2021 October Challenge

It's the best time of the year again - Fall in Minnesota. The temps drop, the humidity disappears, the mosquitos die off, playoff baseball (go BRAVES!) arrives, and the October Challenge returns! For six straight Octobers, my wife and I have tried our best to watch at least one horror flick every day during the month. As in previous years, I got a little antsy and we started with about a week left in September. 

Compared to last year, almost everything has been better in 2021 and the October Challenge is no different. I still saw a lot of bad movies - probably more than usual during these challenges - but even while watching them, my wife and I seemed to have fun. Of course, some movies that I looked forward to seeing ended up disappointing me and some rewatches paled in comparison to my memory of the movie, but there were still surprising treats and uncovered gems. 

The movies, from worst to best: 

The Worst of the Worst

* Oh, Peter Sarsgaard, you deserve so much better *

The Lie (2018) - 1/10    The worst kind of horror movie - one that's not even horror! I was tricked by Amazon since this dreadful "Crime Mystery" was listed in their "Horror" section. It features bland acting, terrible dialogue, and a predicable plot which has a ludicrous twist at the very end which managed to drop it from the 2 or 3/10 range very quickly. 

* SMG looks bored onscreen and you'll be bored watching *

The Return (2006) - 1/10    Since it stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, I should have known to expect the worst, but I still wasn't prepared for how bad this movie was. Sam Shepard is the lone bright spot, but he's onscreen for so little that there's literally no reason to watch. 

* Big on action, but not on characters, plot, or tension *

Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020) - 1/10    The most disappointing movie of the month, if for no other reason than it being a sequel to one of my Top 10 Favorite Horror Films. The original was fantastic in every regard, but especially in terms of how interesting and dynamic the characters were. Peninsula has awful characters with terrible motivations and a plot that would be more at home as part of the Fast & Furious franchise. I didn't have high hopes for this one, but it managed to still fall well short of them. Avoid at all costs, especially if you loved the original. 

* Randy Quaid so rarely disappoints... *

Parents (1989) - 1/10    This was recommended to me several years ago by a friend who I no longer talk to. I'm thankful for that, since this rec might have ended the friendship anyway. I usually try to watch at least one horror comedy each Challenge, but this wasn't funny or scary in any way. Mostly, I was just angry while watching it. Angry at the characters, the plot, the run-time, and at myself for adding it to our list. Bob Balaban is a terrific character actor, but not much of a director, at least based on this effort. 

* Here's Donnie!"

The Girl on the Third Floor (2019) - 1/10    C.M. Punk (real name Phil Brooks) was a tremendous wrestler with excellent mic skills, so it really surprised me with how bland and dull his performance here was. Maybe movies just aren't his thing or maybe the dreadful script wasn't doing him any favors, but for whatever reason, he falls completely flat. The movie itself is bad all around, too, from the tired haunted house plot to the uninspired photography. No reason at all to watch this one. 

A Step Above, But Still Not Good

* Young Norman Bates as played by Henry Thomas *

Psycho 4: The Beginning (1990) - 3.5/10    Somehow, I forgot that I started Psycho 3 earlier this year, but fell asleep very quickly, so I ended up watching this one out of order. I don't think it makes much difference, as this is more of a prequel than sequel. Anthony Perkins - playing older Norman Bates in the framing device as he tells his younger self's story - is very good again, but that's about all I can recommend. The first is a classic and the second is very good, but that's where I'd recommend stopping with this series. 

* It must be pretty cold in that room, huh? *

The Hunger (1983) - 3/10    This movie has an interesting premise, solid performances, and some great production design, but the filming and editing choices really drop it down several rating points. Also, I much preferred the first half to the second, so it kind of just whimpers to a close and has a completely lackluster ending. Worth watching for die hard David Bowie fans, if nothing else. 

* Not getting a restful sleep *

Malignant (2021) - 4/10    Another highly uneven flick. The first 2/3rds are cliched, boilerplate horror fare with laughably bad acting and dialogue. The final third is batshit crazy and entertaining. James Wan's directing talents are on full display here - the movie looks wonderful in parts, especially when he lets his camera move. There are more plot holes and inconsistencies than even the schlockiest horror movies, but it's still a relatively fun affair.  

* Michael Myers is toasty warm and ready to kill *

Halloween Kills (2021) - 4/10    The 2018 reboot/sequel was above average so I had higher hopes for this one. Besides some really disgusting and graphic kills, almost everything is worse this time around. The script is easily the worst aspect and it feels like a first draft that was rushed into production, but I know that's not actually the case. Maybe Halloween Ends will redeem this mess next year, but I'm not going to hold my breath. 

* You should never talk to strangers in the elevator *

Down (2019) - 3.5/10    An interesting premise - two strangers stuck in an elevator over a long holiday weekend - and two solid performances are mostly wasted by clunky writing and pacing issues. When the horror "twist" happens, you'll probably find yourself wishing this was a romantic comedy/drama instead. 

Worth Watching Once

* "Ugh, this wallpaper is terrible!"

Things Heard & Seen (2021) - 6/10    Amanda Seyfried continues to impress me with her acting chops in this relatively effective thriller. Not scary in the least, but it has some moments of dread and is interesting enough to keep your attention from drifting. 

* Overseeing her handiwork. *

The Swarm (2020) - 6.5/10    AKA La Nuee in its original French, this is a story about a small locust farmer and her children who are struggling to make ends meet until the woman discovers her protein-packed bugs breed and grow like crazy when fed blood. She starts giving them blood from wherever she can get it, but of course, the bugs get out of control. It's an unnerving and mostly disturbing film, but could have used a bit quicker pacing or maybe to be trimmed by 10-15 minutes. If you're scared of these creatures - like my wife is - it's going to be even more effective!  

