Holy shit – another year down…..and another year that Mister Covid reared his/her ugly head and kept a lot of people out of the theaters (again). But…..throughout all of that mess, us horror fans still had plenty to cheer for in 2021! Now, below are a few of my personal favorites of this past year – followed by a few stinkers that were super stinky and really stunk like poo poo. I hope you enjoyed that last sentence because it was written by a 5-year-old. Let’s get to it!
I said his name 5 times looking into the bathroom mirror before I sat down to write this, so maybe I make it through to finish it….maybe I don’t. Anywho…..Candyman! And yes he can be pretty spooky in this sequel (yeah, it’s a sequel), which I know was a concern going in. Could it live up to the original Candyman from 1992?? But how will this movie be any good without Tony Todd?? What about the bees?? THE BEES!! I’m here to happily report that director Nia DaCosta has created a gothic and striking film, that not only pays homage to the original movie…..but elevates it to a new level that could (and probably should) garner sequels in this new Candyman universe.
While everyone has a circle jerk for the new Halloween Kills trailer, I have been grabbing tissues for the new Candyman trailer that came out a few weeks ago. Oh you didn’t see it yet? Well take a look!
While I know the original 1992 Candyman, as well as Tony Todd’s performance, gets a lot of love….I still feel like that movie doesn’t get the credit it really deserves. And might as well also mention that I dug the sequel. Not that abomination of a third movie though. But anyway, back to the new Candyman! Directed by Nia DaCosta, with a screenplay by Jordan Peele among others – this new vision of our favorite bee-utiful hooked madman looks like it checks all of the boxes based off of the new trailer.
We’ve got some strong actors in this one (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Jason Domingo), as well as some nice little cameos from the original movie. But the thing that really grabbed me with the new trailer (besides the fact that it didn’t give away too much like other recent…ahem….trailers) was that style and the visuals it gave off. This is one of those movies where I will probably go in with my expectations wayyyyyy too high. But I’ll leave them high for now (and leave them verrrrrry low for Halloween Kills) in hopes for the start of a new chapter in the Candyman franchise! Now let’s take a look at one more clip from the movie where Candyman gets his revenge on two morons that deserve it!
Ah ha! Just kidding. That was clearly from the movie Tommy Boy. Beeeeeees!!!!!!
I just pinched myself because I enjoy feeling pain at times, and also because it’s FINALLY safe to go back to the movies! Well, not if you consider’talking 10-year-olds sitting next to you while watching a horror movie‘ safe…….but still somewhat safe nonetheless. And the first movie in well over a year that I did see in the theater was…..A Quiet Place Part II: Electric Boogaloo. What a snappy title that would have been.
My rapid review for A Quiet Place Part II would go something like this: This was definitely not a sophomore slump for John Krasinski. Loved the opening sequence that showed the preface to the madness that unfolded in the previous film. Tense and loud (in a good way) from beginning to end, but also quiet at times because that’s the movie’s sweet spot. That bear trap part though (yikes). Cillian Murphy can do no wrong. Not much bad to say about it honestly, other than that I think the series needs to end with this one. But…..a third one already got green-lit (shrug).
Let’s move on to The Conjuring 3: Electric Booglaoo! Oh, I mean – The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It. For this one, I did not venture to the theater – but to my couch via HBO Max. So let’s talk: Very strong opening sequence in this one too. Uh oh – 20 mins in and I was already a little bored. I think I’m kinda over possession movies. But hey! Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are still great. That big fat guy from the morgue though (yikes). Decent climax (that’s what she said), but I think I’m Conjuringed out. Definitely my least favorite in the series, but I didn’t hate it.
Time for the wildcard in this review roundup – a little Irish mood piece called Caveat, which is available to stream now on Shudder. So, let’s chew the fat on this one: Oh my, that toy bunny is pretty terrifying. One of my fears is having to be chained up to the point where I can’t reach the toilet in the bathroom. This movie is directed and written by Damian McCarthy and is his first feature! Extremely dark, unsettling, but interesting as well – it keeps things moving without slowing down too much. I had read that some thought the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying – but I disagree. Easily one of my biggest surprises of the year so far. Go check Caveat out on Shudder. PS – I liked it better than The Conjuring 3 (shrug again).
Is this a review? Yes and no. I’m sort of tired of writing a typical review, so I’ll do this one a little differently. Have you heard of the movie The Dark And The Wicked? No?? Hmmmm. Do you have Shudder? Oh, you do?? Well…..get your happy ass on over there and watch the movie! That was a bit rude. My apologies.
Ok, so the movie is The Dark And The Wicked. Written and directed by Bryan Bertino, who also wrote and directed The Strangers (a personal favorite of mine btw). So what does this movie have going for it: Good acting? Check. Creepy atmosphere? Check. Jump scares? Yeah, a minimal check. A woman slicing off her fingers thinking that they’re carrots? Super check!
The Dark And The Wicked doesn’t exactly reinvent anything horror-wise, but aside from the ending – it doesn’t really fuck anything up. The story is fairly straight forward: Two siblings (Marin Ireland and Michael Abbott Jr.) return home to be with their dying father and distraught mother. While there, strange things start happening – disturbing images pop up – and blood is shed. Not all exactly in that order. There’s a sense of sorrow and dread throughout the whole movie, and it definitely plays on general grief and emotion that a family goes through when someone either passes away, or is about to.
This is one of those movies that I had low expectations with, and ended up liking it more because of that. While not perfect, The Dark And The Wicked did its job with me…..which is basically making me squirm a few times and maybe even giving in to the ‘jump scare’ attempts. It’s on Shudder now, so goooooooo watch it!
