Opening night of the recent Popcorn Frights Film Festival in Miami kicked off with a film that other than seeing it on the program and reading the short synopsis, I had heard little about. As usual I opted to not read up on it and go in knowing as little as possible. That film was the horror-comedy Fear, Inc. and as it turned out, it ended up being a great way to start the fest and the crowd seemed to think so too.

The Triangle is a film I was recently given the opportunity to check out. Knowing little about it but being a fan of mocumentary/found footage style films, I was intrigued. The plot and initial set up sounded very reminiscent of Ti West's The Sacrament. So while I was intrigued I was also hoping it wouldn't be too similar. Luckily it does a pretty good job at not only separating itself from that film but also from other mocumentary style films as well. It does so while delivering an eerie viewing experience

The Blair Witch Project is a very divisive film among horror fans. It seems to be a love it or hate it kind of thing. Ever since I sat down in the theater with my Dad, 17 years ago on opening day  I have been in the love it camp. It is not a film for everyone, it never has been, but if you were able to watch that film under the correct circumstances and put yourself into the shoes of Heather, Josh and Mike, you were rewarded with quite a chilling viewing experience. Now, 17 years later, we return to the Black Hills Forest, courtesy of Director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett, the duo who brought us the recent horror hits You're Next and The Guest now bring us BLAIR WITCH.

I really enjoyed Evil Dead 2013. I know some Evil Dead loyalists didn't care for it's grim and more serious take on the material, but I found it to be an effective and harrowing film, that delivered an intense and still fun theater experience. Director Fede Alvarez crafted a beautiful looking film, full of creative camera work, and arresting visuals. Not to mention the violence and gore was next level cringe inducing. Based on Evil Dead I was definitely anticipating what Alvarez would do next, and that brings us to Don't Breathe. 

James Wan has carved out quite a legacy for himself as a horror filmmaker. Throughout the 2000's he and his good friend/filmmaking partner Leigh Whannell ushered in mega franchises Saw and Insidious (along with it's two sequels). In between that the duo then delivered the spooky ventriloquist horror Dead Silence. In 2013 not only did he direct Insidious Chapter 2, but he also set out on his own and introduced audiences to what I consider one of the best horror films in recent years, The Conjuring. 

I was not a fan of the 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film, not one bit. I actually despised it. As a TMNT fan for most of my life, not a fanatic, but I do have a very specific idea of what TMNT should be, As a kid who grew up favoring the original black and white Mirage comics which featured a grittier and violent take on the Turtles, I appreciated the original 1990 film. It borrowed greatly from the Mirage comics storyline while combining it pretty flawlessly with the cartoon's humorous sensibility. The result was a film that had a gritty real world feel and story with heart that also was able to appeal to the masses and kids who made TMNT a household name.  To this day, it still has a certain charm that will be hard to capture in this age of polished CGI. I have come to the realization some time ago that that 1990 film is the closest I will get to my perfect TMNT movie. It was by no means perfect, but for the most part it gave me everything I wanted out of a Ninja Turtle movie. Which brings us to this new series of Turtle films. 

Horror fans love a good anthology. There have been many throughout the years, and they deliver a veritable grab bag of horror treats. Just like a bag of Halloween candy, you may or may not always get something to your liking, but chances are there will at least be one Twix or Kit Kat in the bag mixed in with the circus peanuts and black licorice.

I want to get one thing out of the way before I go on with this review, Summer Camp's title might be misleading and or disappointing for some, particularly those who are not aware of the film's premise beforehand. YES, it does take place at a summer camp, Camp Buho to be exact, however this particular summer camp is located in Spain and set on the grounds of what almost looks like an old monastery. The film however does revolve around a group of counselors, who arrive to set up the place for a group of children scheduled to arrive the following morning. 

As far as found footage films go, I place 2008's Cloverfield in the upper echelon of what has become an over saturated sub genre. It was a great depiction of a giant monster attack in Manhattan and effectively puts the viewer in the thick of it all via the first person camera work and keeps the monster in mystery by only glimpses of it throughout until the finale. The film was a success and while there were certainly those who didn't care for it's shaky cam aesthetic, many fans were hoping for a sequel that would explain a bit more of the monsters origins, despite the movies modest success, it never happened, probably for the better.

If there is one thing I stress in these reviews, is how much I try to avoid knowing about a horror movie before it is released. 

January has long been known as a dumping ground for sub par horror films. For years studios have released their less than desirable fright flicks in the first month of the year, I am not certain why or when this practice became a thing, I only know that it exists. This month already saw the release of "The Forest" a film that had some promise in it's strong lead and premise, failed to deliver a satisfactory horror experience and make any real noise while being quickly forgotten. So when I initially saw the trailer for Lauren Cohan's (Maggie from the Walking Dead) horror film "The Boy" I was intrigued but also very wary given the release date. Still, I am forever a sucker for a creepy doll movie, and even though I was most recently disappointed (though that disappointment was not unexpected) by the snoozefest that was Annabelle (still can't believe that movie made 256 million dollars worldwide), I was kind of excited to watch this.

The Boy revolves around the simple story of a young American woman named Greta (yes... Greta) who moves to the UK to become a nanny for the son of a stuffy old rich couple who are leaving him to go on a trip. No big deal, except there "son" Brahms is actually a large creepy porcelain doll who loves to stare at things. The reasoning behind Brahms existence and the parents strange practices revolving around it are part of the mystery. Eventually as they should when a creepy doll is involved, things get weird.

One thing about creepy doll movies is you need to really have two things going for you to make them work. The first is you need to find ways to make an inanimate object repeatedly scary or creepy and find different ways to present it to the audience to keep them from getting bored with the blank stare a doll will have. The second is you need to have a great story as to why the doll is evil or alive. Does the Boy succeed on these fronts? Yes and no.

The Boy features a solid cast who lend credence to a admittedly silly but promising premise. Lauren Cohan delivers a well balanced performance that rarely has you questioning her decision making process which helps with the suspension of disbelief necessary to enjoy a film like this. Co Star Rupert Evans also brings a likability to his role as the well meaning Malcolm. Still The Boy is a horror film and there are horror bits here that will equally satisfy and frustrate the avid horror fan. For each solid creep out moment found within, there is one that will have a horror fan rolling there eyes due to the cliche'd nature of the scare. The film would have been better served to push the envelope and commit in areas and scenes that turn out to be cheap and telegraphed dream fake outs. The landscape of January horror is littered with the corpses of films that have relied on this tired dream scare tactic. These scenes would have have been far more effective had the filmmakers figured out a way to get them to actually be REAL within the context of the story. The "character" of Brahms the boy doll is a great design that while not outright creepy like say Annabelle, still has enough of an odd look to deliver an eerie presence whenever on screen so in that regard yes it does succeed as a "Doll horror film".

