Board 8 > Gauntlet Crew Ranks 90s Horror Films - Do you like ranking scary movies?

(+) Yeah! (+)

:3

Hi sweetie...
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Man I don't think I've been this consistently dead center before

blah
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13. Ring

Karo - 7
JONA - 10
Genny - 12
Snake - 12
Charon - 14
Scarlet - 14
Johnbobb - 15
KBM - 21
Inviso - 31

Karo - The classic japanese horror movie about killer videotapes and girls crawling out of TVs. It moves at a deliberate pace that is excellent for building tension, yet still has the time limit looming large to remind you that they better get this shit done fast. Something that western horror movies could learn from this is fear of the unknown is more scary than someone in a dumb mask. Hell, Sadako isnt even shown until the end of the film yet her presence looms large throughout the whole story. It is a classic that is known even outside its home country for a reason.

JONA - The first scene is a really great mood setter and shows how good direction can help a low budget movie. Ring really plays its simplicity and minimalism to its strength. The movie has great creepy moments and the investigation is engaging.

Genny - Whatever, The Ring is better. I once heard a quote (this was a long time ago so don't ask me to source it please) that the reason The Ring did so well is because Americans don't "get" Japanese horror. Having Ringu fresh on my mind, I have to agree. It's not bad by any means. The performances of the actors are solid, and Sadako is just as sinister as Samara. I think the fault lies in the "ring" itself in that unless something went right over my head (not impossible) there is no visual cue for the ring in this movie. Unless the ring refers to the sound the telephone makes when Sadako tells you how much time you've got left on this earth then it's not present. I vastly prefer the American take on this, but the original is not bad by any means. 7.9/10

Snake - Why I Chose It - Ring is the single most influential J-horror film of all time. Not only was it a runaway success in Japan, it was one of the first big J-horror films to cross over to North American audiences and popularize that style here, influencing many directors and inspiring American remakes. Sadako has become one of the biggest and most recognizable Japanese horror icons, second only to Godzilla. Also a bit of trivia, Ring and it's sequel Rasen were both released on the same day, although the latter was far less successful.

My Thoughts - It was interesting having watched the American remake first, then seeing this one, and noting how similar the two actually are, with the American version being mostly faithful. However, there are several key differences that help both versions stand on their own. I think one of the biggest differences is what the tape represents. In the American version, it's not really much more than a conduit for the plot, but in the Japanese version, it's used more to represent the virus of technological advancement, overshadowing and at war with Japanese traditions and old-fashioned beliefs. It's very similar to how Godzilla captured the fears of Japan in the Atomic Age. Besides that, there's also a deliberately slower pace with more focus on the mystery of it all, with nothing too outright scary happening for most of the film's runtime. That's not to say it makes it boring though, in fact, it captures my attention in a whole different way from the American film. It's hard not to compare the two, but I love both and they both have their different places and influences in the world.
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Charon - Though the American remake is more relatable to native audiences, the original is still a good film in its own right. I think my hangups with this film are the main actors; that is, Reiko and her son. They don't capture my attention the same way Naomi Watts was able to. I will say that the twist on her ex-husband being kinda psychic was nice, and I did like him as much as his American counterpart. Samara was also more frightening than Sadako, and while I've heard that the similarly popular remake The Grudge is not actually as good as the Japanese version, I just think the American version is more scary. It might sound like I'm complaining about this movie too much, which I obviously still liked to rank it here. It's just that The Ring would have definitely been my #1 in the first horror project so I can't help but be critical of this version of one of my favorite horror movies.

Scarlet -




Rating: 53/100

Johnbobb - "It's been one week since you looked at me.
Your phone started to ring and shit got scary.
Five days since you copied me saying.
Something in this film's trying to kill me.
Three days since the living room,
Your son and ex watched the film; I'm hunting them too
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
But this'll continue to spread till I say I'm sorry"

KBM - The creepy, memorable film that was the genesis of the modern J-horror renaissance, Ring may not be the best movie of its kind, but it's certainly among the most influential. I vacillate between this and the American remake in terms of which one is better (I know, heresy) they certainly both have their problems. The American version is more tightly plotted and has fewer narrative dead-ends; in particular, the well sequence in this original version really does go on for too long to no real purpose. However I think what makes this the stronger picture overall, apart from the somewhat pat answer of this did it first, is the strong cast particularly having perennial genre favorite Hiroyuki Sanada in the role of the ex as opposed to the black hole of charisma that is Martin Henderson. Rie Ino'o's creepy backwards walking as Sadako is also particularly unforgettable here. It's not one of my favorite horror movies, but I certainly see the appeal of the concept and appreciate it for its themes and its influence on top of its freaky imagery.

