More movie review than you could possibly want or need:

[wednes]

Since I've decided to slack off today, I thought I'd check out this movie which psychswitch was kind enough to loan me. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082966/

It is Fulci's House by the Cemetary (1981). Like most Italian horror, it had one of those soundtracks where you'd swear you've heard all the music before. This being a Fulci film, however, said music was not all done by Goblin. Ha ha ha.

This film had a lot of my standard problems with italian horror: Little or no attention is paid to the actors by the directors. This means that the acting generally sucks, and the tempo within a scene is sporadic at best. Subpar gore effects, although it *was* 1981, when everyone wanted gore, but only Savini knew how to do it right.
Flat characters and insipid character names bothered me no end. I mean, a villian named Doctor Fruedstien? Only Rob Zombie has managed to come up with a more lame villian name.

Argento has trained me to expect innovative camera work from these small horror films from Italy. I'm assuming Fulci did not get the memo. I counted no less than 15 close up shots of a persons eyes, many of which occurred at times utterly devoid of drama or suspense.

It's not all bad, of course. Fans of gratuitous violence will not be disappointed, nor will fans of uneccessary breast/nipple shots (including a totally gross naked carved up torso complete with erect nipples), nor misogynists everywhere. Did I mention some of the awesome violence? Awesome!
This film appeared to have borrowed a lot from Kubricks The Shinning, right down to the lead kids haircut. He has an imaginary girlfriend who warns him about the evil in the house and Scatman Crothers appears as...okay, that didn't really happen. Anyway, if you have an evening to kill, why the hell not see this film. It'll be more entertaining than pretty much anything on network TV.

Bob says:

Slack is love.

I really think that will be the last of those I post.
But I felt it was not only a day for slack, but for Bob and subgeniuses in general.

I go back to work tomorrow, then onto a whirlwind of work, doctors and other assorted appointments which must be kept, contantly making demands of my time. Stupid demands...

Yesterday was the birthdays of both my old boyfriend Schmave, and my Hot Hot Boss. Schmave is turning 36, while HHB is...wait, he's 36 as well. Far out!

Comments

[spun-lepton.livejournal.com]

You watched a Fulci film and were surprised by frequent close-ups of people's eyes? You're trying to tell me the scene with the firepoker was "sub-par gore"? Put down that bong!

Argento is the only filmmaker to use needless and garish camera tricks, usually to cover up for the fact that he can't direct actors worth a damn.

*literally puts down bong*

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Okay, I guess you got me there. I think I am used to the smoothness of hollywood horror, and the very deliberate pacing and soforth. But I will assert that good gore is not neccesarily measured in the volume of blood used.

There is some cool camera stuff in HbtC, such as some cool swinging aroudn the room camera, and some fish eye stuff.

Tomorrow night will be Argento's Phantom of the Opera, which has that awesome swinging around the theatre shot.
And topless Asia!

Re: *literally puts down bong*

[spun-lepton.livejournal.com]

I've heard Phantom of the Opera was considered his worst film. Are you sure you're not mistaking it for "Terror at the Opera" or as it's know in the States, "Opera"? I know is that that crazy swinging-around-the-auditorium shot.

I still like House by the Cemetary, clunkiness and all.

Re: *literally puts down bong*

[spun-lepton.livejournal.com]

IT HAS THAT crazy camera shot. Ugh, stupid brain.

[cherriebomb.livejournal.com]

I dug House By The Cemetery. The kid was a little obnoxious. Whatever.

I love the "Bob" thing. It *is* a good day for slack.

Having never seen an Italian Horror movie...

[skryche.livejournal.com]

If I were going to watch one Italian Horror movie, which would you recommend?

Re: *literally puts down bong*

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Actually, I own both films, so I could certainly be mixing them up. I thought Phantom was an interesting take on the story...not the some old same old. Opera is the earlier film and Phantom is the 90's one.

[man-bites-dog.livejournal.com]

My favorite thing about Fulci(or any Italian horror film for that matter) is when they crash zoom into something but don't manage to actually get their target in focus or miss it completely. Yeah funny stuff. HbtC I though was boring as hell, but then again I'm like that with a lot of his stuff. When he's good he's badass but when he's bad man does he suck.

[reinventedmuse.livejournal.com]

*giggles* subgenius..its been ages.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks!

Re: Having never seen an Italian Horror movie...

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Well, most people would say Suspiria, without thinking.

While that is important, I would say start with Fulci's "Zombie", or Argento's "Deep Red" (Profundo Rosso).

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say i was bored, its just that the things that bothered me seemed to outweigh the things i enjoyed. some of the gore was good, and even though I object intellectually, I love the huge splashes and blood just everywhere.

I think I look for things that arent' there in these films. Like when they do a close up of one characters eyes, then the other; i think they're telling me there's a connection between the two...but then there isn't. So then I'm disappointed. you know, that sort of thing.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

That's just what i thought!