Guest DVD Review: OLDBOY (2003)

Welcome to another Guest Review on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror! Today's reviewer is a first time guest reviewer, Camiele White. Article writer by day, renegade poet by night, Camiele loves any and everything film. She chases only the original (or incredibly funny) and has been known to talk for hours about subjects that most people just don’t care about. Right now, she gets her jabberjaw jollies writing about Halloween costumes. If you want to give her a buzz, she can be reached at cmlewhite at gmail.com.

OLDBOY
“Be it a grain of sand or rock, in water they sink as the same.”

It‘s a rare moment, indeed, when a writer stumbles across something that completely defies expectation. A film which I’d expected to be something of a Korean gore-fest turned out to be truly one of the most heartbreaking films that I’ve seen in the past five or six years. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to write a review for the film Oldboy, a gem of a film that actually had me grabbing at my eyes, not for the fear of gratuitous gore, but because I was attempting to keep the brimming tears from falling from my eyes.

The film opens with an eye-opening sequence (a man being executed by being leaned ever so slowly over the ledge of a balcony) and then leads into the titles where we meet the compulsively drunken Oh-Daesu. He’s been pulled into a police station, yet again, for being drunken and disorderly in the streets. What the audience sees is an overweight man with a happy disposition, but who’s a crazy, screaming, stripping freak who in the same instance that he swears at the police officers wants to be their friend. All of this on his three year old daughter’s birthday. He’s clutching a package in which he’s protecting his daughter’s birthday gift –a pair of angel wings. His friend, Joo hwan, decides enough is enough and takes him out of the station. They stop at a phone booth in the pouring rain so that Daesu can call his family to let them know that, as usual, there’s nothing to be alarmed about and that he’s on his way home. He assures “his little Sweet Pea” that everything’s alright and that he’s coming home soon with her birthday gift.

He walks away from the phone and that’s the last anyone sees of him for 15 long years.

I won’t go into detail about what our protagonist goes through in those 15 years (from 1989 tot 2004). What matters is what drove him to survive. Through two failed suicide attempts, an unrequited love affair with a television pop star, and ritualistic hypnosis, Oh-Daesu has only one goal in mind: absolute revenge. Counting down the years by etching hash marks into his right hand (using a notebook coil as a makeshift tattoo needle), he’s finally released (new suit, new mobile, new hair cut). This is where the story takes a turn for the unfortunate and relentlessly mindboggling.

I’m not going to divulge the full details of the film. I leave that to a discerning reading audience to figure out for themselves; however, the plot twists are as radical as the forms of torture Daesu employs upon all those involved in his kidnapping, ultimately ripping him away from his family and his “little Sweat Pea”. We are introduced to Mi-do, a young woman who used to work at a sushi restaurant but has fallen in love with Oh-Daesu, despite the jarring difference in age (Daesu has her by at least 25 years).

And that’s what gets the film under your skin. More so than the freakish ways in which people are punished for their wickedness, the story evolves into something that’s so incredibly intense, you can’t help but feel as though you’re involved in each and every scene. The infamous hammer-and-teeth scene lives up to its reputation. The epic battle between Daesu and a mob of gangsters protecting the fortress that once held Daesu captive is both genius and hilarious; however, very few people actually tout the film for its marvelous sense of story. Convoluted, somewhat. Twisted, most definitely. However, it grabs you so much that anyone ready to cast a judging eye in the script’s direction have only scraped at the surface of the film for fear of being sucked completely into a depressing vortex of familial agony.
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From the atmospheric cinematography to the ingratiatingly innocent explosiveness of the soundtrack, this film blitzes the audience for about 90 minutes full of the most unrelenting feeling of anxiety. The climax, of course, being the final showdown between Oh-Daesu and his captor, Woo-jin, whose story is just as complex and even more twisted than the life to which he’s subjected Daesu, is probably the most haunting, yet beautiful, scene in the entire film. The darkness of the atmosphere coupled with the splicing of images from past and future makes for a challenging manner of cinematography that audiences will either love or hate. The story also attacks the audience, forcing it to become painfully intimate with the main characters and their stories –which, despite the objections of quite a few viewers, are brilliantly intermingled.

