The acting is incredible and the story is believable, although some spots were a little questionable. All in all though, it’s an entertaining movie and it leaves you guessing.

The Lodger doesn’t really have that suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat vibe, but it does a great job of building mystery and really shows that the misdirect can be a great tool in cinema if used properly.

Is Jack the Ripper the mysterious lodger living in the garage? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. Just pay attention or the ending will leave you a little confused.

Quick Review: I’ve read a lot of bad reviews for The Lodger, and I can’t quite wrap my head around that. It’s isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s far from garbage – at least worth a watch or two.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

The Lodger (2009)

Okay, so clearly that isn’t my point of view, but that seems to be the point of view of most of the people that reviewed Mirrors because Mirrors was a pretty decent movie – one of the better remakes that’s come out in the last little while. Kiefer Sutherland is great in it and the movie succeeds every way a horror movie should. It’s scary, gory and uses its creepy setting to its full potential.

The biggest problem with Mirrors is its attempt to explain what’s going on. Since there are such heavy supernatural elements, it’s hard to rationalize it in a believable and logical way. The movie would’ve been better off letting the viewer decide what’s going on instead of trying to make it make sense.

Quick Review: With Kiefer Sutherland’s performance, a truly eerie setting and some decent gore, Mirrors is a success on nearly every level. Ignore the bad reviews and give it a shot.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

Mirrors

Blu-Ray

Mirrors [Blu-ray]

Let’s be honest – in general, American remakes of Japanese horror films suck. It’s just a fact, so there’s not much point in exploring that further. The Grudge is of course one of those American remakes and whether or not it’s better than the average film in this category is really something I’ve never really been able to decide.

The Grudge succeeds in being creepy and giving the audience plenty of decent jump scares. I’m one of the few that actually really liked the ending. Although it’s not overly gory, it is frightening and if that’s what’s what you’re looking for, this is a good movie for you – a good, creepy, watch-with-the-lights-out movie with gorgeous Sarah Michelle Geller in the lead role.

Quick Review: The Grudge isn’t a complete waste of time and can really be credited with the onslaught of Japanese horror remakes… wait, that’s not necessarily a good thing. Watch it anyway. It’s creepy – a good time, but don’t look for anything deeper than that.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

The Grudge (Unrated Director’s Cut)

Camilla Belle (10 000 BC, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, Push) is great as tormented babysitter Jill Johnson and the movie is successful most when trying to be creepy and ominous. There are some decent scares although the rating prevents any real decent gore from being shown.

Sure the 2006 remake of When A Stranger Calls isn’t as good as the 1979 original, but it is worth watching. This is a fun movie; just don’t expect it to live up to its namesake or expect a cinematic masterpiece. This one is definitely one of those movies where most of the fun comes from throwing popcorn at the screen andyelling at the lead for doing stupid things. Enjoy it for that and a great performance by Camilla Belle.

Quick Review: When A Stranger Calls isn’t nearly as bad as some reviews would have you believe. It’s not necessarily scary like the first one and it isn’t even gory, but it is fun. And hey, you can watch it online for free right here, so it’s not even like you’re out any money for it. Give it a shot. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.

When a Stranger Calls

Love the Movie? Buy the DVD:

When a Stranger Calls

For more chills and thrills, pick up the original:

When a Stranger Calls

So… why did he make what is essentially the same film twice? Well, he said he believed violence as entertainment (the main premise of Funny Games) is an ‘American Phenomenon’. Is that true? I’m not sure. But hey, I don’t have to be. Funny Games (both versions) doesn’t really try to make that point. The point it tries to make (and succeeds at making) is that people are so comfortable in their existences that they don’t really see what happens around them. They feel safe and secure in a world that really doesn’t allow that, and this movie pounds that point home.

The performances in this movie are amazing. Tim Roth and Michael Pitt are especially good but Naomi Watts… oh Naomi Watts. She’s so fabulous. She’s excellent in this movie, but she’s excellent in everything she does.

There isn’t really a lot of gore in this movie, but this is yet another example of a movie that uses implied gore to make a stronger impact. Funny Games is terrifying, real and unbelievably disturbing. See it.

Quick Review: Some may say Funny Games US is a pointless remake, and hey, those people might be right, but nevertheless, I’m thrilled Michael Haneke decided to make it. Naomi Watts, Michael Pitt and Tim Roth make it worth watching over the original.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

Funny Games (2008)

Rarely have I seen such overwhelmingly negative reviews for one movie. One Missed Call, a remake of 2003’s Japanese horror film Chakushin Ari, has been called a million name and most of the reviews seem to think puns on the movies name are funny. They’re not. Well, maybe the first ‘One Missed Call should be one missed movie’ joke was, but it get more than a little old after the tenth variation. Really… enough already.