I have come to realize The Boy is turning out to be a difficult film for me to review in depth as I found it a mostly enjoyable watch, and while sitting in the theater I was thinking mostly positively about it, but after processing it, I came to focus on it's flaws a bit more. The third act is where the film will either make or break it to most viewers. While I still liked what was done here and was kind of surprised at a reveal, there was absolutely no way I could overlook the fact that it was essentially the same reveal as another recent horror film which I can't name because it would spoil the entire film for you, and that it lifted a piece of it's climax from another horror film that all horror fans will find familiar. This is puzzling and you have to wonder if it was done knowingly or not. So in regards to the dolls backstory and does the film succeed? I would say yes but also no because of it being a rehash of another film in a sense.

It may sound like I did not enjoy the film after all since I just finished pointing out it's flaws, still thats not the case. I did dig it for what it was and I feel that while it isn't some new benchmark in horror, it still is a decent watch thanks to it's cast. It won't surprise the more hardcore or seasoned horror fans with it's scare tactics, but it must be said that at the preview screening I attended, the crowd which was comprised of mostly teenage girls who (undoubtedly lured there more so by the marketing teams promise of meeting some local teen youtube singer than their desire to witness a great horror film) were all screaming and jumping throughout. As I exited the theater most of them seemed to have enjoyed it and were talking rather positive about it. So perhaps this film does have an audience out there beyond the die hard horror fans and that is okay too. Horror fans are very fickle and their interests and tastes can at times be baffling even to other horror fans so you may never know what one will end up liking. As a fan of creepy doll movies it did enough right for me to give it a positive review but I can totally understand if someone does not. I think The Boy is a film that is certainly worth a look even if it may not be a film you come back to again and again, it might be one that is a fun spooky watch on a lazy night. Sometimes that is all you want out of a horror film, and more than you can usually expect from one in January.

Krampus is the second film from Trick 'r Treat creator and director Michael Dougherty. Given the fact that Dougherty (and Legendary pictures) placed presedence over the highly anticipated (and requested) sequel to Trick 'r Treat  many were hoping it would be worth the wait. For the most part it was, while by no means perfect in the way many (myself included) perceived his ode to Halloween. Krampus still brings enough to the table to deliver an enjoyable horror comedy that should become regular viewing around Christmas time from now on.

Krampus has a pretty straight forward story that plays out a lot like a horror version of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Complete with David Koechner who plays Uncle Howard, doing his best Cousin Eddie impression. The story revolves around young Max who increasingly has the desire to hold on to the feeling of Christmas's past (Don't we all!) and he is doing his best to keep the spirit of the season alive until the aforementioned Uncle and his less than desirable family show up to spend the next few days with Max, his parents (played by Adam Scott and Toni Collette) and his German Grandmother Omi. If you have seen Christmas Vacation (or any other family get together film) you have seen this set up. As a result of the ensuing chaos, Max becomes disenchanted with Santa and the spirit of Christmas, going so far as to denounce it in a fit of rage, this results in the title characters arrival in the snowy town the film is set in. Things then go from bad to worse.

Without spoiling the film, what elevates the almost too familiar material is undoubtedly the outstanding effects work on display throughout. Krampus is first and foremost a monster movie, full of incredible practical effects work that bring all sorts of Christmas themed horrors to life. It is a wonderful thing to see a film like this hit theaters and one of the reasons I would absolutely recommend it. It is an original film that more often then not would probably end up VOD and straight to blu ray as studios just do not take chances on films like this these days. The title character himself is a fantastic creature and his introductory scene (my favorite in the film) is exhilarating. There are a few missteps here though, Sorely underutilized creepy snowmen (how were these not used for more?) and some evil gingerbread men that probably could have looked a bit cooler. Still these are just nitpicks and as far as creature stuff goes, you will be hard pressed to find cooler stuff this year in a film.

The direction is for the most part up to par with Trick 'r Treat and Dougherty's strong visual sense is once again on display here. The frozen neighborhood and an excellent stop motion flashback sequence are just two of the highlights in a film where production design is king. I do wish however the story and script had been a bit tighter as it is unfortunately the movies weak link. It tends to drag a bit somewhere in the middle right after the Krampus introduction and the film pays the price for it, also for a movie about Christmas and monsters which pays plenty of homage to one of the great Christmas monster films of all time in Gremlins, there was a very noticeable and unfortunate lack of kids vs monster stuff here, with mostly the parents relegated to combat versus the creatures invading the home. The story was supposed to be centered around Max and to have him take out or at least encounter a few of the monsters on his own early on would have gone a long way to filling out some of the issues with the script I had. There were also some missed opportunities throughout to truly capitalize on the subject matter of the film and bring in some additional carnage playing up the frozen isolated locale. Again I know the film was relatively low budget at approximately on 15 million, so there were limitations and Dougherty does his best to get the most of his budget. Can't help but think that those snowmen were originally part of something much more elaborate.

In the end Krampus delivers enough creature action and horror with a pg-13 rating attached to appease the majority of it's audience. Trick 'r Treat fans should be familiar with the tone and non Trick 'r Treat fans may want to stay away as I always feel it was TrT's tone that they can't jive with.
the performances are all well played in spite of being handcuffed to family quarrel movie cliche'd characters (which I do believe was definitely on purpose given how the film wears it's inspirations and homages on it's sleeve) It is clear Dougherty believes in his vision and treats everything with love  and care here and that goes a long way. While I personally would have liked a few things tweaked or expanded upon, you will be hard pressed to find a cooler looking Christmas horror flick, let alone one you can enjoy on the big screen. Go check it out and support original horror films when they hit the theaters!

You can also listen to and order the Krampus score from Waxwork records below.

and order some new Krampus gear from our friends over at Fright Rags here

Last Shift was a film that initially I hadn't really looked into, or heard much about. I had randomly come across and read a few quick comments about how "Last Shift was creepy" and being a huge fan of creepy, I decided to check it out finally. I can now say that I was pleasantly surprised by what turned out to be a pretty solid horror film. The synopsis goes a little something like this :

"Rookie Police Officer Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavay - "The Walking Dead") has been assigned the last shift at a closing police department and must wait for a hazmat crew to collect bio-medical evidence."

