Sequels, Reboots and more Sequels! (The Mummy and a Friday the 13th tv show?)

Yup, you read right! The director of the original Friday the 13th and producer of others has announced that he's planning on a sequel to the 2009 reboot! Sean Cunningham said ,"There will be another Friday the 13th, which will probably get shot in the spring. If it all goes as I would like, it would then be released at the beginning of 2015." 

If  you're surprised wait till you hear this! Cunningham added ," I think there will also be Friday the 13th: Crystal Lake Chronicles, which is sort of a Smallville. We’ve been on-again off-again with that for years and there are a bunch of great stories to be told, but I think the way that it’s finally going to get delivered is not through a conventional television network, but through the Internet. I can’t tell you who the delivery people will be, but it won’t be the traditional route. There’s also the possibility of webisodes, and I think we even have an idea for a terrific Friday the 13th video game."

Coming fall 2014!

There has also been announced that Andres Muschietti (director of Mama) is planning on a reboot of the classic monster movie The Mummy! We also know that Jon Spaiths (writer on Prometheus) wrote the script. Before you groan apparently his original script for Prometheus was much better than what they used so there is hope!

So tell me, are you guys excited for these reboots/ remakes or are you tired of them?

Read the full a articles here  and here!

James Wan: Retiring from Horror?

Yeah, so apparently James Wan (director of The Conjuring, Insidious and Insidious Chapter 2) is finished making horror movies. So, if your at all like me your thinking, "why in the hell would he do this?" Well, this is his reason, "I spent the last 10 years of my life doing this. It's time for a change, for goodness sake."


Ok hold up, you're saying that over the past ten years you've worked on six horror movies and now you "...go on record and say I am finished with the horror genre. Conjuring and Insidious 2 are my two last scary movies." Isn't that just a bit hasty? I know he's in his middle thirties but to completely write off the horror genre, forever?

I don't care what he says, hopefully we will still get a few more scary flicks from Wan in the future. What do you guys think of this, is he speaking out of his ass or do you agree with his decision? Tell me below!

Read the full article here!
My review for the Conjuring here!

The East - Review by Insomniac's Cinema

The East (2013) - Movie Review by Insomniac's Cinema

"The system is broken" - Sarah 

Director: Zal Batmanglij
Writers: Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling
Starring: Brit Marling, Ellen Page, Alexander Skarsgård

The East is a thriller (directed by Zal Batmanglij) which follows an anarchist group (called The East) who target big corporations who commit crimes against the environment or people and get away without any punishment. Sarah, an ex FBI agent, works for a secret organisation who "protects" the types of companies
mentioned above. Sarah gets a new job to intersect The East and find out who they will target next. After she finally discovers the group, she starts to question her consumerist lifestyle as she spends more and more time with them, but with who does her allegiance really lie?

I was hoping so much that this would be good! It even fits fantastically with Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling's previous colab, Sound of My Voice. I viewed The East as a make it or break it situation, something that would determine whether or not Batmanglij and Marling were as great as I thought they were and honestly I have to say that even though I had some problems with The East it (thankfully) reinforced my pre-existing ideas about the duo!   


One of the main things that makes the duo's movies so interesting to watch (to me, at least) is the fact that they always immerse themselves into the real-world versions of their films. During the filming of Sound of My Voice (a film about an underground cult) they actually went to numerous cults to get an idea of how they worked. The did the same for the filming of The East, Batmanglij and Marling visited anarchist groups and even undertook the freeganism lifestyle (yeah, the one where you get all your food from the trash...) While this might seem a bit extreme to some, I commemorate them for their commitment, I also think that it allows them to make the films seem much more "true".

While some people would say that, "THIS MOVIE IS ANARCHIST, LIBERAL, COMMIE-PROPAGANDA BULLSHIT!!!" you have to admit that the arguments posed in the film are valid and thought provoking. These things DO happen to real people by big corporations who never get into trouble. Think what you will about it's message, The East shows a very unique and controversial perspective using an entertaining story and interesting characters.


