Saw II (2005 film)

Oh, yes.  There will be blood. - Jigsaw

Day two of the Saw extravaganza for this year's Happy Horrorween and we get a real intense one.  The esteemable Jigsaw returns for another run, and this time we get a whole houseful of people.  The traps come pretty fast (including my least favorite of all time) and the movie ends on a twist, as most of the series has done.

After getting his son out of police custody, Detective Eric Matthews argues with him and leaves him in anger, telling him to go back to his mother if he wants to so badly.  Later, Detective Allison Kerry from the first film calls him on another Jigsaw killing (which we see in the opening of the film) and points out a message to Matthews on the ceiling.  It seems that Jigsaw has taken a certain interest in our hero.

This film was a step up from the previous film, with more traps, more 'players', more drama and more Jigsaw.  The bulk of the film switches between the players and Jigsaw talking to Detective Matthews, trying to tell him about his crusade and motivations.  The interplay between the two is amazing, the hunter and the hunted... but which is really which?  With Jigsaw, you never really know.

This film, while one of my favorites in the series, features (as I said) my least favorite task ever, a pit of syringes that has to be searched through.  As a kid, I had to have alot of shots for my asthma, so have hated needles with a passion ever since, and this sequence just got right under my skin (no pun intended).  The scene was very believable, and I applaud Shawnee Smith for the effort she brought to the scene.

Cast-wise, we have a great group of actors.  Donnie Wahlberg plays Detective Eric Matthews with a lot of passion and emotion.  His scenes with Jigsaw are a highlight of the film.  A member of the 1980s music group New Kids on the Block and brother to ex-rapper turned actor Mark Wahlberg, he also played in Ransom, Sixth Sense, Dreamcatcher and Righteous Kill.  His current acting gig is on cop drama Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck.  Shawnee Smith returned from the first film to play Amanda Young, a rare repeat performer in one of Jigsaw's games.  Acting since the age of 8, she's been alot of films and shows, including the ABC adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand, the 1988 remake of The Blob and the previously-reviewed (on my original site) Grudge 3.  Also returning from the first film was Dina Meyer who played Detective Allison Kerry.  She's best known for her roles in Starship Troopers and playing Barbara Gordon in the short-lived series Birds of Prey.  And playing Jigsaw is... well, I'll save that credit for the last film.  I don't want to spoil it for anybody who hasn't seen the first one yet!

All in all, a very suspenseful film that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the end and beyond.  I give it a 5 out of 5.  Do you have any comments or questions about any of my articles?  Feel free to post them below the article and I'll get back to you on it as soon as I can.  Or, you can send me an email right here.  Tomorrow we have our next film, the very originally titled Saw III.  Until then, thanks for reading, take care of yourselves, and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Saw (2004 film)

I want to play a game. - Jigsaw

And so, the Saw-ga begins with the first film of what became a yearly release, the Saw series.  While the series became known for its over-the-top deathtraps and blood, this first film, while not lacking in the red stuff, was decidedly tamer than later installments.  So, let's take a look at the film that started the franchise!

The main part of the film centers on Adam and Lawrence, two men chained by the ankles to pipes on either side of an old, decrepit bathroom, with a body lying between them, dead from an apparently self-induced shot to the head.  A tape in Adam's pocket tells him to "follow his heart", while a tape in Lawrence's pocket gives him a more concrete goal: kill Adam by 6 or face the death of his wife and daughter.  Now, the clock is ticking as Lawrence and Adam must match wits with a man with nothing to lose and a message to send.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie the first time I saw it, and this second time didn't lose any of the suspense or thrills the first viewing held.  The performances were top notch, the lighting and make-up were perfect, and the film introduced us to a new movie villain in the Jigsaw Killer, a man who never really killed people himself.  He set people into escapable deathtraps and gave his victims the opportunity to save themselves, if they wanted it bad enough.  (In this way, he sort of reminded me of John Doe from Seven, the serial killer motivated by the seven deadly sins, though Jigsaw wasn't quite as overzealous in his beliefs.)

