While jotting down my Best-of’s, I realized that the majority of them are ones I didn’t review. I wish I had an interesting excuse, like toilet diving for Ghoulies; but, boringly, moving and schoolwork heavily interfered. I must admit, this past week was slow and I could have banged some out, but laziness overcame me. Anyway, here’s my Best-of’s:
1.) Favorite: A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin.
2.) Hidden Gem: This goes to director Sergio Martino. I watched three of his films: The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, and All the Colors of the Dark. I had no expectations when I sat down and watched the first of the three, but once I finished, I quickly Netflixed two more, and was pleased to find that the next two were even better. It may just be me, but I’m highly drawn to these films. Mostly, it’s Martino’s style. At times these films have a theatric flair to them, but what I enjoy most is the mood he sets, which is accomplished simplistically (well, it at least gives that illusion), often through lighting and angles. He often creates a surreal atmosphere, but in a much subtler way when juxtaposed to Argento’s Suspiria. I could go on and on about his style, but I’ll stop here with just one final comment. His murder scenes can be very artistic, and just slightly, but fantastically different than murder scenes I’ve seen in other films. Some of them are done in darkness or at least very lowly lit scenes. For example, the viewer may hear the sound of cutting, screaming, and heavy breathing, followed by a flash of the wound, then back to darkness. I was so impressed that I plan on watching all of his films, along with Lucio Fulci’s, next Horrothon.
Also worth mentioning, thus far in my viewing, Martino’s films can be watched in Italian with English subtitles. I hope this holds true for the rest.
3.) Most Disturbing: The torture scene in Fulci’s Don’t Torture a Duckling. This scene hit a nerve with me. It was upsetting, and it affected me similarly to the whipping of Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ, which was so inhumane and disturbing.
Runner’s up: Jenifer’s face in Argento’s Jenifer, and, of course, Saw IV. I totally agree with JPX about the drilling and brain stuff. I couldn’t even look, and the sound of the drill alone was enough to make me queasy.
4.) Scream Queen: Edwidge Fenech in All the Colors of the Dark and The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh. Fenech also starred in Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I have the Key, but the runner-up for the scream queen award has to go to Anita Strindberg for that one.
5.) Worst: The Black Belly of the Tarantula. Okay, so this film may not necessarily be the worst I watched, and maybe I give it too much slack, but it was by far the worst giallo I watched this Horrothon. It was such a disappointment in comparison to the rest that I have developed a, maybe slightly undeserving, loathing towards this film, and the horrendous dubbing severely fuels my fire.
6.) So Bad It’s Good: I agree with JPX 100 percent on this one. Definitely, The Ring of Terror.
7.) Goriest: Saw IV.
8.) Most Memorable Death: The death that results from the torture endured in Don’t Torture a Duckling.
Runner up: Once again I agree with JPX, and choose the death in the wire room in Suspiria.
9.) Best Looking Monster: Jenifer.
Runner up: The killer in Hitcher in The Dark. I wasn’t a huge fan of this film, but I liked that the killer was this little baby-faced guy who looks like he couldn’t hurt a fly, but simultaneously has a sick, twisted look in his eye; also, this almost midget drives around in a humongous RV.
10.) Scariest: Again, I agree with JPX. Reincarnation was the only film I watched this Horrothon that gave me that creepy, look over your shoulder feeling when I went to bed. But, all ghost stories do this to me. If I was a masochist, I would watch all ghost stories next Horrothon, which would prevent me from sleeping soundly for an entire year.
It’s been a blast! Thanks everyone for letting me be a part of Horrothon 2007!
Congrats on your win JPX! I could leave it at that, but you know I’m just not that nice, JPX. The time will come when I will totally kick your ass! Watch your back in future thons!
Happy December!
1.) Favorite: A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin.