The characters and their relationships were portrayed very well. Throughout the film there are certain subtle things that they do or say, which might give you a better understanding of them and what they are feeling. Brit Marling was fantastic as Sarah, you can see how she slowly transforms from a Christian, Mcdonalds eating consumer to a freegan, anarchist. The rest of the group's characters were all unique, well acted and interesting (especially Ellen Page's Izzy). Some people would argue that there were characters who were "killed off" too quickly and served no purpose but to me it only added to the feeling of how people come and go in these types of groups and how others just completely change...

If you have seen either this or Sound of my Voice you will know that Batmanglij is great at making his characters interact with each other in really strange ways but still makes it seem very sincere and real. I think that even though this looks less "stylized" than Sound of my Voice there are still some fantastic and artful scenes and great transitions. Although the film doesn't make use of any real "pop songs" there are some classic instrumental pieces used for the soundtrack, the most memorable being Doc's Song, a beautifully depressing and short piano solo played by Doc on an old piano in the group's base.

This film really took me by surprise. I never expected it would make such an impression on me. From the beginning, to the end it kept me interested thanks to strong performances by the main characters, interesting interactions and a great story line. This was a great second attempt for Zal Batmanglij and made me even more exited for his (and Brit's) next project. 

All in all, The East is a definite see!

Rating: 8/10

World War Z - Review by Insomniac's Cinema

World War Z (2013)- Movie Review by Insomniac's Cinema
Directed by Marc Foster
Starring Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane

Disclaimer:
Before you get mad about my review keep in mind that I DIDN'T READ THE BOOK! All compliments and critiques are focused on the film. Thank you :)

Rating: 6/10

World War Z, yet another zombie movie. It seems as though these movies are coming out faster than new Simpsons seasons (and that, is saying something.) But, usually even the bad zombie movies are pretty enjoyable, right? So, I went into this open minded and I have to say I am a bit conflicted. There were a lot  of things wrong with this movie, but the were also some things that I really liked about it.

The film is about an ex-army soldier, marine type person, Gerry Lane. One morning while he and his wife are busy dropping off their two daughters at school, the zombie apocalypse breaks out. After escaping the zombies Gerry contacts his military friend who then arranges to air-lift him and his family to a aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. In order for Gerry  to keep his family on the ship he has to travel all over the globe trying and find out how the outbreak started. As time goes by he finds out more and more about virus and it's weaknesses but will he be able to save the world?

Ok, first off I have to talk about the zombies, I mean all of us want nothing more than to see some badass zombies, and I have to say that these zombies are pretty ferocious and freaking terrifying. If you thought the zombies in 28 days later were bad you haven't seen anything yet. These ones don't only run but they sprint, jump and kinda work together. The only downside was that a lot of the scenes containing a mass amount of zombies, they used CG instead of actual people, which does take you out of the story (especially since the "real" zombies looked really cool.)

I really liked the beginning of the movie (even though it has been done a million times before.)The problems start after they are saved. When Gerry leaves the ship you almost never get to see his family again. This made them seen really useless. They are also never in real danger so it doesn't seen as though Gerry "needs" to get back to them.

A big plot-point,which I really liked, is that Gerry has to travel all over the world in search for answers. In most of zombie movies the story plays out in a very secluded area or city but not in World War Z. You get to see how different parts of the world are busy coping with the outbreak. There is however also a down-side to him hopping from place to place, they seemed to kinda "rush" each different city.

Finally, I want to speak about the "end" of the movie. I loved the fact that if you pay attention you will see things throughout the movie that make you go, "hmmmm, why did that happen?" and in the end it all ties in, it was unique and an interesting idea.

All in all World War Z was a zombie movie which had the potential to be amazing and had some very interesting ideas, sadly it kinda missed the mark...

Rating: 6/10

The World's End - Movie Review by Insomniac's Cinema

The Worlds End - Review
Insomniac's Cinema

Directed by Edgar Wright
Written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg
Starring: Simon Pegg as Gary, Nick Frost as Andy, Martin Freeman as Oliver, Peter Considine as Steven, Eddie Marsan as Peter and Filtch as Basil...

Its seems as though Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright truly are one of the best movie-making trios in history. The World's End forms the unofficial final chapter in their unofficial Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy (and before you ask, yes, Cornetto as in the ice cream.) The first in the the trilogy was the fantastic zombie extravaganza, Shaun of the Dead (released in 2004) which was adored by critics and viewers alike. The very different Hot Fuzz followed in 2007, it was also beloved by the masses. So now that the trilogy is finished, you have to ask: does the final chapter live up to the expectations set by it's predecessors?