That is all I will give you from the synopsis, because truth of the matter, when I watched it I had almost zero clue as to what it was about going in other than it was a rookie police officer alone in a station as I opted to not watch the trailers and just dive right in. We follow Jessica, whom after an awkward introduction to the on duty Sergeant, becomes acquainted with the sterile, and eerily empty environment of the soon to be closing department. Harkavay is instantly likable and sympathetic in a role that essentially carries the entire film, she plays it low key and believable with only a few missteps in her police procedure reactions that are more a fault with the script than the actress. Everything starts out easy enough for Officer Loren as she is just sitting at her desk passing time reading a book, that is until she receives a strange phone call from a woman in distress.

Last Shift is a difficult film to review without spoiling too much of the good stuff, but the best way I can sing the films praises is to compare it to one of my favorite horror experiences out there, the Silent Hill video games. Whether or not director Anthony Diblasi was inspired by the games or not ( I am going to have to ask him somehow) there is absolutely a heavy Silent Hill vibe here, and I mean the best parts of Silent Hill, not the stuff the movies focused on. The Isolation, Mystery, Creepy visuals, an effective score are all here to enhance the story of our protagonist who has a past connected to the malevolent presence manifesting itself in the now haunted Police department. The few other characters that Officer Loren meets throughout the film are even reminiscent of the other lost characters you meet throughout Silent Hill. The FX work is solid and there is enough red stuff to to satisfy gorehounds as well, even if that isn't the focus of the film. There are revelations that come later in the film that flesh out the why of the story that I will leave out for now in hoping to provide you a better viewing experience than having everything laid out beforehand. There are plenty of reviews that go further in depth if you want to read more about what happens.

Last Shift is definitely worthy of a watch this October as it is a well directed, well acted, and effectively creepy. It isn't perfect but I felt it was one of the better genre offerings in recent memory that really surprised me with it's execution. Kudos to Diblasi for the unsettling imagery seen throughout, I love stuff like that and this did not disappoint.  If you are looking for low key horror film that takes itself seriously, this one might be for you.

There are some films that when you hear about you hope you end up loving them, even if you know in your heart it may not live up to the hype or your expectations. Sometimes, you get the movie you expect but that doesn't mean it is the film you want or hoped for. That was the case for me with Tales of Halloween, the newest horror anthology film that features 10 stories (thinly connected) taking place on everyone's favorite Pumpkin infused holiday.

I was lucky enough to catch this early screening on the opening night of the Popcorn Frights Film Festival, which is south Florida's first horror film festival. It seemed fitting to kick off October with this film and as stated above, I was pretty excited to check this out. On a related note I must say before I get into the review, that I did have great time at the screening and meeting like minded horror fans in festival organizers/founders Igor and Marc was a pleasure. It was great to see horror fans getting together to make something happen in a place where it is sorely needed. Have to also shout out Mercy as well who was one of the volunteers there for being so helpful and cool. I look forward to what these guys do next and anything I can do to help, you guys let me know!

As for the film, was Tales of Halloween the film horror/Halloween lovers have been waiting for?
Depends who you ask I suppose, There are a lot of possibilities with the subject matter at hand, and with 10 different segments you just know some are going to be hit or miss, so the best way to discuss them is to tackle them all one by one, spoiler free as possible as always.

1. Sweet Tooth directed by Dave Parker
This hands down was my favorite segment in the film, I personally wish it would have been the final story told as it for me would have ended everything on a high note. It is a simple story about an urban legend told to scare a young boy and what happens when that urban legend turns out to be more than just a story. The segment is shot well, appropriately creepy,gory and manages to be humorous without losing it's edge, it was also well acted. It captures the Halloween vibe very well and only helped to build my hope that this whole thing would be of the same quality and tone. It is the perfect example of how a horror short should work.

2. The Night Billy Raised Hell directed by Darren Lynn Bousman
I did not like this one bit, think Satan's Little Helper but with a slight twist. On it's own this short could have been amusing as something to watch on like youtube and never watch again. The story of a young trick or treater being taught a lesson about playing pranks is a solid idea for a Halloween themed short, but the execution is just so cheesy (complete with cartoonish sound effects) that it quickly took me out of the film. There is plenty of great humor to be found in horror films, I am not opposed to that, but here it just felt as if it were trying to hard while being too cartoonish for any of it to have any real impact other than being obnoxious, something that unfortunately I found to be prevalent throughout many of the segments.

3. Trick directed by Adam Gierasch
This was another standout, it's a wonderfully shot segment that tells story of two couples hanging out, watching a horror movie, who suddenly become the victims of a rather violent group of Trick or Treaters, The segment has some great shots in it and has some truly shocking moments found within. The payoff is what elevates it from being just another mean spirited home invasion film to something much more creepy and satisfying. Definitely one of the best of the bunch.This one got the film back on track after the previous short derailed it.

4. The Weak and The Wicked directed by Paul Solet
A bizarre modern take on a Halloween western, this short worked for me for the most part, It really doesn't have the same suburban neighborhood aesthetic as the rest of the stories as it takes place in the back alleys of Los Angeles (presumably) and features Keir Gilchrist (It Follows) out for revenge on three lifelong bullies. It was an interesting concept, that should have a great supernatural payoff, but it is cut far too short and leaves you wishing for a bit more chaos before we leave it. Still I felt it was one of the more engrossing entries even if the "bullies" weren't exactly well cast, they played the roles well enough.

5. Grimm Grinning Ghost directed by Axelle Carolyn (who put together the entire project)
Starry Eyes alum Alexandra Essoe stars in one of the stronger segments to be found in the film. Essoe is at her mother's (Insidious's Lin Shaye) Halloween party and decides she has had enough and it's time to go home, what follows is a spooky walk through a dark neighborhood, the cinematography here is top notch and adds to the eerie locations that Essoe must traverse to get home, all while she feels she is being followed by someone or something, with plenty of faint glimpses of her would be stalker, the segment might be my second favorite, even if it could have used some more meat to it's story before the eventual payoff. More shorts like this would have been welcomed.

6. Ding Dong directed by Lucky McKee
This one was just weird, there is no way around that, there was some sort of message of abusive behavior strewn about, relating to the featured couple lamenting not having a child of their own to take trick or treating, and some heavy handed Hansel and Gretel references and imagery becomes far to silly and exaggerated to really have any impact. It is almost nonsensical in the end and for me, would have been much better off not being included at all as it is really just all over the place. Even with an admittedly fun performance by Pollyanna McIntosh.