* Billy Bob's gonna have one grisly headache *

Into the Grizzly Maze (2015) - 5/10    Another creature feature, but a more traditional offering. A giant, aggressive, and angry bear is killing people in Alaska. Two brothers, their girlfriends, and a slightly grizzled hunter are thrust into its lair and have to fight to survive. It's nothing new and honestly pretty stupid, but I still enjoyed myself. Some great practical effects are offset by truly horrible CGI and Billy Bob Thornton is surprisingly bad in a horribly miscast role. I might have just been desperate to enjoy one last movie, so take this as the slightest of slight recommends. 

Very Good and Highly Recommended 

* Very few things are as creepy as a deserted woods *

Pyewacket (2017) - 7/10    The first enjoyable movie of the month is a creepy and unsettling movie about a teenaged girl who is a little too involved with the occult. I am generally a fan of atmospheric, slow burning horrors and this is one of the better recent examples. Excellent acting and some very good set pieces propel it to a satisfying conclusion.  

* No one should ever play with Oiuja boards *

Veronica (2017) - 7.5/10    The best of our foreign language films this year, this is a suspenseful and downright scary ghost story set at a Madrid school in 1991. A talented cast and solid filmmaking elevates a mostly standard story. It's nothing new, for sure, but being innovative isn't a requirement for any film, much less in a genre like horror where retreads are common place.

* Showers can be a dangerously place *

M.F.A. (2017) - 7.5/10    "Rape revenge" is an oddly popular subgenre of horror and probably isn't something most people would enjoy, but when done right it can be very effective. This is one such example. It's a frustrating, disturbing, and tense film with a tremendous lead performance from Francesca Eastwood. If the side characters were as well written and acted, this probably would have gotten a 9/10. 

* It looks more relaxing than it really is. *

Sweetheart (2020) - 7/10    Cast Away meets Alien, but with a fraction of the budget or name recognition (both onscreen and behind the camera). This one overcomes a silly title and manages to be interesting and, at times, scary. Another strong female character/performance is the main draw, but the film could have benefited from better creature effects or the director knowing not to show it quite so much. 

The Best of the Best 

* It's absurd that nearly this entire film was shot with an iPhone. *

Unsane (2018) - 8/10    Steven Soderbergh is quite possibly the most interesting director in Hollywood. His movies don't always click with me, but more often than not they do. Unsane takes a wholly terrifying premise - being admitted against your will to a psych facility - and turns it on its head with several different revelations. While watching, you're not quite sure if the lead character is actually insane or not and the suspense is nearly unbearable at times. 

* I guess he wants to keep this movie a secret? *

Hell Fest (2018) - 8/10    This was the most pleasantly surprising movie of the month. It takes a great premise - a serial killer picking off people inside a haunted house attraction - and uses mostly likeable, well portrayed characters as the victims of some great and creative kills. The production design is top notch across the board and Tony Todd is wonderful in a one scene role. My one main complaint is how much you have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to park policies and character decisions that are only taken to move the plot forward. It's very hard to make a perfect horror movie, though.

 

Full list of what I watched during the month, in chronological order:

* = rewatch

Winchester (2018) - 2/10

The Lie (2018) - 1/10

Pyewacket (2017) - 7/10

The Wolf Man (1941) - 2/10

The Return (2006) - 1/10

Things Heard & Seen (2021) - 6/10

The Swarm (2020) - 6.5/10

Psycho 4: The Beginning (1990) - 3.5/10

* 28 Days Later (2002) - 8/10

The Hunger (1983) - 3/10

Malignant (2021) - 4/10

* The Others (2001) - 5/10

* The Hills Have Eyes (2006) - 8/10

Aftermath (2021) - 3/10

Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020) - 1/10

Parents (1989) - 1/10

Veronica (2017) - 7.5/10

M.F.A. (2017) - 7.5/10

* It: Chapter One (2017) - 8/10

Like Dogs (2021) - 2/10

Shortcut (2020) - 2/10

* Bone Tomahawk (2015) - 9/10

Girl on the Third Floor (2019) - 1/10

Unsane (2018) - 8/10

* It: Chapter Two (2019) - 7/10

Halloween Kills (2021) - 4/10

Down (2019) - 3.5/10

Ravenous (2017) - 2/10

Sweetheart (2020) - 7/10

Hell Fest (2018) - 8/10

The Maus (2017) - 1/10

Into the Grizzly Maze (2015) - 5/10

 

Average rating of the 32 titles: 4.52/10

 

FIRST ANNUAL OCTOBER CHALLENGE AWARDS! 

I thought I'd introduce something new this year and honor (or dishonor, as the case may be) some of the movies I watched during this year's Challenge. I'm excluding all the rewatches from competing for these awards. 

Best Movie - Hell Fest (2018)
Worst Movie - Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020)
Best Director - Steven Soderbergh, Unsane (2018)
Best Actor - Peter Sarsgaard, The Lie (2018) ** Due to extreme lack of options **
Worst Actor - CM Punk, Girl on the Third Floor (2019)
Best Actress - Francesca Eastwood, M.F.A. (2017)
Worst Actress - Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Return (2006)
Best Supporting Actor - David Bowie, The Hunger (1983)
Best Supporting Actress - Laurie Holden, Pyewacket (2017)
Best Kill - Syringe through the eyeball in Hell Fest (2018)
Best Special Effects/Makeup - Malignant (2021)
Worst Special Effects/Makeup - Sweetheart (2020)

 

Did any of you watch any good horror movies recently? Any that you'd recommend? I'm always on the lookout for new movies to watch!

Thanks for reading!