The World's End follows childhood friends Andy, Steven, Peter, Oliver (and his sister Sam) led by the great
Gary King a narcissist who's only priority is to have fun. Garry convinces his friends to return to their home town to try and complete the "Golden Mile": a pub crawl featuring twelve different pubs, The World's End being the last. They tried to undertake the same pub crawl when they were 18 but failed. Gary's life never hit the climax he was hoping for and thinks that completing the Golden Mile, he will feel like he did in his teenage years. As they start the mile (for their second attempt) the night progresses slowly, however it quickly picks up when the group realizes that there is something "off" with the inhabitants of the town. Hilarity and madness ensues as the group fights to complete the mile while fighting which seems to be the actual end of the world...

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg play off each other as well as ever. Something that I really love about the Cornetto trilogy is that in each one their characters and their relationships are completely different and unique. In The World's End Simon character is one of the best he has ever played. One person who I did not like too much was Peter, to me he just seemed uninteresting and unmemorable among all the others.

The World's End was much more science-fiction-y/ horror-y (the same as Shaun of The Dead) which I really liked. It also brought back the feeling of a GROUP of friends trying to survive instead of just two (as in Hot Fuzz.) The World's End also features all the fantastic Cornetto trademarks we have loved from the beginning of the trilogy like the fence-jumping, EXTREME violence and a lot of quick cuts. Everyone really did a fantastic job to once ensure that the whole film was laced with fantastic humor, wit and of course the hilariously depressing ending...

In the end The World's End is a fantastic finale to a flavorful trilogy (hehe, pun intended.) If you loved Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz this is a definite watch and  although this is the end of the Cornetto trilogy, I'm still extremely exited to see what these guys are gonna bring out next!

Rating: 80/100

Tell me in the comments which film in the Cornetto Trilogy is your favorite!

The Conjuring (2013) Review - Insomniac's Cinema

The Conjuring (2013) Review by Insomniac's Cinema

Rating: 78/100

*clap clap*


Did I scare you? No? Well, it works better in  video reviews... Anyway, The Conjuring  is yet another haunted house movie directed by James Wan. Patrick Wilson and Vera Varmiga star as Ed and Lorraine Warren, two demonologists who help families all  around America get rid on the demons haunting them. The film is marketed as "based on a true story" but since this can get slapped on almost any movie these days I  did some research to find out how true this statement was. I was surprised to find that Ed and Lorraine Warren were actual demonologists who were active during the middle to late 1900's (They were some of the first people to investigate The Amitiville Horror house!) I also found out that the Perrons are also based on a real family that was supposedly "haunted."



The Conjuring follows the Perron family (Carolyn, Roger and their five daughters) during 1971 when they are busy moving into a new house. From the first day strange things start to happen (like all the clocks in the house stopping at 3:07 am.) After a night on which Carolyn gets trapped in the basement and their eldest daughter gets attacked by a supernatural being, they decide to contact the Warrens. At first Ed is unsure about taking the case but does give his consent after Lorraine speaks to him. The Warrens then start their investigation but things go farther than they ever anticipated when the haunting starts to affect the Warrens' daughter as well. Now Ed and Lorraine have to fight harder than they ever have to try and save both the families...

Left: The Real Annabelle. Right: Ed and Lorraine Warren

I thought everyone (even the young girls!) did a well enough job acting wise I just wish that the were less of them. I understand that the real Perrons did have five girls in their family, but the problem is that it's almost impossible for the seven Perrons and the two Warrens to be well developed in a two hour long movie. In the end I thought that only Ed, Lorraine and Carolyn were developed at all...

