Scream Bloody Entertainment

All quiet on the Western front…

Wednesday

Freedom Writers (2007) - 6/10
Freedom Writers is one of the few movies where I literally went in knowing nothing about it beforehand. Since I saw this film as a school assignment, it had the upper hand due to the fact that there were no expectations whatsoever. Unfortunately, I didn’t take me long to realize that Freedom Writers is just another drama focusing on a teacher struggling with the class that she is teaching. The clichés related to this type of film are all there and the feel-good ending only goes further to prove that the film is just another average drama. Granted, Hilary Swank does deliver quite an impressive performance and the rest of the cast does a pretty good job as well, but that doesn’t change the fact that the film is flawed and ordinary. Occasional moviegoers have no reason not to enjoy it, though, and it ultimately proves to be a great moral booster as well as a somewhat interesting ride.

Sunday

The Bourne Identity (2002) - 7/10
I’ve been meaning to give the Bourne series a watch for quite a while now, and I finally managed to get the first one out of the way. Not a lot can be said about The Bourne Identity that hasn’t been said already, so I’ll just affirm that it’s a good, old-fashioned thriller featuring a solid performance from lead actor Matt Damon. It’s also not as predictable as most thrillers these days, fortunately, and the action scenes are really well done and highly enjoyable. The story didn’t turn out to be as impressive as I had hoped for, but it didn’t disappoint either and keeps things interesting, even though the little twists here and there end up feeling slightly underwhelming. Apart from the flaws mentioned above, there’s little wrong with The Bourne Identity and you definitely can’t go wrong when you choose it as your next Saturday night movie. I’m already looking forward to the next film in the series.

“A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.” - Adlai E. Stevenson

Over time, teen comedy has turned into a genre regard by teenagers and mostly vilified by the older audiences. Some may say that teen comedies lack the flexibility to make for versatile experiences, and most of the time they’re right. It’s safe to say that this genre has only become as popular as it is today because teenagers are able to identify themselves with the characters in the movies and also due to the fact that it serves as a gateway for up and coming new stars to increase their reach in the film industry. We have seen a great deal of teen comedies come and go over the last ten years, but few of them have actually made an impact or proven themselves to be solid entries into the genre. The days of John Hughes are gone, that’s for sure, and all that remains is the hope that teen comedies will one day regain the reputation they once had.

As one of the most recent additions into the genre, Easy A tells the story of how a teenager has gone from unnoticed to being in the center of everyone’s attention at her high school. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Fortunately, this film is a surprisingly different beast from what we are used to see in teen comedies these days. Not only does it have quite a unique approach to certain themes that are present in similar movies, but it also manages to put a nice little spin on some things. Unlike other films of the same nature, Easy A proves that it can be smart and filled with some really good acting, but we’ll get into more of that later on.


The movie takes us to modern day California, where Ojai North High School is much like every other American high school and the teenagers live their socially active, “angsty” lives. Here’s where Olive Penderghast (played by Emma Stone) comes in: she’s living the normal life with her best friend Rhiannon Abernathy (Alyson Michalka), until one faithful day. Olive tries to avoid having to spend a weekend with Rhiannon and her parents (which, as Rhiannon describes them, are way too weird, even for California) by telling her that she has a date with some random college dude. Things go well and Olive succeeds in spending her entire weekend at home while singing “Pocketful of Sunshine” over and over again. Fun times. When confronted by Rhiannon the following week, she lies and says that she just lost her virginity to the aforementioned college guy (who doesn’t actually exist, if you didn’t figure that out by now).

One thing leads to another and not too long after the entire school finds out about Olive’s little adventure. That would normally be a bad thing, but Olive suddenly finds herself in the middle of everyone’s attention for the first time, and thus she decides not to sort things out. Everything starts to take a turn for the worst after Olive helps her gay friend Brandon out by pretending to have sex with him so he stops being harassed at school. Not has she now garnered a great deal of infamy among her fellow students, but she is also approached by various guys who want to pay her in order to increase their own popularity by saying that they slept with her. The situation only becomes more complicated as it progresses, and laughter definitely ensues along the way.


The success of Easy A lies in its smart script, easygoing nature and Emma Stone’s charismatic leading ability. A lot of movies have tried something similar in vein, but few have managed to successfully combine these elements into one big whole. The closest movie that can be compared to this one is perhaps 2004’s Mean Girls, which is widely accepted as one of the better teen comedies of our time. Much like Lindsay Lohan, Emma Stone is the anonymous girl who becomes popular and must deal with the consequences that arise. Stone also acts as the narrator of the film, which ends up helping the movie get the message across much more efficiently and makes for a couple more laughs here and there.