Inviso - Having seen the American remake, this is DEFINITELY a case of cultural difference having an impact on my overall enjoyment of a film. And unfortunately, Im gonna have to make a lot of references to The Ring (which made the top half of my list when we ranked 2000s horror movies), because it spoiled me on what to expect here. Ultimately, while I can appreciate the final few minutes of Ring (and it does get some lingering good will from The Ring), its very boring. The movie lacks any sense of dread or foreboding that one might expect to accompany a horror movie. It doesnt help that the actress seems incapable of conveying fear at any point, and half the times when the atmosphere is supposed to be frightening, she has this smile plastered on her face like shes unaware of what movie shes in. I dont know. Even the tape itself feels watered down, like its not even remotely scary. It just doesnt work for me.
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That feel when you attempt to read Scarlet's write-up as much as you can without plugging it back into google translate.
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A rare case of me preferring the remake. Ringu's barebones style makes some parts (like THE scene) scarier because it feels more real, not being dressed up with effects (similar thing can be said about the soundtrack). However in the in-between moments, the watery, decaying look, visual motifs and Hans Zimmer's chilling, yet melancholy score do a huge part in carrying the film. It feels much more polished, both in style and substance, as more care has gone into connecting plot details. Both films are classic but the American version goes that extra mile in most aspects.
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5. Ring

Ring focuses principally on being a somewhat compelling drama, and its spare visual and dramatic approach accentuates the few truly scary scenes, especially Sadakos appearance at the end. Before then, its mainly up to the score to remind viewers of its primary genre, which generally works, though its usage of music to produce scares sometimes feels a bit ham-fisted. A few questionable actions by some of the characters, seemingly advancing the plot at times because it has to advance, also bring down this nonetheless solid movie a bit.
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still never actually seen The Ring although I've seen it referenced and parodied so much I feel like I basically have
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12. Candyman

Genny - 6
Snake - 7
JONA - 8
KBM - 8
Charon - 10
Johnbobb - 11
Karo - 18
Inviso - 24
Scarlet - 38

Genny - This was at the very least my 5th time seeing Candyman and yet the watches have been so far apart that it was basically like I was seeing it for the first time again. I recalled a few jumpscares that charon did not (so big ups to the movie for giving me the joy of seeing him react while I smirked and laughed), but I had forgotten all about the tragic ending and the false prophet that assaulted Helen in a shit stained bathroom while she tried to gather information for her doomed thesis. I also didn't remember the titular character ruining Helen's life by making it look like she committed all the murders. Or did he mind control her to make her actually do it? It's really debatable. It's far from perfect, but at 9.1/10 it's one of the best 90s horror has to offer methinks.

Snake - Why I Chose It - Candyman was a critical and commercial success that established both Tony Todd and his titular character as horror royalty. Candyman was significant in its timely and pointed commentary on race and social class. It's also famous for its score (especially the main theme), and according to composer Philip Glass, he still gets money from that score every year. It has spawned two sequels and is receiving a remake directed by Jordan Peele.

My Thoughts - As scary as it is thought-provoking, Candyman commands your attention thanks to Tony Todd's imposing performance and the background of the notorious CabriniGreen housing project, a real-life horror show that informs much of this film's social commentary. Candyman may be the focal point of the film, but the real horror comes from the gang violence and deplorable conditions that the residents of Cabrini-Green live in and experience daily. The residents using the Candyman legend as their way of coping is such an interesting way of approaching a horror story, and ties reality into fiction so well. I definitely don't want to discredit the horror of Candyman either. His backstory is tragic and his methods are nothing short of terrifying. I like that he can be both a physical and psychological threat to Helen, and shots like the infamous parking garage really show off Candyman's all-seeing, all-reaching presence. I'm typically not a fan of jumpscares, but damn does this movie have some good ones! It's one of the best slashers ever in my book, a testament to how you can have your kills without having to sacrifice a compelling story.

JONA - Helens investigation of the urban legend of Candyman is compelling to watch and the urban setting of Chicago helps contribute to the unsettling atmosphere. Seeing Helens psyche deteriorate as the movie went one was both entertaining and sad to see. The climax with her in the fire was very tense and it was nice to see her redeem her reputation to some people. Candyman, the character, is a great antagonist with his creepiness and seriousness. Tony Todd provides a great performance for him. I also liked the book end.
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Charon - Tony Todd intimidates as this unsung badass in a film about race and commitment. I've always had a special place for Candyman, the original at least. The concept and deliver is truly frightening. A modern-day Bloody Mary, but easily a dozen times more frightening, Candyman blends some slasher mainstays with some interesting backstory to really be an effectively dark masterpiece. The villain himself is in my opinion the most physically terrifying presence on this entire list, with a hook for a hand and the always horrifying bees, it's just easily the most monstrous killer on the list. Outside of all that, the story here is interesting and a good take on the "urban legend" genre.