Patrick Wilson and Vera Varmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren

The same can be said for the demons haunting the Perrons. I know there is one "main" demon, but there are also at least three other ghosts whose stories get cut short or are completely ignored (kind of like all the ghosts in American Horror Story if you know what I mean) Another big problem I had with the demons were that they weren't scary enough (how many times have we seen the dirty, crazy lady in a nightgown or a pale boy in Amish clothes, amirite?) I mean the only thing that gave me a fright was the jump scare in the trailer... If they had kept her appearance hidden longer I think it would've at least made her seem scarier


The director has said that he "modeled the film's cinematography and atmosphere after vintage 1970's horror films" and while I do think this is evident in some fantastic shots I also think it felt a bit forced in other scenes (it's pretty far out, yeah it's groooovy!)  He did however add some really creepy stuff like the whole "hide and clap" game. The part of the movie in which Ed and Lorraine investigate the house was really interesting, I just wish we could see more before the shit hits the fan. Speaking of that, I was kinda dissapointed with the end of the movie, it felt very abrupt and to me it seemed like not all the loose ends were tied up properly. It was however one of the more creepier scenes in the movie...


 
The Conjuring Final Verdict:

So, to sum up The Conjuring is an interesting haunted house movie which told a creepy story but wasn't extremely scary. It was done well even though it didn't bring anything new to the table. I enjoyed it very much but I don't think it's as fantastic as some people are saying. After watching this I am thoroughly exited for Insidious (and even the Curse Of Chucky, thanks to you Annabelle!) 

Rating: 78/100 (Great!)

The Purge Review - The Insomniac's Cinema

The Purge - Horror Movie Review

2013

Synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes - “If on one night every year, you could commit any crime without facing consequences, what would you do? In The Purge, a speculative thriller that follows one family over the course of a single night, four people will be tested to see how far they will go to protect themselves when the vicious outside world breaks into their home. In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.”

I was really looking forward to The Purge ever since I saw the trailer a few months back. I thought, “Wow, this might be able to join Cabin in the Woods and Sinister as recent Horror movies that were actually good!” Did it? Well, sort of, I mean it’s not like the movie wasn't enjoyable (because it was) but throughout the film there are things that take away form the movie like: stupid decisions made by the characters or topics that aren't explained properly.

The movie stars Ethan Hawke (James) and the fantastic Lena Heady (Mary) as the parents and even though Ethan’s character seems like a really bad dad in the beginning, I still think they did a good job. Lena as the Mary was great, she had some intense scenes and actually showed that she cared for her children. The daughter (Zoey) was fine but her boyfriend did something really stupid that makes no sense at all. The only person that I thought was really horrible was Charlie, the son. He made the more stupid decisions than anyone else in the whole movie and I don’t want to sound mean but could they really not have gotten a better actor who was less dopey-looking to play him? The intruders/invaders were kinda dumb (I cannot imagine that those masks are easy to see through!) but the leader was fantastic and really reminded me of the main psycho from funny games...

The whole Purge was pulled off quite well in my opinion (the opening credits were shocking and really showed what happens during the Purge) but I wish that they gave a bit more backstory about the origin of the Purge and the “new founding fathers”. During the movie there are these news segments shown TV where people discuss why the purge is so successful and I found it really interesting, it made the Purge and the movie’s universe seem more real. I do however think that the pacing was bad at times (especially during the last 15 minutes of the movie) because of this the ending felt very anticlimactic…

All in all, The Purge was an entertaining movie with some stupid moments. If they added more to the story it might have been a lot better. It’s wasn’t fantastic but it wasn’t horrible either: 6/10

***SPOILER TALK***

This doesn’t really form part of  my review but I just want to discuss some of the “stupid moments” I mentioned earlier. Firstly, the neighbours are supposed to hate James and his whole family because he sold them security systems and made a lot of money, because of this they want to kill him? It makes no sense, they bought expensive security systems from him to keep themselves safe(which they don’t even need since they go out to “Purge” the whole night) and then resent him because he got a raise…

The other big issue I had was with Henry (Zoey’s Boyfriend), I understand why he exists but why did he have to try and kill James? Did he really think that Zoey would be completely fine with the fact that he killed her father? And after he tries to shoot James and then gets shot himself it seems like no-one is even surprised that Henry did it.

Also, when the intruders do finally get in the house they all get killed in like 10 minutes, which is understandable since they are all completely incompetent, for example, they failed to kill Charlie (who clearly doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “hide” since he used his flashlight to show his exact position…)  It also bothered me that they two of the intruders were so surprised to find James with a gun moments after he fired a shot (keep in mind they are in the same house!) Ther are more things that I thought were dumb but that's all for now!

***END OF SPOILER TALK***

Thanks for reading! Please remeber to comment and follow my blog!
-The Insomniac's Cinema