The cast is another reason why Easy A works so well. Alyson Michalka shows off a different side as Olive’s best friend Rhiannon. She lets curse words flying whenever she gets the chance and her relationship with Olive is as hilarious as it is realistic. Then there’s Thomas Haden Church, who plays Mr. Griffith, the sarcastic teacher at Ojai North High School who ends up delivering some good laughs and is part in a couple of the most memorable scenes in the film. Playing what could be called the antagonist of the film is Amanda Bynes, whose change of appearance is as surprising as her actual role as the zealous leader of a Christian religious group who comes in conflict with Olive as the rumors about her promiscuity spread across the high school. Also worth mentioning are Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, who play Olive’s parents laid-back and supportive parents. The couple’s chemistry is undeniable and they make for some really enjoyable scenes and funny dialogue.


The driving force of Easy A is without a doubt Emma Stone, whose charismatic and lively performance only goes on to affirm her undeniable screen presence. Olive Penderghast could have been just like every other cliché protagonist in a teen comedy, but instead she is given life and personality by Stone, which ultimately turns her into an interesting character worth rooting for. Sure, this role isn’t too different from any other one that Emma Stone has played in the past and it’s also true that it’s not exactly the most demanding part one can get in movies these days, but the ease with which she is able to play the role says enough. The problem with most young actors these days is that they’re trying too hard, which in the end only goes on to reduce the believability of their character and the enjoyment of the movie. Emma Stone is one of those rare cases where this problem is completely nonexistent.

Don’t expect tons of laughs going in to this movie. Easy A certainly does not lack in the humour department, but it’s not one of those comedies that takes a balls-to-wall approach either. Its strength lies in the clever script and well above average acting, but it also boasts quite a unique plot and some really good laughs. More importantly, though, it’s an entertaining film from start to finish and it makes for an enjoyable watch during any time of the day. While not exactly groundbreaking, Easy A is a solid entry into a genre that has been lacking in quality over the past couple of years. Plus, I believe that it’s as enjoyable for older viewers as it is for its target audience, which pretty much seals the deal.

The Traps Come Alive

the plot
As the tension between Hoffman and Jill grows higher, a group of survivors of the Jigsaw puzzles come together seeking support from a self-help guru who claims to have survived one of Jigsaw's traps himself.

the good
- lots of gore
- creative traps
- action-filled plot
- very entertaining

the bad
- plotholes
- too many unnecessary characters
- half-assed conclusion
- cheap twist
- some really bad acting
- never really finishes things the way it should have

the ugly
- cauterization by steam pipe
- death by buzz saw
- a series of chained events that leads to some awesome deaths
- fishhook jammed down the throat
- impaled in the neck
- pierced through the eyes
- pulling out some teeth
- ripped pectoral muscles
- death by burning
- machine gun in action
- a couple of awesome stabs in the neck
- jaw ripped open
- left for dead

things I learned from watching this movie
- Jigsaw has now been officially dead in more films than he was alive
- pretending you survived the trap of a famous serial killer is never a good idea
- "bros before hoes" has just gone to a whole new level
- people sometimes dream of dying by an awesome trap as seen only in the trailer
- when everything else fails, go 3D!

summary
The Saw series have gone to be one of the longest running series of horror films in the history of cinema, but the quality of the movies have decreased as every year went by. Now that we have finally arrived at the end of the road (or so they say), it's disappointing to realize that Saw 3D did not deliver the kind of closure that everyone was looking for. Instead, we got more creative traps, more blood and more gore - all of that in 3D. Sure, it's fun and all that, but the film is unfortunately filled with flaws in the story department. Not only did the movie introduce way too many new characters that made absolutely no difference and did not advance the plot at all, but we are also left with a ridiculous twist and a unsatisfying conclusion. Saw 3D, the so-called "final chapter" in the series, ends up being a mixed bag.

horror meter: 3 pectoral stars (out of 5)

Last week has been pretty uneventful, though I did manage to watch a couple of films I’ve been looking forward to for a while now. I’ve also got some exams coming up, so I’m not exactly sure how that will affect my activity on the blog. Just bear with me the next couple of weeks.