So, on to our cast.  We have a surprising number of known actors in this first film.  Lawrence Gordon is played by the great Cary Elwes, who some may remember from The Princess Bride, The Crush, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Twister and Kiss the Girls.  He had a real meaty role here and he played the part well.  Playing Detective Tapp, an officer investigating the Jigsaw Murders (so named because the killer cuts a puzzle piece shape out of the skin of whoever dies in one of his traps) is Danny Glover, who also played in the Lethal Weapon series, President Wilson in 2012, and also in Switchback.  His role here required him to reach the very limits of sanity and obsession, which he successfully conveys.  Playing hospital orderly Zep is the great Michael Emerson, one of the few character actors around today.  He will be extremely well-known to fans of The Practice (where he played a serial killer in a recurring role), Lost (where he played the mysterious Ben Linus) and his current acting gig, Person of Interest (where he plays super genius Harold Finch, creator of the Machine that drives the series).

Altogether a fine film, and an excellent start to what became a very famous (and infamous) film series.  I give it a 5 out of 5.  Tune in tomorrow for the next film in the series, Saw II.  It's going to be another wild time.  Until then, as always, this is Red Hawk signing out!

Happy Horrorween is Coming!

Welcome to a revamped Happy Horrorween!  Over the next thirty-one days, I'll be bringing you a mix of some of my favorite films plus some I'll be experiencing for the first time just so I can share them with you.  So, what do I have in store for you?  Read on!

My first feature will be the entire Saw series.  From the start of the series to its seventh and final chapter, I'll be bringing you all of Jigsaw's exploits.  I really enjoy this series, despite its bad reputation, and it will be an honor and a pleasure to share that enjoyment with you.

I also have three days with three films that I was sent that I never got a chance to cover.  Whether I put off watching it or got too busy to review them properly, I look to remedy that here.

The second-to-last week of the month, I'll be bringing you six days of films from 1981.  Inspired by an article in Horror Hound magazine, which detailed many films from that year alone, I'll be bringing you some of the most famous (and infamous) films from this special year, along with some forgotten classics.

Finally, since this is the first year for the new Happy Horror, I'll be restarting my reviews of the big three franchises with all-new review coverage of the original Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Halloween.  It's been a number of years since I first reviewed those films on the old site and I want to bring them more in line with my current review style.

As you can see, I have a full plate in front of me, one I can't wait to dive into.  Join me tomorrow when I kick off the festivities with the first Saw film.  Two single file lines, please, no pushing, there's plenty of room for everyone.  Until tomorrow, October 1st, this is Red Hawk signing out!

Happy Birthday to Me (1981 film on DVD)

Today's a special day here, Happy Horror faithful (you ARE still out there, aren't you?).  Today, July 17th, is Red Hawk's birthday!  And so, for a special day like today, I thought I'd cover one of the more obscure "holiday" style fright flicks out there, 1981's slasher special Happy Birthday to Me.  How does the film hold up to 22 years of age?  In the immortal words of Mr. Owl, let's find out!

The film starts with a young woman, Bernadette, being stopped by Mrs. Patterson, the head of the school she's attending, Crawford Academy, when she trips on Mrs. Patterson's dog's leash.  It seems that Bernadette belongs to a group called the Crawford Top Ten, and she's heading to a local bar to meet up with the other nine members.  After excusing herself from Mrs. Patterson's company, she walks down to a dark alleyway nearby to get in her car.  As she gets in and starts up her car, a pair of hands come from behind her and start trying to strangle her, eventually pulling her into the back seat.  She manages to get away once she opens the rear door with her foot, but ultimately falls prey to the unseen to the audience (but recognized by her) killer.  Thus begins a series of murders, each disposing of another member of the Top Ten.

This was the first time I've gotten a chance to watch this movie.  I've owned it since 2009, and have thought about covering it every year, but stuff got in the way... either other plans came up, or I couldn't find the movie itself to watch, something seemed to always get in the way of me watching and reviewing this film.  Well, this year I made sure I knew exactly where the film was when it was time to get it started.  So, what did I think of the film?  I liked it.  I enjoyed it alot.  Some of the death scenes were pretty creative, and the film kept you guessing as to who the murderer was and who would be the next villain, right up till the end with an ending that almost nobody saw coming.

Cast-wise, we have an interesting run.  Playing our main woman, Virginia, is Melissa Sue Anderson of Little House on the Prairie fame.  She was also in a 1986 TV movie, Dark Mansions, a couple episodes of The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and in 2006's 10.5: Apocalypse.  Glenn Ford played Ginny's psychiatrist, Dr. Faraday.  A screen legend with quite a number of film credits to his name, including Experiment in Terror, Superman, and 1980's Virus, a Japanese post-apocalyptic film where he portrayed the president.  Lisa Langlois played Amelia.  She also played in 1980's Phobia, as well as 1982's Class of 1984 and killer rat film Deadly Eyes.

