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First saw Romero's 'DAWN OF THE DEAD'
at a midnight showing in Florence, Alabama when I was seventeen (1980). Scared the living hell outta me.
I had nightmares about the living dead ringing the doorbell of our rural, isolated home for weeks. Although I did enjoy
the subsequent 'NIGHT OF, DAY,
and LAND of the Dead' films also, DAWN is the ultimate Zombie chronicle. Since
it's release in '79, it's theme has been done to death...literally. None will ever LIVE up to it's sense of overwhelming
doom and hopelessness for the human race.
**** Stars
1982: I vividly recall standing in the theater lobby with a buddy of
mine, debating whether to see the recently released 'E.T' or John Carpenter's 'THE THING'...
Regardless of what the masses might think, I KNOW I made the correct choice. This
is the best film Carpenter ever helmed, to include HALLOWEEN, in my humble opinion.
The special effects still stand as some of the best ever conceived, and were completed without computer enhancement
of any kind. The cast is excellent all around; Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Mauser, T.K. Carter and company
all compliment Kurt Russell's stoic leading man role. Rob Bottin should have won an oscar for the gory effects.
This film evokes a sense of foreboding that few can match. The DVD includes running commentary from Carpenter and Russell.
****STARS
Oh, for the glory of gore for gore's sake..... One of the few zombie films that can actually be mentioned
in the same breath as Romero's DEAD trilogy...
***1/2 STARS
Next to 'THE THING', the best Sci-Fi/Horror remake ever made. Director
Chuck Russell's best effort, hands down. Never forget the infamous 'Sink' scene... again, this was before computer effects
cheapened the genre.
***1/2 STARS
Yes, Alien (1979) was groundbreaking sci-fi/horror that set a new standard.
No arguments. However, Aliens (1986) is a better (albiet totally different)
film. James "King of the World" Cameron has made some fine genre films since (The Abyss, True Lies),
but may never match the artistic mastery of this white-knuckle actioner. Ms. Weaver is amazing as Ripley, and the supporting
cast (Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn) is nothing less than stellar. An unrelenting action/horror/suspense
masterpiece that contains not a single boring moment. I have yet to see a film in the past decade and a half that matches
it's intensity.
**** STARS
OTHER GENRE FILMS I TREASURE:
Other 'Can't Misses' in the genre that assisted in my decidedly warped frame of mind:
THE ALIEN SERIES (yes, even Alien3, which wasn't as bad as advertised); RE-ANIMATOR
and BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR (Director Stuart Gordon's twin classics); both PREDATOR
films; PUMPKINHEAD (anything starring granite-faced Lance Henriksen can't be ALL bad);
NEAR DARK (there's that Henriksen guy again); PHANTASM (it's subsequent
sequels all paled); The first EXCORCIST; The first OMEN; Tom Savini's
remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD; RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (Parts
1 and 3 only); and yes, not one but two Speilberg films...and I ain't talkin' HOOK here...but DUEL and JAWS.
Carpenter's 'HALLOWEEN' makes the cut, as well as
other '70's genre classics 'THE HOWLING', 'THE SHINING', and 'IT'S ALIVE'.
Recent horror films (of the last several years) that caught my eye in a favorable way
include 'JEEPERS CREEPERS (but not it's mundane, teen-horror sequel)', Bill Paxton's directorial
debut 'FRAILTY', and the jolting english remake of the Japanese hit, 'THE
RING' (though the sequel was a horrid dissappointment).
Also, the mystery chiller 'IDENTITY' was well worth the time and money, and although it's no instant
classic, Director Danny Boyle's homage to George Romero's 'Living Dead' series, '28 DAYS LATER..', is undeniably atmospheric and suspenseful.
The remake of Romero's 'DAWN OF THE DEAD' by first-time director
Zack Snyder really impressed. Along the same lines, though no classic, Romero's 2005 effort 'LAND
OF THE DEAD' was a fine addition to the zombie canon he originally fathered.
In the Sci-Fi category, 2004's 'EQUILEBRIUM' with 'BATMAN
RETURNS' Christian Bale is a real sleeper; a great action flick with an intruging story to match.
Paul Anderson's much-maligned 'ALIEN vs PREDATOR' (there be
that Henriksen chap once again) had its share of thrills, despite the watered-down PG-13 rating.
2005's remake of Wes Craven's 'THE HILLS HAVE EYES' was, in my opinion,
superior to the original in every way. I recommend the 'unrated' edition, however.
2007 update: Despite lukewarm box-office returns, the horror-suspense opus 'GRINDHOUSE'
was a real hoot. While I preferred the 'Planet Terror' segment overall (I'm a certified zombie
junkie), 'Death Proof' holds sentimental value simply for the glowing, growling presence of Kurt
Russell as 'Stuntman Mike'. I just wished Q.T. had seen fit to give this legendary actor more screen time in lieu of
the overblown, profanity-littered 'girl-talk' that dominated the script. As far as the faux movie trailers,
I laughed out loud at both 'Machete' and 'Thanksgiving', while my wife preferred the hilarious 'Don't'. Overall,
it was well worth both the cash dolled out and three-plus hours of my life.
Literary Influences: Early Stephen
King, such as Cujo, The Dead Zone, Christine, and Pet Sematary. Anything by Robert R. McCammon ('BLUE
WORLD' being the first choice, followed by the vastly underrated 'SWAN
SONG')...early Dean Koontz (Strangers is a classic); any and just about ALL
Horror Anthologies... BETWEEN TIME AND TERROR; PHOBIA, UNDER THE FANG, CONFEDERACY OF THE DEAD,
BOOK OF THE DEAD, et al. Anything by the late
and great Robert Bloch.
King's greatest novel? Of course I loved the re-edited STAND,
as well as PET SEMATARY, THE DEAD ZONE and CHRISTINE, but I've
read THE LONG WALK at least six times, and I never tire of it.
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