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Movie Review: ‘Horsehead’ is Worth Your Time
Romain Basset’s Horsehead is a solid entry to the genre with high quality acting, cinematography, and overall atmosphere.
It’s one of a seemingly growing number of sleep and/or dream-related films emerging in an era with no Nightmare on Elm Street films coming out, accompanied by titles like The Nightmare, Before I Wake, and probably others that I can’t remember off the top of my head. But make no mistake. This is no Freddy movie.
The official synopsis is as follows:
Beautiful young Jessica returns to her family’s countryside estate for her grandmother’s funeral where she is haunted by recurring nightmares of a horse-headed monster. As she attempts to semi-consciously navigate through this dream landscape, Jessica begins to discover the secrets behind this sinister apparition. Haunting and horrific, surreal and shocking, HORSEHEAD is a horror-fantasy that pay tribute to the classic European shockers of Dario Argento and Mario Bava while delivering unforgettable images that both disturb and enchant.
I completely agree that the film is haunting and has a very classic European feel to it. I was certainly reminded of some of Argento’s classic works at times, but that was mostly from specific and occasional shots more so than the film in its entirety.
On the surface, this looks like a movie about a woman being terrorized by a guy with a Horsehead in her dreams. That’s not entirely inaccurate, but it is an incredible oversimplification of what’s going on. The film is much more about a family, its hidden past, and a woman who is able to uncover that past by inducing lucid dreams. This makes for an interesting dynamic, which does not carry the Dream Master tone you might envision from that description.
The score is what truly gives Horsehead its haunting and unsettling tone. A feeling of uneasiness is set up early on because of it (The appearance of Philippe Nahon’s name in the opening credits helped too. That guy is just scary as fuck). The film’s effectiveness is all about tone. The lighting is dark and the sound design is very good contributing to an ongoing uneasiness even during otherwise mundane scenes, such as a family sitting at the table eating a meal. Because of this sensation, you get the feeling that every scene is in fact significant. You never quite know what’s going to happen or how twisted things might get. The fact that the movie constantly slips back and forth between dream and reality only build on that.
I’m not sure I entirely understand every moment that graces the screen in Horsehead, nor am I sure I’m supposed to. Either way, I get the impression that multiple viewings will only enhance one’s enjoyment of the film, which is typically a good sign for a picture’s longevity.
I wouldn’t necessarily put Horsehead in my top five of the year to date, but out of those I’ve seen so far, I definitely have it in the top ten, though that could change as the year progresses. Either way, the film offers much to appreciate and is definitely worth checking out.
This is the third new release from Artsploitation I’ve reviewed, and I’ll just say that two out of three ain’t bad with Horsehead and Der Samurai being impressive and unique films even if I wasn’t sold on The House with 100 Eyes. I’m definitely looking forward to more of their releases.
Horsehead hits DVD and Blu-ray on June 23.
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Movies
Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed
The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.
Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.
The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.
Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”
Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.
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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.
“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.
Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.
The prize also includes:
An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings
A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear
A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room
A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course
The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II
Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two
“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”
Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.
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Movies
’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power
Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.
Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.
Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.
There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.
The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.
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