So I want to recommend The Orphange, produced by Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth among others) and directed by Juan Antonio Bayona (he might as well be from the school of Guillermo). It's a Spanish supernatural and it's so good, comes highly recommended if you haven't seen it. Everything here is dead on, lighting, sound design (fantastic), atmosphere, acting. It really doesn't get much better in the supernatural sub genre than this very classy film. It's not on instant which is to bad but here's the netflix disc link and the imdb link.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Th...?trkid=2361637

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/

I saw Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark last night, which was co-written by Guillermo del Toro. I didn't like it and it was rather boring to me. Fairly generic plot. In all fairness though, I'm not a big fan of the supernatural horror films. I did sort of enjoy Insidious because it had a much more unique take on the paranormal world.

Yeah and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is a remake anyhow, poor Guillermo cuz it's not going over to well. He's a great director though. You might want to try The Orphange....it's freakin' scary! lol Del Toro's other great film besides Pan's Labyrinth is The Devil's Backbone, really good film. Cronos is also Del Toro and I liked it but not as much as either of the two listed. To bad Don't Be Afraid remake isn't to good. Kinda sad about that.

Insidious was alright, it's entertaining enough but none of these films were scary, The Orphanage is so filled with dread and suspenseful scenes that really work. Maybe because it's Spanish!

btw - keep checking back because I know I will have recommendations that you will like and thanks for dropping the dime on Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. The luke warm reviews have kept me out of the theater for this one but I always think that I might be missing out! lol

Recommending you all check out The Cottage from across the pond if you haven't. It's not on instant watch but here's the disc link and the imdb along with my quick review from netflix:

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Th...?trkid=2361637

As soon as the introductory credits and song start, you know this is going to be fun! It's slapstick horror comedy and it's well done! Jennifer Ellison is a hoot and what a great character she gets to play! She's tough and brash, loudmouth and butt-kicking! She's hysterical even when she's supposed to be annoying. The brothers inept are wonderful duds and play their parts with just the right amount of humor and they are funny but you also feel pretty sorry for the lot of them. They manage to get into trouble right away as everything that can go wrong, indeed does. I love the british humor and just as in Severance, the humor starts up pretty quick with just the right amount of gore for good measure. It is horror comedy after all. This kidnap for ransom gone bad is really the least of their worries in this fun and quick flick. Highly recommended for the horror comedy lover. If you don't like funny paired up with your horror then don't bother because this is just flat out fun and not to be taken seriously. Hooray to the UK for this one! Keep 'em coming.

btw Andy Serkis (Gollum/Lord of the Rings) is in this film and he's very funny.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465430/

The Cottage is an odd one.

In the UK, the critics were very so-so. All American reviews of it are very positive.

Wow! I didn't know that, you guys aren't backing your own over there? Yes...American's really seemed to get it! Personally, I thought it was a right bit of fun! Perhaps the Brits didn't like the portrayal of their own with Ellison's character. She Brit/cusses full blue streaks throughout this film. hmmmm Wonder if that's why?

No, we like that.

Well then what do you think it is about the perfectly hilarious The Cottage that UK critics didn't like? Why on earth would this film be panned over there?

Also adding The Hitcher and Joy Ride to my list. Not sure if they really qualify as horror movies but I think they count.

Yup they do qualify and totally belong in the genre, imo. I really dug Joy Ride but I didn't care for The Hitcher remake. Probably because I always felt the original was pretty great and I loved Rutger Hauer in the role of The Hitcher. As much as I like Sean Bean, the remake seemed pointless to me because Bean was really unable to bring anything new to the role and I felt Hauer played it better the first time out of the gate.

It was partly the tonal shifting didn't work smoothly, and also it want scary enough for a horror movie, or scary enough for a comedy

Well I don't get it, I thought it was funny enough and that fact is, I never expect my horror comedies to actually be scary, they're more to me for funny paired up with gore. I was never really afraid in Shaun of the Dead and don't think I would have been even if I wasn't a seasoned horror film fan in the first place. Shaun is the king of the zom/coms but it wasn't scary.

So what does the UK think about this one then? Christopher Smith's Severance with Danny Dyer? (btw Head's a big fan of Danny Dyer) And if you all haven't seen Severance yet, I recommend it. It's another really good horror/comedy that is actually darker and has more suspense than The Cottage. There is an air of dread mixed in with the funny.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Se...?trkid=2361637

Yeah, I've seen Severance, it was alright mostly, with the odd touches of genius (I liked the 2001 riff, and the different backstories about the place they were in given by different characters), maybe 6.5/10. I don't know how it's regarded by UK critics.