Friday

La horde (2010) - 4/10
I’m quite a big fan of French horror films, so La horde seemed to have a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t near as good as I hoped it would be. Right from the beginning I was put off by its weird and confusing plot, which only seemed to get worse and less interesting until the zombies kicked in. Once the action kicked in, it all got a little better and the entertainment value definitely went up a notch. Even so, the characters made too many dumb decisions, which coupled with the constant annoying arguments and fights between each other made for a relatively unpleasant experience. Sure, there were some pretty badass moments such as one dude on top of a car hacking and slashing through hordes of undead, but they didn’t make up for the numerous flaws this movie had. By the end of the film, I barely even cared what would happen anymore and the weak, hollow ending only went on to prove that La horde is an unfortunate failure.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) - 4/10
The only reason I decided to watch this movie was to see Nicolas Cage in the role of a medieval wizard. I wasn’t disappointed in that aspect, but the film itself turned out to be pretty weak. Jay Baruchel plays yet another 20-something geek who’s after the hot girl while Monica Bellucci is barely in the movie at all. Alfred Molina and Nicolas Cage are the only things making The Sorcerer’s Apprentice worth the while, while the rest of the film is a cliché-fest filled with all the overused things that are present in every other Disney movie. Some may enjoy it, but those who have seen enough average comedies will know that this one isn’t any different. At the very least, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was entertaining, which makes it a decent watch on a Saturday night. It’s your choice.

Saturday

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) - 8/10
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World has been no doubt one of the most awaited movies of the year for me, but it was only recently that I had the chance to see it due to the fact that it did not screen anywhere near my location. I have just finished up with all the volumes of the graphic novel, so it seemed like the perfect time to finally give the movie a watch. What surprised me more than anything was how faithful the film actually was to the comic book series. Edgar Wright definitely did the fans a favour, and even the cast is pretty much perfect for the roles they’ve been assigned to. Michael Cera did not bother me at all and it was nice to see another side of him for a change, even if he still retains some of his signature traits. The pacing of the movie was just ridiculous – it’s probably one of the fastest moving films I have ever seen and so much happens on screen at the same time that it’s hard to catch it all on merely a single watch. It felt good to see that most of the best jokes from the graphic novels made it into the movie. There’s a lot more I could add, but I’ll just stop right here. Anyone who read the comic book series will most definitely not want to miss out on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” - Lao Tzu

Comic book adaptations are booming right now more than ever and this year is the perfect example of just how much their popularity has increased in such a short span of time. We’ve got lots and lots of movies based on comic books recently, with some better than others. Much like adapting a book to the big screen, comic books require a certain amount of faithfulness in order to work, and even though they are indeed harder to convert into a live action film, the process is also much more interesting because you never know what the respective filmmakers are going to come up with. Whether you are a fan of comic books or simply like to see them brought to the big screen, there’s no denying that in order to justify all the current buzz around comic book adaptations, we, the viewers, will require some good films to come our way.

One of the most recent additions to the genre is entitled Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and it’s an adaption of the Scott Pilgrim comic book series by Bryan Lee O’Malley. Now for those of you who are not aware with the comic books, I highly recommend you to check them out as they make for one of the funniest and most entertaining reads of the last couple of years. I had a blast reading them, and I’m sure you will too. There’s also another reason for reading the comic books before seeing the movie, though: unlike many other films based on a comic book series, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is so faithful to the work that it is based on that it will make for quite an odd experience for those who are not familiar with the comic books.


Directed by none other than Edgar Wright, who is famous for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, two British comedy flicks that hit it big with critics worldwide, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World tells the story of Scott Pilgrim’s “precious little life.” Now, for those not familiar with the graphic novels, Scott is a twenty-something Canadian who rocks hard in his band Sex Bob-omb and occasionally goes out with a high schooler. All of that changes when he meets Ramona Flowers, the “girl of his dreams” (no, seriously, he did dream about her before meeting in real life), and he instantly falls in love with her. Things aren’t as simple, though, because in order to date her Scott must defeat her eleven evil exes… or was it seven?

I’m sure that after reading the plot synopsis, you’ll agree with me that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is one heck of a bizarre trip. It has a truly unconventional way of mixing realism with fiction and creating a world which some may find hard to connect with right from the start. Reading the graphic novels beforehand does help, though, but even so the film’s lightning fast pace and odd jokes make it hard to digest, no matter how familiar you already are with Scott Pilgrim’s world. It’s only normal for Wright to speed things up the way he did, especially because he tried condensing no less than six volumes of a graphic novel into one under-two-hours movie. I believe that it was the only way for Wright to remain as loyal as he did to the original work and still make the movie comprehensible.