It’s a tricky task for a director and his cast as the story tellers of the people to produce a work that from the moment the camera is turned on repulses the audience. How, essentially, can a film be repulsive and gorgeous, brutal yet brilliant? It’s a conundrum that not only changes the idea of horror cinema, but totally messes with the idea of acceptable drama. Luckily for me, Park Chan-wook and his cast of brilliant actors (Choi Min-sik as Oh-Daesu, Yu Ji-tae as the maniaclly genius Lee Woo-jin, and Kang Hye-jeong as Daesu’s love interest, Mi-do) succeeded in bringing to life a film that, for all intents and purposes, should’ve failed the moment it hit theatres.

Of course, I can’t divulge the details of the last 20 minutes of the film, which are both incredibly scored and visually stunning (in the most brutal sense of the word). However, I can tell you this: you’ll better understand and appreciate the value of silence and keeping to your own affairs.

All in all, Oldboy is one of the most challenging and most engaging films I’ve watched in the last five years, hands down. I’ve never been so moved by a film that I couldn’t help but turn away only to find myself forced back to the screen –again, the push and pull of intrigue and repulsion. Brilliantly directed, acted, and the story is so convoluted that audiences will either applaud its balls are just walk away shaking their heads –this film is so accidentally brilliant that I can’t stand it. You want a rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars. You want a grade, A-. A must see for anyone who has a heart that wants to be broken over and over again.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for OLDBOY

Editors note: The reviews and opinions expressed by our guest reviewers are not associated with or necessarily shared with those of Hayes Hudson's House of Horror. If you would like to be a guest reviewer on the 4H blog, feel free to contact me at hch91@hotmail.com. Guest reviewers are not compensated for their reviews, but will get promotion for their website or business.

Guest DVD Review: PONTYPOOL (2008)

Welcome to another Guest Review on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror! Tonight's reviewer is a returning reviewer, Matthew Scott Baker. Scott is a Science Fiction author (check out and purchase his books HERE) and is the moderator of the Sci-Fi themed Shattered Ravings blog. Scott recently watched the movie PONTYPOOL and was kind enough to share his thoughts about the movie with us:

PONTYPOOL
Directed by Bruce McDonald

It should be no surprise that my second movie review for Hayes Hudson’s House of Horror is yet another zombie film. Anyone that knows me knows how fanatical I am about the zombie genre. For some reason, and I’m not exactly sure why, I find the living dead to be better movie-companions than vampires and werewolves…well, for the most part, anyway.

Pontypool is a smart Canadian excursion into zombie madness. Set in a small town named Pontypool (somewhere in an unnamed Canadian province), the film begins as a snowstorm is blanketing the town with several feet of snow. An ex-shock-jock DJ named Grant Mazzy arrives at work for his new gig—as a small-town, low-key DJ. Something unspoken forced him out of his previous high-brow job and into this lowly position.

But low-key is just the opposite of what this day turns out to be as reports soon begin to filter in via phone and e-mail of horrific attacks happening within the town…something is causing the citizens to go crazy and attack each other, with some of the victims being torn apart and/or eaten! The eye-in-the-sky weatherman even calls in to give play-by-play commentary on the events as they unfold.

Mazzy and his two-person radio staff are forced to isolate themselves inside the radio station. They learn that a virus of some sort is overtaking the citizens of the town, and as a result is forcing them into these brutal acts. But the town doctor arrives, seeking sanctuary after escaping a hungry mob of townsfolk, and offers a horrifying glimpse into how the virus might be spreading. And while the world outside unravels, Mazzy and his crew contemplate their very existence, wondering if survival is even worthwhile.

First off, let me say that overall, this movie is very well done. It did tend to drag in certain parts, which is not good because the movie is only 93 minutes long. But once it regained momentum, the story was off once more with a vengeance.

The unique aspect of how the virus is transmitted has, to my knowledge, not been seen before in any zombie movie. I was very impressed with the idea, although I did not like the way the doctor came to the conclusion about it so quickly. It was basically one of those “Oh, by the way, I had this brainstorm…” type of situations that have no credibility with me (or most viewers, I would imagine) and tend to take me quickly out of my reality-detachment-immersion.
The other downside to this movie is the lack of watchable zombie attacks. Many are heard over speakers or even assumed, but there are very few that are actually seen on-screen. This goes along with a general lack of gore throughout the film as well. One of the simple joys I have with zombie movies is the splatter-fest that erupts from multiple headshots. I mean, who wouldn’t like that? In this film, there are no headshots that I can recall, but there is one choice piece of gore that had me rewinding the scene to watch it over and over again; it occurs when one of the infected townspeople projectile-vomits blood and internal organs all over a window as she’s dying. It is definitely something you have to see to appreciate.