7. This Means War directed by Andrew Kasch and John Skipp
The story of two neighbors with differing views on just what Halloween decorating and partying should be that culminates in a goofy brawl. It's fun enough but still turns into a total cheesefest that has nothing much to offer passed it's extremely thin premise. Again, this is another segment that might have been fun to watch on youtube or vimeo but not in a full on film.

8. Friday the 31st directed by Mike Mendez (mild spoilers)
Starts off strong with us being dropped in the tail end of what is essentially a Friday the 13th film, the hero girl, running into a shed where she discovers bodies while searching for a weapon to fend off the obvious Jason Voorhees homage character. Things take a turn for the worse when a UFO shows up and a trick or treating claymation alien shows up, yes claymation, and possesses the final girls body Once possessed she takes on the form of a green glowing eyed deadite from Evil Dead and she/it begins to fight the backwoods killer. This was the segment where I really checked out of the film.
You may be reading this and thinking "oh whats your problem, that sounds like it could be fun?" Well sure it could be if it wasn't SO extremely goofy and cheesy. I am not opposed to goofy or cheesy, but this segment actually could have still had the same sense of fun and been really cool and violent to boot WITHOUT the excessive goofiness. It was just too much for me by that point, especially with it being the third segment in a row to have an almost immature tone. I delve more into this during my recap. Even though I didn't like it, I expect it to be a favorite of many viewers.

9. The Ransom of Rusty Rex directed by Ryan Schifrin
This segment boasted some of the best acting as it featured Sam Witwer(the Mist) and Jose Pablo Cantillo(Walking Dead) as two would be kidnappers who ultimately chose the wrong victim to mess with. As it turns out the child they kidnap for ransom is not one who the millionaire father (John Landis) is interested in getting back. Once they realize their hostage is not what they expected things get weird. I won't go too much into depth, but the lead performances are what carry this piece and make it work. It is yet another segment much more interested in jokes, however they are handled much better than those in the previous three segments. I didn't LOVE this one but it felt as if it was handled with a steady hand and a good cast kept it mostly lighthearted, fun and amusing instead of grating, childish and crass. It definitely had a good Tales From The Crypt vibe going for it.

10. Bad Seed directed by Neil Marshall 
After directing so many great films such as The Descent, Dog Soldiers and even Doomsday, not to mention one of the greatest episodes of Game of Thrones ever. I was excited to see what Neil Marshall would do here to hopefully close out the film on a positive note. I don't know what the hell
happened here, but this might have been one of the worst if not for at least having a much more fun and interesting premise than the others. Bad Seed is the story of a killer pumpkin...complete with vine tentacles that it crawls along with. Starring Kristina Klebe ( Rob Zombies Halloween) as a miscast police detective, this one just completely goes full blown camp and while that can be fun, it was just  embarrassing here. Again before i get called a downer, I AM THE EXACT PERSON THAT WOULD LOVE A KILLER PUMPKIN FILM. Just not this one. The killer pumpkin FX were far too clunky, I just could not get into this at all after it's initial setup which was yes fun, but once that was over it was all down hill for me, and after it's extra silly climax, ends the film with a whimper, even if it was more than likely an homage to one of my favorite horror films, Halloween III.

It also must be noted that the "narrator" for the film is Adrienne Barbeau "reprising" her role from the fog as the unseen voice on the radio throughout town. That was cool but should have been utilized more.

So there you have it. Tales of Halloween is a film that I wanted to love upon hearing about it, but it just isn't my kind of horror film or even my kind of horror comedy. Now I will say two things, One I realize there are plenty of people who will read this review and think I don't like any fun or cheesy horror films, that is not true, I do, I love Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Bride of Chucky, Return of the Living Dead and Night of the Creeps, I also love Creepshow 2! What I love about those films is that while cheesy, they are actually very funny and deliver their horror bits well. The problem I have here is a lot of this stuff just isn't actually funny. It's mildly amusing and comes off as extremely juvenile not clever and in some cases it's rather embarrassing. I will compare it to Trick 'r Treat, granted Trick 'r Treat has one director, this has eleven. Still what I am referring to in the comparison is Trick 'r Treat has charm for days and it's humor is present without being overbearing or eye roll inducing. I was literally rolling my eyes through half the segments in Tales of Halloween. For me personally that is a problem .

With that being said, there is absolutely an audience for this film. There will absolutely be people who love it and think I am an idiot for disliking segments that they will undoubtedly love. I am okay with that. There have been plenty of films I dislike for these very same reasons that people I know loved. All Hallows Eve comes to mind, I despised it. Many people thought it was great. I actually would still recommend any fan and lover of Halloween watch this film, as I know many people will find much more entertainment in it than I did. Again there is nothing wrong with that. I would never condemn a film completely if I know that many in it's target audience will enjoy it. Especially this month. It was a fun way to kick off October. I myself will have no problem watching the few segments I enjoyed again. Still, I know I will not be the only one who was disappointed with Tales of Halloween, for us, we can sit here and try to patiently wait for Trick 'r Treat 2.

_______________________________________________________________________

We were also treated to a separate short film prior to the screening entitled "INVADERS" by director Jason Kupfer. I personally really enjoyed this one and the crowd seemed to love it too. It is definitely worth watching whenever you come across it. It is quick, gory and fun.

Thanks again to Igor, Marc and Mercy with Popcorn Frights. You all did a great thing for horror fans in South Florida and despite my mixed feelings on the film, the screening and atmosphere was top notch fun. I look forward to attending future screenings and talking more to you all soon!

It's been just over four years since the first Insidious film hit theaters and turned a relatively small 1.5 million dollar budget into a worldwide gross of over 97 million. I still remember sitting down in the theater having no real clue what I was getting into as I stayed away from the trailers as I often try to do. It was a great movie going experience, the crowd was into it and there were plenty of screams throughout. I remember thinking what an unexpected yet pleasant surprise it was that I found so much of it to be extremely creepy. The cast was great, with Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne lending the film and it's proceedings plenty of credibility. Even when things could have gone horribly wrong with the introduction of Elise (played by the always reliable Lin Shaye) and the comedic ghost hunting duo of Specs and Tucker, the film still managed to hit all the right marks and leave a lasting impression. I was sure to tell everyone that would listen to check it out and mostly everyone that did enjoyed it.