Fans of the comic book series will be delighted with the casting choices for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, as most of the actors chosen for their respective roles couldn’t have been more appropriate. First there’s Michael Cera, who plays the main character, Scott Pilgrim, and although I’ve been skeptical regarding his ability to take on this role due to the fact that Scott isn’t the type of character he normally plays, I’m glad to say that Cera did a pretty good job at portraying the character in the way I imagined him to be. He’s still got that awkward teenager side some of the time and his signature traits are far from gone, but I believe that Cera pulled it off quite well in the end. Sure, a different actor may have brought a different and maybe better approach, but it wasn’t disappointing for what it was.

Taking on the role of Ramona Flowers is Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who some may recall from Live Free or Die Hard or Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. Her expressive eyes make her a perfect choice for the role and she plays Ramona much as I imagined her to be, although seeming to show too little interest for Scott Pilgrim at times. Ellen Wong delivers a surprisingly fitting performance as Knives Chau, the Chinese high schooler who is dating Scott for a brief amount of time during the beginning of the film. I could not have imagined someone playing Knives better than Wong did and I’m looking forward to seeing this promising actress in more movies in the future. By far the most impressive of them all has got to be Kieran Culkin in the role of Scott’s gay roommate, Wallace. He is a show stealer in pretty much every scene he’s in and his character has some of the funniest and most memorable lines of dialogue in the entire film.


Also part of the cast are Anna Kendrick, Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Brie Larson, Johnny Simmons and many more. This just goes on to prove that you can actually have a mighty fine cast filled with famous actors without having to sacrifice part of a character’s appearance or change something related to the story for the sake of being able to cast a specific actor for the role. Edgar Wright knew exactly how to handle this project and he did so in an outstanding manner. The small visual enhancements and comic book references are part of what makes Scott Pilgrim vs. the World so good, but they also serve as a downfall for those who are going in not knowing what to expect. There’s no doubt that the whole experience can be quite overwhelming, but those who are willing to suspend a little belief and just go with what they are given, it is a fun ride that never stops being entertaining for one second.

Another aspect worth bringing up is the film’s soundtrack, which is not only highly suitable for the most part, but also worth giving a second listen to. Music was a major part of the comic books, but we never really got to fully experience it, which makes the movie adaptation all the better with the numerous songs from the graphic novels brought to life. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is one of the few movies which I love, but am not able to recommend. It is simply not possible to enjoy this film to its fullest without being aware of what it is exactly. I can recommend reading the comic book series, however, and if those appeal to you (I seriously cannot imagine anyone not liking them), then move on to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and have a bloody good time.

Directed by Scott Leberecht
Written by Scott Leberecht
Produced by Matt Compton and Scott Leberecht

Website: http://www.midnightsonmovie.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MidnightSonMovie

Twitter: http://twitter.com/midnightsonfilm

Midnight Son is an indie horror film that intends to give us a closer and grittier look at the vampire genre. Yes, I know that the vampire genre is being milked like crazy right now (guess why), but maybe we need more films that give us a different perspective on the whole thing with vampires. As such, I'm definitely looking forward to Midnight Son and I'm very curious to see what it will bring to the table.

Here's the plot synopsis, as written on the film's website:

"MIDNIGHT SON is the story of Jacob, a young man confined to a life of isolation, due to a rare skin disorder that prevents him from being exposed to sunlight. His world opens up when he meets Mary, a local bartender, and falls in love. Tragically, Jacob’s actions become increasingly bizarre as he struggles to cope with the effects of his worsening condition. Forced by the disease to drink human blood for sustenance, he must control his increasingly violent tendencies as local law enforcement narrow their focus on him as a suspect in a series of grisly murders."

Midnight Son has no release date yet as it is still looking for a distribution company, but expect to see it sometime in 2011.



As mentioned before, Midnight Son is still lacking someone to distribute their movie, so if you feel like this film appeals to you, maybe tell your mates to check it out or spread the word. Everyone starts small, and we, as horror bloggers, must take part in helping independent horror flicks get more popularity and receive a wider audience.