Johnbobb - This was... much better than I was expecting. Good enough that I could see Candyman becoming one of my new favorite slasher villains (even if he doesn't quite hit the level of people like Patrick Bateman and Jack Torrance. The film is carried by two excellent performances with bizarrely impressive chemistry. I went into this expecting the generic villain I knew from the typical "say this into the mirror" stories I heard growing up, but instead, this film carries a weird psychological weight to it, with Candyman himself being much more intelligent and disturbing than I had imagined (which is only added to by the orchestral music that plays anytime he's on screen. Really just a great slasher.

Karo - Two college students researching urban legends get the bright idea to go into the projects and visit the site of a murder perpetrated by a supposedly mythological killer. It takes a surprisingly long time for them to reach the obvious result of getting mugged by gangsters, though in an even worse turn of events they end up offending the ghetto's resident ghoul and many people end up eviscerated. It is far more cerebral than your standard slasher schlock and while that isnt saying very much it does try to pace things out so there is least a little sense of suspense and mystery between mindlessly painting the hallways red with the blood of innocents. It is never conclusively revealed whether the Candyman is a real phantom or just a psychosis of Heather, and the ambiguity works well in this context. Still, there is only so much you can do with a 'maniac hacks people apart' storyline, and despite the producers best efforts it remains a mediocre film overall.

Inviso - This movie was fine. Wasnt too bad, wasnt too good, wasnt too long. It was just fine. I dont know what to say, really. I mean, the urban legend concept is a good one, and I appreciated the fact that this was a movie with a primarily African American backdrop (even though the main character was a white woman.) Having this grad student in over her head and traveling to the projects to research an urban legend already creates a bit of an unsettling atmosphere, but then the murders happen, and Tony Todds chilling portrayal of the Candyman rears its ugly head, and shit starts to go down. While Tony Todd is unsettling in and of himself, the movie starts to crawl up its own ass around the time he first appears. Helen is accused of murder, and everything looks like she really did it, and Candyman starts tormenting Helen forreasons? Seriously, just kill her and stop fucking around. I dont care if youre trying some Freddy Kreuger my power comes from people talking about me shitif youre gonna be a slasher, BE a slasher.

Scarlet - There is just nothing about this movie that I like. For fans of the franchise, Im sure comments like that really sting. But, honey, sometimes you have to face the truth.
Rating: 7/100
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Scarlet, I'm surprised you didn't give Candyman somewhere in the 83-87 range. Since you clearly thought it was a bee movie.
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7. Candyman

Candyman uses the South Side of Chicago as its setting and to tell a parable about the power of legends, which approaches but never quite reaches the level of trenchant social commentary. To its credit, though, it never feels heavy-handed or exploitative in its treatment of its subject matter, and that context also makes the Candyman himself a fairly compelling slasher. In fact, all the main cast members put up strong performances, which helps carry the experience where the actual scares fall short. Of course, I cant finish this write-up without mentioning Candymans standout aspect its almost choir-like music, which quite appropriately brings to mind themes of reckoning and resurrection.
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No, not the bees!
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Sorry I missed KBM's write-up:

An impressively woke horror movie, especially for 1992, this Clive Barker fable actually has a lot to say about gentrification, class, and race, on top of just being a really, really effective horror film in its own right. Tony Todd is a goddamn legend, and is absolutely pitch-perfect in the title role, while the rest of the cast is filled out with standout performances from the equally underrated likes of Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, and Vanessa Williams. The amazing Philip Glass score also serves to elevate what is already clever and creepy material.
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It'd be cool if you got the movie.
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v_charon posted...

It'd bee cool if you got the movie.

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Outlier

Inviso - 298
Genny - 239
Charon - 230
KBM - 191
Johnbobb - 177
Scarlet - 173
Karo - 159
JONA - 146
Snake - 140

Scarlet makes a significant jump, and Vis almost reaches 300.
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oh what I'm not used to seeing scarlet of all people outlying low that bad

which is particularly disappointing because Candyman was such a pleasant surprise.
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Yeah I'm a bit surprised scarlet didn't at least like the score and maybe Tony Todd's performance.
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Boooo. Boo scarlet boo.

