Though infested with killer zombies, nothing in this movie; a remake of George Romero’s Night sequel; is as Dead as the dialogue and plot, both of which lurk in dark contrast to an interesting setup. Instead of a house, Dawn traps its unfortunates; a group of wise-cracking dimwits who do things only characters in horror movies seem to do, like stand too close to running chainsaws; in a Milwaukee shopping mall.
my rating : 2 of 5
2004
It’s the supernatural theme, which has to do with witches and Satan, that holds this otherwise interesting movie down. The best parts are when humans engage in normal conversations, albeit often about said abnormal topics. When creatures appear and the horror begins, mostly in the form of abstract cutaways revolving around a radio DJ named Heidi, the plot grinds to a bloody halt.
my rating : 3 of 5
2012
Night Of The Living Dead is a horror classic. Dawn, the title of which suggests it takes place the following morning; if the background calendars are up to date, it’s actually over a decade later; is a mess.
This, in comparison to the original, is easily the worst movie sequel I’ve ever seen. The narrative degradation from a serious thriller to what at times seems like wacky slapstick is staggeringly disappointing.
That the ghoul-shooting protagonists are no longer confined to a small house; most of this story takes place in an “indoor” shopping mall; is part of the problem. The rest has to do with the deadpan plot.
my rating : 1 of 5
1979
The Halloween series resets itself again, this time all the way back to the 1978 original. It’s a remake by Rob Zombie and easily the best movie in the franchise. That’s mostly due to the liberties it takes with the plot, a third of which focuses, close-up and shaky, on “Mikey” as a psychopathic child.
Character backstories are usually best left untold, or at least kept to a minimum, especially the enigmatic Bogeyman type, but the case study of Michael Myers, led by Malcolm McDowell as doctor Samuel Loomis, lends a layer of poignancy to the later kill scenes. It also explains why he wears the mask.
my rating : 4 of 5
2007
The Devil’s Rejects, also known as The Firefly Clan, are a family of Satanic killers. They slay people at will and store their body parts in the confines of their country home. This movie serves as both a homage and a documentary of their lives.
As mean and violent as they are, they carry a sinister charm, especially the Baby sister. She’s like the kid in school who sicced her big brother on innocent boys and got turned on by the sight of the blood. That brother is scary. So is the father.
Some of the acting is flawed. Sheri Moon has the tendency to come across unconvincingly in her role and there’s a scene in which a crying kid looks like he’s laughing, but there is plenty of evil entertainment to be found amidst the wackiness.
my rating : 4 of 5
2005