Spooky Special - A Simple Plan (1998)

 

Streaming on Paramount+ and Showtime 

For rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube 

    I have commented many times about what I define as genuine horror cinema, and it basically comes down to stories that explore and challenge aspects of the human condition that are deemed too frightening to ever want to contemplate. One of the reasons the horror genre is ripe for these kinds of stories is that, in most cases, the internal conflict can be easily embodied by an external force or character. For example, the shape-shifting monster from John Carpenter's classic The Thing is the perfect embodiment of paranoia and nonconsensual infiltration of one's thoughts and body. Going further back, Geroge A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead uses zombies to comment on the dangers that can accumulate from a lack of unity and needless perpetual racism. A more recent example is Netflix's The Ritual, which utilizes a monster-worshiping cult to force the protagonist to face his personal demons and seek self-forgiveness. Good horror stories utilize external forces to bring out internal conflicts that require courage, self-reflection, and re-evaluation to be resolved. 

    In all of these cases, the conflict has arisen from a monster or some other unearthly entity, but what if the monster was something inanimate? What if the monster that brings out those terrifying human aspects is something as simple as sheets of cotton and linen? That is the question raised by Sam Raimi's underrated 1998 classic thriller, A Simple Plan. The story of three people struggling to justify their questionable actions, forcing them to contemplate the true nature of evil and what it may take to survive their self-imposed ordeal. It may not be recognized as a "horror" movie, but make no mistake, it is a genuine horror story in every possible way and not just because of its director (more on him later). 

    Set in the outskirts of Minnesota during winter, the story follows two brothers and their mutual friend who stumble upon a crashed plane buried under the snow. Curious, the three men investigate the plane and find a large duffle bag filled with millions of dollars in cash. At first, the three men believe they can keep the money since the lost plane would suggest no one is looking for it or has yet to find it. However, one of them suggests that since they don't know where it actually came from, it's their responsibility to hand it over to the authorities because nothing involving that much money all at once could be good-natured or legit. As a compromise, the three men agree to sit on the money and the location of the crashed plane until they can determine the nature of their find and their safety. As the truth slowly unravels itself, brought on by their own investigation and hints of greed, they soon find themselves in a series of unintended evil acts, forcing them to question their choices and convictions. Everyone will be changed by this event, but who knows if it'll be for the better?

    This film is a prime example of what I like to describe as elegant simplicity. It's a simple story about ordinary people trapped in a tangled web of seemingly necessary evil actions for what they believe to be a greater goal, only to realize too late that nothing good can arise from their current choices. It's a film that is fearless in tackling the horrors of the human condition, which isn't surprising given its director, Sam Raimi, who is no stranger to horror cinema. 

    Sam Raimi is something of a legend in the world of horror cinema. He made a name for himself as an eccentric artist with a penchant for the silly and over-the-top. This is understandable when your debut includes totally out-of-there classics like The Evil Dead and Darkman: films that embrace an air of insanity that can best be attributed to a creative mind akin to a broken fire hydrant. Even so, this mindset didn't seem to settle well with most studio heads, who felt that such a crazy filmmaker couldn't create anything outside of his comfort zone. So, to prove them wrong, Sam Raimi made a few simple films that maintained his creative identity but were much more toned down. A Simple Plan was the first film in this toned-down style that would prove himself as a capable and versatile artist. 

     I described this film as underrated because it's one of his greatest films that isn't talked about nearly as much as it should. Not just because of how well it fits in the spirit of Halloween horror but also because of how well done and memorable it is. I say this because (and I swear this is totally true) I saw this movie in theaters when it was initially released in 1998 and haven't yet had the opportunity to rewatch it since. Not because it wasn't good but because everything about it was so well executed and so memorable that, to this day, I still remember nearly every vital scene. The story, performances, and overall presentation were so visceral they have lived in my memory for well over twenty years. 

    This is an excellent film for most occasions, and it is especially great for the Halloween season. Sure, it may not be as campy or as surreal as most other Halloween classics, but for a simple and genuine story that explores the horrors of the human condition, this is a top-notch choice. Be sure to add this one to your list of potential choices for your scary movies to view tonight. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Happy Halloween! 

