels different from other Japanese horror films. Pretty good stuff. Recommended
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ebossert says:
#29
Oct 2017
Baskin (2015, Turkey) (repeat viewing) – Serving out a quiet night patrol, a group of cops get a request for assistance at a remote location. When the squad arrives, they soon realize that they’ve been lured into a concealed and hellishly surreal situation. The final 50+ minutes take place inside an abandoned, decrepit building. Set designs and lighting are moody, with a focus on creepy atmosphere mixed with demonic, bloody imagery. The actor they cast for the villain is a freaky looking dude, and was a nice choice. Things get sufficiently disgusting during the final half hour, which could turn off viewers who dislike stomach-churning gore. With that said, I like every section of the film, but feel like it’s more dynamic and interesting before the gore is introduced, after which it gets a bit static and repetitive. Recommended
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ebossert says:
#30
Oct 2017
The Void (2016, Canada) – Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures. This movie has some fantastic monster effects, the vast majority of which appear to be practical. There is also some moody, atmospheric lighting. The one location premise is helpful for the production budget, but in this case it creates a few pacing problems during the middle section. In terms of content, this is wafer thin stuff, but it barely matters because the horrific content is more than enough to compensate. Recommended
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foz says:
#56, Reply to #30
Oct 2017
it's basically a Carpenter homage of Assault, Thing & Prince of Darkness and a fun one!
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ebossert says:
#59, Reply to #56
Oct 2017
Very true!
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ebossert says:
#31
Oct 2017
Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989, Japan) (repeat viewing) – If a nightmare were ever recorded on video, this would be it. Shinya Tsukamoto directs this outrageously weird, outlandish film about a man whose body cultivates metallic devices. Shot in black-and-white and lasting only 67 minutes, this one moves very briskly. Interestingly, some stop-motion animation and fast-forward photography are used throughout, creating a truly unique cinematic experience amidst the backdrop of mankind’s relation to technology and urbanization. There is some wild violence and sex, but it is very bearable considering the non-use of color. This is one of the craziest films ever made. Strongly Recommended
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ebossert says:
#32
Oct 2017
Sinister (2012, U.S.) (repeat viewing) – A true-crime writer finds a cache of 8mm home movies that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose career dates back to the 1960s. This has only a few cheap jump scares, which is a big positive because it forces to filmmakers to rely on suspense and terror instead. Consequently, there’s a sustained sense of dread from start to finish; this movie doesn’t screw around with boring filler. The 8mm tapes are creepy (the lawnmower scene is the best one), as is the investigation of the murders. As added bonuses, the dialogue is well-written and interesting, and the very few humorous moments involving the deputy are actually funny, in my opinion. I would have preferred the final “connection” to be inferred instead of explained, and the make-up for the ghost kids is pretty lame, but I really enjoyed this one. Strongly Recommended

Sinister 2 (2015, U.S.) – A young mother and her twin sons move into a rural house that's marked for death. There are a lot of problems with this movie. The script is a complete mess because it painfully muddles a very simplistic premise. Yes, the 8mm tapes are creepy as usual, but the reasoning that is given for their existence and how they fit into the prior film is confusing and feels like a tacked on element. The mystery of this evil spirit was already solved in the last film, so the writers tried to add in other stuff to create a new mystery. The problem is that almost no time is spent on it and it’s not properly developed. I had serious problems making sense of how the newly revealed 8mm family killings and the possessed radio fit into the “linear killing pattern” from the prior film. To add insult to injury, this film focuses a lot more on the kids, which creates all kinds of problems. First, the human kids are either uninteresting or downright obnoxious. Second, the ghost kids are completely humanized in their interaction with the human kids, which eliminates much of the evil spirit’s influence. I do like the deputy character but most of the other characters are completely one-dimensional. I can usually handle weak scriptwriting in horror flicks, but this was an extremely frustrating film to watch. Not Recommended
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ebossert says:
#33
Oct 2017
Strange Circus (2005, Japan) (repeat viewing) – This one is sick, weird, and perverted, yet exceedingly interesting and well-written. Directed by Sion Sono, the primary focus here is on sexual/psychological perversion as a consequence of abuse. This film implements some really cool imagery and symbolism (i.e., the bright carnival amidst the pitch black night, the deep reddish sets, etc.). There are also plenty of twists and psychological elements to keep the viewer glued to their screen. (This is one of the few Japanese horror films that actually provides a detailed explanation near the end.) The viewer beware that there is a lot of explicit sex and a few gory moments to be had, as well as some uncomfortable situations involving children, but they are essential to develop the underlying themes. The acting is also excellent all around. Strongly Recommended
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iceflamez says:
#34, Reply to #33
Oct 2017
This one actually is the best Japanese psychological horror i have ever seen so far, truly a masterpiece from every angle you look at it.
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ebossert says:
#35
Oct 2017
Spider Forest (2004, Korea) (repeat viewing) – After a car accident, a man attempts to recollect his shattered psyche. This haunting film is very well made with solid acting and an intelligent script. There is a complex and engaging storyline, numerous psychological concepts introduced throughout, and impressive cinematography. This is a dreamy, ambiguous experience, but the structure of the universe created within it is very unique and creates a disturbing atmosphere that is reliant more on human nature than anything supernatural. Fans of David Lynch need to see this, immediately. Strongly Recommended
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