Haven't seen The Cottage.

House of 1000 Corpses was also a pretty weird insane movie. Hated that movie as a kid because of how crazy freaky it was. Might actually download and watch it seeing as the only time I watched it was when I was really young when it came out.

Edit: Also will download The Devil's Rejects which I guess is similar to House of 1000 Corpses. Never seen it though.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Be...?trkid=1851333

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0984155/

Before the Fall (Tres Dias original title) is a Spanish thriller that I'd like to recommend, here's the review but it's not on instant watch, disc is available through netflix though:

This Spanish thriller held me riveted and never let go. Not only is the story scary, taut and heartbreaking but the acting for all in this piece is incredibly strong and that includes the children. Three days of hell is what this portrays in the lives of these people. Though the end of the world tends to be the least of Ale's troubles in this but still it's a biggie. This is Ale's redemption tale as I understood it. Still, with redemption at its heart this is no easy view. It's upseting and uncomfortable in many places as we know from the onset, the world will end so you aren't getting your feel good moment in here anytime to soon. In fact there really isn't anything in this piece that will make you feel good. Prepare for bleak, taut and depressing but what a beautifully depressing ride it is. Artistic and stark almost colorless contrasts with white hot and dry yellow of the surrounding areas all adding to the total tension between the players here. Direction is perfect but the acting and characters will seer your brain like the hot Spanish sun and that is what makes this film unforgetable in my opinion. Performances across the board are so extremely nuanced from the lines on Mariana's (Ale's Mum) tired and shocked face to the strong set of her jaw, her performance is so noteworthy and Victor Clavijo (Ale) is completely believable as an average dolt who ends up having more heart then we are first lead to believe. His face is wonderfully expressive and his eyes say it all. Let me just mention that all the children are beautiful and wonderful actors but the little boy who plays Nico will break your heart. This is one thriller, apocalyptic tale that won't slip from your mind easily. Please don't think it's full on action in here like the latest action crazed Hollywood style flick. This is so far removed from it but if you enjoy the thought provoking, slowly gut wrenching, tie your stomach in knots type of film then this is for you.


So I was poking around instant watch when I found this to watch instantly:

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Th...?trkid=1851333

Three Extremes is an Asian anthology that utilizes three of the most respected Asian directors in the genre: Fruit Chan, Chan wook-Park and Takashi Miike. It is extreme but if you're an Asian horror film fan, these three stories are incredibly disturbing and artfully done. Here's my review:

The order in which I watched 3 Extremes came in as Fruit Chan's Dumplings, Chan Wook Park's Cut and Takashi Miike's Box. This is how it should be watched so if you receive the disc in another order watch it the way it was meant to be. The reason being, I felt anyway is that "Dumplings" is the most direct extreme horror with "Box" being the most obscure or surreal. "Cut" is sort of in the middle of the other two. Either way, if you like Asian style horror I think this is a must see. More so if you are fans of this genre. If you are new to this, then you are in for a real surprise! All three short films are incredibly well done. The colors, artistic creativity of each is different and fabulous in their own way. I have a great admiration for all three directors and of course not everyone will enjoy all three but I think everyone might find a favorite. All three are extremely innovative and technically amazing. The acting in all three stories were to me, top notch all around. The two leads in "Dumplings" are fabulous. Each played their characters with amazingly full bodied, performances. The deranged extra in "Cut", what an over the top and wonderfully humourous yet tragic performance from him. "Box" being the most obscure for me is still an amazing work of art with plenty of creep and atmosphere. These tales are not for the faint of heart. You need to have an open mind and check this out. These tales are the art of story-telling in cinema and they are all dead-on! In my opinion worth owning if you enjoy smart, artistic horror Check it out!

Its impossible to keep up with the recommends in this thread!

lol! You're to funny, don't forget all the recommends on my podcast on Monday's Screamtime reviews! You won't be left wanting in October sir.

This TV series has quite specific elements of horror, so I thought it best go here

PSYCHOVILLE

Season 1, Halloween Special, Season 2

Spawned from half the team that brought the world 'The League of Gentlemen', Psychoville occupies a similarly-dark universe to the village of that show. Indeed, 'Psychoville' is named after the Japanese title of The League of Gentlemen. It's a series written by and starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, each playing several different characters in this weird and sometimes wonderful show.

