A good film can take you to another place, you can become immersed in the story, the soundtrack, the cinematography. If you’ve had a bad day, a good day or just a plain weird day, a film can change your whole mood. Films allow you to forget about the real world around you and for 130 minutes you get to experience something you might not be able to in real life.
I’ve always loved films, I’ve always found a relaxation in watching one. I get very excited when I find a great film. I watch it several times to pick it apart. I find when you do this you see the film in different ways – there is always something different that grabs your attention, something you missed the first time around.
I know halloween has passed, however I have wanted to write about these for a while, so here are 3 of my top horror/thriller films:
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
One of Wes Cravens best. Set in California a group of teenagers are tormented and preyed on by a disfigured man, Freddie Kruger, in their dreams, however in reality their injuries and even deaths are very real.
This is one of my all time favourite horror films. I believe that this film catapulted my obsession with film. I first saw this when I was 11 and it just stuck with me. The way it was shot, the cast and the story, it had a real sense of togetherness for me. I loved every aspect of it, the creepiness of Freddie and the way he spoke, to the way he manipulated a situation, making the victim paralysed with fear.
8 films followed the first one – including a collaboration film with Jason (Voorhees). There was a remake of the first film in 2010 – which delved deeper into the story of why Freddie is the way he is.
This isn’t just a scary film for kicks, it has a story behind it and I love that.
Serial Mom (1994)
Kathleen Turner plays a quintessential suburban housewife in Baltimore, America. The perfect house, perfect recipe book, perfect hair. All seems fine until you realise she is a serial killer. Now granted, this is more of a black comedy than a horror or thriller, it still fits my view of one.
The lead, Beverly Sutphin (Turner) plays the perfect double cross deception. Killing people in the neighbourhood over the most trivial of things. Littering, a teacher questioning her son’s mental state, and even a boy standing her daughter up on a date. Most would see these as mere faux pas; not Beverly, who proceeds to dispose of these people. The murders obviously do not go unnoticed and ends in a very public case for the ‘Serial Mom’.
The whole film keeps you gripped. The script is well thought out and you cannot believe that such a well rounded woman can be capable of such a thing. I first watched this at a sleepover when I was about 12. The director also threw in a couple of shots that resembled an advert for a product, whether it be washing powder or a house work tool. Overall this film has it all, romance, comedy, murder, and even Ricki Lake as the daughter.
Carrie (1976)
When I think of this film, I often feel a bit of sadness towards Carrie. This adaptation of Stephen Kings novel is definitely one for your collection.
Carrie is a shy high school student who gets her first period in the gym showers. She is unaware of what is happening and goes into panic mode, causing a light bulb to explode (the first in a series of odd happenings which make Carrie research telekinesis). With her home life strained as her mum is a fanatically religious woman who does not allow talk of sex, boys or anything that could ‘harm’ Carrie.
Carrie returns home where her Mum locks her in a cupboard, as menstruation is a sin (in her eyes).
The story progresses when a popular girl at the school sets Carrie up with a prom date. This, however, is all a ruse to get Carrie to the dance to humiliate her. Upon receiving the crown for ‘Prom Queen’ they pour pig’s blood over her head. Setting Carrie once again into panic mode, her telekinesis taking over. The halls water hoses attack the people inside, some are electrocuted and the whole hall sets alight and burns, with Carrie covered in the blood she walks out locking the students inside, she has had revenge on all those that had wronged her.
This does not end here, Carries life comes to an untimely end when her mother stabs her, causing Carrie to use her powers once more to crucify her mother. The strength of her powers are too much and her house crumbles around her.
The cinematography of the film is just beautiful. The screenplay is very good, the cast and sets they use all add to the package. The battle that carrie has with her mother and people at school is awful to watch, but so so good.
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