For a guy who generally complains about in-depth lack of film discussion in these projects you really have undermined this one, and made it abundantly clear that you took nothing about this list seriously. "7/100 because lol bees" give me a break

Chalk it up to a bad burrito. I'm unpredictable!
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Vengeful_KBM posted...

For a guy who generally complains about in-depth lack of film discussion in these projects you really have undermined this one, and made it abundantly clear that you took nothing about this list seriously. "7/100 because lol bees" give me a break

I actually edited that write-up after Charon and you lambasted me for my other opinions so I wouldn't have to suffer through your holier-than-thou criticisms. Don't know if Snake noticed that in the doc.

EDIT: Also did it for my #s 1 and 2 for similar reasons. Just not in the frame of mind to deal with that shit on this list. Especially after Charon went after me because I don't say "in my opinion" after every sentence, which is such a cop-out move designed to frustrate someone into capitulation.

Look, no one cares about my opinions on this list. Everyone knows that I'm not big on horror in general. I love movies, less so in the last couple years as serialized storytelling has really pulverized the idea of brief forays into a narrative, but I do. I can't love 'em all. And it seems there are people here who really want people to be able to explain their impressions of movies in a way that I guess I'm just not insightful or eloquent enough to do. So I'm keeping it simple and hopefully skippable enough to avoid pitchforks.
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I noticed the Candyman one, I didn't know you changed #1 and #2 though.
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scarletspeed7 posted...

I actually edited that write-up after Charon and you lambasted me for my other opinions so I wouldn't have to suffer through your holier-than-thou criticisms.

I just scanned through the whole topic and couldn't find what you're talking about, so I assume it's something I said in the chat that I don't remember. For the most part I have been studiously ignoring your comments even though they've been giving me a headache. If I gave offense, could you remind me what I said instead of just dismissing me as holier-than-thou out of hand? (When you're constantly saying things like "I judge people who find this entertaining" I feel it's just a bit rich to call other people's criticisms of your opinions holier-than-thou, but fair is fair, and I want to know if I was ever out of line.)

scarletspeed7 posted...

Look, no one cares about my opinions on this list. Everyone knows that I'm not big on horror in general.

You can not like a genre without actively insulting everyone who does like it, though.

Vengeful_KBM posted...

For the most part I have been studiously ignoring your comments even though they've been giving me a headache.

Hey stuff like this and what you said in Discord are exactly why I've chosen to edit my write-ups.

If you think I'm holier-than-thou, hey thanks for the feedback, it's probably why I said nothing except once really on Sci Fi to defend the group against someone who WAS holier-than-thou because I get that feedback often and I think it's just because I try to do write-ups in an entertaining way and exaggerate my opinions enough to be not boring. But this time I'm just not interested in dealing with it, especially after Rom Coms, ESPECIALLY since this is a genre I don't deserve to rate.
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Vengeful_KBM posted...

scarletspeed7 posted...

Look, no one cares about my opinions on this list. Everyone knows that I'm not big on horror in general.

You can not like a genre without actively insulting everyone who does like it, though.

I like how Karo does this all the time but gets a pass. Then there's me, not liking a genre, in one write-up goofily saying "I judge the people who enjoy this," which is a joke because I actually don't. But THAT has to be latched on. I'm consistently a punching bag for something. It's fantastic. Enjoy the list.
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Okay, can we not do this please? Scar may not be a horror movie fan, but he's almost always willing to judge movies based on their quality in terms of film-making. He's not spiting Candyman, and it's not like Candyman is so infallible that no one could possibly rank it 38th out of 40. So let's just...calm the fuck down before getting mad about this ranking/write-up.
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/sigh

Thanks for the reminder that I shouldn't try to have conversations about things I'm passionate about. I'm NOT trying to make you a punching bag. And I gave up on Karo's write-ups being reasonable long ago (not trying to insult Karo because I think he gave up on them long ago too). We laugh about him being the grumpy old man and he leans into it and that's fine. You just always seemed more... I dunno, thoughtful/respectful than that to me.

(Hey Karo hope you don't take this the wrong way I still love you fam)

Inviso posted...

Okay, can we not do this please? Scar may not be a horror movie fan, but he's almost always willing to judge movies based on their quality in terms of film-making. He's not spiting Candyman, and it's not like Candyman is so infallible that no one could possibly rank it 38th out of 40. So let's just...calm the fuck down before getting mad about this ranking/write-up.

