“It Follows” Embodies STDs Into a Smart Horrendous Monster

            “Now that we’re old enough, where the hell do we even go?” A young girl discovers that the last guy she had sex with passed on a demon to her, and has to pass it on to somebody else by sleeping with another person. This is a horror film, so our heroine’s not about to take the easy way out, she confronts the thing that follows. The story contains likable characters, making it harder for us to accept their possible faith. The film embodies fatal STDs into a monster that takes on different bodies, which tend to be dead relatives. “Sometimes I think it takes on the form of loved ones just to hurt you even more.”

            It’s not absurd to believe that this film correlates how STDs affect not just the victim, but their loved ones as well. 

             As we witness our heroine being followed by creepy people, we’re introduced to her younger sister and her sister’s friends. Together they help our protagonist find where this thing came from, and how to stop it. This movie makes a strong impression on how people fall as collateral damage when helping others. The entire production team did an amazing job at bringing this story to life in a certain mood. The framing was impeccable; one is able to grasp the severity of the situation through the lighting. Congratulations to the director for the believable and likable portrayals the actors delivered. 

            This indie film is worthy of praise; it’s able to provide sufficient jump scares and eerie moments without costly special effects. The makeup artist did an incredible task at making certain characters look menacing, yet not lose that human look, adding eeriness to their character. 

           “It follows” makes a remarkable comment on how sex driven young people are, failing to take any consequences into consideration. This horror films does a great job at exploring farfetched, yet scary, consequences. “It Follows” is definitely worth a watch, and even a buy, ‘tis the season! ;) 

"Chatroom" Shows How Dangerous the Power We Have at Our Fingertips May Be

           “It’s all so desperate. They’re turning us into these unbelievably dull people.” “Chatroom” forms a perfect example of how while technology advances, we tend to misuse the power we have at our fingertips. Five teens use their phones and computers as portals to escape from their reality in this film. 

Some of the teens believe to have found a safe haven to share what they cant in real life, but little do they know, they’re simply puns in a dark scheme. Each character would seem to have the perfect life, nothing to complain about, until someone with deep self hate gets involved. If “Chatroom” may only succeed in one thing; it’d be that we can be whoever we want online. 

            The story kicks off with a teen creating a chat room for teens. One girl comes in, a model in real life, enters the room bitching about her vapid friends. Every young adult in this story has a problem in real life that comes to surface via the chat room. One character suffers from being ignored by her parents who keep trying to mold her as they please, forgetting about her in the process. There’s even a moment where she overhears her mother wishing she could’ve had more children, but she uses her phone to tap into another world.  

            The teens that become usual visitors look up to the chat room moderator as an optimistic and inspiring young man. Our online personalities don’t always correlate with who we are in real life, or what we post online indicates our true intentions. The leader of this breakfast club seems obsessed with suicide, a dangerous obsession that’s inflicted on his peers. The story takes a dark twist as the chat room moderator exploits each one of his peer’s personal problems involving pedophilia, parent abandonment, bullying, and other issues.

            The story is well told, eloquently delivered, and the hard work behind each scene is admirable. The online actions like, creating a chat room, or sharing things online is portrayed in real life terms. Whenever online, the actors would wear the same clothes they had on their profile picture. Congrats to the production team for incorporating everyday online interaction into this film in such a creative manner. The entire cast did an amazing job at bringing three-dimensionality to their characters, making them inevitably likable. 

Though an entertaining and thoughtful film, it still manages to deliver a strong example of how well connected we all may be, and yet sometimes choose to hurt one another. "Chatroom" is a great film, feel free to check out the trailer down below and lemme' know what you think!

Wes Craven: Independent Filmmaking Royalty

 If you walk into this man’s home, you’ll hear a scream from the people under the stairs. You’ll run out thinking it was a nightmare, when you were just inside the last house on the left. Scream, People Under the Stairs, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Last House on the Left are a few of the titles that make up Wes Craven’s filmography.

