It's a Horror to Know You: Turnidoff of Death to CGI!
1. What is the first film that ever scared you?
I think it would have to be Trilogy of Terror (1975). I was probably 3 or 4 and I walked past the old wood paneled Curtis Mathis floor model television and caught a glimpse of Karen Black getting assaulted by this spastic little toothy demon. It is still burned in my memory of where I was, what I heard and what I saw. It was that traumatic for me. Now of course, I love little Zuni. (Note to self, sitcom idea: "Lil' Zuni")
2. What is the last film that scared you?
This is tough. I haven't really been scared of anything recent. (I haven't seen Cabin in the Woods yet) I tend to go back to the classics. I prefer my horror on VHS because for me, the format ads to the creepiness factor. Nothing beats a grainy copy of Galaxy of Terror. However, I did see Devil (2010) and was very scared of what horror films today have become… or maybe that was depression.
3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.
Ravenous (1999): a victim of a confused marketing campaign. It made no noise when it came out. Everything about this film is fantastic. It's a brilliant take on the cannibal/vampire genre. Oh, and the music… Best scored film of the 90's.
The Frighteners (1996): Peta Jicksen's big US breakthrough wasn't as well received as his following films, but it made Michael J. Fox kick some ass one last time, and although it was a bit cartoony, it still packed some good chills. True Story: a friend and I went to see this opening day, we were the only ones in the theater… flash forward to his next film, and we could barely find a seat. The great Jackson jump of the late 90's.
Terror in the Aisles (1984): For me, this film was my introduction to many great horror flicks of the video store age. Donald Pleasance hamming it up hardcore. Nancy Allen in all her full permness, and it made Wings Hauser in Vice Squad (1982) look creepier than he was. Neon Slime!
4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.
The Crazies (2010): I'm very leery of most remakes. I dismissed this one as another one for the fire, but I actually enjoyed it. In a time oversaturated with zombie flicks, seeing government and military killing everyone off was more terrifying than the undead. Plus Timothy Olyphant is this generation's Clint! (Eastwood, not Howard)
Night of the Living Dead (1990): The original NOTLD is about as close to a perfect horror film as you can possibly get. At first I thought the remake was going to be crap. I was so wrong. NOTLD1990 is EXACTLY how you make a faithful remake. It doesn't try to re-do the story for a new generation. It assumes you are familiar and even comfortable with the original and that's where its power lies. Once you think you know what's going to happen, BOOM, they playfully trick you. They work really well back to back.
Ginger Snaps (2000): Teen goth sister werewolf film? No thanks. I sat through this with annoyance, but it quickly turned to enjoyment. I refuse to believe that anything Twilighty could have been inspired from this film. For a female teen horror film, Ginger Snaps had balls.
5. Send us to five places on the Internet!
Trailers From Hell. Joe Dante's brainchild of great trailers with tons of filmmaker commentary.
The Star Wars Soundboard. Seriously addicting. You can even make mixes of the sound clips. You'll never need to speak again!
The Beard Knows. Kenny Rogers Spreadin' his wisdom. Go on, ask him anything!
Death To CGI. My rant blog. I haven't posted on there for a while. I better get on that.
John Mapes. My music page. You could call it horror considering some of the songs I do.
I thought the remake of the Crazies was *better* than the original.
Nice picks Turnidoff! I agree with Apocalpsejunkie, I like the Crazies remake better than the original. What can I do? Besides being scary, I think it has something interesting to say about not being able to escape the violence of the world even in a small town. The car-wash scene is a true keeper in my book! I dug the NOTLD remake also and I thought the twist on the end was pretty clever. So happy that That Ravenous keeps coming up and that the soundtrack is being pointed out too! But most of all I love the Kristy McNichol song!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Ravenous soundtrack. It gave the film such an off vibe, but in a good way. Very Morricone-ish. I was a bit dissapointed in my "Last film that scared me" answer. I still can't think of a good MODERN horror I could pick. Is there a gorror film about house centipedes? Because that would be at the top of my list. Why has no one made a house centipede horror?
just checked out DEATH TO CGI.
awesome site.