Although this is more of a psychological zombie movie than a traditional living dead scenario, it still works and is still a true credit to the genre. It is nice to see directors who are not afraid to push the limits of the zombie mythos and even create new aspects to add to it. And with a tagline like “Shut Up or Die”, this movie is definitely a positive addition to the genre.

MSB

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for PONTYPOOL

Editors note: The reviews and opinions expressed by our guest reviewers are not associated with or necessarily shared with those of Hayes Hudson's House of Horror. If you would like to be a guest reviewer on the 4H blog, feel free to contact me at hch91@hotmail.com. Guest reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.

Guest DVD Review: DEAD SNOW (2009)

Welcome to another Guest Review on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror! Tonight's reviewer is Matthew Scott Baker. Scott is a Science Fiction author (check out and purchase his books HERE) and is the moderator of the Sci-Fi themed Shattered Ravings blog. Scott recently watched the movie DEAD SNOW and was kind enough to share his thoughts about the movie with us:


For me, truly great zombie films share many different attributes: a good story, believable make-up and effects, a healthy dose of gore/head-shots, likable and detestable characters both, humor (no matter how light or dark), and last but most importantly, unique ways of offing the living dead. Unfortunately, truly great zombie films are usually few and far between. There are many out there that contain most of the above qualities, but are usually lacking (severely, in most cases) in one or two.
I’m happy to report Dead Snow IS one of those truly great zombie movies and does not lack in any area.
Dead Snow is Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola’s foray into the realm of walking corpses. Released on DVD late last year, the film was originally shown at the Norway’s Os International Film Festival in 2008. From what I understand, the film was shot on a relatively low budget, but Wirkola managed to do amazing things with the money he did have.
The plot for Dead Snow makes use of some of the greatest (or worst, depending on your point of view) clichés in the horror industry. According to imdb, Dead Snow is about:

“A ski vacation turns horrific for a group of medical students, as they find themselves confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies.”

Yes, you read that correctly: Nazi zombies.
The story involves Nazi gold that the Third Reich looted while occupying the area back in World War II and then stashed away shortly before their grisly deaths. In modern times, the medical students stumble upon the gold while partying and thus unleash the horde of Nazi zombies, who still thirst for their gold…and now, human flesh! As I’m sure you can imagine, death and carnage ensue as the students try to escape from the zombie menace.
Aside from the original story, Dead Snow boasts first rate make-up and special effects. No expense was spared for blood and gore, that’s for sure. The zombies look like, well, like decaying people, which works out well since that’s exactly what they’re supposed to be. And the gore…wow…the gore sure is impressive. For example, in homage to The Evil Dead, one of the characters saws his arm off with a chainsaw after he is bitten by a zombie, and then cauterizes the stump in a fire. Needless to say, nothing here is censored, and the snow runs red for quite a while afterwards.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie comes when one of the guys disembowels a Nazi, but is then grabbed by another Nazi who drags the guy and himself over the edge of a cliff. Fortunately, the guy has latched on to the disemboweled Nazi’s intestine, which allows him to swing below the cliff-ledge while the second Nazi plummets to his death, er, second-death.

Dead Snow probably won’t win any Academy Awards, but it’s a fun movie and a great zombie romp, if you are a fan of the genre. The English dub-over is a little coarse but easy to overlook once the movie gets going. I would also recommend watching with the dub-over, as the subtitles are quite distracting while you’re trying to take in all the carnage. And don’t forget to check out the Special Features for some behind-the-scenes footage and extras.
Dead Snow is a great film and a true testament to the quality of new talent that is emerging in cinema today. I highly recommend this movie and will definitely be adding it to my video collection.

Editors note: The reviews and opinions expressed by our guest reviewers are not associated with or necessarily shared with those of Hayes Hudson's House of Horror. If you would like to be a guest reviewer on the 4H blog, feel free to contact me at hch91@hotmail.com. Guest reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.