A film by Yannick Dahan & Benjamin Rocher

the plot
A group of cops must unite forces with the gangsters they are after in order to survive a sudden zombie outbreak.

the good
- impressive cinematography
- some really badass moments
- solid acting

the bad
- weird and confusing premise
- a couple of things that don't make sense
- the annoying fights between characters
- weak ending
- zombies look too much like normal people
- characters make dumb decisions along the way

the ugly
- several headshots
- lots of blood
- zombies eating people
- machine gun action
- one kill with a fridge
- putting the machete to good use
- kamikaze with grenade

things I learned from watching this movie
- in order to survive the zombie apocalypse you need guns and drugs
- cops like to randomly go on missions without telling anybody about it
- women always screw things up
- cocaine is nothing compared to what that old man took in the war
- even after realizing that zombies only die from headshots, some people still like to waste a shitload of bullets by shooting them in the torso
- family doesn't mean much once you have to deal with zombies
- why throw a grenade when you can hold on to it and die in a glorious manner

summary
As a big fan of French horror films, I had really high hopes for La horde, but unfortunately the film didn't turn out to be as good as expected. Sure, it looked good on paper, but once you put it into practice it all falls apart. The story was odd, to say the least, and the first few minutes make for a lot of confusion. The constant arguing between the characters didn't help much either, which after a while felt very annoying and unnecessary. Although it has some memorable scenes, La horde ultimately fails as a zombie flick and a good watch.

horror meter: 2 Nigerian stars (out of 5)

I’m aware that the Weekly Updates have come a little late this time, but that’s only because my time has been filled with Call of Duty: Black Ops ever since it got released roughly a week ago. Don’t judge me! P.S. I’ll probably write a little article about it soon, as well.

Wednesday

The Social Network (2010) - 9/10
I have to admit that I wasn’t too excited when I heard that they were going to make a movie about Facebook, but I got interested once I heard that David Fincher will be directing it. Soon enough, I could hardly wait to see it as I was reading up on the various reviews that talked about it in a positive light. My expectations were high going into the movie, no doubt, but surprisingly The Social Network turned out to be even better than I had hoped it would be. It definitely has that “Fincheresque” (totally made that one up on the spot) vibe to it and its visuals are very similar in style to his previous work. The script is top-notch, as written by Aaron Sorkin, and the performances from various cast members make this film an instant success. Jesse Eisenberg is no more the awkward teenager, but instead plays a manipulative, genius Mark Zuckerberg and his performance I truly one to look out for. Then there’s Andrew Garfield, who is just as good in the supporting role of Zuckerberg’s best friend. Justin Timberlake was also quite impressive and the rest of the cast did a great job as well. The Social Network didn’t turn out to be exactly as I expected, but instead worked wonders as a drama and character study. One of the best of the year, that’s for sure.

Saw 3D (2010) - 6/10
I really didn’t know what to feel about Saw 3D at first – part of me was excited hoping that the last instalment in the series could bring back what made the horror franchise so popular in the first place while the other part was skeptical about the 3D and how it would affect the film. Now that I saw it, I can safely say that Saw 3D turned out to be a combination of my positive and negative thoughts, for better or worse. It’s certainly an entertaining film, but it lacked the closure a series as long as this one needed. Plus, there were too many unnecessary plot elements, such as too many new characters that didn’t matter too much or some weak twists here and there. My biggest disappointed with the film is that they brought Cary Elwes back in the role of Dr. Gordon only to use him in a cheap and unsatisfying twist at the end of the film. The acting was unusually weak in this one as well, with Betsy Russell leading the bandwagon with a downright horrible performance. Fortunately, there’s plenty of gore to be had in this one and the traps are quite versatile and interesting to watch how they unfold. In the end, Saw 3D wasn’t exactly a let-down, but it wasn’t the solid finale it was supposed to be either.

Friday

American History X (1998) - 8/10
I’ve been meaning to get into some more flicks starring Edward Norton since I enjoy most of his performances, but I didn’t get to see as much of him as I had liked to. I kinda had a rough idea of what American History X would be about once I saw the poster, but it turned out to be different than I imagined (in a good way). Its story is truly heartbreaking, yet inspiring at the same time and I think it’s safe to say that Edward Norton delivers one of his finest performances in his career, if not the very best one. Edward Furlong also deserves to be mentioned and his performance is also quite impressive, even though it doesn’t hold a candle to Norton’s tour-de-force. One thing I noticed was the outstanding chemistry between Norton and Furlong, which really helped the film get the message across in the long run. American History X has become a very special movie to me, and I actually saw it twice just now. Give it a go and let yourself be captivated by its tragic, beautiful story.

