Then I heard it was another M Night production, and I got a little leery. His last few efforts did not impress me, though I loved his earlier works like SIGNS and, oh heck, the name for the 'I see dead people' escapes me. I even liked THE VILLAGE (mostly). But every time I saw the trailer, it niggled at me. So the hubby and I saw it this past weekend. I loved it! It's about five strangers who get trapped in an elevator, yet alludes that the Devil will take his due and there's nothing you can do about it.
You wouldn't think that would make for fascinating viewing, but trust me, the tension was dialed up tightly. There was just enough back story on each character (and some story held back for even more tension) to make you care about what happened. People die (not a spoiler) but you don't see them die. Blood doesn't splatter the screen and parts are not torn and tossed about. It all happens in the dark and then the shock of what happened is what'll make you jump and even drop your jaw. (I did that a few times.) Subtle horror, I think you'd call it. And Night threw in his usual twist at the end. There wasn't a wasted moment, not a boring second. And it will keep you guessing until the very end. This movie is a return to some of his earlier works. It's rated PG-13, and is about an hour and twenty minutes long.
So what movies scare you? Do you like horror and slasher flicks? Or are you like me and prefer your horror subtle and as bloodless as possible?
10 comments:
*shudder* I hate being scared. Saw was the only horror to ever slip past me and that's only because my mom recommended it and she HATES horror and gore. Husband and I are still shocked she suggested that movie.
I do like edge of your seat drama and suspense and that's what this sounds like! Today is my 7year anniv, I might have to see about a trip to the movies this week!
I've been curious about this one, too. It's the Agatha Christie "And Then There Were None" setup. I really like "The Sixth Sense," even though the camera pulling back from the bed at the beginning was a dead (pun intended) giveaway, and for once I got it. Grandkids love the Avatar cartoons, and they saw "The Last Airbender," but I didn't hear any raving.
Most of the Shyamalon movies I've seen had the intriguing premise that didn't come to fruition. I like the idea of collecting interesting characters in a tight space and hitting them with a powerful threat, but I hate it when the threat doesn't measure up or turns silly. "Signs" was kind of like that. "Lady In the Water" looked promising in the trailer--interesting idea--but not even Paul Giamatti could save it by the end.
Keri, so weird your mom rec'd SAW. I haven't seen any of them, and never will!
I think this movie delivers on it's promise, Kathy. It's simple: the devil comes to take his due and there's no way to defeat him. Or is there? I just like when Night hits me with the 'twist' and that twist actually works.
I was on the wall about Lady In THe Water. I think it was the first of his movies that had me grumbling that I'd never see another again.
The Sixth Sense! How could I forget that title. Anyone know it that little boy is still acting? He was awesome.
Keri, happy anniversary! Very cool. I can't believe your mom recommended SAW either - add me to the will never see list.
I like the old kind of horror movies - more thrillers I think than freaky gore. This one sounds good. M. Night movies went down hill fast after the Sixth Sense.
Michele, that boy's name was Haley something, right? And, yeah, he's been in a couple other movies a while back.
Just checked - Haley Joel Osment. He was in Secondhand Lions, AI - Artificial Intelligence and Pay it Forward.
I just saw an anniversary (35 years! might've been made for the 30th) documentary about "Jaws." Fascinating! That's one I've never seen from beginning to end. I didn't want it to ruin the ocean for me.
The movie that launched Spielberg and Dreyfus almost didn't get made. The docu shows a lot about the special effects, which they achieved on a shoestring budget. Just goes to show, it's all about the startle reflex.
thanks yall! we celebrated with waffles and bacon for supper and maybe a movie later in the week.
and don't ever give in and watch SAW either!
there was several times we were going to turn it off, but dh and I kept thinking....my mom suggested this and she hates gore. it must not be what we thought. yeah. it was worse. we have questioned mom's rec's since.
I like scary movies but not silly ones like Saw with all the blood and gore. Those I can laugh at but The Exorcist scared the beezus out of me all those years ago! Loved loved loved The Sixth Sense. Unlike Kathleen, I didn't get it until nearly the end. It was so great and none of his others ever did it for me. Will definitely go see this!
I dislike gruesome horror movies or really scary movies.
One of my first dates with my husband was to see Hitchcock's Psycho. I actually stood up and screamed when the guy turned the chair around and his dead mom was sitting in it!
One scary movie I did like had Julie Robert's faking her death to get away from her husband, Sleeping With the Enemy.
I saw Carrie,Cujo and The Shining.
I vote for no blood. I prefer romantic comedies and suspense.
ack the blogger ate my post. I'll try once more.
I love scary movies and books. The only movie to really get to me was Fire in the Sky. A true alien abduction story. These were not the ET type of aliens.
Hi, when I was young, I wouldn't watch slasher flix, until one night in my early 20s I got drunk with my roommate and we watched "Hellbound Hellraiser." Once you see that, you can watch pretty much anything. But I consider my horror-movie days in the past - worked thru that and came out the other side - have no real interest anymore, would rather spend my time doing other things. Jayshree
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