Gabrielle (Chéreau, 2005)

In Joseph Conrad's short story The Return (of which the author himself remarked "I hate it"), Patrice Cheréau finds the basis for this potent chamber drama, an outwardly staid, inwardly powerful tale of marital strife. There is much to savor here; in the note perfect performances of Huppert as the titular Gabrielle, and especially Pascal Greggory as the confused cuckold; in Cheréau's carefully stylized direction; in Eric Gautier's stunningly polished images; in a score by Fabio Vacchi that manages to be both melodramatic and elegant. On top of all of these things, Gabrielle also manages to illuminate the communicative space between cinema and the theater. Cheréau's film is a masterpiece in a minor key.

The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen (Gilliam, 1988)

Terry Gilliam's fantastically baroque visual sense and his childlike playfulness are on full display in this oft overlooked film, a surprisingly potent examination of the creative soul and its place in an exceedingly rational world. It is rather unfortunate that a regime change at Columbia Pictures, the film's backer and distributor, and the ensuing behind the scenes power struggles, kept this film from reaching a larger audience and the acclaim it most certainly deserves. One of Gilliam's finest. IMDb listing.

All The Colors Of The Dark (Martino, 1972)

"They exist. They bear the mark of the devil inside them. They may be your neighbors. They may be your wife, husband, sweetheart. They may even be your children. Their time has come."

Sergio Martino's dizzyingly stylistic film - deeply influenced by Rosemary's Baby - with its mounting, omnipresent paranoia and its evil cult, belongs near the top of the giallo heap. Gialli have always been about style and aesthetics first and foremost, and not only does All the Colors of the Dark have ample amounts of both - including one of the most stunningly audacious opening scenes I have ever seen - it also fares admirably in a department which is usually lacking in this sub-genre (acting), with Edwige Fenech giving a committed performance as the film's troubled protagonist.

Film Rating: B+/A-
Scare Factor: C

View Date: 10/31
Shocktober Horrorfest View Date: #31

31 Flicks That Give You The Willies!!!

Ed Hardy, Jr., of the fantastic film blog Shoot the Projectionist, had the brilliant idea to query bloggers and readers regarding the films that scared them the most. Well, the response was huge, and 183 films were nominated, many of which one wouldn't typically see on most "best-of-horror" lists. A second round of voting whittled that unwieldy list down to 31 films, one for each day of October. The end result is the first ever "Willies" list, something that I am sure will become an annual tradition.

I think the idea of a "communal" list is a wonderful spin on list making, and though I certainly disagree with some of the films that made the cut, I have absolutely no problem with the film that sits proudly at #1. I won't give it away here, so as not to spoil the fun of reading the list yourself, suffice it to say that I share Ed's high opinion of it completely. So if you're looking for another source of horror filled inspiration on Halloween, head on over to Shoot the Projectionist and check out:

31 Flicks That Give You The Willies!

Day Of The Dead (Romero, 1985)

"The darkest day of horror the world has ever known."

I was simply unprepared for just how good Day of the Dead is. It was the only "Dead" film I hadn't seen before, and its reputation lagged far behind that of Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, so i had always written it off as the least of Romero's "Dead" trilogy. But watching it immediately following a repeat viewing of Dawn... If this film isn't the equal of those first two masterpieces, it isn't that far behind. Since its disastrous release in 1985, Day of the Dead has been picking up steam, and a strong critical following. Let me assure you, this isn't simply wishful revisionism, it is happening for a reason.

Film Rating: A-
Scare Factor: C+

View Date: 10/30
Shocktober Horror Film Count: #30

Dawn Of The Dead (Romero, 1978)

"When there's no more room in HELL, the dead will walk the EARTH."

Dawn of the Dead, the second, and certainly most popular installment in Romero's "Dead" series is another masterpiece of horror, every bit the equal of Night of the Living Dead. There's something about the aesthetics of the film, the late 70's style evidenced in the Monroeville mall's cavernous interior (both vast and claustrophobic at the same time), that I really love. And amidst the horror and sadness, there is a playful quality to Romero's film that is absent in every other "Dead" film. Another enduring classic.

Film Rating: A+
Scare Factor: C

View Date: 10/30
Shocktober Horror Film Count: #29

The Eye (Pang Brothers, 2002)

"Some things are better left unseen."

The Pang Brothers' film, a sensation in Asia upon its release, and the recipient of quite a bit of praise here in the States, doesn't live up to its hefty reputation. Quite scary and atmospheric at times, but the brothers Pang have neither the control, nor the refinement to keep The Eye on the rails for its duration.

Film Rating: C+/B-
Scare Factor: B

View Date: 10/29
Shocktober Horror Film Count: #28