This really isn't what I was trying to do. I'm just passionate about these things and it's frustrating to see something I loved get ranked so low by one person who's checked out with really no reason provided. I'm not saying you have to write an essay on the damn thing but I've always really respected Scarlet's write-ups and thoughts about movies (I've told him as much on multiple occasions) and it's sad to me to see that go out the window like this. It's not gonna ruin my day or anything like that, I'm not mad, just bemused and, yes, mildly frustrated.

I firmly believe that art is fundamentally subjective. You can of course disagree with someone's opinions, but for the most part, it's very difficult for them to be wrong. Having followed scarlet's rankings and other write-up topics ever since his Batman villains ranking back in 2014 (I think) when I didn't even have an account, he undoubtedly has reasons for his Candyman opinion (which he could write about eloquently and effectively) beyond his established distaste for horror.

I also think there's a major disconnect here in terms of internet writing styles and communication. We already know about what scarlet's chosen to do for his write-ups. Just like scarlet, it doesn't seem like Karo really thinks that someone who likes X movie or genre is wrong; it just feels like it's his style, and has been for as long as I can remember following Gauntlet crew rankings, to focus on movies' flaws - especially in terms of logic - and make his write-ups exaggeratedly negative and judgmental relative to his overall opinion about a given movie. To put it more simply, I would say that, unlike other rankers, neither are 100% serious with their write-ups, but interpreting internet sarcasm and other humor in this context is difficult. It's also got an extra edge in this case, because of their relatively more negative opinions about horror.

Maybe I'm completely off the mark here, who knows. I'm just saying we should respect each others' opinions more, and give them a bit of slack for the difficulty of interpreting tone in this context.
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MetalmindStats posted...

Maybe I'm completely off the mark here, who knows. I'm just saying we should respect each others' opinions more, and give them a bit of slack for the difficulty of interpreting tone in this context.

Appreciated, and great post. The issue here is that unless I REALLY go to town with goofiness, there are a couple people who spoil for fights and will seek them out. There's some weird open wound about Shaun of the Dead winning a list that seems to just sour the taste of these horror rankings for a lot of people. So, because I didn't want to go full Animated TV list again, I just tried to keep it short and breezy. Didn't work; I'm not a Jacques Cousteau with a pen, which is bad because Jacques Cousteau wasn't a great writer.

Here's roughly what I originally had for this write-up:

It's better to be bad throughout an entire film than to be good at the beginning and devolve into schlock. That's what happens in Candyman, which presents a dark imagining of something I would expect out of the Peele playbook before crushing me with the sort of ballpeen hammer simplicity that makes the whole affair a bigger waste of time. When I actually invest myself and you blow it up worse than a bridge placed over a river named Kwai, hey! Go fuck yourself! You've done to me what J&J did to Daenerys Targaryfans. You've baited me and switched it all off. All of it. You've presented promise and offered offal in its place. And you KNOW you did it because that much of a gorefest and that much of a tacked-on ending is too insulting to be missed on a rewrite. The difference between this movie and You Know What You Did Last Summer is in the knowing of the lane in which to stay.

That's not verbatim, I don't remember the exact write-up.

As for KBM, I'm not more thoughtful/respectful than that. I try not to begrudge people their opinions, although sometimes I feel the need to step in and defend the defenseless and I inadvertently make a mess of things. I think you should give up on my write-ups because you won't agree, and unless I include "in my opinion" on all of them, other people will also snipe at me because it's clear that I'm less-than. My lack of joy when it comes specifically to this era of horror is a blight upon this list to some. So why not lean into it at this point so I don't have to deal with constant reminders that I ruined a list once because I liked a movie and ranked it highly?

I know post count has been a little light for this list; glad to help, Snake.
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MetalmindStats posted...

it doesn't seem like Karo really thinks that someone who likes X movie or genre is wrong; it just feels like it's his style, and has been for as long as I can remember following Gauntlet crew rankings, to focus on movies' flaws - especially in terms of logic - and make his write-ups exaggeratedly negative and judgmental relative to his overall opinion about a given movie.

Absolutely what I was trying to say re: Karo, and more eloquent, too.

MetalmindStats posted...

I also think there's a major disconnect here in terms of internet writing styles and communication.

This is certainly often the case when my autistic ass gets involved in conversations like this. I speak incautiously sometimes without realizing what I'm saying might have a negative impact on people. I am bad at communication, and it is very rarely my intention to actually upset anyone.

MetalmindStats posted...

I firmly believe that art is fundamentally subjective. You can of course disagree with someone's opinions, but for the most part, it's very difficult for them to be wrong.

100% this, I dunno if this was directed to me or not but I agree wholeheartedly. I think this is part of why I've taken a bit more umbrage here than might be "necessary," because again stuff like "I judge people who find this entertaining" sounds like it's saying those who find this stuff entertaining ARE wrong for liking it. It sounds like that was meant as more of a joke than I read it as, in which case, my bad.