Don't break her heart

the plot
A high school senior is kidnapped and tortured by a girl and her psychotic father after rejecting her prom invitation.

the good
- very entertaining
- the transitions between the torture and prom night
- good amounts of gore
- solid acting, especially from lead man Xavier Samuel
- satisfying ending
- can get pretty brutal at times

the bad
- some unnecessary plot elements
- deviates too much towards torture porn
- a couple of things remain unexplained

the ugly
- bloody man on the road
- wounded dog
- injection in the throat
- knife through the feet
- drilled in the head
- throat cutting
- death by smothering
- cleaver to the face
- run over by a car

things I learned from watching this movie
- having sex with your girlfriend in a car outside of school is never a good idea
- the chubby dude and the hot emo chick fit well together
- some people like to keep vegetable cannibals in their basement
- weed can get you kidnapped

summary
There is no doubt that The Loved Ones is one of the best horror films to come out of Australia in quite a while. It's an entertaining film with an interesting plot and some really good acting from its cast, but it's also directed and shot in very good quality, which makes it all the more enjoyable. The only unfortunate thing is that the film didn't become too popular, but fans of the genre will definitely treasure this indie gem.

horror meter: 4 incestuous stars (out of 5)

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” - Oprah Winfrey

Why is it that millions of people use Facebook every day, but a surprisingly small amount are interested in seeing a film revolving around the social networking site’s foundation and how it came to be what it is today? I myself have shown little interest about the upcoming movie The Social Network, even after hearing that David Fincher will be in charge of directing it. It’s quite puzzling why something like this would be lacking appeal, but one definite reason would be that a true story generally falls short when put to film because it lacks that sense of cinematic attraction that a work of fiction contains. There’s a fine line between trying to accurately depict true events on the big screen and mixing truth with fiction in order to create a movie that will appeal to the audience, and rarely do filmmakers successfully incorporate one or the other when faced with bringing a true story to life.

Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, The Social Network tells the story of how Facebook came to be and how it became as big as it is today, but this isn’t your average run-of-the-mill real life story about great people achieving great things, but rather a close look into the lives of several individuals who helped bring the social networking site to life. As such, it’s more a character study involving themes such as friendship, trust, greed and betrayal than it is about the actual founding of Facebook. The truth is that we will never know how accurate it is (like many other films based on a true story), but that actually doesn’t matter too much.


Anyone even slightly familiar with David Fincher’s work knows that this isn’t the type of project that you would normally expect him to be attached to. Sure, he has proven himself to be quite versatile over the years, but The Social Network is significantly different in vein from everything that he has directed thus far. The point is that it has raised concerns for some regarding Fincher being in charge of directing “the movie about Facebook” while others have gotten even more excited about the film when they got the news. I’m not quite sure how I felt about it at first, but it definitely changed my perspective on the entire project and shifted expectations to a whole new level – not a higher one, but not a lower one either.

The screenplay has been adapted for the big screen by Aaron Sorkin, whose signature fast-paced dialogue and style of writing are most definitely present in this movie as well. Right from the very first scene—a sequence of around 10 minutes long depicting Mark Zuckerberg involved in a heated conversation with his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend—we get a good taste of how the film is going to play out and what it will be about. It’s a dialogue-driven movie, no doubt, and Sorkin’s influence is undeniable. Quick exchanges between characters and smart dialogue make for a smooth, yet rapid pace and keep the film entertaining from start to finish. Along with Fincher’s experienced direction and his unobstructed vision, who knows exactly how to shoot a scene and when to cut it, this makes for the perfect recipe of success.


Most of the film takes place at Harvard University, but the story is told in flashbacks as remembered by characters and mentioned in several depositions where Mark Zuckerberg is sued not only by fellow students who claim that he stole their idea, but also by his best friend. After breaking up with his girlfriend, Zuckerberg goes on the internet and writes an ugly article about her in his blog. In the same night, he creates a website called FaceMash with help from his best friend Eduardo Saverin, which ends up crashing Harvard’s network due high traffic. After being punished with six months of academic probation for his actions, Mark is brought to the attention of two brothers, also members of Harvard University, who offer him a job as a programmer for their new website. He has other plans, though, and those who come in his path may end up suffering greatly.

It’s important to understand that The Social Network isn’t just a movie about the founding of Facebook, but also a film revolving around various themes and exploring the rising culture of the early 21st century. Going into this movie with false expectations may diminish its overall effect, so it’s doesn’t hurt to be aware that things may not turn out as anticipated. As usual, David Fincher does his best and it’s easy to identify his contribution to the film in every frame. Much like every other movie he’s directed, there’s a certain visual style associated with The Social Network. Everything from the colour pallete he uses in certain scenes to the camera angles and the way characters interact with each other are there due to Fincher’s powerful and steadfast direction.


Much like every other dialogue-oriented film out there, The Social Network wouldn’t be as effective with the terrific performances of its cast. Jesse Eisenberg is truly impressive in the lead role of Mark Zuckerberg, and his past films where he played mostly quirky, awkward teenagers are long gone. He plays a completely different person here and together with Fincher’s fine direction he manages to really stand out as a capable actor. Then there’s Andrew Garfield, the rising star that really proves why he is gaining reputation so quickly in the film industry. He does a tremendous job at playing his part and he delivers lines with ease and passion. Good things are bound to happen to him career-wise if he keeps it up.