Season 1 occupies itself with a group of seemingly disparate characters whose stories slowly draw together as the series climaxes. There is a weird mass-murder-obsessed mother and son (the Sowerbutts); a troubled dwarf; a midwife who cares for a toy baby like it's real; a blind millionaire dealer in toys who has dark secrets; and my favourite, a bitter and twisted one-handed clown called Mr Jelly who is vexed by a competitor called Mr Jolly.

Season 1 trundles along at a good pace, leading to the story of a shared, dark history of these characters. It starts with each getting a note saying "I know what you did." It is very, very darkly funny and odd, and culminates in a semi-satisfying conclusion, and recommended to all people who like their comedy both weird and dark. If you liked the darker elements of Twin Peaks, say, you may like this.

The Halloween special is, to my mind, the best of this show. It takes the form of a set of short stories joined by a bigger strand, and these stories are classic horror tales - mysterious children; killer on the loose on a dark night; and a tale about transplanted eyes seeing more than they should. It also serves as a decent bridge between seasons 1 and 2.

Season 2 is slightly different. In this one, the main characters in the first start to get bumped off. There are new characters (one of them - a librarian - sees a weird dancing figure that is very reminiscent of the dancing dwarf in Twin Peaks), and the story is about a mysterious necklace, It's a little baggier than the first series (there's one major storyline involving a TV makeup woman called Hattie that adds virtually nothing to the main story - but it's amusing nonetheless).

This is clearly a series for adults, and I'd say the best laughs come from Mr Jelly and the inappropriate behaviour and phrases of mother-and-son, the Sowerbutts.

Recommended. If nothing else, catch the Halloween special.

OVERALL: 6.5/10
REWATCHABILITY: Once or twice every 5 yearas. Suitable for adults only.

The only place Stateside can see this at the moment might be Fearnet but I'm not sure yet. I'll have to keep looking. The BBC has been putting up some dough for really sweet genre t.v. I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Set. I felt it was different enough from The Walking Dead that I didn't get zombie overload.

Thought I'd recommend Husk for the month of October viewing. It was one of the better After Dark Horrorfest releases for this last year. It will far beat trying to view Children of the Corn: Genesis! Trust me on that. If you dig the scarecrow/cornfield sub genre than Husk should do the trick. Besides....I got a thing for creepy, old sewing machines!

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Hu...?trkid=2361637
Not on instant...sorry folks. Worth it though to get the disc or however you guys get your cinema on.

imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1504403/

Here is a link to Brett Simmons, director of Husk's short film, The Visitor. It's kinda cool for those who might have a touch of coulrophobia:

btw Brett's pretty talented, he writes all his own music as well.

Yes Dead Set is terrific. I would have preferred slow zombies tho.

Attack The Block

Attack the Block concerns itself with a group of South London street-kids who bring the wrath of an alien swarm on themselves when they kill the first one they meet.

It’s a fun, short, punchy movie, permeated throughout with South London lingo, scared but brave kids born and bred in the London ghetto, trying to survive.

It starts with the gang who become our main characters mugging a lone woman (who becomes part of the group trying to escape/fight off the aliens), and they seem like a gang of scumbags.

As it develops, we see a more human side to them, and get a sense of a tough life (though not as much of a sense as could have been explored – but hey, this is pure B-Movie, so that’s fine). As one of the characters says after someone says they don’t like going through corridors waiting to be picked off, “sounds like another day to me.” It’s fresh, and lively, and keeps up a good pace, showing both the courage and the fear of the protagonists, and it does a reasonable job using the young cast (who I think are non-actors in the main) to best effect. It was also very well directed by the debut director, Joe Cornish.
A lot of fun.

Overall: 7/10

Danny Dyer recommendations ITT!

Its not really that much of a Horror movie imo, not much of a scare to it, but I think Attack The Block was a really good movie, and recommend it to all.

8.5/10

Anyone recommend a good Sci-Fi horror? Like Alien, or The Thing.

Devil's Rejects was a big improvement. Still pretty derivative, but watchable. 1000 Corpses was an incredible mess. I would have finished the film without much thought, but the underground scenes made me regret watching the entire thing.