2.) Hidden Gem: This goes to director Sergio Martino. I watched three of his films: The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, and All the Colors of the Dark. I had no expectations when I sat down and watched the first of the three, but once I finished, I quickly Netflixed two more, and was pleased to find that the next two were even better. It may just be me, but I’m highly drawn to these films. Mostly, it’s Martino’s style. At times these films have a theatric flair to them, but what I enjoy most is the mood he sets, which is accomplished simplistically (well, it at least gives that illusion), often through lighting and angles. He often creates a surreal atmosphere, but in a much subtler way when juxtaposed to Argento’s Suspiria. I could go on and on about his style, but I’ll stop here with just one final comment. His murder scenes can be very artistic, and just slightly, but fantastically different than murder scenes I’ve seen in other films. Some of them are done in darkness or at least very lowly lit scenes. For example, the viewer may hear the sound of cutting, screaming, and heavy breathing, followed by a flash of the wound, then back to darkness. I was so impressed that I plan on watching all of his films, along with Lucio Fulci’s, next Horrothon.
Also worth mentioning, thus far in my viewing, Martino’s films can be watched in Italian with English subtitles. I hope this holds true for the rest.
3.) Most Disturbing: The torture scene in Fulci’s Don’t Torture a Duckling. This scene hit a nerve with me. It was upsetting, and it affected me similarly to the whipping of Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ, which was so inhumane and disturbing.
Runner’s up: Jenifer’s face in Argento’s Jenifer, and, of course, Saw IV. I totally agree with JPX about the drilling and brain stuff. I couldn’t even look, and the sound of the drill alone was enough to make me queasy.
4.) Scream Queen: Edwidge Fenech in All the Colors of the Dark and The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh. Fenech also starred in Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I have the Key, but the runner-up for the scream queen award has to go to Anita Strindberg for that one.
5.) Worst: The Black Belly of the Tarantula. Okay, so this film may not necessarily be the worst I watched, and maybe I give it too much slack, but it was by far the worst giallo I watched this Horrothon. It was such a disappointment in comparison to the rest that I have developed a, maybe slightly undeserving, loathing towards this film, and the horrendous dubbing severely fuels my fire.
6.) So Bad It’s Good: I agree with JPX 100 percent on this one. Definitely, The Ring of Terror.
7.) Goriest: Saw IV.
8.) Most Memorable Death: The death that results from the torture endured in Don’t Torture a Duckling.
Runner up: Once again I agree with JPX, and choose the death in the wire room in Suspiria.
9.) Best Looking Monster: Jenifer.
Runner up: The killer in Hitcher in The Dark. I wasn’t a huge fan of this film, but I liked that the killer was this little baby-faced guy who looks like he couldn’t hurt a fly, but simultaneously has a sick, twisted look in his eye; also, this almost midget drives around in a humongous RV.
10.) Scariest: Again, I agree with JPX. Reincarnation was the only film I watched this Horrothon that gave me that creepy, look over your shoulder feeling when I went to bed. But, all ghost stories do this to me. If I was a masochist, I would watch all ghost stories next Horrothon, which would prevent me from sleeping soundly for an entire year.
It’s been a blast! Thanks everyone for letting me be a part of Horrothon 2007!
Congrats on your win JPX! I could leave it at that, but you know I’m just not that nice, JPX. The time will come when I will totally kick your ass! Watch your back in future thons!
Happy December!
3 comments:
Excellent! I don't think I've ever heard of Martino, and I definitely haven't seen any of his movies. Even my Argento knowledge is a little underdeveloped.
Somebody tortures a duckling? That's horrible! I agree: don't torture a duckling!
Great work, Whirlygirl. Congrats on the move and great to have you on board.
And that picture is awesome.
You definitely get a prize for coming up with some really interesting choices. Your reviews have put some of these movies on my next year list.
When we newbies will kick some veteran butt!
Yeah, well done Whirlygirl. You added a nice alternate perspective and you took on movies that most (all?) of us never heard of.
Post a Comment