Top three horror movies I saw recently
Well as shared in last post I will be moving to Warangal next month. So left to do nothing I went on a movie spree. I have already finished a huge chunk of movies (mostly horror, action and comedy, genres best suited for Indian men). Still a huge amount is lying there in hard disk and DVDs… Really entertainment if taken as goal does require hard work. Any how I sincerely wanted to share these three movies with you which I found above par in world of horror. Well frankly I am horror movies’ freak. I have nearly completed all those top 50 lists of best horror movies out there (which sadly always tops with the Psycho, Hitchcock’s classic. Classics are always golden but some new ones really go beyond it.) So without any further here they are:
3. The Shutter (2004)
“The most terrifying images are the ones that are real.”
This Thai horror is for all those who liked grudge. However I need to warn you its way more terrifying.
Pease don’t confuse it with our desi flick tasveer, although camera plays a crucial role here also. In one line, the story is about a young couple with a close group of friends who start dying one by one and even the couple witness the strange events especially with the pictures associated with them. And then comes ghost etc. etc. (don’t want to spoil the fun by giving story awayJ)
Although all these Asian ghosts nearly look alike with their dark eyes and white faces and the freakish way of crawling, what this flick differs at is presentation. The eerie and suspenseful environment is created right from the beginning and goes till the end. Two most bizarre features of this movie are perhaps the anti-climax and the relationship of the ghost with the hero (or rather anti-hero). The moment you think you have reached happy ending the mystery goes deeper. However the really epitome of the movie is when the hero finds out where the ghost actually is (SPOILER* right on his shoulder* god dammit , you won’t be able to view the mirror for at least two days…)
P.S.: Don’t confuse this movie with its Hollywood remake of same name. That movie is total crap.
2. The Thing (1982)
“Man is The Warmest Place to Hide”.
This John Carpenter’s classic is probably the best thing happened in my life recently. Ever since I played the PC game the Thing I wanted to see this movie. Seriously it was cooler than the game (unlike hitman and halo). This movie was way ahead of its time in all respect whether it be cinematography, direction, acting or even the representation of grose aliens. It was really tough for me to chose between the Thing and Alien. However the sheer tension which the movie builds and maintains all through makes the Thing a clear winner. Beside quality even quantity wise the Thing cruises far ahead of Alien in the body count (…have NOT included all the slaughtered dogs here.), Alien encounter and mutating bodies. Also all that Antarctica’s icy winds really send shivers down the spine. It’s a must for all those sci-fi, horror and aliens’ fan out there.
1. The Mist (2007)
“Sure, as long as the machines are working and you can dial 911. But you take those things away, you throw people in the dark, you scare the shit out of them – no more rules.”
This movie based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King is perhaps the only underdogs among all these giants (… maybe due to King’s name attached with it.).
However giving it all the due respects it deserves it’s probably the best horror flick of the modern times. Although due to its name terribly close to fog and the starting with regular supermarket trapped town people, this movie may at first give one a sense a déjà vu. What next? Zombies or some aliens … huge amount of bloodshed … one survivor at the end (mostly a kind hearted but tough blonde) and the end. NO. The similarity ends at the supermarket. Once the mist starts rolling out with all the hidden surprises you won’t be able to leave your seat. Continuous horror in form of creepy monsters from other dimensions and the wild reaction of trapped people to this tragedy is really gripping. More than the monster it was the totally self centered and dangerous nature of human beings under the constant threat to life which frightened me more. Especially the scene when a lady asks for help to every man in the market to escort her to home where her two children including a baby were waiting. But the constant presence of death in mist outside sucks all the chivalry out of them. The best performance was given by Marcia Gay Harden in form of religious fanatic who gives a totally religious angle to this scientific blunder and ultimately succeeds in making the people believe her crap.
Really it’s tough to single out the best elements in the flick as everything is superb in its place. Music is awesome. You will really go for the soundtracks once you see the movie. The darkness both externally and internally of each character is flawlessly presented. As if that was not enough the ending is so gloomy and anti climax that it will surely leave you aghast with that pricking dissatisfaction for the rest of night. It’s probably the only movie which scared the hell out of me for the whole time but left with tears. A must for any horror freak, for that matter any one with good taste for movies.
