Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - 2019
If you’re a child of the 80s or 90s, then you’re very familiar with the book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. How can anyone forget the macabre and grotesque covers and illustrations? The version I had was of the skeletal woman with half of her face gone. I used to love that book and read it cover to cover multiple times. They were the literary version of the show Are you Afraid of the Dark? The film is based off this anthology of scary stories, but with a twist.
Markus and I had no idea that the film would be set in 60s small town Pennsylvania, but it was a nice surprise. They nailed the look and vibe of the time and it was one of the things I liked best about the film. Instead of jumping around from story to story, like an anthology movie, the anthology is incorporated into the main protagonist Stella’s life. She stumbles upon the book in an old house which triggers the stories start to affect her and her friends in real life. It was a clever and interesting way to showcase the stories in one tight film. Since it’s based off of a kid’s book the movie isn’t as scary as it could be, but there are some genuinely unnerving moments that are memorable. My favorite part was seeing some of the specters and monsters come to life on the big screen. I genuinely enjoyed this movie. So if you’re looking for a fun Halloween popcorn movie, check it out.
It - 1990
For a lot of my friends, this version of It is the reason why they don’t like clowns. Thankfully, I was spared a viewing when I was young. When we watched the 2017 remake it was all new and instantly became one of my favorite horror films. I know that Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise is legendary and has embedded itself in horror culture forever. I was curious to see if this tv adaption was good or at least campy good.
It is based off of Stephen King’s extensive novel of the same name. The miniseries flips back and forth between the past and present of the Losers Club. The past for them is the 1960 and the present is 1990. This adaptation is pure 90s evening television at its best and worst. They cast a few famous actors from the time in pivotal roles like John Ritter and Tim Curry, which was great. However since it was made for tv it’s definitely not as scary as it could be. Nonetheless Curry’s Pennywise is seriously entertaining. He dons a cockney-ish accent with a carnie persona and truly acts the hell out of the role. He’s honestly the best thing about It, and it totally makes sense why all my friends are terrified of clowns. The rest of the cast’s performance bounces between forgettable and over the top, which I more often than not find myself laughing at. There’s also a bit of cheapness to the production level, but I guess that’s expected. Although I’m glad I finally saw this version, I can’t say I would ever watch it again.
Child’s Play - 1988
Here’s a story about little Noelle: One day my dad bought me a doll that could walk and talk. He didn’t buy me presents often, so when he bought this one, I tried really hard to love it. However even as a little girl, I knew it was creepy as hell. My mom put the doll high up on my bookshelf so that when I looked up at it, it looked down at me. For years, it stood on that shelf, dimly watching over me like gargoyle. Then one day, I walked out of the bathroom and the doll was naked and walking toward me. I screamed bloody murder. That, my friends, is why I haven’t watch Child’s Play until now.
I’m sure you know the premise, a doll is possessed by a demented criminal, and torments a young boy and his mother in 80s Chicago. I’m gonna be real guys, I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would. For some reason, I expected it to be really campy, but it wasn’t at all. It takes itself quite seriously and the story is tight and concise. Chucky is 100% creepy, even when he’s not moving on his own or even just sitting there. So when that demented doll finally loses it? Terrifying. The practical effects and animatronics are dated at some points, but they are still very impressive and really get the job done. This movie has it all, creepy dolls, voodoo, seedy 80s Chicago, a wholesome mom, a somewhat attractive cop (Chris Sarandon), a well acted villain (the legendary Brad Dourif) and a genuine child actor. I’m thoroughly surprised that I enjoyed Child’s Play as much as I did, and would even consider watching the rest of the franchise.