Other roles include Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, the co-founder of Napster that gets in touch with Zuckerberg and ultimately becomes involved with Facebook. I had my doubts about Timberlaker only because I’m not too fond of singers turned actors, but he did a fine job as the confident, somewhat manipulative character that adds some spice during the final half of the film. Another noteworthy actor is Armie Hammer, who actually plays two characters: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who sue Mark Zuckerberg for stealing their idea for Facebook. It actually never occurred to me throughout the entire movie that the twins were actually played by the same person (I was surprised when I found out in the end), but that’s mainly due to Hammer’s versatility in playing to different personalities, which he does to perfection.


There is no doubt that there is some fiction included within this so-called true story, but The Social Network wouldn’t have been as good or exciting had it mimicked reality in the most accurate way possible. In order for a film to work, there has to be some sort of cinematic fiction involved, and that’s exactly what this movie needed. The point is that it doesn’t really matter how much of it is true, because that’s not exactly the film’s goal or purpose. As a character study, The Social Network is one of the best films to come along in quite a while, and even though audiences will end up hating the Mark Zuckerberg character, it’s only because Eisenberg played the part so well and Aaron Sorkin did his job at writing him in the most intriguing way possible. Still, I’m sure most of us will be able to sympathize with this fascinating character, even after all that he’s done throughout the film.

So is The Social Network worth a watch? I don’t know about you, but for me this film deserves more than one watch simply because it’s so well put together, so beautifully shot and excellently acted. David Fincher proves that he is indeed an adaptable director able to take on any genre and do his magic in an unperturbed manner. I now realize that this film didn’t exactly turn out to be what I expected, yet it did somehow turn out to be just how I imagined it at the same time. Maybe that’s because The Social Network is a lot of things, or possibly because I really didn’t know what to expect from it. As for the end result, it’s far better than I could have ever anticipated and it is no doubt one of my favourite films of the year. As for the facts, we’ll never really know how much of it is true and what exactly was made up. The only people that know that are the ones that have lived through it, and I’m sure they aren’t very eager to reveal the truth to the whole world.

Everyone is entitled to one good scare.

the plot
A psychotic murderer escapes from a mental institution and returns to his hometown where he goes on a savage killing spree.

the good
- creepy atmosphere
- memorable score
- great kills
- never goes over the top
- iconic killer
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- intense climax
- satisfying conclusion

the bad
- more kills wouldn't have hurt
- some scenes haven't aged as good with time
- the slow build-up

the ugly
- death of a naked woman
- bloody knives
- strangulation
- throat cutting
- one awesome knife kill
- more strangulation
- knitting needle to the neck
- stab in the eye
- several gunshots

things I learned from watching this movie
- no one will care if a crazed killer is on the loose except for his psychiatrist
- intelligent girls have bitchy chicks for friends
- a psycho killer has no problem killing people in various ways, but will always miss from close-range when faced with the protagonist of the film
- six shots and one fall from the balcony will not stop that crazy dude

summary
Halloween has been hailed as one of the greatest horror films ever since its release, and for good reason. Not only did it play a large part in starting the 80s slasher craze, but it also features a creepy atmosphere, one of the scariest movie scores ever and a universally recognizable iconic killer. Thanks to John Carpenter, we always have something to watch during Halloween now.

horror meter: 5 mute stars (out of 5)

Halloween has come and gone, but I like to believe that the fun is far from over. Coming soon: reviews on a couple of films I’ve been dying to see this year.

Tuesday

Death at a Funeral (2007) - 7/10
I remember hearing about Death at a Funeral a couple of years ago and was looking forward to it due to its popularity among recent British comedy flicks, but unfortunately I quickly forgot about it and the film re-entered my memory just recently when I got news about the American remake. Soon enough I got the chance to see it and I have to say that it really lives up to its reputation. While it may not be anything groundbreaking or entirely new, the movie is full of good laughs and hilarious characters. Death at a Funeral’s strongest point would probably have to be its smartly written script, which together with the fluent pace makes for quite a remarkable, funny experience. The entire cast of the film does an excellent job and I found myself pleasantly surprised at how well each of the actors managed to carry their characters and deliver witty lines. That being said, Death at a Funeral is definitely one of the best comedies in recent years, British or otherwise.