About to turn 30, he took a risk and moved to California in pursuit of his new found passion, film-making. His earliest work goes back to writing and editing porn. Which no one from his family saw coming, since he was raised in a strict Baptist household. In 1972, Wes Craven released his first full-length film as a director, Last House on the Left. Last House on the Left follows 17-year-olds Mari and Phyllis as they’re kidnapped, degraded, and raped by escaped convicts. Phyllis eventually dies in an attempt to save her best friend. Mari, trying to escape, befriends the leader’s son by giving him a nickname and her necklace. He lets her runaway. Hope fills Mari’s eyes as she runs as fast as she can. The criminals catch up to her. They rape her, and carve their names into her chest. That little glimmer of hope she had disappears. 

The escaped convicts are ashamed of what they’ve done, they stare at their blood stained hands and give her space. Mari, extremely weak, manages to push herself off the ground, throws up, and says a prayer under her breath. She no longer tries to run, she walks towards the lake, and knows this is the end of the road for her. They shoot her. The water carries her body away. The escaped convicts take refuge in a lake house thanks to a married couple. The married couple turns out to be Mari’s parents. They manage to figure out what happened to their daughter and take vengeance into their own hands. 

I have an admiration for independent filmmakers, because they don’t have the big budget that Hollywood movies have, they can’t rely on stunning special effects, A-List celebrities, or worldwide promotion. Independent filmmakers have to make sure the storyline has a good flow, the acting is believable, and the editing shows continuity. The film, for me, is an example of how hard work does pay off. With a budget of $90,000, they were able to make a profit of $3.1 million at the box office.

            The story itself reminds me of something my Dad once said, that a person isn’t born bad, that it’s life and society that turns people a certain way. An upbringing filled with poverty led three people to find pleasure in causing others pain. A doctor and his wife mutilated three people in name of revenge. This story is filled with human beings being driven to unleash the darkest side of them. Last House on the Left shines a clean light into the dingy corners of the human psyche, which is what I believe a film should do. Now, I encourage you all to support independent films by visiting a film festival. And for my fellow filmmakers, keep writing! Keep directing! Keep going! Feel free to check out this short documentary on "The Last House on the Left."

The People Under the Stairs: How it Broke the Horror Movie Archetype

The People Under the Stairs broke the horror archetype on many different levels. The film had a child as the lead actor, the cast was predominantly black, and achieved a perfect blend of horror and comedy-all a rare thing in the horror genre. In addition to the villains being rich and White, it was scary how detached they were from real life, but then again, they won the natural lottery. As the story progresses, one can’t help but to bond with the lead character through a series of difficult choices. “[…] Daddy cut out the bad parts, and put the boys in the cellar, […]. They get flashlights and food of some kind. I suppose they're happy in their own way.” This dark tale tells the story of insane siblings who’ve stolen children, thrown some away in the cellar, and fed the rest to the people under the stairs. 

 

Real life problems are presented to this barely thirteen year old in the first act. Fool, our lead character, has a mother dying of cancer, his family’s about to be evicted, and they have nowhere to go. It’s interesting how the person that lost the natural lottery is the hero of this film, and the winners are placed as the villains. 

An opportunity to earn money to save his family arises; it goes against his moral standing, but what good are morals when your family’s starving? Finding yourself rooting for Fool is inevitable, which leaves the window open for fear to sneak in, making it impossible to fear for our young hero. 

 

The film itself managed to stand out when released for many reasons. It’s become a custom in scary movies to have barely any, if not, no Black people included in their production. Wes Craven noticed the unleveled playing field within the horror genre and reacted. This movie featured a mostly Black cast, and not only that, but the lead actor was Black. To quote one of the greatest sequels, “the horror genre is historically known for excluding the African American element.” – Which happens to be another Wes Craven film. While some scenes do seem farfetched, it works with the movie, even adding some humor to the story.  

