
It’s time to get the horror movies going! My school is on fall break, so I’m excited to catch up on some spooky flick viewing. Be sure to let me know if you’ve seen any of the upcoming movies I will present throughout October!
Origin/Director: Canada/Vincenzo Natali
Viewings Tally: Shout-out to Max at PowerPop for recommending this one. Like me, Max is nostalgic about being nostalgic. Haunter (2013) has some nice 1980s references to enjoy!
Synopsis: A teenager is stuck in a time loop that is not quite the same each time. She must uncover the truth, but her actions have consequences for herself and others. [Letterboxd]
Reely Bernie’s Take: Haunter features fixed acting to the tune of Tales from the Crypt but is well aware of its satire and quite good at executing it with old school effects. Dense fog, quick cuts, and slo-mo complement a clever take on ghosts getting ghosted, and the odd ride keeps you guessing. (Think Groundhog Day meets The Others on Disney+.) The best parts: all the 80s nostalgia, punk throwback references, and mischievous method acting. There is no need for CGI here. The simple flickering of a light does the trick. The final reveal is a bit heavy-handed with an underwritten focus on domestic abuse, but the paranormal inclusions are chilling enough for a solid horror flick experience. I was caught by surprise several times, and there’s no such thing as too much fog.
Final Score: 3 The Smiths references out of 5
Check this out on Amazon Prime. Thanks for the rec, Max!
Happy Reely Bernie Horror Fest,
RB
I think I started watching this, but never got around to finishing it …
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It’s weird but adds up. Think darker Disney, haha
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Thanks for watching Bernie! It’s something about this movie I really like…I’ve watched it at least 3 times. Sometimes I’m attracted to a movie and I don’t know why…and this one is one of those! Like you said…it probably has a lot to do with the 80s…and yea…mentioning the Smiths was a nice touch!
Thanks Bernie!
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There’s nothing like a movie that goes on repeat because it’s particularly special just to you. Because of its revelation layering a la Triangle or Groundhog Day, I can see how each viewing would unravel something new too! Thanks again for the rec, Max! Happy October!
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Happy October to you Bernie! I have a couple of horrors also this month…and one of them is a horror comedy…I think the best.
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Horror comedy is so good. My wife doesn’t watch these, but a fun, innocent one might be Arachnophobia!
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It’s hard to find a movie that is both scary and funny…I will do the one I think, to me…is the best. I hand it to you Bernie…this movie review stuff is much harder than songs! I just do them like they were a song now lol.
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It’s funny you say that because I think the song reviews are tough. Any review is tricky because you need to supply context, a personal connection, and then an objective critique. In a way, that’s impossible, haha! So, it’s just a nice bias filter, I think. You can’t go wrong, haha!
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All I do is list some trivia and my personal feelings for it. I think people relate more if they see a personal connection with it.
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Personal/nostalgia is what it’s all about. You’re absolutely right. Hey, I was thinking of a good horror comedy. Have you seen What We Do in the Shadows? So good!
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No but I’m getting it now! If you want a goofy horror comedy….Tucker and Dale vs Evil lol. It’s more of a comedy but with gore…
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This is new to me too! On my Watchlist! If you like anything Salem’s Lot or vampires, What We Do in the Shadows is killer fun! Laugh out loud!
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I already have it now…so I’ll check it out. The one I’m writing up within a week is both truly scary and funny…that is a hard kind of movie to pull off.
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