When news broke of Chapter 2 being made, I was particularly enthused to see what Wan and Whannell had up their sleeve. When the time came to finally check it out, I ended up being split on how I felt about it. There were plenty of things I genuinely loved as I found certain scenes to be chilling and eerie like the hidden room with the church pews filled with sheet covered corpses. Other aspects of the film I was less than enthused with. I thought some of it crossed the line into camp or came off as a bit unintentionally silly, particularly some of the Elise versus the ghosts stuff. Still once I knew what to expect those elements felt a bit more at home and were less jarring on subsequent views. The film still had strong and likable characters, and James Wan did some great things with the stylish look of the whole thing which is always one of his strengths. So while some of the film didn't go where I may have wanted it to I still loved where it left off.  Which brings us to Chapter 3...

Right off the bat, Chapter 3 does not take place where the previous film left off. Chapter 3 is a prequel that takes place before Insidious 1 and 2, yet AFTER the prequel portions featured in Chapter 2. You still with me? So Chapter 3 focuses on two distinct storylines. I would consider the main one the story of Quinn Brenner (played perfectly by horror newcomer Stefanie Scott) and her stern yet loving father Sean (Dermot Mulroney). The second storyline focuses on Elise Rainier who begins the film as a much different Elise than we know from the previous two installments. Everything kicks off when Quinn, mourning the loss of her mother, seeks out Elise in an attempt to contact her mother from beyond the grave. As you can imagine things don't go as planned for anyone and all hell breaks loose. The films story is built on the theme of learning how to cope with the loss of a loved one is front and center and creates a parallel narrative for both Quinn and Elise. Now If you have read my reviews before I tend to not go into spoiler territory and will do my best not to do so here. I just don't care for reviews that recap the story of the entire movie, thats not a review to me, it's a summary.

For the first two acts I would say the film really sets everything up nicely and has a great sense of dread and everything is played dead serious. Which is something I was really pleased to see being that I had hoped this installment would take on a more serious tone than the previous one. The actors are all game here, especially Stefanie Scott who really is able to get you on her side early on with her innocent and likable performance. It is that performance that makes you feel all the more sympathetic and fearful for her when things start to take a turn for the worse. Mulroney does well enough with what he is given to work with here, where a lesser actor may not have provided a strong enough presence, Mulroney does so with ease in what could be considered an underwritten part. Still it may have been underwritten by necessity as there is plenty of time and development given to Lin Shaye who is the heart and soul of Chapter 3. This is essentially the "origin" story of the Elise we come to know in the first two films as she struggles to use her gift after suffering a huge personal loss. Whannell and Angus Sampson who reprise their roles as Specs and Tucker are also given a tiny bit more backstory. Though I will say there is a little brother character in the Brenner family who probably could (and should) have been removed altogether and the film wouldn't have lost a step and maybe would have made the Father/Daughter bond a bit stronger as a result. Still the main cast members all bring something worthwhile to the table.

One of the big things about this film is the fact that series co-creator Leigh Whannell is running the show. Whannell in his first time as director (he is the film's writer as well) does a lot of things right here. When I spoke to him a month or so ago, he said he felt this story was worth telling because he really was interested in exploring Elise's past and learning more about the character. He also stated how William Friedkin was a big influcence on his approach for the film, as well as implementing all he learned working alongside James Wan in their previous ventures together. Insidious Chapter 3 looks great, it feels as if it's in the same world as the previous 2 films, yet still carves out it's own space. Whannell also stated the main "demon" of the film was quite scary and I really did like it's design and the scenes it was involved in even if it's backstory or reasoning is thin at best. There are two specific scenes where Quinn comes into contact with it that are simply masterful and show Whannell's understanding of what makes a horror film work. Plenty of creative shots and nicely set up scares fill the first half  or so and I was really excited as it was all coming together nicely. Still the film was not without it's hiccups.

As stated before, the first two acts of the film is particularly strong, creepy and refreshing for the franchise. It expands on the world of the first two films by making it seem larger than whats going on inside those three or four houses where everything prior has taken place. I was totally on board as some of the early set pieces and scary scenes were very intense and well staged. So it was a bit of a letdown for me, when the film kicks into it's final act, and it cannot match the intensity of the first half (sans a pretty cleverly executed possession scene) perhaps the final act felt a bit too familiar of climaxes that have come before it in the series which is possibly what bothered me. I love the concept of the ghost world of "The Further" and would love for them to expand on it just a bit more, but here it felt not where near as scary, a bit rehashed to an extent and that dulled it's effectiveness I felt. This lead me to wishing the whole thing played out a bit differently. There were also a few scenes in that last act that reminded me of some of the unintentionally silly or cheesy stuff that really bothered me in the second film. Some of that stuff here, especially scenes where Elise must physically go toe to toe with one of the dead/ghosts, doesn't play well on screen, and kind of took me out of a film that I was really wanting to get behind due to all the love and care it is made with. Make no mistake though Chapter 3 isn't one of your run of the mill "product" films such as the dead on arrival Poltergeist remake. Leigh Whannell and the cast put their all into this film and they truly believe in the material and their characters and even when the film falters at times, that love for what they are doing still shines through.

Insidious is a strange franchise in a sense that it seems to have divided horror fans into groups who like it and don't like it. Some people just do not like this type of horror film no matter how much care is put into it and they feel it is more of a studio product pg-13 ghost movie when it is really not. It is essentially an independent film that hit it big, just like another of Whannell and Wan's creations did, when they created the Saw franchise. People were very split on those films as well and the sequels worked to varying degrees of success. So in the end my initial feeling on Insidious Chapter 3 was that it starts out extremely strong and intense and along the way kind of loses steam and brings in some of the elements I had hoped might not resurface while leaving me wishing for a much more intense and scary climax, Still for die hard fans of the series, you will have another solid installment that expands on the Insidious universe and it's characters while also opening up room for more unique stories in the future. For non fans of the franchise, this one won't be the one that makes you change your mind, as it wears it's pedigree proudly on it'sleeve. I myself lay somewhere in the middle of those which makes sense seeing as how my feelings on the film are split down the middle, for all the good and creepy things it does well, it also does some things I would rather it didn't that stymied my excitement. That can be a problem for a lot of films that start out so strong and then falter a bit towards the finish line.