Also whee responding to posts entirely backwards is fun

Vengeful_KBM posted...

I think this is part of why I've taken a bit more umbrage here than might be "necessary," because again stuff like "I judge people who find this entertaining" sounds like it's saying those who find this stuff entertaining ARE wrong for liking it. It sounds like that was meant as more of a joke than I read it as, in which case, my bad.

I will say it doesn't read like a joke, and especially since he said he edited several write-ups after the "in my opinion" thing. If he edited New Nightmare after that event, then yeah I feel almost directly insulted by it if it wasn't in there before.

I'd love to discuss these more, but I felt that when I did I got really short responses, or none from some, and it felt like very little fruitful discussion was going to be had. It's a little difficult to achieve that when someone says "it's still a slasher" like that's an automatic sign it's bad; as I said, I at least enjoyed one of the comedy horrors that was on this list. Having almost reached the top 10 with almost zero debate of any kind is rather boring, and it sucks when you've got Inviso jumping in like this basically trying to throw cold water on what's basically the ONLY lengthy discussion of the entire fucking project. He's passive, but I feel the lack of energy for this project is a disservice to Snake. He won't ever say that, but if it were me, I'd feel a little cheated. Half the fun of these projects are talking about them. Unfortunately some people just don't want to handle disagreements and somehow find it more fun if we all just smile and move along. I personally would be upset if a project like this didn't have a second topic up by now, let alone probably not having one at all now.
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I apologize if my post read as me trying to shut down discussion about these movies. That wasn't my intent at all; I just think we could be going at this more respectfully than attacking others and calling their opinions wrong. For what it's worth, I would certainly be interested in participating in discussion about these movies; I tend to struggle to think of things to say about them beyond my write-ups, which is why I haven't started any discussions.
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v_charon posted...

I will say it doesn't read like a joke, and especially since he said he edited several write-ups after the "in my opinion" thing. If he edited New Nightmare after that event, then yeah I feel almost directly insulted by it if it wasn't in there before.

You'd be wrong.

I edited three write-ups.

I didn't go out of my way to be aggressive. I went out of my way to avoid you.
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Okay, I will say that I definitely wish there was more discussion. It really disheartens me when I see comments like "this is why I don't respond anymore" or anything along those lines. I know everyone responds differently to criticism, but for me I find it exciting when someone has a different opinion from the rest and I enjoy understanding why that is. Scarlet may say no one cares about his horror opinions but I most certainly do, since it's so completely 180 from me as he's an outsider to the genre as a whole. That goes for anyone participating too who may have similar thoughts.

That said, I'm still having a ton of fun hosting the project. It honestly just makes my day when I see someone rank an unexpected film highly that they may have never seen otherwise. And that's why I'll continue to host these horror lists for the foreseeable future as well!

I don't know, it's late and I hope this made some lick of sense.
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scarletspeed7 posted...

v_charon posted...

I will say it doesn't read like a joke, and especially since he said he edited several write-ups after the "in my opinion" thing. If he edited New Nightmare after that event, then yeah I feel almost directly insulted by it if it wasn't in there before.

You'd be wrong.

I edited three write-ups.

I didn't go out of my way to be aggressive. I went out of my way to avoid you.

I mean you can play the wounded victim if you want I guess. If you'll recall, what I said was that you were coming across as very elitist and presenting your opinions in a way that made them sound like facts. It's not that you have to say "in my opinion" about everything to let me know it's your opinion, it's having a position that seems like as I alluded to before, makes you seem immovable in a discussion. As if you're unwilling to hear any other opinion because it's beneath yours or just in actuality, wrong. I'm sorry if that's not intentional but I was calling it as I saw it. It doesn't help that a writeup you had written, which I had yet to read, actually insulted people who enjoyed a movie you didn't like.
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I like Kozy Farms chocolate pudding

Discuss?

Edit: Dammit it was Kozy Shack

I couldn't even get the joke right

I must seppuku now
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Snake5555555555 posted...

It honestly just makes my day when I see someone rank an unexpected film highly that they may have never seen otherwise.

That's definitely the case with Cemetery Man for me
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Opinions of people who aren't fans of the genre have use in their own way I think, as long as you can find some positivity in the set. Particularly for a reader like me who also isn't a real fan of the genre

Though even in stuff like the Martial Arts set where he clearly wasn't and I was, I found the "outsider perspective" interesting.