 

            The People Under the Stairs comments on unfair housing policies. The children-stealing landlords charge tenants double the rent when late a day, and triple when late two days, and evicted on the third. The sole purpose of those rental claws is to get as much money as possible from low-income families, then push them out, making the building available for  “different” type of tenants. These morally depraved brother and sister aren’t so detached from modern days landlords in parts of cities labeled the “ghetto” part of town. If anything, this movie amplifies on the need for fair housing policies all over the country. Authority may be a dangerous thing when in the hands of certain people. 

The People Under the Stairs is a must watch! And like the song over the ending credits says, “Do the right thing!” 

 

Prevenge: Who Would Suspect a Pregnant Woman of Murder?

   “While people search for a purpose, I already got one.” This modern take on the horror genre portrays a pregnant woman committing murder in the name of revenge, hence the title. Prevenge is a well written story, accompanied by an amazing cast, and complimented by shots telling a story in a single frame. One of the best qualities of this film is how it delivers a different type of heroine. Who would suspect a middle class pregnant woman of murder? We’re able to dig deeper into the psychology behind each character through great use of foreshadowing. This movie not just delivers some gory, creepy scenes, but some good comedic moments, as well. Prevenge exemplifies on the difficult choices one has to make; life or death? Seek revenge, or sit at home angry? 

 

Each cast member has a moment to shine, and takes advantage of it, leaving us a good aftertaste with each scene. There are moments when one can’t stop to think, what lead actor would do that?!?! After looking up the movie on Wiki, it all made sense, the lead actress is also the writer and director- making it even more worthy of praise. The rest of the actors either make us sympathies with them, yet hate them to the point where we can’t wait for that knife to enter them - with that being said, thank you for the impeccable acting. Congratulations to the casting director for bringing together a talented assemble. The cast succeeds in delivering dark humor, eerie moments, and convincing performances.  

  The entire production team behind Prevenge produced a great new-age horror film. The story follows a woman seeking revenge for the death of her husband. There are moments where doubts emerge, but they’re quickly silenced by that little creepy voice inside her head. Throughout the movie, the lead character hears a voice urging her to continue with avenging her husband’s death. It’s understood that she believes the voice to be of her unborn child. She even avoids her sonograms because she fears what may be growing inside of her. This film interestingly turns the tables by making a person who society would perceive as vulnerable, into this horror film’s knife wielding psychopath.  

The director of photography, location scout, special make-up effects supervisor, all did a great job at pulling us into this story. This film could have been made as a dark comedy, but keeps the horror genre present at all time, either through blood on the floor, a creepy voice over, or eerie images. The foreshadowing in this movie is done very subtle. While Ruth, our pregnant murdering heroine, converses with a midwife, she’s told that the baby is in control now, to just give into it, if only the midwife knew she was green-lighting a murdering spree. 

A fan of the horror genre? Please watch this movie! You won’t regret it. 

"Zoolander," a Hilarious Film that Comments on the Benefit Fashion Labels Make off of Child Sweatshops

            “Zoolander” follows a concrete personal and exterior storyline, subtly plants a ticking time bomb in the first scene, and makes a spectacle of well-crafted characters. This comedy does an excellent job at expressing hilarious dialogue; the actors don’t deliver it in a funny voice, but in a serious tone, making it even funnier! The personal storyline follows a male model at the decline of his career, while the exterior storyline shows him being used as a pawn in keeping child labor. The movie builds intrigue immediately by planting a ticking time bomb, and what’s at stake for the villain, in the first scene. Even though the characters feed into the “dumb model” stereotype, that doesn’t stop them from being three-dimensional.

            Derek and Hansel depict ridiculously good-looking models that have no substance, but abundant style.  These empty-headed characters’ incredibly self-centered personalities add comedic scenery to the ride the story takes you on. Derek Zoolander is a good guy that just happens to be really handsome and incredibly stupid- but still a good guy.

We’re introduced to him at the top of his career, yet this new model comes along and knocks him off his thrown. The lead character tries going back to his roots, a small town, but arrives in a crocodile skinned suit. Derek is so use to being the center of attention, that he even wears all white to his roommates’ funeral. 

            Even though the film is a comedy, it does a great job at commenting on how top designers find sweatshops a lucrative business. Will Ferrell steals the show as Mugatu; his facial expressions, body movement, wardrobe, hair, and acting brought to life one of the most hilarious villains ever.