Still as someone who has enjoyed the franchise well enough, I can certainly say you definitely should check out the film for yourself as it is still worth watching and you will certainly get some superbly crafted horror moments throughout. I feel even for myself that I may enjoy it much more on a second viewing as I did with the second knowing what to expect. I can also say that I do look forward to what director Leigh Whannell does next because despite the things I did not like in the film, he has proved himself to be a more than capable director with the work he has put on display here while getting solid performances from his cast who help carry the film even when it doesn't work as well. Insidious Chapter 3 went back to the past for its story and I am now interested in seeing what the future holds for Chapter 4, just like the Saw franchise there are a few paths that are set up it can take and after all is said and done,and even with a few bumps in the road, I am still interested in seeing how deep into the Further this franchise can go.

It Follows has been garnering heaps of heavy praise since it started hitting the festival circuits. I know I was anticipating it after watching the international teaser trailer, loved the tone it provided while not giving away anything. After seeing that, I was sold on the film and skipped any further trailers or clips that studios love to pump out in order to sell their movie by essentially spoiling the entire thing. So just as I always try to do, I went in knowing as little as possible and it paid off. 

It Follows is the horror film I hoped it would be. 

Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, It Follows tells the story of Jay, a pretty young girl played by Maika Monroe (The Guest) who comes to find out that after a sexual encounter gone awry with her new boyfriend, an apparent supernatural evil has begun following her. Without getting into too much spoiler territory, Jay and her friends (all well casted with actors who feel as if they are real teens with real personalities) must try to figure out how to stay alive while avoiding the relentless titular "It". I can understand that it sounds pretty straight forward but there are many levels at play here and it is because of the care it is handled with that elevate it into something special and frightening. 

To best describe It Follows, I need to ask you to think of those nightmares that feel incredibly real while you are having them. Yet there are certain details and locations that are skewed just enough so you are aware that whats happening is not quite reality, which in turn make things even creepier. In that nightmare you rarely ever feel like you have control and are essentially at the mercy of your subconscious. Those are the nightmares you eventually force yourself to wake up from to escape, and then you realize that it's only around 4am and you are wishing it were already daylight. Watching It Follows is like witnessing someone elses nightmare unfold on the movie screen right before your eyes. That impression of the film ended up making a great deal of sense after reading that the entire thing is in fact inspired by a nightmare the director had where he was constantly followed by a relentless shapeshifting being. The film also skews it's own reality in a very subtle way as it's time period is never defined and full of contradictions in a sense as the tv's in the houses are vintage black and white sets, while one of the kids in the movie uses some sort of sea shell shaped e-reader while Jay herself has an old corded telephone in a bedroom that looks like something straight out of the 80's. It is a interesting production design choice that adds to the disorienting dream like nature of the film. In fact the entire film is beautifully shot in a sort of cold and hazy visual style that sets the mood perfectly and that mood is one of impending doom and overbearing dread. Mitchell utilizes the bleak landscapes and grey skys of his hometown Detroit to great effect as a backdrop for his story to unfold.  

That story on the surface is a metaphor for the dangers of sex, and how the decisions you make involving it can follow you for the rest of your life, however on a deeper level it's a story about coming to grips with ones mortality and the fear that death can be around the corner at any tme. These kids in the film are only just about to get into their 20's and already lamenting the loss of yesteryear back when they were just careless children having fun. It may not exactly resonate with everyone at the moment, but it certainly hit home for me. Death is coming for everyone at some point, and it is coming for these characters, they are constantly looking over their shoulders. In every frame you feel "It" getting closer and closer, you share in their uneasiness, even when it isn't on screen it's presence is felt. One presence that is not felt in the film, is that of the parents. Just like Nancy's drunk mother from "A Nightmare on Elm Street" or Laurie Strode's absentee parents in "Halloween" , the parents here are largely missing from the proceedings, which only helps to underscore how in over their heads these kids are. However that helps to keep the threat and horror much more personal and intimate. This is a story ultimately about youth, coming of age and realizing actions have consequences and in this case create literal demons that will haunt you for the rest of your life. 

Speaking of presence, one that cannot be overlooked and is certainly a highlight of the film is the incredible score by Rich Vreeland aka Disasterpeace. Just as John Carpenter once stated that Halloween was not effective nor frightening until he added his now iconic score, It Follows would not be nearly as effective a horror film if it weren't for the soundscape crafted by Vreeland. If watching the film is like viewing someone's nightmare, hearing the score is akin to listening to one. It amplifies that aforementioned sense of dread to chilling effect. From the moment we are introduced to it by way of the films chilling opening sequence, it truly captures your attention and doesn't let go. Pulsating synths, sparse piano keys, pounding basslines, among other sounds creep in and out of the film just as It Follows shapeshifting antagonist does. The score is best described as a mix between vintage Carpenter and Rob's more recent Maniac score, it's  also sprinkled with a healthy amount of it's own horrific touches that make it one of the best in recent years. Vreeland's music coupled with Mitchell's visuals perfectly compliment eachother to cement the nightmarish world presented to us. 

In the end It Follows turned out to be the type of horror film I love. It isn't perfect but delivers an extremely creepy moviegoing experience that remains fresh and original even while harking back to the fright films of our youth. It's cast delivers solid perfomances creating believable characters who sell the horror of their harrowing predicament. While there is little gore, it isn't needed here as It Follows establishes it's horror with mood and atmosphere and when all is said and done more than likely you will be thinking about it just like that recurring nightmare that leaves you shaken and uneasy within the dark. 

"Dreams require sacrifice...and so do they."

Truth be told, other than seeing it's superb retro styled poster by Jay Shaw (pictured above), I knew absolutely nothing else about Starry Eyes other than "girl trying to make it in Hollywood and things go bad" prior to my first viewing. I will always stand by the opinion that the best way to watch a film is to go in knowing as little about it as possible. I generally always prefer teaser trailers over full trailers, especially for the smaller films which sometimes have to bank on their money shots to help sell to an audience that is already skeptical when it comes to lower budgeted projects. I mention this because while Starry Eyes slipped under my radar somehow, that fact though definitely added to the excitement of finally getting to watch it. Starry Eyes ended up being my favorite horror film of 2014. However that is not to say I came to this conclusion instantly. Upon that first viewing I definitely liked it, and plenty of things that caused it to become the years favorite were there, but I really wasn't sure how much I liked it. Still it turned out to be one of those films that sticks with you long after you watch it which made me eager to revisit it. After the second viewing I knew that it would end up being in the tops for the year, then when time came to make our best of year list, it ended up coming out on top along with The Guest. The Guest certainly has horror roots and themes but for me isn't truly a horror film. That left Starry Eyes at the top for me. What I want to do here is highlight some of the reasons this film struck a chord with me because I feel it is a film worth talking about. 

