| Author | Message | ||
     Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
Helen and I watched this last night... a great and twisted slasher flick. The Hills Run Red is about a film student trying to track down a missing 80's slasher callled 'The Hills Run Red'. I quite enjoyed how the script references film as a medium, rather than just rehashing what Scream did 13 years ago! We both guessed the twist, but admire the way that this also makes comment on film and story telling techniques, and yet fits in with the tone and style of the movie. Without trying to give to much away, I also really liked how the film commented on styles of slasher movies in terms of the period they are made in. I was slightly disappointed with the look for 'Babyface', mostly due to the fact that John Skipp hyped this on Shocklines, but have to agree with him when comparing this to director Dave Parker's earlier film "The Dead Hate the Living" that it is indeed a major step forward in Parker's cinematic career. Overall a mixture of goofy fun, with a darker edge to it than the Scream franchise. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Ta for posting this, matey - I have the film to watch this evening. Watched TRICK R TREAT today: a passable timewaster with a couple of decent scenes but no real heart. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 92.251.220.41 |
Pity, I'd hoped TrT would be good. I love good anthologies, but they're so rare. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
I know...I'm the same. It isn't really that bad, just disappointing. I plan to watch it again - this time hangover free (heavy night Saturday) - so might enjou it more next time. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Just watched The Hills Run Red and liked it a lot - it's a deconstruction of slasher films but also a very good example of the genre in its own right. Clever, gory, creepy and ambitious. David J. Schow's screenplay hits all the right notes and the direction is solid. | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
Glad you enjoyed the film Gary. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Schow's a terrific writer, so I'm glad to learn that The Hills Run Red isn't disappointing. I thought Trick 'r Treat was a great deal of fun. I think it reflects modern day Halloween in North America pretty accurately (it's a bit more beer bash than Bradbury these days). I doubt anything will ever surpass Bradbury's The Halloween Tree for sheer magic, but this film is a tasty piece of Halloween (eye) candy. I agree though, Gary; not much heart, but still a rollick. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
I think I did TRICK R TREAT something of a disservice above. I retwatched it again this evening, this time in a more receptive frame of mind (lights out, headphones on, rather than with a hangover and in broad daylight) and enjoyed the hell out of it. The film does actually have heart. It's main flaw, I've realised, is that the three interlocking stories are too insubstantial; flimsy, really. However, the segmant with the ever-excellent Brian Cox makes up for a lot of the weaknesses in the others. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.239.0 |
I'd agree, Zed - the stories are thin - but that last one was very good, and it was all great fun. I get the impression that some material was cut out - for example, didn't all the adults at the halloween party we see in glimpse in the background when the teacher answers the door, didn't they all end up at the campground with Anna Paquin and her ilk?... the same goes for explaining the "vampire" Principal... these came and went so quickly, I feel like there must have been some transitional scenes excised... but why, when this went right to dvd, beats me.... | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.131.109.69 |
I loved this! It is slight, but incredibly pleasant, like a hug between like-minded people, or a party. It just felt full of lovely, perfect little touches. For me it was quite dreamlike, a little Neil Jordan. We thought it was great here. I'm glad you changed your mind, Zed, and that we're agreeing on a movie!  | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.131.109.69 |
I liked the playing with time, the sense of moving back and forth. I loved it, in fact. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 147.252.230.126 |
Hallowe'en. Anthology. Brian Cox. I think that last one is the tipping point - I'm gonna get this! |