But yeah I'd say it's a big part of the reason I find these things interesting. You get a mix of familiarity and passion and you can compare those takes on the movies.
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Hey I'm just editing this post away and apologizing to anyone who hates stupid drama.
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11. Cube

Scarlet - 5
Johnbobb - 6
Karo - 9
Charon - 12
Inviso - 14
JONA - 16
KBM - 18
Snake - 21
Genny - 28

Scarlet - There arent a lot of high concept pieces on this list, and a good Hell in a Cell match was just what the doctor ordered with Cube, one of the more puzzling films Snake added to this project. Much like the movie Primer, Cube is reliant on a strong story that is designed to be digested through the understanding of rules and laws within a petri dish presented as a film. This understanding is the ultimate capstone that makes the film fall in place with itself, and thats also the general presentation of Primer as well. I highly recommend Cube despite its low budget because a movie that presents the very setting as a mystery is something special. Rats in a maze.
Rating: 73/100

Johnbobb - Cube has a solid spot as one of my favorite cult horror movies. There are plenty of horror movies based around "a bunch of people trapped in a place" but something about Cube just stands out so strong. The brightly colored, industrial environment. The way all the characters seem to have a reason for being there, like they're all just pieces of the greater puzzle, because that's ultimately what the Cube is, an inconceivably massive escape room created by a force we never get to see or understand.

Karo - A group of people wakes up inside a gigantic cube with no recollection of how they got there and have to find a way out. In a series of tense scenes the captives make their way through the booby-trapped cube through improvisation and use of their special talents until the can get some answers. But these answers are where things start to unravel. Government bureaucracy built the cube just because? They kidnap people and throw them into the cube to die just because? This is idiotic. It is hard to tell if they were trying to make a weird political point about wasteful government spending or if they just literally couldnt come with any better excuse for the cube's existence. The strength of the movie is the cast of characters and how they interact with each other and evolve with the situation thrust upon them, much like in Lost. Unfortunately, also much like Lost, the writers seem more interested in giving everyone the runaround instead of actually making sense, until ultimately the world around them begins to collapse under its own stupidity.

Charon - A movie about escape rooms before they were a thing, this movie uniquely tackles shooting a film in several, small enclosed spaces. Another unique thing done in this film is taking the general cliches of heroes and villains and turning them on their head. That heroic cop you figure is the main character and contender for survivor? He's actually going to be the villain. The young "last girl" trope student that will surely be the one to make it out? Nope. I will say that sometimes these trope defiers hold the film back for me a bit, as it's hard to care about the one character that does survive as he's not exactly very endearing. The concept is unique however, and I appreciate trying something new in this case even if it dooms to to just being a good film instead of a great one.
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Inviso - This movie has an interesting concept, and a solid air of mystery, as the viewer never really finds out what the hell is going on. And while the movie burns through its best kills as the first two in its runtime (cheese wire intro, and face melting), the mere concept of several of the avoided traps is enough for me to feel intrigued. I also like when you take a collection of people with unique personalities, and force them into a survival situationjust to see how different people bounce off one another. Watching them slowly discover their use and purpose (escape artist, mathematician, autistic savant, architect) helped to add a method to the madness of Cube, although Quentin made it seem like a psychological experiment at its heart. The ONLY thing holding this film back is that the acting seemed like the lowest priority in filming. Everyone is one-note and over-the-top, and it became a bit much by the end. Props for turning Quentin from introductory protagonist into the villain by the end of the film though. Over-the-top character developmentbut character development nonetheless.

JONA - I really like the setting of Cube. Its such a standard design but its also eye-catching and its interesting to see all the different traps the rooms have. The mystery behind the situation, the problem solving and Quentins descent into madness were quite entertaining to watch.

KBM - To get this out of the way first and foremost: I've always hated when movies portray autistic people the way this movie does. However, when you have a movie that's this brilliantly atmospheric, where the concept and the production design are this strong I'm willing to give it a pass. Despite some stilted dialogue and a couple performances that aren't as strong as they could have been, the plot is intelligent and refreshingly doesn't feel the need to sit down and explain everything that's going on. The traps are creative, the directing is great, and the great concept is well-served. I've also heard GREAT things about Cube 2: Hypercube. [/sarcasm]

Snake - Why I Chose It - An unlikely independent success, Cube was a huge box office hit against a small budget of 350k. Cube has received much praise for its minimalist, industrial setting and philosophical approach to its characters. Cube received two sequels and has a remake upcoming.