All in all, I give this movie a 5 out of 5.  It's interesting to look back at some of the somewhat lesser known films and see how they stack up to some of their contemporaries, and this one definitely was up there with the slasher mysteries of the same time period.  Thanks for reading my review, take care, and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Texas Chainsaw 3D

So, here it is, my first theatrical release review!  I saw this movie January 12th, and have been somewhat sitting on this review since then, somewhat due to illness but also just my natural procrastination (which I'm trying to fight).  The movie was, in my opinion, really good.  In the past, I haven't really covered in-theater releases because of different factors: for one, I like to go back and watch a movie again for commentary or research purposes and a theater doesn't have access to either of those.  Secondly, I like to refresh my memory for my usual summary of opening scenes, but that could get expensive, especially with the cost of 3-D movies anymore.  However, I enjoyed this movie so much that I wanted to bring this review before home release.

In lieu of the opening summary, I will just tell you this: the film is a direct sequel to the original 1974 Texas Chain Saw Massacre.  It starts with a rundown of scenes from the original film, bringing viewers up to snuff on what happened then.  The actual opening scene features at least three alumni from the original film: Gunnar Hansen, the original Leatherface, plays Boss Sawyer; John Dugan, who played Grampa Sawyer in the original film, reprises his role here; and Bill Moseley, Chop Top in Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, plays the role of Drayton Sawyer, family leader in the original film and sequel.  This movie sort of overrides Part 2 and any of the other films in the original series.  My feelings on that shortly.

I absolutely loved this movie.  The acting was great, the effects were superb (3-D and otherwise) and the story kept you going.  From the time Leatherface starts his attacks, the action and suspense hardly ever slows down.  In addition to the previous cast, we have Alexandra Daddario playing Heather Miller, our main star.  Miss Daddario was also in Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief as Annabeth Chase (a role she'll be reprising in 2013's Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) and Bereavement, another slasher film.  Dan Yeager played Leatherface, and he played the part really well.  His only other acting job was in 2011's Metal Heads, playing Cop 2.  Here's hoping that Mr. Yeager gets a little more work after this role!  Thom Barry played Sheriff Hooper.  An established character actor, he's been in other such movies and shows as Congo, Dangerous Minds, Ghosts of Mississippi, Cold Case and 2 Fast 2 Furious.  Richard Riehele plays Farnsworth, the lawyer who gives Heather the information about her new house.  Another established character actor, he's been in a ton of films and TV shows, including Glory, The Fugitive, Ghosts of Mississippi (again!), Mighty Joe Young, Office Space, and Hatchet, among many, many others.  And, in a cameo appearance near the end, Marilyn Burns appears as Vera Carson.  Marilyn Burns played Sally Hardesty, the last survivor, of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre.  Between then and now, she also played in Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive alongside Mel Ferrer, Carolyn Jones and Robert Englund, and Manson Family documentary Helter Skelter, playing Linda Kasabian, as well as a cameo appearance as Sally Hardesty in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.

So, my thoughts on the studio rebooting the series, rather than filming another remake or sequel to the original remake.  I thought that it was a good move, personally.  While I did enjoy the remake (fun fact: I didnt' see the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre until after I saw the remake; I actually saw Part 2 years ago, before I ever watched the original), I understand a lot of people didn't like it or its prequel.  The art of skipping over a movie or two, pretending they don't exist, in a way, is nothing new.  Superman Returns, while not a perfect movie, was a direct sequel to Superman 2, overriding the (to some) overly goofy third and overly preachy fourth films.  It goes back even further, to when Toho decided to reboot the Godzilla series in 1985, they threw out three decades of Godzilla history to return Big G to his city stomping roots.  They did it again following Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah, and then again with almost every Godzilla film after that (with the exception of Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., which was a sequal to the previous year's Godzilla x Mechagodzilla).  They all branched off from the original 1955 Godzilla.

After that overly-long paragraph, I'm proud to give this film a 5 out of 5.  It was fun, gory, funny in places, but kept up the tension quite well.  And so, until next time, be careful along those Texas back roads, and this is Red Hawk signing out.

The State of Happy Horror Address

February is a good month.  We get a shorter time till the next month, it's the last full month of winter, we get Valentine's Day (and all the candy and horror movies that entails).  Some people could consider those negatives, but not me!

