Day 31 of my 31 day horror film binge.  1988 classic.  Child's Play

Well I wanted to finish my binge with a horror classic and this from 1988 definitely fits the bill.  

The first film in the franchise and I still think the best.  The story is that a notorious strangler who is cornered and shot by police takes refuge in a toy store.  Upon his death he transfers his spirit to a child's doll.  When the doll finds itself in the hands of a six year old boy and his single mother, the doll known as chucky (it was the stranglers nickname) sets out for revenge on those that have wronged him.

When he finds out that he is turning human and will spend the rest of his life as a talking doll he realises that there must be some way to transfer to someone else.  Lots of clever photography and awesome animatronics (no CGI back then) make this film creepy even now.  Starring the excellent Brad Douriff as the strangler first and later the voice of Chucky, be prepared for a journey into a child's nightmare.

I would give this a 9 out of 10

Day 30 of my 31 day horror film binge.  John Carpenter's.  Vampires

 

John Carpenter has done some awesome horror films and this is definitely up there with the best.  Starring James Woods it centres around a group of vampire hunters who go from town to town destroying vampire nests and killing masters.  When they encounter a being like no other that they have fought before all hell breaks loose.  The vampire they have managed to anger is none other than the first vampire and he will stop at nothing in his quest for an ancient relic that will give him the power to walk in daylight.

Gruesome in places but with a good story and cast.  I would give this an 8 out of 10

Day 29 of my 31 day horror film binge.  Cant believe this is a 15 cert !!.  The Amityville Horror

Watching Ryan Reynolds in a horror film is strange to say the least.  I kept expecting him to put on his deadpool outfit and kick the demons ass.  Well first of all let me say that this is almost a sequel to the original, being that is set in the same house.  The story is that Ryan Reynolds and his wife Melissa George along with their children move into the house where only a short time before a man killed his wife and children stating that voices told him to do it.  At first everything goes ok for the new family but things take a supernatural turn when the youngest daughter claims she has a new best friend and it turns out to be one of the children murdered years before.

    As Ryan Reynolds mind deteriorates and he starts hearing voices other events lead Melissa George to question whether the house is haunted or is it just her imagination.

    This goes along at a nice steady pace and some of the scenes are quite gruesome for a 15 certificate.  I would give this a good 7 out of 10.

Day 28 of my 31 day horror film binge.  Japanese terror.  The Grudge 2

I am a massive fan of Japanese horror and this is a great series.  I think Japanese horror is scarier and creepier than its American counterparts.  Without using too much blood and gore this film manages to chill you and make you look behind you in equal measure.  The story follows on well from the first.  Basically a group of television reporters who specialise in hauntings decide to investigate the original house.

    I love how each persons story is told separately but together they come to a terrifying conclusion.  Lots of stop motion and close ups coupled with the creepiest sounds you can possibly imagine means that this is up there with the classic 'Ring' series of Japanese horror movies.

I would give this an 8 out of 10

Day 27 of my 31 day horror film binge.  An under-rated horror that I love.  End of Days

A great horror film with an unlikely hero in Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The film centres around a young woman called Christine who, unknown to her was chosen at birth to one day be the mother to the antichrist.  Its set in the last days of 1999 when it is prophesized that Satan will walk the Earth and take a woman to bear his child.  Into this story Arnold arrives as a security expert who is assigned to protect Satan as he tries to find the mysterious Christine.

With an excellent cast including Gabriel Byrne as Satan (boy is he creepy in this), Kevin Pollack as Arnie's fellow security associate and best friend, Miriam Margolyes as Christine's Step Mother and Rod Steiger as the head of a group of priests that are sworn to protect Christine from Satan, this is an all action and quite gruesome in places horror film.

I watch this every few years and I would give it a 8 out of 10

Day 26 of my 31 day horror film binge.  I love this series.  Wishmaster

I saw this many years ago and loved it that much I bought the boxset.  Starring Andrew Divoff this is a great horror film.  The story relates to an ancient being, a djinn, that is imprisoned by a sorceror in a jewel that is hidden from the world.  When a freak accident breaks the figurine which holds the jewel a series of events unfold which if they are not stopped could mean the end of the world as we know it.  Loosely based on the 'genie in the lamp' idea, this films delves into the reality of having your wishes come true.  Be careful what you wish for.

I would give this a 7 out of 10

Day 25 of my 31 day horror film binge.  First of a trilogy.  The Prophecy

First of all let me just say that Christopher Walken is one of my favourite actors.  I like this film because once again it challenges the assumption that all angels are good.  The story goes that the war in heaven which has been raging for years (some angels believe that humans were a mistake) is still at a stalemate and the angel Gabriel takes it upon himself to come to Earth and by any means necessary acquire the darkest soul on Earth.  The angel Simon bestows it to a little girl called Mary shortly before his death.  A failed priest now turned detective takes it upon himself, along with the girls teacher, to protect the girl and ensure that Gabriel can not fulfil the prophecy.    

    I like this one and its the best of the three, I think.  I would give this a 7 out of 10