Oof. There is the kernel of a great concept in Return To Horror High, taking a meta, tongue-in-cheek approach to horror and genre filmmaking cliches, but unfortunately Bill Froelich isn’t the guy to make it. There are a few measly pleasures to be had here, but for the most part this is a limp, unfunny, and not even remotely scary or creative slasher. But you do get George Clooney for about five minutes, and a fun, slightly unhinged Maureen McCormick performance, so if you ever had a thing for Marcia Brady this just might be your bag…

the angry black girl and her monster header

Reviews

Hooptober 11.0 – The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023)

Being Film #13 for Hooptober 2024

The beautiful thing about The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is how much of a “first film” it is, in the best possible way. The directorial debut of Bomani J. Story, this is a film very much full of ideas, using genre to get at the heart of gnarly and thorny issues that rise above with some truly sublime moments, even as the overall narrative and directing get a little, well…messy at times. But it’s so easily forgiven because behind every odd edit, every cheap (though some are fantastic) visual effect you can see the beating heart of a storyteller, and his cast matches the pump and thrum of that heart in perfect time.

ChrisSeptember 27, 2024September 27, 2024Leave a comment

Reviews

Hooptober 11.0 – Twixt (2011)

Being Film #12 for Hooptober 2024

What a beautiful, messy, sloppy charmer of a film. ON the one hand, I can see what both the average movie goer – even the casual Coppola fan – would be put off by Twixt, the maestro’s 2011 “return” to horror. I can also see how those fans who loved his adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula would watch this and cry foul. But my viewing found something deeply personal, deeply indebted to Coppola’s influences and preoccupations, and with his “Authentic Cut” retitled to its original B’Twixt Now and Sunrise we get a late highlight from a man who hasn’t yet quit trying to be innovative and singular with his artistic vision.

ChrisSeptember 26, 2024September 26, 2024Leave a comment

Reviews

Hooptober 11.0 – Insidious: The Red Door (2023)

Being Film #11 for Hooptober 2024

Boy do I like Patrick Wilson. Guy is a phenomenal performer, handsome to a damn fault, and has made some really brave and interesting choices in his career. He also seems to really love genre, and I love that his passion for this franchise and these characters propelled him into the director’s chair for the first time for Insidious: The Red Door which concludes the story of the Lamberts. I wish the script held up its end of the bargain, because while there are the kernels of strong ideas and themes here, the door closes on the Lambert family in poor, dull, and rote style.

ChrisSeptember 23, 2024Leave a comment

Reviews

Hooptober 11.0 – Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Being Film #10 for Hooptober 2024

I’m not going to try and change your mind and say that Insidious: The Last Key is a great movie. The fourth entry in a franchise series is rarely its best. But what I will submit to you is this: by consistently changing up the main baddie (this one has a particularly cool look), by staying further away from mythologizing the universe and – once again – putting the focus on Elise Rainier and her own history, we get a better than I expected entry that has a few deliciously creepy moments, an overall story focusing on a mystery to change up the more straight-up horror elements, and an ending that will finally bring us back to what’s going on with Lambert family if that’s more your thing.

ChrisSeptember 23, 2024September 23, 2024Leave a comment

Reviews

Hooptober 11.0 – Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Being Film #9 for Hooptober 2024

What do you do when there’s no more story to tell? Go back to the beginning, of course, and that’s where Leigh Whannell heads for his directorial debut in Insidious: Chapter 3. It’s clear from the start where Whannell’s heart lies wit regards to his characters, and if that means we get a somewhat thin story that basically equates to “girl haunted by malevolent ghost” that relies more on jump scares than nay other entry in the series thus far, it’s okay because what we’re turning in for is something we weren’t expecting: the transformation of Elise Rainier into a superhero.

ChrisSeptember 22, 2024Leave a comment

Cinema Dual (TEST SITE)

Examining a life through the media we consume. In other words, I’m reviewing all of my physical music media in alphabetical order, one day at at a time. Except when I don’t, as has been the case for the past few years. Still, we march onwards…Coffee essential, but not mandatory

Tag: hooptober

Hooptober 11.0 – Return To Horror High (1987)

Hooptober 11.0 – The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023)

Hooptober 11.0 – Twixt (2011)

Hooptober 11.0 – Insidious: The Red Door (2023)

Hooptober 11.0 – Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Hooptober 11.0 – Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)