Please be warned that there are Major Spoilers below which I normally hate to do however in order to fully discuss the merits of this film in the depth I want to it is necessary. I highly recommend watching the film first before reading on. 

1. The Performance by Alex Essoe as Sarah

Starry Eyes tells the story of Sarah Walker, a determined yet struggling actress who has been doing her best to juggle her day job at "Big Taters" fast food restaurant and the demands of chasing her dream of becoming a star in the cutthroat world of Hollywood. Sarah gets more than she bargained for when she auditions for a role in a horror film being produced by the fictional Astraeus Pictures. As you can guess things don't go as she hoped, in more ways than one. So as with any film, it is only as good as it's lead, Alex Essoe (who has done minor roles here and there as far as I can tell from researching online) breathes life into a character who in hands of a lesser actress, could have been very one dimensional and nowhere near as compelling. What's interesting is one of the biggest compliments I can give to Alex's performance is her willingness to fully physically transform herself in order to give the role what it requires. That directly mirrors the dilemma faced by her character Sarah in the film. Do all that is asked of you to land a star making role, regardless of the suffering that comes with it. Not all actresses would sacrifice their vanity for a role, yet here Essoe willingly undergoes the transformation from her own model-esque beauty to a deteriorating almost rotting corpse motif, the makeup FX Essoe endures here is borderline Brundle Fly levels of grotesqueness. While her receptiveness to the physical makeup aspect of the role is extremely impressive, it would be nothing without the wide range of emotions she has on display here. She runs the full gamut of emotions throughout the film, Paranoia, Insecurity, Sickness, Fear, Pain, Horror, Anger, Sorrow are all touched upon and it is in the subtle moments of emotion throughout the film that Essoe shines brightest. While Starry Eyes is well written throughout, without Alex's star making turn here, this film would be nowhere near as successful in telling it's story as it is. Just as her character Sarah does in the film, Alex Essoe gives her everything to a role in a horror film and comes out of it as one of Hollywood's most promising new talents. 

2. The Struggle is real. 

By now we have all seen plenty of films about "The Struggle". The Struggling artist, the struggling musician, the struggling athlete and of course we have had more than enough of the struggling actor trying to make it in Hollywood. Still none have ever felt quite as authentic as Starry Eyes does. I can't claim to be an expert or know the acting struggle first hand. However I have spoken with more than a few people who live in L.A. and Hollywood and all have stated that this nails what it is like to be one in a sea of thousands trying to "live the dream". What Starry Eyes writer/directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer have done here is not only give us an insightful look at what aspiring actors and filmmakers go through on a daily basis ( or not go through depending on how hard they hit the pavement) but they have also delivered a very smart commentary on the very nature of the film industry and how it prays upon the desires of those wishing to be a part of it. I could probably write an entire article about just this aspect of the film and how it sheds light on the darker side of show business. The entire angle of selling your soul to make it in Hollywood is addressed  literally and figuratively here. To someone just watching the movie without really paying attention they may not pick up on the metaphorical comparison between the two. It is this comparison that should be so obvious yet it is handled so well here that it is never TOO obvious or eye roll inducing. It works. It takes the whole concept to a place that is as horrific and outlandish as it is brutally honest and real. Remove the supernatural and horror elements and the film works just as well as a compelling cautionary tale. Still it is those supernatural and horror elements that make Starry Eyes so much fun, well fun might not be the best word, because this brings us to our next point. 

3. Oh The Horror. 

While the pacing of Starry Eyes may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's slower approach to building to it's climax serves it well. By the time it goes full on horror film it pulls no punches. I've likened it to another one of my favorites, Ti West's "House of the Devil" in that regard.Extreme gorehounds may be turned off by the fact it takes long to get to the gore bits, but everyone else should be satisfied with what is presented here. Starry Eyes is first and foremost a body horror film, and Sarah's horrific transformation is as gruesome as they come. On first watch it definitely left me wincing. The makeup by SOTA FX that highlights Sarah's deterioration/Transformation is superbly executed and visually disturbing. Anyone who has ever laid in bed while sick and has said to themselves "oh man I'm dying" will instantly relate. I personally can recall far too many times in my life where a flu put me on the bathroom floor for the night in full despair, this is the horror version of that feeling. While it wears its body horror on its sleeve, the film also features a very well orchestrated slasher-esque home invasion scene where Sarah unleashes carnage upon her so called friends. I know I stated there would be spoilers in this article, but this is one part I refuse to elaborate on because the impact of it would be lessened, just know the blood flows in impressive fashion here and everyone who HAS seen the film knows exactly what I am referring to. It's a grim and brutal sequence of events to say the least, I only wish it went on for a bit longer. As mentioned before Starry Eyes touches on a myriad of moral themes throughout, and its horror themes are no different as it is home to psychological, body, supernatural, ritualistic and slasher horror elements. All of these come together naturally due to the well told story making Starry Eyes a very versatile horror film with something that will assuredly get beneath the viewers skin. 

4. The Music of Johnathan Snipes

Anyone that knows me knows I love horror scores and always have. Ever since I was a kid and my dad would make me horror music mixtapes for Halloween featuring tracks from such films as Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, and others I have been heavy films scores. Horror films have always been tied to their scores, more so i'd say than any other type of film. A good score elevates it, a bad one can ruin it. In the last few years movies such as Maniac, Under the Skin and The Guest benefited greatly from their sonic counterparts. Starry Eyes is no different. Johnathan Snipes provides a synth heavy score with a touch of child like wonder that fits like a glove. It is the heartbeat of the film and adds a layer that a more traditional score would not have achieved. In listening to the commentary the directors stated they originally wanted to go with a more orchestral score and Johnathan convinced them to go with his concept of less traditional music. I am an admitted synth music addict so I am glad they decided to trust him. Everyone I have spoken to about the film comments on the merits of the music. I remember being excited as soon as I heard that synth first creep into the film and build from there on out. I can't imagine Starry Eyes with a different score and I am glad I don't have to. Waxwork Records seemed to feel the same as they'll be releasing the score on vinyl soon enough. Snipes music is once again proof of how important a score is to a horror film in enhancing it's themes and atmosphere. It is a truly great experience when the two perfectly compliment each other. Starry Eyes soundscape matches it's rather stylish look perfectly.