        Each scene gives a better understanding as to who the characters are, besides a model, a journalist, and an evil fashion designer. There were hardly any filler scenes, and if there were, they were hilarious and thank God they kept them. To make a long story short, “Zoolander” is hilarious. Please watch this film- and if you’ve already seen it, then watch it again, it only gets funnier the second time. And remember, not all successful films need a sequel ;) 

 

Speaking about fashion, have you ever noticed how all fashion tv shows tend to be a competition, but never a platform where they're working together towards something mutually beneficial? There's actually a website that's being built for that, basically the "LinkedIn" of fashion. People that design, or sew, or whatnot, can all come together and make money while building credibility as a professional. The website is still under construction, but they need help, I left the link to their kickstarter, feel free to donate a dollar or three, it all helps. 

http://kck.st/2qptz33

"Top 5 Teen Slasher Films"

 

#5 "The Final Girls"

“The Final Girls” is a slasher-comedy about a teen attending a screening of a slasher film her late mother was in. Within the first act, her and her group of friends are transported into an 80’s cheesy slasher flick. The screenplay was written by Joshua John Miller, Miller’s inspiration came from seeing his father, also an actor, die on film. He plays with the idea of what it would be like if he had a second chance, but this second chance was inside the movie. The film does a great job at poking fun at slasher films, where sexually promiscuous teenagers get murdered one by one.    

#4 "Freddy Vs. Jason"

            Okay, this film might not have the strongest writing or the best cast, but it has the original Freddy, Robert Englund- AND JASON VORHEES! The film has blood, guts, and sharp objects being thrown around, but it probably works best as a comedy-horror. The characters are pretty basic, which may stop the audience from forming any emotional attachment, leaving us not caring for who dies next. This movie has cool fighting scenes between Jason and Freddy, making it beloved by horror fans, giving us hope for another crossover, maybe Jason Vs. Michael?

  

#3 "Scream"

            Wes Craven reinvented the horror genre a second time with “Scream.” Other films came along hoping to imitate its success like, “Urban Legend” or “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” An interesting fact about this film is that it was rated NC-17 when first presented as a horror, but Craven was told it was too scary. “Scream” was later re-submitted for rating, but as a comedy, and was rated R this time. This film acknowledged other horror film Icons like, Freddy and Michael Myers, giving it a more realistic vibe. The scream trilogy gave us the last scream queen, Neve Campbell, and for that, we’ll be forever grateful.  

 #2 "A Nightmare on Elm St."

            Freddy Krueger- that’s all you need to say when presenting this movie. This film gave many of us nightmares, I mean, can you imagine knowing someone wants to kill you, and not being able to sleep on top of that? I don’t know if I would make it to the end, I need my sleep. A Nightmare on Elm St. spawned a franchise featuring this iconic villain. In the late 70s to the mid 80s, more than 100 men died in their sleep according to Vanwinkles.com, being named the “Asian Death Syndrome.” All the victims were Asian men, young and healthy, who went to sleep and never woke up. These strange deaths along with testimonies about sleep paralysis were the base inspiration for this movie.

 

 

#1 "Halloween"  

            A classic that had to be on this list is “Halloween.” This successful 1978 horror film, not only gave us horror icon, Michael Myers, but the memorable scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis. On a budget of $300,000, the movie grossed $47 million at the box office in the U.S. and $23 million internationally, making “Halloween” a profitable independent film. If you haven’t seen the 1978 version, and have only seen the Rob “I’m gonna stretch the fuck outta' the beginning” Zombie version, please do yourself a favor and watch the original, then apologize to humanity afterwards. 

