DGreenistheBest Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Noroi, which I just finished watching, is a mockumentary style horror film in the same vein as the original Blair Witch Project. It is a little known Japanese horror flick, but it doesn't fit into the J-horror mold at all. If you like Blair Witch, you'll love this. I shouldn't have watched it while I was alone in the house as I now have to keep looking over my shoulder. Like Blair Witch, don't expect the movie to actually show you much of anything or pull off any effects. Everything sort of happens just out of view or is suggested rather than shown. Still, it's highly effective. I wasn't actually that big a fan of Blair Witch, but this one gave me chills in the end. Very weird, no conclusive ending, and a few freaky images. I will admit that the first 30 or 40 minutes made me feel like it was going to be a letdown, and it was fairly predictable where the movie was going, but I still got freaked out when all was said and done. Watch it alone at night...or don't. And the best part; you can watch it for free on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTcL6rq7pM Start here, follow the links in the sidebar to see the whole thing. 12 parts in all, each roughly 9 minutes. UPDATE: Rather than start a new thread, I'm going to update this one with reviews of two more films in the mockumentary style, apparently experiencing a surge in popularity from the release of Cloverfield and the explosion of the youtube culture in general. First is a Spanish film called [REC]. This movie is currently being remade in the US as Quarantine, but the Spanish version is out now. The gist of this film is that a television news anchor and her cameraman are sent on overnight assignment to do a profile of the local fire station. What starts as a routine call becomes a horrifying experience as the film crew, a couple firefighters and the residents of a small apartment building are quarantined due to the possibility of an infectious virus in the building. Without giving too much away, this movie is basically Blair Witch meets 28 Days Later. Infected individuals die and shortly return to terrorize and attempt to eat the survivors. Okay, is it original? Clearly not. But original and effective aren't mutually exclusive. The film does earn its share of chills and jumps. The handicam approach is used to maximum if somewhat predictable effect in several gone-one-second, there-the-next double takes. The conclusion is ultimately satisfying given the genre. All in all a good flick to catch late one night before bed with friends, assuming you can put up with the subtitles. Not going to win any oscars but it will probably get your blood pumping. Second film is George Romero's fifth entry into his Dead series, Diary of the Dead. The first thing to mention is the film is a reboot of the Dead series, starting from the beginning of the outbreak as the very first reports of the zombie outbreak become available, but taking place in present day as cell phones and the internet play a role in the story. The film is again all handicam but in an interesting twist, it is not a "found footage" approach but actually and edited and narrated documentary. From the start, our female narrator admits to editing the footage together to make her point and as the story continues she fills in the blanks. The footage itself covers the exploits of a small group of film students and their professor who, while shooting a horror movie in the woods of western Pennsylvania, learn of the outbreak and go on the road to try to find some place safe. The director becomes almost obsessed with filming everything as he sees himself as one of humanity's only chances at seeing the truth (the news reports coming in are innaccurate at best). While the rest of the small group is more interested in staying alive and finds the camera to be a nuisance, the protagonist continues to film to the bitter end. First, my reaction to this film as a horror movie. Well, its not very scary. The camera style is used effectively enough in telling the story but as well all know Romero's zombies are slow so there aren't really any true thrills. A couple scenes manage to create a good feeling of suspense. Overall its just not that frightening though. There is some decent gore however. If you're trying to scare yourself, this isn't really the movie. Romero does get bonus points for introducing the generic stereotypical characters and then having them act completely out of their stereotypes in most cases. However, Romero has always used his Dead films as vehicles for social commentary, so... My reaction to this film as social commentary is that it is extremely pointed and relevant. This is a movie that appeals directly to the youtube culture while simultaneously critizing it to the fullest extent. The movie focuses very much on the effect of viewing events through a lense. As is repeated a few times throughout the movie, the protagonist feels the need to film everything because "if you didn't get it on camera, it didn't happen." Romero questions the effect of 24/7 video addiction on reaction to violence and being obsessed with gaining and sharing information. Whereas some of these first person films tend to drive you crazy in scenes where you're wondering why this guy is holding a camera instead of helping his buddy fight off this or that monster, it actual makes perfect sense in this film. The general obsession for video is subtly hinted at throughout that film as the protagonist's friends are constanly critical of his videoing their every move yet each and every one of them shows their addiction to the very same media chains (all of them watching TV, using their cell phones, and accessing the internet whenever they get the chance). Even more effective is a hospital scene where the protagonist needs to charge the camera battery. He continues to film while plugged, insisting that he be left behind while the others go on and come back for him later. He observes, while alone, that he should be going along with them and helping, but he can't because he's plugged in, both physically and metaporically. The ultimate irony comes late in the film when one individual is attacked and films himself being bitten. Then, as he lies bleeding on the ground, he turns to his friend and says, "shoot me." She does...with the camera. The film is laced with other interesting commentary as well if you're looking for it. As is par for the course for Romero, the humans tend to be the real monsters. All in all, not the most effective horror film but a brilliant satire. Oh, and the Amish guy was totally awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touchdown Redskins Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I'm watching the first part right now. It definitely has that eery kind of feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 I'm watching the first part right now. It definitely has that eery kind of feeling. Thoughts? I was mildy freaked out but not scared when I finished it. But then for the rest of the night I kept looking over my shoulder. It sort of got to me in a way I wasn't expecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touchdown Redskins Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Hmmm, I'm still on part 7, about 22 minutes away from the end. It's been pretty mild so far. I'm not really scared, but it definitely feels like there's going to be something freaky at the end. I should have watched this at night like you, I don't think I'm getting the full effect with the sun beating down through the windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Noroi, which I just finished watching, is a mockumentary style horror film in the same vein as the original Blair Witch Project. It is a little known Japanese horror flick, but it doesn't fit into the J-horror mold at all. If you like Blair Witch, you'll love this. I shouldn't have watched it while I was alone in the house as I now have to keep looking over my shoulder. Like Blair Witch, don't expect the movie to actually show you much of anything or pull off any effects. Everything sort of happens just out of view or is suggested rather than shown. Still, it's highly effective. I wasn't actually that big a fan of Blair Witch, but this one gave me chills in the end. Very weird, no conclusive ending, and a few freaky images. I will admit that the first 30 or 40 minutes made me feel like it was going to be a letdown, and it was fairly predictable where the movie was going, but I still got freaked out when all was said and done. Watch it alone at night...or don't. And the best part; you can watch it for free on youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTcL6rq7pM Start here, follow the links in the sidebar to see the whole thing. 