Spooky Special - One Cut of the Dead (2017)

 

Streaming on Shudder 

For Rent on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube 

    There are movies about zombies, movies about making movies, and even movies about making zombie movies. This style of a film within a film or a story within a story meta-narrative has existed since the dawn of the arts. One of the earliest examples is Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, written in the style of letters, journals, and official reports presented to the reader rather than a traditional third-person perspective narrative. While this particular sub-genre has numerous advantages and quirks, only a few of the ones I've seen up until now have captured the joy and unity that the arts can provide to its creators and the audience. 

    One Cut of the Dead is precisely that kind of film! It is a story about art, creative unity, and the joy of making something unique together. Not to mention the ever-so-appreciated argument that there's no such thing as high or low art. This film has much more heart, commitment, and nuance than I expected. I am overjoyed that I could enjoy it and review it for all of you, especially during the appropriate Halloween season. 

    Without spoiling the twist (and yes, there is a twist), the opening story of the film is indeed what it says in the tagline: a group of filmmakers are trying to make a zombie film only to be invaded by actual zombies. The main attraction is that it is all captured in one continuous shot with no cuts, much like the films 1917 or Alfred Hitchcock's Rope. However, while those films utilized cleverly hidden edits to maintain the illusion of a single take, One Cut of the Dead does it for real with no such hidden editing tricks. 

    At first glance, while the single take is always admirable, it seems almost too amateurish in this film: Overexposed images, moments of awkward stalling, and occasional questionable camera angles. All of this for a solid 37 minutes, and while some of it may seem strange, it all fits the narrative style and feels justified given the situation of the story. However, if you stay with it for the whole run, it suddenly transforms into something unexpected and more profound than you might have thought. Suddenly, all of the strange aspects of the first part make total sense and build up to something greater, which, again, I will not spoil here because you have to experience it for yourself. 

    While the zombie genre may not be for everyone, and the graphic violence depicted may turn away some viewers (understandably so), please take solace in knowing that none of it is there for the mere sake of having it. None of it is real, of course, and all of it serves the greater purpose of the actual story. It should be noted that there was a French remake of this film titled Final Cut, but I haven't seen it as of this writing, nor am I particularly interested in it because this kind of movie is impossible to recreate. Sure, the French version might have sleeker visuals and a bigger budget, but no remake of this film could ever capture the one thing this low-budget Japanese film has in spades: heart. 

    Even if you're not a fan of zombies, I encourage you to give this film a shot. It will be much more nuanced and joyful than it may appear. You will not regret it! 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

No One Will Save You - A Spectacular Spook Show

 

Streaming on Hulu 

    I cannot remember the last time the Halloween season had such an incredible and fantastic kickoff, precisely describing this movie! Not only is this the best way to begin this year's spooky season, it's an out-of-this-world film in every way possible! Delivering stunning performances, wild cat & mouse sequences, and a fun fusion of the home invasion and alien invasion genres. While I have joked about how an endorsement from Stephen King isn't always a guaranteed stamp of high quality (see The Dark Tower for proof), this is one instance where it is warranted and deserved. This Halloween is starting off with a delightful bang! 

    The story follows a young woman named Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever) living alone in her family's secluded house. She spends her days visiting her mother's grave, building a diorama of her hometown with birdhouses, and writing letters to her best friend (though we never see her mail any of them.) Meanwhile, the entire town dislikes Brynn for something that happened in the past, alienating her from the community. Brynn's routine gets rudely disrupted when a literal Alien invades her home and the town. In her struggle to survive, she will find herself confronting her past and seeking some kind of safe haven wherever and however she may find it. The only question is, will she deserve any kind of redemption? 

    The most fascinating aspect of this movie is its lack of dialogue. Everything in the narrative is conveyed through clever camera language and performances, especially from the lead, Kaitlyn Dever, who effortlessly carries the entire movie on her shoulders. Everything about her is conveyed through her thoughtful actions and calculated facial expressions. It's a movie that remembers and reinforces how film is a visual medium, first and foremost. It's not a silent film; it utilizes the format to its fullest extent, which is always appreciated! 

