sharonlynette Reviews

The 50 Best Horror Movies You've Never Seen (2014 TV Movie)

Presuming you've had no interest in horror beforehand

[1/10 · 14 March 2021]

Another weak horror documentary that mainly focuses on relatively well known horror, even hugely popular horror films. No Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Lucia Fulci, Norman J. Warren or Pete Walker films get a mention, hidden cult classics. I could imagine as these are popular directors for horror fans why these wouldn't be mentioned but considering the largely well known movies listed it seems like this was just a poorly produced list, even though P.J. Soles is always wonderful. The real kick in the teeth was hearing someone describe Trilogy of Terror (1975) as one of the earliest anthology horror films when Dead of Night (1945) was the true kick off when it comes to horror anthologies/portmanteaus which then led to many Amicus produced anthology films - Dr Terror's House of Horrors (1965), Torture Garden (1967), The House that Dripped Blood (1971), Tales from the Crypt (1972), Asylum (1972), Vault of Horror (1973), From Beyond the Grave (1974) all prior to the weak Trilogy of Terror. A really sloppy documentary with questionable choices, if you are already a fan of horror you won't find anything new here and if you're new to horror this is a terrible place to start.

History of Horror (2018–2021)

Should be retitled a Limited History of Horror Mainly from the U.S.

[1/10 · 12 March 2021]

Sadly this documentary series only covers a select few horror films and then the majority are from the U.S., somehow discounting films in the discussed genres that came prior from other countries. Some of the directors featured discussing the films I'm fully aware have an encyclopedic knowledge on the history horror so I'm surprised how watered down and mainstream this is. An insult to true horror fans. I would instead suggest trying to track down A History of Horror from Mark Gatiss made a number of years earlier for a more comprehensive look at horror.

Room 104 (2017–2020)

Dull, lacklustre, weak

[2/10 · 5 October 2020]

I went in to watching this with an open mind, I love Inside no. 9, one of the greatest modern shows and as an obsessive of old horror, thriller, sci-fi or just plain weird comedy anthologies, so, although it feels like an Inside no. 9 rip off, even something half as good as that would be pretty decent but it doesn't even come close to half way to reaching the weaker no.9 episodes. The money is obviously there, the actors are good but the stories are weak, the twists are obvious or non-existent, and, considering they're only thirty minute episodes, the plot feels stretched, just plain meh. 2 stars solely for the acting.

The Twilight Zone (2019–2020)

Impossible to Judge Without Comparison

[7/10 · 5 April 2020]

It is hard to judge this series fairly without comparison to the original series and it is hard to imagine that anyone with an interest in the genre won't have seen this. Compared to the reboot in the 1980s this is miles better but when looking to the original series of The Twilight Zone it really is hard to compare to a series which, in my eyes, was perfection. Other modern anthology series have managed to get close, Black Mirror and Inside No. 9 both spring to mind and although you can easily say they were influenced they would never be compared. The actors are fantastic, the sets and cinematography are beautiful but when it comes to the stories themselves although I find it hard to be objective but feel they are just slightly lacking. If it didn't carry The Twilight Zone name I can imagine it would be viewed more favourably without the comparison but I was pleasantly entertained so believe it will be worth seeing what the second series has to offer. It certainly has promise.

The Ring (2002)

a poor remake

[1/10 · 11 January 2004]

I've watched this film all the way through. It's alright, if it was original I'd go so far as to say good.

It isn't original though. It's a remake of a film that was only made 4 years ago. So technology can't be the excuse. It seems like some film guy went on holiday to Japan saw it in the cinema, rushed home and made it before the original could make it's way to America.

This film has not been improved just dumbed down.

I feel sorry for Americans, 'cause someone seems to think they aren't capable of watching foreign movies. Luckily Ringu is now a cult classic and The Ring (2002) is just yesterdays news, as seems to be the trend in modern cinema. The only good thing about the remake is that it's created more interest and awareness of the original film.