🔔Alerts
Login to get notifications!
 🗨️Forum
🗨️ Discussions
🗯 Shoutbox
🗂️ Boards
🎬 TEDb
👥 Users
 🎞️Movies & TV
📰 News
🎞️ Browse Titles
📚 » Books
📼 » Movies
📺 » Television
🎮 » Video Games
⌛ Timeline
 🌐Junk
☢ Apps
🕹️ Arcade
📅 Calendar
🎰 Casino
📃 Pages
👤 People
📜 About
✉️ Contact
🔗 Links
🕵️ Privacy
 🔍
Search keywords
🔍 Find All
Join➕ Now!   or       🔽 Forgot Password?
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
👍4 2815 views
🚸
avatar
ebossert says:
#60
Oct 2017
The Sleep Curse (2017, Hong Kong) – Anthony Wong and Herman Yau (The Untold Story, Ebola Syndrome) reunite for this new CAT III entry. A neurologist performs intense research on the science behind sleep. One of his former lovers arrives and requests his help in finding a cure for her older brother’s extreme case of insomnia. This film is more nuanced than you might expect, with a multi-layered and well-developed backstory that explains the origin of this “curse” that is rooted in real-life history. There’s also an interesting lecture related to sleep early on. Some good horror imagery is peppered in, but the highlight is the finale – a moderately lengthy feat of graphic violence. Recommended
🚸
avatar
ebossert says:
#62
Oct 2017
There's something implicitly fun about watching elementary school kids run from ghosts in a haunted school. It was definitely a nice change of pace from the violent stuff I've been watching this month.

Haunted School (aka Gakko No Kaidan) (1995, Japan) (repeat viewing) – A group of grammar school kids get trapped in a haunted section of their school. There are a number of fun scenes here (the roaming soccer ball, the giant schoolgirl, the foggy floor with grabbing hands, the saluting statue, and the upside down room with falling desks, etc.). The special effects are also surprisingly good in places (with some very cool monster designs). A young Aya Okamoto is the girl lead. Definitely entertaining and a reliable option in terms of family friendly horror. Recommended

Haunted School 2 (aka Gakko No Kaidan 2) (1996, Japan) (repeat viewing) – Some little kids attend a retreat in a rural Buddhist temple and experience supernatural phenomena while exploring a local school. This is a fun film that has a variety of poltergeists and monsters. CGI is used effectively and stop motion is evident in one sequence, but the highlight is the awesome clock tower monster who is made entirely of physical effects. The uber-cute Aki Maeda and Naomi Nishida have supporting roles. There’s something special about watching little kids in creepy horror movies, and this has to be one of the better ones. Recommended

Haunted School 3 (aka Gakko No Kaidan 3) (1997, Japan) (repeat viewing) – Aki Maeda and Naomi Nishida return in this unrelated third installment, and this time they get leading roles. Some grammar school students (and their spunky teacher) walk between two paranormal mirrors and get transported to an alternate, horrific dimension. This film by Shusuke Kaneko expands on the huge variety of horror elements that its predecessors established. A mix of CGI and physical effects is used to craft some creative moments. (At one point there’s a demonic copying machine that creates a monster made of sheets of paper.) Unlike its predecessors, there’s a bit more time spent outside of the school, in a horrific alternate dimension of course (the people with blank faces were creepy). This is fast-paced, spooky, and focuses a lot on the theme of friendship. The finale isn’t as thrilling as the second installment, but there is a cool scene involving a large skeleton. Recommended

Haunted School 4 (aka Gakko No Kaidan 4) (1999, Japan) (repeat viewing) – This film veers completely away from its predecessors by scrapping the “chased by ghosts in a haunted school” premise and opting instead to use a slow-paced spookiness with more classical themes and very little humor. However, the use of grammar school kids as the main characters is preserved, which is one of the refreshing aspects of this series of films (even the ghosts are mischievous children). The scare tactics here are well executed and very creative (no jump scares to be found, thankfully). There is a lot of spooky atmosphere too. Acting by the youths is good, the opening sequence is stunning, and the set designs near the end are excellent. This is considered to be a newer classic by the few who have seen it, and it’s easy to see why. Strongly Recommended
🚸
avatar
ebossert says:
#63
Oct 2017
Zomvideo (2011, Japan) – After a zombie outbreak, a group of office workers find a video tape that gives advice on how to survive a zombie outbreak using office supplies. Some legitimately funny moments in this. The lead actress is hot and likeable. The zombies have eyes with a white iris and a hairdo with a single spike stretching upward. Two of the zombie girls can speak and choose to eat beef jerky instead of human flesh. At one point, this film shows the inside of a VHS player and how it plays a tape, which I’ve oddly never seen before. There are sufficient amounts of blood and gore. Features the deadliest desk fan you’ll ever see, and one of the funniest zombie faces in recent memory. Make no mistake, this movie is cheap and stupid, but it’s also watchable. (Viewed without subtitles.) Recommended
🚸
avatar
ebossert says:
#64
Oct 2017
Two must see anime horror flicks!

Vampire Hunter D (1985, Japan) (repeat viewing) – In a future ruled by the supernatural, a young girl requests the help of a vampire hunter to kill the vampire that has bitten her and thus prevent her from becoming a vampire herself. The animation is a bit clunky and the script is basic, but the otherworldly mood and horrific artistry far outweigh any negatives. Scoring and use of sound are also fantastic. The action is entertaining, with lots of creative monsters. As usual, the English voice-acting is awkward so try to watch this with the Japanese dub. Strongly Recommended

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000, Japan) (repeat viewing) – A vampire hunter and four bounty hunters attempt to save a girl who has been kidnapped by a powerful vampire and his minions. This has more fluid animation than the original “Vampire Hunter D” film, but the atmosphere isn’t quite as thick. There are great visuals, cool gothic images, some fantastic monster designs, and the horror elements are strong, but the scoring and use of sound isn’t as ominous. The Japanese dub version is better than the English language one – both in terms of voice-acting and dialogue. Strongly Recommended
@ am
You have reached the end of Trash Epics.