The Sky Has Fallen

Synopsis:

   In a post-apocalyptic world, a new disease wipes out almost all of mankind within a couple of hours. Trying to avoid infection, people flee to remote locations, but they start seeing mysterious, black figures carrying away the dead and experimenting on them. Now, Lance and Rachel, two survivors determined to fight back, must kill the leader of these creatures before the rest of humanity disappears. - Doug Roos

What I loved:

   I loved the concept of the film especially for a low budget horror. Usually with these types of horror films the plot tends to be all over the place but with The Sky Has Fallen, Doug Roos (writer, director, producer, and editor) did an amazing job with keeping it consistent.  The concept also worked well with the subgenre of the film, which is body horror (e.g. Cabin Fever, Dead Alive, Taxidermia, etc).

Doing a bit of research on the film before watching it, I understand why this film is known for its practical FX. It is gory, bloody, disturbing, and definitely didn’t hold back on being pure gruesome. The Sky Has Fallen has won multiple awards and has been nominated for way more.

Getting more into the movie, I loved the Grim Reaper- like figures and their role in the film. They’re very controlling and dominant. The lead characters progression throughout the film enhanced in every scene; by the end of the film they were close to being the “it couple” of body horror. 

What I loved the most is a jump scare that happened within the first half of the film *WARNING FOR HEADPHONE USERS*

What I hated:

   Getting straight into what I didn’t like, the sound effects turned me off a bit, it made The Sky Has Fallen seem like a soap opera. The film could have also had more jump scares, I felt like there was barely any at all. Even though I loved the concept of the film it was a bit slow transitioning through the scenes. Finally, I wished the zombies/possessed dead beings were less human-like; right at the beginning of the film with the walking sequence the zombies walked like humans which I wish didn’t happen but… what you gonna do.

Question(s) remaining:

1. Who else loved “faces in the skin” scene?
2. Is there an alternate ending that you would rather see?
3. Is a sequel in the works?
4. If you’ve watched the film, do you want a sequel?

IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE & WATCH THE SKY HAS FALLEN, CHECK OUT: http://www.theskyhasfallen.com

                           Don’t let the demons bite or do, YOU FREAKS!!!

Update 2015- I'M BACKKKKKKKK

I’M BACKKK!!!!! After a short hiatus I finally have time to get back to what I love. I recently started college so I have been really busy with that but with it being reading week I decided to make some well deserved time for my horror family that I missed so much.

At the moment I don’t know what the hell I am going to post after this update so I will have to look through past posts to see what topics I have not talked about; I do have a few new ideas that I am thinking of trying out so I guess we will see how it goes.

This has been a short update but I am back, I never quit just had other priorities.

Don’t let the demons bite or do, YOU FREAKS!!!

** OH how I missed writing that 

Animation- Resident Evil: Degeneration

   Resident Evil: Degeneration also known as Biohazard: Degeneration is by far the best Resident Evil film out there. I am a big fan of the Resident Evil films starring Milla Jovovich, those films were amazing but Degeneration is on another level.

   This film followed the disease, where it came from, how it was created, basically everything you need to know about it. The zombies or the people infected were much more frightening in the animated film rather than in the live action ones. They even have jump scares which I did not find in the live action franchise or at least in the first installment. Though it has been awhile since I watched franchise so I cannot judge.

   I highly recommend Degeneration 100%. I know there is a sequel with the same main male character from Degeneration so I am very excited to watch that one and hopefully I recommend it as well.

RATING: 5/5

   Don’t let the demons bite or do, YOU FREAKS!!!

Possession- Inner Demons

   What I learned from this movie is that if you feel like you are being possessed you should shoot up some heroin. Now, jokes aside I actually loved the concept of Inner Demons, I never knew how good demons and drugs could be (in a movie); the two intertwined perfectly together.

   It took a little while for the possession to be known in the movie. The possession started to happen more when the main character, Carson, was committed into a rehabilitation facility. The beginning of Inner Demons was mostly interviews with her parents and her one friend and then an awkward intervention.

   Once Carson committed herself into rehab that is when the fun begins, and by fun I mean that is when the demon takes control. In the trailer you will see that the demon knows a lot of secrets about other patients in the facility and again it worked well; a demon taunting vulnerable people trying to fight their own demons. it screams perfection... or trouble.

   Inner Demons has a perfect concept and great characters; the title and poster say it all. I highly recommend this movie, though it is not for everyone since it is found footage.

*** REMEMBER *** Do not do drugs. Even if you think you are possessed.

RATING: 4/5

    Don’t let the demons bite or do, YOU FREAKS!!!

