Dark Horror Tales

PLOT SUMMARY: When a nurse brings back a curse from her trip, everyone who encounters it faces its wrath.  When someone dies in a fit of extreme rage or sorrow, a curse is born in that place. Anyone who encounters it is haunted by that curse until their death. In these cases, the victims usually just kill themselves, unable to bear the horror that comes with the haunting. An interesting premise, right? The original Japanese movie, even the 2004 version one, had elements that kept you glued to the screen. What was scary about the movie was the freaky rattling sound emerging from the ghost’s throat. That’s the one thing that stood out. Yes, the visuals were there, but it was the sound that made your heart jump. Coming to the 2020 version, and, spoiler alert, the movie falters miserably. Because here’s the thing, the movie doesn’t set up the story effectively, and we simply don’t see the ghosts that are haunting the victims. They just seem possessed and go on a killing spree before killin

Cruel Peter is the darkest movie you will ever see. And no, it isn't because there are a lot of gory, disturbing scenes. It's because the director forgot to hire a lighting crew. The biggest problem with the movie is that most of the scenes are shot at night and you have to push your head forward, stare at the scenes to understand what is happening. Of course, peering, or sitting right in front of the screen isn't going to help, but habitually, you will end up doing before realizing all the scenes are badly shot without light. I get that some moviemakers use this trick to conceal the low-budget special effects, but instead of simply dimming the lights, the lights are completely off here. How are the characters even seeing in the dark, you wonder. The story begins in 1908, Messina Italy. Peter is a delinquent who relishes in hurting people and small animals. When he goes after a boy’s dog, the boy decides he’s had enough of Peter’s cruelty and needs to be t

PLOT SUMMARY: Dr Brendan and his stepdaughter Rose are invited to research a cursed clockwork doll. Soon Dr Brendan finds the truth about the doll and realizes he may just be the doll's next victim.  If you're looking for a movie that will give you the experience of a theatre play, then this is the movie for you. Also known as Automata, you will be taken back to a bygone era, where there used to be battles, soldiers with muskets and attached bayonets, men in powdered wigs, and their peculiar taste in automata...at least according to the movie. Yes, it is implied that the soldiers and generals liked to play with dolls in their free time. And if they can move on their own, that’s even better. But this is a horror movie, and a moving doll can only spell trouble.

PLOT SUMMARY: A woman gets the chance of a lifetime to work with her idol, a famous writer. But when she reaches his house, she finds that not all wishes should come true.  As a writer, what I wouldn’t give to work with my favourite author. It would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn everything I can from the master of horror because at some point I do feel like I could use a bit of guidance. But if the question arises of how desperate I am to work with the author, if I’m ready to accept all of their eccentricities, and willing to participate in their experiments... Maybe I may just let go of this opportunity. Especially after watching True Fiction.

PLOT SUMMARY: When the girls at a sorority begin to disappear, one of them finds that the college has a dark secret.  Over the past few days, every movie I’ve picked to watch has been about gender inequality. The female characters are made aware of their actual place in society. Some of them revolt, others give a fitting reply and take a mature stance. Black Christmas was not one of the movies that highlighted the issue of gender inequality well. In fact, it was uncomfortable to watch because the creators tried too hard to show that no, women are superior beings who are ridiculed and suppressed by society. There’s a point in the movie when one of the male characters stands up for himself and states how unfair it is that all men are lumped together as one just because one man did an unspeakable thing. His reward? He’s unceremoniously thrown out of the house and snubbed by his girlfriend.

PLOT SUMMARY: When a meteorite falls into the Gardeners' garden, the strange light that emits from it interferes with their life.  If you ever want to watch a movie that will leave you with one eyebrow raised, mouth agape and your mind whirling, this is the one to watch. Color Out of Space can easily be defined as one weird movie. Everything is all jumbled toward the second half and honestly, the ending will leave you flabbergasted.