So, it's with great pleasure that we welcome in the only variable month, the Leap Month, February!  Now, a few years ago, I brought you a Valentine's themed horror movie with Valentine, but I haven't yet touched the more iconic My Bloody Valentine, or its 3-D remake (the first 3-D movie I ever saw, I might add).  This year, we'll try to remedy that.

I'll also bring you my first theatrical reviews.  Normally, I'll wait till a movie comes to DVD before I'll cover it, but this one's different.  I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to review it ASAP.  While it's been a couple weeks or so since I watched it, it's still pretty fresh in my mind.

I'm also doing my best to buckle down and start posting more.  I had a few days off work recently, but I was too sick to do any writing whatsoever, much less posting articles.  But, I'm back to almost completely 100% health, so I should hopefully get into a good rhythm!

I can't guarantee it for this month, but I'm finally getting a Jetman series review written, as well.  I'm really happy with how it's coming out, and once I'm finished writing it then you'll be seeing something literally years in the making.

It's all part of February for the New Happy Horror!  Thank you for coming to my site, and I'll do my best to make it a place you'll be happy to visit frequently.  Until next time, this is Red Hawk signing out!

Favorite Christmas Themed Horror Films

As we see another Christmas closing out, I wanted to give you a listing of some of my favorite Christmas themed scary movies.  On the old site, someone once asked if I could find something scary even in the peaceful Christmas season.  Well, I think this list will show that horror doesn't take a holiday off.

Santa's Slay: Starring Bill Goldberg as an evil, killer Santa Claus, Santa's Slay takes the premise that Santa, son of the devil and the only other immaculate birth besides Jesus, was tricked into being the happy, jolly, friendly version we all know and love for a thousand years due to losing a bet with an angel... and that thousand years has just ended.  A horror comedy, Santa's arsenal includes an impressive array of traditionally themed items, including a tree topper throwing star, a tinsel garrotte, and flaming coal, among other items.  I enjoyed this film immensely, and got a good laugh at some of the sight gags and jokes thrown into the film.  Bonus Trivia: The buffalo the filmmakers used for Santa's "Helldeer" was so afraid of Bill Goldberg that it would try to flee whenever he spoke or laughed.

Silent Night, Deadly Night: It has been a LONG time since I watched this film, or its first sequel, but a few things have stuck in my memory regarding it.  I remember the killer being traumatized as a child when he saw a guy in a Santa suit murder his parents.  I remember legendary "Scream Queen" actress Linnea Quigley being impaled on reindeer antlers by the killer.  It was a good movie, and inspired several sequels over the years.  Bonus Trivia: One majorly vocal critic of the first Silent Night, Deadly Night film, Mickey Rooney, went on to star as the title character in the series' fifth installment, Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker.

Gremlins: Yes, it's hard to believe sometimes, but this is, technically, a horror movie.  Starring Zach Galligan (not to be confused with Zach Galifianakis) as Billy Peltzer whose father's unassuming search for the perfect gift for his son unleashes terror, death and destruction on the small, normally quiet town of Kingston Falls.  This is one of my all-time favorites, as is its sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch.  Bonus Trivia: Gizmo, the Mogwai's parting words to Billy take on an even more special meaning in the novelization, where the Mogwai's thought processes are normally so fast, they prevent him from being able to speak English.  He has to mentally slow himself down enough to be able to say his farewell to his special friend: "Bye, Billy."

The Gingerdead Man: A Full Moon creation, this film starred Gary Busey as the original human form, and voice, of the title character.  He starts out as a crazed killer who gets caught after holding up a diner and killing all but two of the family he's holding hostage.  Receiving the death penalty, his mother retrieves his ashes and mixes them into a special gingerbread mix; when mixed properly (with the addition of a little blood into the mix), the gingerbread man comes to life as a walking, talking, murderous cookie, out to avenge himself against the last survivors.  While not strictly a Christmas movie, I'm sometimes hard-pressed to find any time that gingerbread is available other than for the holidays!  Bonus Trivia: Full Moon has made two more of these films: Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust (where the killer cookie terrorizes a movie studio) and Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver (where the homicidal confection travels back in time to kill the participants of a roller disco contest).  The third movie featured a contest beforehand where winners would get to be included in the film in "the largest mass electrocution in movie history" (I haven't seen the third one yet, but am wondering how that scene stacks up to King Ralph's opening scene).

There are way more Christmas horror movies than I can list here, but this should be a good start for anyone interested in the genre.  I look forward to hearing any comments on this list, good or bad.  Until next time, take care of yourselves, and this is Red Hawk signing out!