    True horror cinema isn't about blood and guts; it's about the human condition's tragic and emotionally damaging aspects. Stories where the character(s) are forced to confront their own personal demons, making the audience wonder what they will become when they make it across the finish line (assuming they ever do so). This movie is a character piece, first and foremost, with the alien invasion providing an external force that causes the protagonist to confront their internal troubles. This is a welcome and much-appreciated return to form in the modern age of oversaturated gore porn horror movies (I'm looking at you, Saw X).  

    The music and sound design is absolutely stellar! It has a quality and style that succeeds in feeling Alien yet eerily familiar. Most of the movie's best scares come from the sounds, like hearing rapid & quiet footsteps running up the stairs to your room. As a prime example of fusing appropriate sounds with visuals, you can't go wrong here. 

    The cinematography is the only aspect of the film that has me less than impressed (frustratingly so). This is yet another film that suffers from being too dark, as it's nearly impossible to see what's on screen. Most of the film takes place at night and is often perceivably lit by the moon when practical and UFO lights aren't in the scene. It's an unfortunate and often repeated problem with digital cinematography, where they assume that the camera's sensitivity will pick up all the detail they need. 

    Pro tip: no matter how dark you want a scene to be, there must still (always) be some sort of contrast within the shot. I watched this movie on a 4K screen with high-quality HDR, and it was still too dark! 

    To be fair, the movie does utilize shadows well for the atmosphere, and it is not excessively dark throughout the runtime. 

    Despite the movie falling victim to the dreaded and mysteriously popular trend of underexposing to the point of incomprehension, it is still a fantastic experience that will provide a thrilling and spook-filled beginning to the Halloween season. This is what real horror cinema looks like, and I hope we get more like it in the future. 

    If you have a Hulu account or permitted access to one, please get this movie in front of your eyeballs post haste!

    Welcome to the Halloween season! 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

A Haunting in Venice - Enjoyabley Familiar

 

Playing in Theaters 

    Kenneth Branagh's adaptations of Agatha Christie's works have been, for want of a better word, consistent. They have been well assembled, put together with a passion for the material & love of the arts, and successfully deliver a handsome & textured experience in some way. While the formula for this particular kind of film might be stale by now (understandably so), that isn't to say that this latest offering doesn't still deliver the goods. It may not be as profound or impactful as the first entry into this little franchise, but it knows precisely what it is and how to deliver a damn good experience. Let it never be said that Kenneth Branagh is ever boring. 

    Loosely based on the Agatha Christie novel Halloween Party, the story follows the world's greatest detective, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), trying to enjoy his retirement and self-imposed exile in post-war Venice, Italy. Despite regular solicitations for his detective skills, mysteries no longer interest the pastry-loving sleuth, which is a mystery in and of itself. Things get shaken up when he's visited by an old friend, mystery writer/author-insert character Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), who informs Poirot of a potentially exciting case. Mrs. Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) claims to be a medium and can communicate with the dead. Naturally, she's perceived as a fraud, and Poirot is "invited" to a spiritual séance on Halloween night, hosted by the victims of a child who passed away sometime prior, to expose Mrs. Reynolds. However, as the night progresses, the mystery proves to be much more profound than Poirot could have thought. Not helped by the strange things he's constantly seeing, causing him to question his state of mind. Can the world's greatest detective solve this mystery without losing his mind? 

    The film is an overall fantastic experience. It's filled to the brim with a chilling atmosphere and memorable performances. This kind of film relies heavily upon its cast and delivers in spades. Everyone on board, especially the young boy, Jude Hill, is delightful to watch and worthy of the MVP award. Especially when you consider how well he holds his own alongside titans like Michelle Yeoh. 

    The twists and turns throughout the narrative are precisely what you would expect from an Agatha Christie mystery story, which is partially why this film isn't ranked any higher for me. While the presentation is spot on, and the execution of the overall narrative is as pristine as possible, it's challenging to be impressed. I hesitate to use the word "predictable" because that would imply a lack of enjoyment, which is not true here. It was enjoyable despite being, let's say, done before (incredibly well, I might add). 

    A Haunting in Venice might not be the most stunning film this year, nor the most talked-about in the following months, but it is entertaining in its own right and the perfect choice for the Halloween season. If you need a good scare that isn't torture porn (seriously, how many more of these damn Saw movies will they keep churning out?), this is a safe and enjoyable bet. 

    Check it out. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.