Shot in gorgeous black and white, what Eyes of My Mother lacks in color it makes up for with disturbing themes of a dysfunctional family.
A supposed salesman manages to get his foot in the door at a family's farmhouse, only to carry out a horrifying crime. When the family's patriarch intervenes, he sentences the man to a fate worse than death. Through witnessing these acts, the family's young daughter grows up with, shall we say "distorted" perceptions of reality and the ways interpersonal relationships should pan out.
Not only was Eyes of My Mother one of the more unsettling horror films of last year, it was also one of the most beautiful to look at. The film's deliberate pace might not be for everyone, but for those of you more interested in an auteur's vision than simply blood and guts, the experience of the film is incredibly rewarding.
Vampires and coming-of-age stories have been seen in film in countless ways, with the two concepts coming together in The Transfiguration in a way never quite seen before.
Teenaged Milo might not connect with many kids in his class, but instead turns to vampire films to find comfort. The only problem is Milo might find a little too much comfort in the creature features, to the point that he himself thinks he might actually be a vampire. When he develops a friendship with his neighbor Sophie, she attempts to show him there's more to life than horror movies, but for Milo, his reality might be scarier than any frightening film.
The reason vampires have become such a popular creature in horror movies is due to the countless variations on the themes the creatures create, with The Transfiguration becoming a contemporary classic in the subgenre. Somewhere between George Romero's Martin and the Swedish Let the Right One In, this film will tug your heartstrings while also threaten to tear them out.
Few films manage to cause gut-busting laughter along with heart-stopping thrillers quite like Creep, thanks in large part to Mark Duplass' compelling and charismatic performance as the film's antagonist.
When Josef (Duplass) recruits videographer Aaron (Patrick Brice) to document what he claims is an "average day" in his life because he wants his unborn son to know more about his father who has a terminal illness, the duo begins to embark on what might the strangest day of their lives. Josef's erratic and bizarre behavior can either be explained by his fear of death or his disturbed mindset, with the audience questioning the truth of the situation until the film's final moments.
Regardless of the film's outcome, Creep is a wild ride with an antagonist that's both sympathetic and sociopathic, making for one of the more entertaining "villains" of the decade. Additionally, Creep 2 will be hitting Netflix in December, so there's no better time to catch up on the story.
Many people would do whatever it takes to make their dreams come true, especially in the cutthroat world of Hollywood where hundreds of fresh faces arrive every day. Starry Eyes, however, will really take that cutthroat mentality to another level in this story of an actress who wants nothing more than to land her breakout role.
In most smaller towns, Sarah (Alex Essoe) would be the most breathtaking beauty around, but in Hollywood, she's merely another face in a crowd. When she hears that an iconic horror movie studio is seeking fresh faces, she believes she might have found the perfect role, but when they demand more from her than she's initially willing to give, her dreams feel dashed. For Sarah to get the fame she's always wanted, she'll truly have to leave her former life behind, no matter what toll it takes on those around her.
What makes Starry Eyes so compelling is it takes what feels like an old-fashioned premise and gives it a surreal twist. The film feels similar to Argento's Suspiria and its tale of a twisted ballet school while also incorporating some disturbing practical effects.
The filmmaking duo behind the movie, Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer, will next be tackling an adaptation of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, making Starry Eyes a good opportunity to see how they scored the gig.
Whereas Eyes of My Mother went the black-and-white route to showcase its compelling cinematography, The Similars drops the saturation from its lens to mirror the tone of early horror movies in this throwback to twisted sci-fi tales.
Stranded at a remote bus station in the middle of a downpour, a group of strangers
At first glance, the films grain and sepia-toned visuals feel like a cash-in on a retro vibe, but once the mysteries of The Similars begin to unravel, the audience realizes how much the narrative pays tribute to The Twilight Zone. Each time the story begins to run out of steam, a new twist presents itself to create a whole new set of problems for the travelers.
If surreal science fiction is your thing, The Similars manages to not just serve as a loving homage to the subgenre but also creates a compelling contemporary chapter whose narrative earns it a spot alongside the best the subgenre has to offer.
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