5. It's got the look. 

I am a big believer that style in a film goes a long way, you absolutely have to have substance, but just as music can elevate a film, a sense of style can take it to new heights. Looking back at my list of best horror films of 2014, The Remake/Sequel of "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" made that list based mostly for it's stylish visuals and creative shots. Superficial? maybe, but hey it's my list and I'm a sucker for some style.  I have already discussed Starry Eyes other merits such as the story and acting, when those are in place, you have a solid picture already, when you add to that a layer of finishing touches that visually help tell your story, you have something special. Starry Eyes has a gloomy look to it, that fits the mood of the film perfectly. It's stylish and feels slightly retroish (that can't be a word) at times but still has a very natural lit look to it. Hollywood and California are generally portrayed in films as the sunny paradise of every actors dreams, however here the bleakness of the characters reality is reflected by the ominous clouds and dark stormy skies above Los Angeles. You really never get a sunny sky in the film until the end when things...well, change for Sarah and thats the point. Every visual in the film was thought out and taken into account so that it reflected the story as well as just for a lack of better terminology, looked really cool. 

For more on the look of Starry Eyes I would recommend checking out this really solid interview with the films cinematographer Adam Bricker over at Deep Fried Movies where he details alot of the process and techniques used to achieve the look of the film. 

In the end Starry Eyes had plenty going for it across the board. I always enjoy when a film catches me by surprise to take a spot in my favorites, and now Starry Eyes has joined the ranks of  the movies I will tell everyone to watch when they ask for a recommendation. I look forward to watching it with friends who haven't seen it yet just to see their reactions and be able to discuss it afterwards. It sticks with you and keeps you thinking about it long after you've watched it and that is always the sign of a great horror film.

Around this time every year, for most horror fans the anticipation of October and the Halloween season builds to a boil. Mid September is usually when I myself get ready to really kick the celebrating into gear (well more so than the rest of the years usual horror shenanigans I suppose). Whether it's buying decorations, pumpkin flavored treats, checking out all the fun costume related stuff in stores or working on my own October related projects, this is that time of year I truly feel more alive and motivated than others. Of course with October and Halloween comes the tradition of movie watching. Horror films are the life blood of the month for most and rightfully so. Even my non horror fanatic friends enjoy watching a good scary movie or two during the season. That brings us to the point of this little write up, each season we are treated (or punished) with various attempts by filmmakers and studios to cash in on everyone's desire to be scared for a few weeks. Sometimes we get some genuinely enjoyable well crafted films and sometimes we get pure crap (why be nice about it?) This year I am pleased to say that the best Halloween themed movie we will probably get this year isn't really even a "horror" film at all.

 The Guest is director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett's latest film. This is the same duo that brought us last years most enjoyable theater going experience (for me anyway) "You're Next". That film ( which is cleverly nodded to twice during The Guest, keep an eye out) really caught me by surprise as I approached it as I try to do with most films. Go in knowing as little about it as possible. It turned what could have been a boring and silly rehash of the home invasion sub genre into a different, thrilling, gore filled good time. Speaking of thrilling, that is exactly what I suppose one would classify The Guest as. This story of a stranger (played with a perfect blend of charming and menace by Dan Stevens) who shows up at a familys home with the story about how he served with their son in the military and was with him when he passed away, needless to say, he becomes their guest and then things get real (which is about all of the plot you will get out of me as I don't spoil films) This is not a "horror" film, sure it certainly has aspects and events that are horrific and has many familiar themes a horror film carries, but still, I don't feel like I would classify it as one and that is what makes it such a refreshing watch.

 Now before everyone says "well its not a horror film, why are you even reviewing it?" Let me just state it may not be a straight up horror film, but it is certainly a perfect film to be watched during the Halloween season. The Guest is filled to the brim with Halloween imagery, as it is set on the last two weeks of October, everything is decorated for the holiday. Almost every scene has some sort of orange, black and purple to it, whether its just a pumpkin in the background or some other type of decoration that sneaks into almost every shot, Halloween itself is a major character in this film. There are Halloween parties and Haunted House style set pieces that make it perfect viewing for this time of year. The Halloween influence doesn't stop at production design, nor does it only include the actual holiday. The Guest features enough nods and love letters to our beloved Halloween film series to make every horror fan smile. Some obvious and awesome (Halloween 3) and others more noticeable to those with a quick eye and attention to detail (Halloween 4). The film itself feels like the type of film old school John Carpenter would make if he was transported 30+ years into the future and used that enthusiasm he had back then to direct today. This again is obviously a good thing and exactly why I feel this film will appeal to most horror and Halloween fans. Wingard knows exactly what he is going for here and succeeds in achieving that.  Also cannot forget the fact The Guest earns its hard R rating for the most part with good ol' violence of the practical fx kind. No cgi blood here.

 Lastly I must make mention of the incredible score and soundtrack usage found within The Guest. As stated up above, there is a heavy Carpenter influence running throughout the film, this is not exclusive to only the look of the film, but also the sound. Remember how everyone (myself included) fell in love with the synth heavy retro styled soundtrack to the Ryan Gosling flick "Drive" ? and later went nuts (again so did I) over its horror drenched cousin the impeccable "Maniac" remake score by Rob. I will be surprised if the same doesn't happen here. Full of pulsing synth heavy tracks, the soundtrack on its own is enough to do the job, every scene is matched up perfectly and taken to another level by the inclusion of the obviously carefully placed tracks. However in addition to the songs found in the film, the score performed by Steve Moore is a perfect compliment to the imagery and blends seamlessly with the other sounds in the film. My favorite portion of the synth heavy score were the jarring and ominous "stabs" that could be straight out of the Halloween 3 or 2 score. As soon as any of this music kicks in it will no doubt win people over. It's just as good as the "Erin"s theme" Carpenter-esque portions of the "You're Next" score everyone seemed to love (and is still waiting for an official version of) Overall all the music featured in The Guest is what really for me anyway, pulled everything together.

 So there you have it, The Guest is the Halloween movie you should definitely check out that isn't really a movie about Halloween, even though some of its biggest inspirations are firmly culled from the classic Halloween film series. It's not a perfect film and there are some issues I have here and there, but those are easily overlooked when you just go along for the ride the creators are trying to take you on. The performances here are all pretty much on point, as stated up above Dan Stevens plays his role to perfection and his co-star Maika Monroe who plays the main protagonist Anna really does a good job playing off of Stevens performance. The rest of the supporting cast also do their jobs admirably. For a fun time at the theaters that will still count towards the spirit of the season this October, see the Guest, and dont forget to pick up that soundtrack while you are at it.