Friday

Halloween (1978) - 8/10
Believe it or not, I have never seen the original Halloween before, even though I wanted to give it a go countless times, but something always intervened with my plans. This Halloween (guess there’s gonna be a lot of confusion between the film title and the holiday right now) seemed like a good occasion to finally watch this horror classic. Better late than never, eh? The first thing that came to my attention was the film’s creepy, atmospheric score, which I came to completely love by the end of the movie. The pacing was also quite fitting and I loved the various scenes where we see Michael Myers stalking the protagonist. Speaking of which, Jamie Lee Curtis was great in the leading role. The kills, even if less in number than most slasher flicks, were creative and suspenseful enough to keep things interesting and entertaining. The more I think about Halloween, the more I truly believe that it’s the best slasher film ever made. Hats off to John Carpenter for giving the world this timeless horror masterpiece.

Saturday

The Loved Ones (2010) - 7/10
I really can’t remember where I heard about this film (no, it’s not because of that dude that starred in Twilight), but I instantly got excited about it and couldn’t wait to give it a go. We didn’t get too many good horror flicks this year, so every film with potential to succeed instantly grabs my attention. As much as I was looking forward to it, though, I decided to wait for Halloween to finally watch it, and now that I think back it seemed like a pretty wise decision. The film is actually surprisingly well-written and it’s entertaining from start to finish. It starts off a little slow, building up the story and introducing us to the characters, but then it really gets into it. I wasn’t expecting for it to be as gory as it turned out to be and there were some pretty brutal scenes along the way. Unlike other horror films, the ending to this one was satisfying and it really felt like a good place to end things. Definitely worth a watch, that’s for sure.

Arr, ye land-lubbers! Wait, wrong occasion… let’s start again!

Look out the window. Is someone staring at you while dressed in a weird costume and holding a potentially deadly weapon? Don’t panic. Did you hear that? It’s the sound of footsteps and kitchen knives scratching the walls. Do not worry. It’s just Halloween.
As we all know, the 31st of October marks the day of the annual holiday called All Hallow’s Eve, better known as Halloween. This is the time when the full moon rises and werewolves are free to roam the lands and battle the bloodthirsty vampires for the ultimate power to rule humanity. Joining them will be special guests such as famous serial killers, weird-looking monsters and that creepy neighbour you keep seeing at midnight carrying suspicious bags to his car.

All of this is for the good of mankind, I assure you. As usual, we mortal beings love having fun and so it happens that every year during this holiday we tend to watch as many horror movies, visit spooky haunted houses and dress up in scary costumes.

As such, I feel obliged to present to you, my faithful readers, a list of the best things that came out this year related to this lovely holiday we humans like to call Halloween. I hope you enjoy these picks. Have fun reading and don’t let the boogeyman get you! Bwahahahahahaha!

• Movie Pick

The Loved Ones

This surprisingly good Australian horror flick about a guy who is kidnapped and tortured by a girl he rejected for a high school dance is really fitting for this occasion. It’s not exactly the definition of scary, but the film is one hell of a fun ride and the teenage angst undertones work well with its main story. Grab a couple of your mates, buy some popcorn and let the horrorfest begin! Be careful who you watch it with, though, because this little horror film can get quite brutal at times.

• TV Pick

The Walking Dead

Based on the American comic book series of the same name, this zombielicious (I totally just made that up) TV series deals with a group of people trying to survive after the zombie apocalypse. The first episode actually premiered on 31st October, so here’s your chance to join in and keep up the pace. As we all know, there’s really nothing better than watching zombies doing what they do best, and I’m sure The Walking Dead will not disappoint in that domain. Braaaaains!

• Video Game Pick

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Who said video games can’t scare the hell out of you? Well, here’s a game that will give you the ultimate shivers. Developed by none other than Frictional Games, who some may remember as the creators of the Penumbra series (yes, Black Plague made me crap my pants as well), this adventure/survival horror game takes the creepiness to a whole new level. Its spooky atmosphere will most definitely leave a mark on you and the constant creepy sounds and other “ghastly” stuff are enough to scare even the toughest away. Best played in the dark with headphones on.

• Music Pick

Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa by Cradle of Filth

Marking the ninth studio album of English black metal band Cradle of Filth, this album is certainly a fitting choice to get into the dark atmosphere of Halloween. Frontman Dani Filth says the album is "about the resurgence of Lilith into modern society as a deity," adding that "there's a bit of Victoriana in there. Essentially, at heart, it's a nice gothic horror story." Fun fact: Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa has been released on this very day, the 1st of November.