Movies I Watched in October, Part 2

It's almost December, so here's the second part of the October movie recap:


This Guillermo del Toro movie didn’t get much love from critics or audiences, but I think that’s because they went in expecting a horror movie – and looking at that poster, it’s not hard to see why. Thing is, though, “Crimson Peak” isn’t a horror movie – it’s a Gothic romance, and I suppose you can forgive audiences for not understanding a genre that’s barely existed for 100 years. That’s a shame, though, because horror or not, “Crimson Peak” is a lot of fun, full of over-the-top characters, lush locations and loads of deliberately unbelievable plot twists. The story revolves around a young author (Mia Wasikowska) who, following the mysterious death of her father, marries a disreputable young Brit (Tom Hiddleston) and moves to his decaying family estate where his creepy sister (Jessica Chastain) clearly resents her presence. That’s the set-up, and it all plays out in the family's amazing mansion, with holes in the roof to let the elements in and red clay (the source of the family’s fortune) seeping up through the ground, making the whole place look soaked in blood. Del Toro masterfully balances the set-up and release, building chills into the opening two-thirds and backloading the film with fast-paced shocks and jolts. The cast is game, the setting is unusual and the entire film is downright gorgeous. What more do you want in a movie?

“Freaks” isn’t a perfect film, but it’s those imperfections – packed into the corners of every frame – that make is a truly great, and completely singular film. The story, of course, revolves around the freaks in a traveling sideshow getting revenge on the “normals” who plot against one of their own, but that’s just the skeleton upon which Tod Browning hangs all his weirdness. There are oddball conversations you can just barely understand, a lot (and I mean a LOT) of strange sexual content lurking just under the surface and a generally weird vibe like no other horror movie film of the era (or any era, for that matter). If you’ve never seen it, by all means, check it out – it’s barely an hour long and I guarantee you won’t soon forget it.


Watched this for some reason, possibly because we were covering the original on our podcast (again, listen to that episode here ) or possibly because there was absolutely nothing else to do. It's rumored to be one of the better ones, partly because of the involvement of big names like Patricia Arquette (in her film debut) and Laurence Fishburne (back when he was calling himself "Larry"), but it's really not that good. Freddy by now has his annoying wisecracker persona that never fit comfortably with his backstory as a child murderer/molester, and lead actor Craig Wasson remains one of the least charismatic performers ever to grace the silver screen. There are a few imaginative moments and some admittedly striking over-the-top gore (the veins as marionette strings is tough to forget), but otherwise, it's another reminder that this series was always overrated.


Saw this one with Allie, and there's really not much to say considering I couldn't be further from the target audience. It was fine, I suppose, and every generation needs art reminding it that rebellion can be a good thing. Plus, Andy Daly is always funny, even in the bland, by-the-numbers role of the authoritarian principal. One thing that actually did impress and surprise me was a certain plot twist that felt like something out of the third act of "Fight Club." I didn't see it coming, and when it hit, it gave the movie an added (and much needed) emotional punch. If your kids want to watch this one when it hits home video, consider yourself lucky. You could do a lot worse.

Up next: The Final Chapter of the October recap, featuring Christopher Guest's latest, possibly the most obscure blaxploitation movie ever made and a Val Lewton classic. (No, not that one.)