Guest Movie Review: DAYBREAKERS

Welcome to another Guest Review on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror! Tonight's reviewer is a returning guest reviewer, Caleb Schoeppe from the metal group Vessels of Wrath and the owner of Element Photography. Caleb recently watched the movie DAYBREAKERS and was kind enough to share his thoughts about the movie with us:

First off, please take a moment read the plot provided by IMDB.com:

"In the year 2019, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind."
Sounds great right? You would be wrong kids! I have to say this is the all time great comedy of the year which is not good considering it is supposed to be a horror/drama piece. I don’t want to give away too much in this review for those of you that may still watch this "fine film." In a nut shell this could have been a wonderful and amazing film given its concept but the acting and direction of this pic managed to kill that vision.
Vampire Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) works for a corporation on the search of a blood substitute to save mankind as they know it. He is met with resistance by Charles Bromley (Sam Neil) who has a deep love for real blood. During Edwards (Hawke) research he comes across this group of humans whom are also in the pursuit of the same goal as he. That is where we meet Lionel"Elvis" Cormac (Willem Dafoe) a former vamp. That’s right, a former vamp. How is that possible you ask? Well forget EVERYTHING that Anne Rice taught us. Apparently sun light cures these undead creatures of Satan. Yup, you heard right, SUNLIGHT!! Need I say more? And don't get me started on the poor level of acting! I mean it was bad....real bad. I actually want all of you to watch this movie so we can share in its suck factor. On a positive note DAYBREAKERS did deliver rather well in the gore department. Some great over the top blood action, vampire explosions, and some great arm removal. Oh, and I almost forgot about that final death scene. Great scene consisting of huge mass of men eating each other in slow motion. Sounds cool I know!
So, on a final note I would have to say it was a 4 star out of 10. The only thing that gave it that was the gore and the fact that deep inside I think they made this thing horrid on purpose. Maybe they were trying to make a "cult classic." If so they failed. Enjoy!!

Wow...thanks Caleb. I guess he didn't like it, huh?! I have read reviews on other blogs and people really seemed to like it. I have not seen it yet, so I can not say one way or the other. Have you seen DAYBREAKERS? Is Caleb correct in his assessment or does he need a wooden stake to the heart?!!!

Editors note: The reviews and opinions expressed by our guest reviewers are not associated with or necessarily shared with those of Hayes Hudson's House of Horror. If you would like to be a guest reviewer on the 4H blog, feel free to contact me at hch91@hotmail.com. Guest reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.

Guest DVD Review: THE RUINS review by Caleb Schoeppe

Welcome to the first ever Guest Review on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror! Our first guest reviewer is Caleb Schoeppe from the metal group Vessels of Wrath and the owner of Element Photography. Caleb recently watched the film THE RUINS and was kind enough to share his thoughts about the movie with us:

To start I would like to out line the plot to THE RUINS. A group of friends whose leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when they, along with a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins.
I decided to give this one a good solid watching and give it a shot. Sounded like a great concept. Went and found it on On Demand, selected it, and rented it....that is about when things went down hill. Let me strike that last comment, everything went down hill about 30-45 minutes into this film. It started strong and was shaping up to be a fine horror film when these college kids are in the jungle and end up forced to stay in the ruins of a ancient Aztec/Mayan pyramid by the locals. It seems the locals fear anyone who steps on these ruins as they are cursed and may cause harm to the tribe! Now bring on the EVIL!! As darkness falls and bad things start to happen. It is at this point we are introduced to our evil killer which is...wait for it....are you ready?.... A PLANT!!! A vine that grows on the temple and eats meat!!! ARE YOU F$#KING KIDDING ME? Where are the evil Indian zombies? Where are the dreadful spirits that harvest souls for the gods? Where is anything remotely scary? The scariest part of the film are the locals who would shoot you in the head if you attempted to leave the pyramid. That part was cool. I would like someone to please inform me who lets these films get produced. If I were in charge and was approached with this script I think I may have called all my friends to make sure I was not part of some elaborate joke or something. I am tired or talking about this pile of poop. So to sum up, don't watch this movie. I can tell you that you will waste time that could have been spent on a better movie or with family. Thank you.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for THE RUINS

Editors note: The reviews and opinions expressed by our guest reviewers are not associated with or necessarily shared with those of Hayes Hudson's House of Horror. If you would like to be a guest reviewer on the 4H blog, feel free to contact me at hch91@hotmail.com. Guest reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.