Body Horror- Cabin Fever (franchise)

Cabin Fever

   I have heard a lot of people talking about Cabin Fever and how much they enjoyed it; so I decided to join in and give it a shot. I honestly do not know how I feel about this movie and I have mixed feelings when thinking of a rating.

   The plot is great and I was excited for the movie after reading it, but the only problem is that it was not properly executed. I felt as though there could have been a lot done to make this movie at least good. The acting was amateur and the directing could use some improvement.

   In the beginning of Cabin Fever I was infuriated by the old man who worked in the convenience store. His old fashion ways and choice of words would get anyone upset. By the end of Cabin Fever I realized why he said what he said, and it was actually funny to see him in that light considering his age.

RATING: 2/5

Spring Fever

   In my Cabin Fever review I expressed my sadness with the film especially with having different thoughts going into it. But I said that I did not want to disrespect the franchise so I decided to watch the sequel.

   Spring Fever is definitely better than the first; not a complete upgrade but it is better. With Spring Fever it is more comedy driven with hints seriousness tied in. The problem with first installment is that since the plot is so serious and then the dialogue is comedic it could not flow properly. Some horror films can have both seriousness and comedy but it cannot be equal; either more seriousness or more comedy not 50/50.

   Now the content of the movie, I do not know if it is because there is a younger cast or that the climax is during prom but I felt as though Spring Fever was Carrie inspired in a lot of ways. The lighting, the blood splatter, the riot to get out of the gym, everything just screams Carrie. 

RATING: 2/5

Patient Zero

   In Cabin Fever there were equal amounts of seriousness and comedy which made the movie suck. In Spring Fever there was more comedy, less seriousness which was alright and upgraded the franchise a little. Now, in Patient Zero there was more seriousness and less comedy which worked perfectly because the movie is about the origin of the flesh eating disease. 

   The Cabin Fever franchise is black comedy based and even though the first two did not go well for me, Patient zero did. The writers knew exactly when there should be comedy and when the dialogue should be serious; which in the first installment I felt as though there was confusion.

RATING: 3/5

Serial Killer- The Town That Dreaded Sundown (Remake)

   If you are following me on Instagram, @midhorror, you would know that I came up with a fun idea involving a cup filled with horror sub-genres. The first sub-genre I got was ‘Serial Killers’ so I decided to watch The Town That Dreaded Sundown (TTTDS) 2013 remake.

Synopsis

   While at the drive-in on Halloween during the annual showing of The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Corey Holland and Jami Lerner are watching the film. Realizing that she is not enjoying it, they decide to leave. While parked in a secluded area, they begin to talk and kiss, but Lerner sees the Phantom in the woods.

My Thoughts

   Finding out that the film was low budget so it could have the same filming style as the first made me like TTTDS even more. Though I have not seen the original I can see from the latest version that the original is a classic serial killer film.

   TTTDS is a serial killer movie that will be enjoyed by people who love a small town, young adult horror with a touch of maturity. There are numerous twists in this movie and near to the end I found myself thinking that every character was the killer; even the grandmother.

   Since I have not watched the original, I do not know if there are any similarities between the movies, other than the killer and the town of course; though at one point in the movie I felt like I was watching a 70’s horror film. Maybe it could have been because of the wardrobe or the setting; either way I enjoyed it.

   I have not watched a serial killer horror in a while and I would have to watch the original TTTDS to be a perfect judge of this version. I do however recommend it but not highly.

RATING: 3/5

   Don’t let the demons bite or do, YOU FREAKS!!!

Introduction to Midnight's Cup of Sub-genres

   If you are following me on Instagram (@midhorror) you would know that I came up with a fun idea to have a cup filled with different horror sub-genres and once a week I will pick a sub-genre, without looking, and watch/review a movie in the genre. But since I am enjoying this fun little game, I have decided to change it from once a week to twice a week. I am also trying to expand my horror repertoire so I can become familiar with different sub-genres and styles.

   I especially want to expand on foreign horror, to be specific, since they are almost always more frightening than mainstream horror. But when I say foreign I do not mean Australian or British films. I want to watch foreign films in French, Spanish, German, Russian, etc.

   I hope you guys like my new idea and if you love horror like me you can also play along, just follow me on Instagram (@midhorror) and whatever sub-genre I pull out of the cup, you can either watch the same movie or one that you prefer. Just remember I am watching movies that I have not seen before; or I am at least trying to. So if you have watched a movie that I plan to see, you can change it to a movie that you have not seen too.

   Don’t let the demons bite or do, YOU FREAKS!!!