"Dear White People" Calls out Modern Black-Face Parties Thrown by White College Students

            "Dear White People" breaks away from the negative Black youth stereotype cultivated by Hollywood over the years. Every individual storyline is incredibly well crafted. The three dimensionality of each character leaps off screen. The exchange of dialogue expressing heavily opposing viewpoints is delivered, written, and portrayed on screen eloquently. The social commentary is worthy of being praised. This film is a powerful contemporary satire, and if it spurred outrage in people because of the title, or the portrayal of white people inflicting daily micro-aggressions on minorities, well, maybe that was the point? Do yourself a favor and watch this modern classic!    

            This successful independent film, that happened to be funded entirely by fans, delivered strong performances, criticizing modern “black faces.” This story narrates the racial tension building up between Black and White students in a predominantly white Ivy League University. Each character has an interesting backstory, one self-deprecating, another of a mixed race questioning her race identity, or a young writer who doesn’t fit any of the stereotypes his counterparts expect of him. “Dear White People” questions why every character in a Tyler Perry movie that’s college-educated is inherently evil, or consists of black women suffering the entire time.   

            The micro-aggressions depicted in the film like, confusing two people just because they’re of the same race, or asking someone who looks ethnically ambiguous what they are, are such an eye opener. 

            Here we are, in 2017, and people are still throwing parties with racist themes like, University Of Florida’s 2012 Blackface party, or Arizona State University’s 2013 MLK Black Party. “Those invitations, whoever sent them, should have been met with derision and outrage, instead, a hundred people- your students arrived with posters, decorations, and costumes they had prepared for such event… showing us exactly where we’re at.” I’ve seen this movie so many times, yet I’m always finding new underlined meaning behind each dialogue exchange. If this comedy makes you feel anything, speak up! In order for us to grow and move on from such an antiquated mentality, we have to take different people’s perspective into count. So, please watch this movie, you won’t be sorry!

           

"Detachment" Reminds us of the Hypocrisy Behind "No Child Left Behind" and Delivers a Memorable Film

Adrien Brody delivers an amazing performance as a substitute teacher that lives detached from people. He teaches inner city student, while dealing with a dying grandfather troubled by his past, and takes an underage prostitute off the streets and into his home. “Detachment” depicts the serious issues facing public schools, including staff and students, correlated with the amount of help received from the government. Director Tony Kaye reminds us that “No Child Left Behind” is bullshit, and which main concern is property value. The film narrates how unappreciated teachers are in the United States, the result of the lack of good parenting skills, and the external factors affecting the public education system. 

The film opens with real teachers describing how they fell into, or were inspired to be a teacher. As the stories progress, you soon understand that some of these people didn’t intend to be full time teachers, they had other plans, but the fallacy of comfort trapped them in. The movie follows a substitute teacher, who tends to live detached from people, throughout his encounters with students facing different problems. One student seems infatuated with hurting animals, another suffers from verbal harassment brought on by her parents, and so on. “Detachment” also explores how a teen may fall into prostitution just to survive, and asks, how long can she keep getting used before she just becomes a walking body?

The film comments on how the youth in America is under a marketing holocaust, limiting their mind’s capacity, pushing them towards an abyss of ignorance. James Caan interprets a teacher that pops pills and is not afraid of mocking narcissistic, empty-headed, problematic teenagers. One student comes in with a tiny top claiming to not be giving it up to “every dick in my face,” he showers her with pictures of gonorrhea infested vaginas. He humiliates another student by repeating what the kid said in opera form, and the list goes on. Without giving much away, throughout the movie, you understand how unappreciated teachers are in America, and how a simple, “Thank you,” can make a difference. 

Tony Kaye includes how the “No Child Left Behind” act’s only concern is raising property value through higher test scores. During a faculty meeting, a “No Child Left Behind” representative treats these educators more as real estate agents than teachers. The story exemplifies the result of lack of parental involvement in their children’s education, especially in inner city kids. The empty and silent hallways of this urban school on Parent Teacher night says more than a thousand word monologue. 

Finally, this film is an actual work of art; it’s a perfect reflection of our dangerous reality. The cast did a great job of bringing life to these troubled characters; the young cast did amazing, and the actors that portrayed the school faculty gave a soul to this film. Check out the trailer down below, and if you still don’t feel like watching it, watch it either way and tell me what you think!