The Descent ****

The Descent directed by Neil Marshall

A few years ago I watched a pretty good horror film called Dog Soldiers, directed by Neil Marshall. It was about a group of soldiers fighting werewolves. It wasn’t groundbreaking or necessarily great filmmaking but it was a fun and entertaining film. While most horror films are re-makes of earlier films or gross out gore filled schlock, Dog Soldiers had an interesting idea, was good for a few scares and some laughs.

Braindead aka Dead Alive ****

Dead Alive directed by Peter Jackson

Long before director Peter Jackson became world famous with his epic trilogy based on some books about walking and his remake of the classic King Kong he was making campy horror films. Braindead, or Dead Alive as it is called in the United States, is one of these films from 1992.

Where the Wild Things Are *****

Where the Wild Things Are directed by Spike Jonze

Where the Wild Things Are is a magical journey into the mind of a child and his loneliness. What sets co-writer/director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich and Adaptation.) adaptation of Maurice Sendaks beloved children’s picture book apart from other films about childhood is that he and co-writer Dave Eggers (screenwriter of Away We Go) seem to know how kids imaginations really work.

Still Walking *****

Still Walking directed by Hirokazu Koreeda

Still Walking is one of the most beautifully shot and edited films of the year. It is also one of the most honest and heart-wrenching movies I have ever seen. The story tells a day in the life of a Japanese family. But not just any day, the anniversary of the eldest sons death.

Laila’s Birthday ****

Laila’s Birthday directed by Rashid Masharawi

Laila’s Birthday, written and directed by Palestinian Rashid Masharawi, is one of the strangest movies I have seen in recent years. It is not David Lynch strange as it’s story is very basic.

Se7en ****

Seven directed by David Fincher

I bought this DVD a few years ago and have been wanting to watch it for a long time but it has become one of those films that I know I should have watched but just never did. I figured my Halloween marathon would be a great time to finally watch it.

Alien *****

Alien directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott’s 1979 science-fiction, horror mash-up is still one of the best movies of it kind. When the Alien Quadrilogy box set came out a few years ago I had heard of the film but hadn’t seen any of them. I watched them all when I bought the DVD’s and didn’t revisit any of them until re-watching the original for my Halloween marathon.

Wolf Man **

The Wolf Man directed George Waggner

The 1941 Universal Studios version of The Wolf Man is a bit disappointing compared to the other monster classics. I love Dracula, Frankenstein, The Creature of the Black Lagoon and The Invisible Man.

Gigante **

Gigante directed by Adrian Biniez

Film Movement is a great film-of-the-month club that specializes in independent and world cinema. I have been singing their praises for quite a long time and have only witnessed a few missteps. Gigante may be the biggest of these incidents.

Orphanage ****

The Orphanage directed by Juan Antonio Bayona

The Orphanage is a Spanish horror film presented by Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro. It is one of the best scary movies of the past few years. I love all kinds of horror movies;