12 parts in all, each roughly 9 minutes. I learned long ago not to watch Japanese movies. This particular movie might not be so bad, but Japanese filmmakers are very disturbed. Some of their movies make ours seem G-rated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Noroi, which I just finished watching, is a mockumentary style horror film in the same vein as the original Blair Witch Project. It is a little known Japanese horror flick, but it doesn't fit into the J-horror mold at all. If you like Blair Witch, you'll love this. I shouldn't have watched it while I was alone in the house as I now have to keep looking over my shoulder. Like Blair Witch, don't expect the movie to actually show you much of anything or pull off any effects. Everything sort of happens just out of view or is suggested rather than shown. Still, it's highly effective. I wasn't actually that big a fan of Blair Witch, but this one gave me chills in the end. Very weird, no conclusive ending, and a few freaky images. I will admit that the first 30 or 40 minutes made me feel like it was going to be a letdown, and it was fairly predictable where the movie was going, but I still got freaked out when all was said and done. Watch it alone at night...or don't. And the best part; you can watch it for free on youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTcL6rq7pM Start here, follow the links in the sidebar to see the whole thing. 12 parts in all, each roughly 9 minutes. I learned long ago not to watch Japanese movies. This particular movie might not be so bad, but Japanese filmmakers are very disturbed. Some of their horror movies make our scariest seem G-rated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskinsfan17 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 there's people who like blair witch????!?!!! :rubeyes: :whoknows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 4, 2008 Author Share Posted February 4, 2008 there's people who like blair witch????!?!!! :rubeyes: :whoknows: Some...actually, I didn't much, but this movie did a pretty good job. Still no thoughts from those who finished it? Or...am I the only survivor? dun dun DUNNNNN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touchdown Redskins Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Some...actually, I didn't much, but this movie did a pretty good job. Still no thoughts from those who finished it? Or...am I the only survivor? dun dun DUNNNNN Just finished it a couple hours ago, and I got to say it wasn't very scary. It definitely had an eery feeling throughout the whole movie, and the ending was actually very cool, but I just feel like they never capitalized on the whole spooky feeling at any point (except for maybe the end). As for Blair Witch, that is one of the best scary movies I've ever seen. I have to put an asterisk next to this statement, however, because I was convinced by my friend's older brother that it was REAL footage. I couldn't sleep for days. (I was obviously much younger at the time ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 4, 2008 Author Share Posted February 4, 2008 Just finished it a couple hours ago, and I got to say it wasn't very scary. It definitely had an eery feeling throughout the whole movie, and the ending was actually very cool, but I just feel like they never capitalized on the whole spooky feeling at any point (except for maybe the end). See, you have to wait til later when you're home alone with some of the lights off, and then you hear a sound outside your window and that kid's face will suddenly shoot back into your memory. That's when it starts to get to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touchdown Redskins Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 See, you have to wait til later when you're home alone with some of the lights off, and then you hear a sound outside your window and that kid's face will suddenly shoot back into your memory. That's when it starts to get to you. Hahaha, yeah that kid was definitely the freakiest part of the movie. Why are little kids so damn scary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Watching it right now. Looks pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 OK the last 6 min or so were intense. I hopped out of my chair at that one part. It was caved in right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 It was caved in right? What was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 What was? kids face. go back and look at 4:47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 kids face. go back and look at 4:47 No, compare it to the Kagutaba masks that have been shown throughout the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 No, compare it to the Kagutaba masks that have been shown throughout the film. Oh, so that kid was really Kagutaba's spirit or something like that right? And he was making everyone go mad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Pause it at 4:47 it looks as if the left side is completely caved in. Scared the **** out of me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Pause it at 4:47 it looks as if the left side is completely caved in. Scared the **** out of me. Yeah, it does, but its because he's Kagutaba. Thus all the rituals. The mask of kagutaba does sort of resemble a caved-in face. But if you look again, you'll see his face is back to normal the next time you see it. His true face showed only for a moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Yeah, it does, but its because he's Kagutaba. Thus all the rituals. The mask of kagutaba does sort of resemble a caved-in face. But if you look again, you'll see his face is back to normal the next time you see it. His true face showed only for a moment. Yea I did notice that. lil demonic antichrist kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Yea I did notice that. lil demonic antichrist kid I'm telling you, for the rest of the night, I kept looking over my shoulder expecting to see that face in the window or in a shadow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVUforREDSKINS Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I'm telling you, for the rest of the night, I kept looking over my shoulder expecting to see that face in the window or in a shadow. I watched it around two in the morning by myself. I don't get scared easy, but I sleep in my basement and it is really dark. I had the tv on all night. Im a big puss. lol I think it was all the screaming that got to me more than anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 I watched it around two in the morning by myself. I don't get scared easy, but I sleep in my basement and it is really dark. I had the tv on all night. Im a big puss. lolI think it was all the screaming that got to me more than anything else. I just drank myself to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGreenistheBest Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Bump for added movie reviews to the first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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