My Thoughts - A very straight-forward film, Cube is brisk and purposeful, always marching towards its endgame. The settings are weird and disorienting, which is this film's best aspect. I tend to enjoy "characters trying to escape" plots greatly, and while Cube may not be very original in this regard, it feels unique in that all the characters have an actual purpose in being there and have their specific skill to help the group. However, said characters tend to be very forgettable and I don't really feel much when they die. Cube is ultimately a great concept marred by some problems, but still an enjoyable film overall.

Genny - Believe it or not I had heard of The Cube very recently to describe Escape Room, specifically that it's The Cube meets Saw. I can't agree with that, as both movies have a little more substance than Escape Room, but I can see why someone would make that comparison. Let me tell you guys of all the sole survivors of all the horror movies ever, this one gets my made up award for Least Likely to Succeed, and yet he does. Until the last act of the movie I thought this man was a complete nothing character specifically designed to impede the others when the game was getting too predictable, but charon predicted he would be something of an idiot savant who would somehow save the day and while that didn't quite end up happening he was partially right all the same. I feel bad that he'll never get his twenty-seven bags of gum drops. 6.(20) 7/10
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And here's your top 10!

From Dusk till Dawn
Interview with the Vampire
In the Mouth of Madness
Jacobs Ladder
Misery
Se7en
Scream
Stir of Echoes
The Silence of the Lambs
The Sixth Sense

Score reminders:
35
41
52
71
74
83
107
110
116
126

Any predix, surprises, disappointments? I'm personally surprised In The Mouth of Madness made it this far! Eleventh Hour replacement Stir of Echoes is also a little bit of a shock.
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1. ???
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. ???
7. Ringu
8. Cronos
9. Cube
10. Army of Darkness
11. ???
12. ???
13. Audition
14. Sleepy Hollow
15. The Frighteners
16. Event Horizon
17. Mimic
18. Candyman
19. ???
20. Wes Cravens New Nightmare
21. ???
22. Cemetery Man
23. Flatliners
24. Arachnophobia
25. Child's Play 2
26. Tremors
27. Urban Legend
28. Species
29. Fire in the Sky
30. I Know What You Did Last Summer
31. Anaconda
32. Bram Stokers Dracula
33. Demonic Toys
34. Nightbreed
35. Deep Blue Sea
36. Wishmaster
37. Leprechaun
38. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
39. Braindead
40. The Blair Witch Project
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Only one thing in that top ten REALLY shouldn't be there.
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Inviso posted...

Only one thing in that top ten REALLY shouldn't be there.

Agreed, although I doubt we're referring to the same movie. The one I'm thinking of is one I totally figured WOULD make it into the top ten though, so on the whole, I'm very pleased with this top ten.
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scarletspeed7 posted...

It's better to be bad throughout an entire film than to be good at the beginning and devolve into schlock. That's what happens in Candyman, which presents a dark imagining of something I would expect out of the Peele playbook before crushing me with the sort of ballpeen hammer simplicity that makes the whole affair a bigger waste of time. When I actually invest myself and you blow it up worse than a bridge placed over a river named Kwai, hey! Go fuck yourself! You've done to me what J&J did to Daenerys Targaryfans. You've baited me and switched it all off. All of it. You've presented promise and offered offal in its place. And you KNOW you did it because that much of a gorefest and that much of a tacked-on ending is too insulting to be missed on a rewrite. The difference between this movie and You Know What You Did Last Summer is in the knowing of the lane in which to stay.

Btw this is so much better and more interesting because now I can see where you're coming from even though we disagree. Thanks for taking the time to write this up.
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VengefulKaelee posted...

scarletspeed7 posted...

It's better to be bad throughout an entire film than to be good at the beginning and devolve into schlock. That's what happens in Candyman, which presents a dark imagining of something I would expect out of the Peele playbook before crushing me with the sort of ballpeen hammer simplicity that makes the whole affair a bigger waste of time. When I actually invest myself and you blow it up worse than a bridge placed over a river named Kwai, hey! Go fuck yourself! You've done to me what J&J did to Daenerys Targaryfans. You've baited me and switched it all off. All of it. You've presented promise and offered offal in its place. And you KNOW you did it because that much of a gorefest and that much of a tacked-on ending is too insulting to be missed on a rewrite. The difference between this movie and You Know What You Did Last Summer is in the knowing of the lane in which to stay.

Btw this is so much better and more interesting because now I can see where you're coming from even though we disagree. Thanks for taking the time to write this up.

I do try to keep things short in general because it allows for discussion, even on other lists. I usually only do long write-ups for #1s and 2s except for some comedy on like a last placer. Like, Sci Fi really benefited from leaving stuff in the tank for discussion. I just don't like initiating it on this one because of the genre and my lack of horror passion.
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