I don’t generally listen to reviews. There are reasons regarding my belief that the general movie going public has no clue what a decent horror movie is, but that’s a whole other rant. The fact remains that I like to make up my own mind about a movie, and One Missed Call was no different… although…

I have to admit I was skeptical. I mean, can that many people really be wrong? After watching the movie, I don’t really have an answer for that. I didn’t love it, but I definitely didn’t hate it. One Missed Call was very effective in building that creepy vibe that makes a good horror movie work so well, but on the other hand, the PG-13 rating really restricted the filmmakers in terms of decent gore.

All in all, it wasn’t a terrible movie and it at least succeeded in a few good jumps, some diturbing images and being creepy. Edward Burns and Margaret Cho (briefly, but worth mentioning) give fairly good performances. Shannyn Sossaman… well, I love that girl. I refuse to rag on her performance when she really didn’t have much to work with.

Quick Review: One Missed Call is cheesy, fun and entertaining. It’s not so bad. Give it a shot and don’t listen to what everyone else says. Make up your own mind. You… may or may not be disappointed, but at least you can say you tried.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

One Missed Call

Blu-Ray
One Missed Call [Blu-ray]

Like the movie? Hate the movie? Give the original shot! You might be surprised if you hated the remake.

One Missed Call

There are some movies that manage to be intelligent and some that actually seek to make a point among the carnage. These are a rare exception and The Hitcher isn’t one of them.

The Hitcher is a gory, frightening and suspenseful mess. You know what’s going to happen and what’s wrong with that? There are plot holes you could drive an ambulance through. Again, I don’t see the problem.

You aren’t meant to nit pick this movie. It’s just a fun ride with a super scary passenger. Just sit back and enjoy it. It’s not a masterpiece (and it’s nowhere near as good as the original), but it’s not garbage either.

Quick Review: Directions – Turn on movie. Turn off brain. Enjoy.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

The Hitcher (Widescreen Edition)

The Wizard of Gore… wow. I don’t know what else to say. This movie is a shining example of how to do a remake. It isn’t a carbon copy of the original. It tries to add depth and meaning to the story and characters and while it may be debatable as to whether or not that was a successful attempt, kudos to the filmmakers for trying.

The cast is phenomenal. Brad Dourif (the voice of Chucky in the Child’s Play series, Rob Zombie’s Halloween), Jeffery Combs (House on Haunted Hill, The Re-Animator series), Crispin Glover (Nurse Betty, The Doors, Willard), Bijou Phillips (Hostel II, Venom, Almost Famous) and Kip Pardue (Driven, Undiscovered, Bitter/Sweet) are just some of the fine actors who turn in incredible performances in this deliciously gory and twisted tale. And definitely check out the appearance by the Suicide Girls – gorgeous.

The Wizard of Gore is an admirable remake of a slasher movie classic and a must see for all bloodlusting gore-hounds.

Quick Review: Nudity, violence, gore… what else do you need? Necessary viewing for anyone and one of the best slasher movies ever made.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

The Wizard of Gore

If you love the remake, pick up the classic original:

Wizard Of Gore (Special Edition)

You might also like The Herschell Gordon Lewis Collection (The Gore-Gore Girls, A Taste of Blood, She-Devils on Wheels, The Gruesome Twosome, The Wizard of Gore, Something Weird):

The Herschell Gordon Lewis Collection (The Gore Gore Girls / A Taste of Blood / She-Devils on Wheels / The Gruesome Twosome / The Wizard of Gore / Something Weird)

While that is one excellent reason to see the movie (and a big part of why I did), House of Wax offers a lot more than the death of an annoying celebrity. The gore is top notch and the movie itself is genuinely creepy. Even though it is a remake, the premise feels unique. When you find out the ugly truth about the town our victims find themselves stranded in, you’re not really surprised but the reveal is well done.

Quick Review: Paris Hilton gets impaled by a pole. Sure it’s not the first time she’s been impaled by a pole on camera, but this time, its much more gory.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

Widescreen:
House of Wax (Widescreen Edition)

Fullscreen:
House of Wax (Full Screen Edition)

Blu-Ray:
House of Wax [Blu-ray]

Like the Remake? Check out the Original starring Vincent Price on DVD:
House of Wax

Aside from the name, and the names of a few of the characters, The Last House on the Left of 2009 has little in common with its 1972 predecessor. This is a movie that definitely stands on its own – which can’t be said for many remakes.

Perhaps the movies does tone down a few of the more sadistic aspects of its namesake, but it does so without losing any of the true horror the first movie provided. There are many genuinely scary and disturbing moments and a few surprises along the way. Worth watching at the very least.

Quick Review: The Last House on the Left isn’t so much a remake as it is a retelling or re-imagining. Score major points for gore and imaginative killings.

Love the movie? Buy the DVD:

Last House on the Left

Blu-Ray

The Last House on the Left [Blu-ray]

Like the Remake? Check out the Original

The Last House on the Left (Unrated Collectors Edition)