"Split", directed by M Night Shyamalan

Movie, 2016

Thriller horror about the abduction of three teenagers by a multiple-personality crank played with some gusto by James McAvoy. A well paced film with some interesting photography and composition, dogged by an all-too predictable back story retold in the mind of the main character, and some pretty exploitative schlock which at times, borders on misogyny. Not great overall, but not bad. The acting pulls the script a few favours, while there are a few tension points which could have been a little better timed. All in all, a fairly enjoyable romp.

"Retreat," directed by Carl Tibbets

Movie, 2011

A film which, once it finally gets going, is tense and questioning. For much of the early section, however, the story about a couple grieving and escaping from a miscarriage is a bit of a plod, which never then really ties up with the rest of the narrative. When the set ups half way through the movie start paying off, things get much better. The deserted location, zombie threat and psychopathic peril are all added to by a modern feel. By no means indispensable, but worth getting through the sluggish beginning. 

"Taste of Fear", directed by Seth Holt

US title - Scream of Fear

Movie, 1961

Crackling, atmospheric suspense horror thriller, in which a load of tropes are aired - the spooky house, the creepy matriarch, the imperiled heroine - and a storming film delivered. This is unsophisticated, well-plotted fare, without a trace of gore, but some suitably jolting moments. At times, the lighting, the angles, the photography and claustrophobia build a really terrific atmosphere, which more than compensates for creaking plot points and the odd piece of cardboard acting. Well worth seeking out for a night time comfort watch. 

"Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice?" directed by Robert Aldrich

Movie, 1969

Curious horror, bridging the psychological and psychopathic with a little bludgeoning and some kitsch and camp thrown in. Echoes of all sorts of films are in here, packaged a little hurriedly, so that while effective in places, the film's uneven. Good performances from the rather demented female leads, even if the plot's a little leaky and daft and the dialogue and romance between Aunt Alice's nephew and the girl living next door feel tacked on contrived. For all that, entertaining and with some, if not a huge amount, of edge. Time probably hasn't been kind to this film....

Poster by Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26752272

"It Came From Beneath the Sea," directed by Robert Gordon

Movie, 1955

Enjoyable hokum with a terrifying radiation powered and enlarged octopus terrifying US nuclear submarines and the Californian Bay Area. While the special effects aren't entirely cringeworthy, they do lead to some unintentionally funny moments, as tentacles flail all over the place. Just as false are the occasional nods towards gender equality, with Faith Domergue's character showing great pluck, but then falling for the brutish navy man and screaming at the octopus. Perfectly good fun, but by no means a classic.

"The Borderlands", directed by Elliot Goldner

Movie, 2013

Blair Witch influenced film about three Vatican-employed paranormal investigators sent to a desolate church and the home of a slightly deranged priest. A slow build-up means we learn a good deal about two of the main protagonists, although the characterisations - particularly Gray - aren't wholly engaging or likable. There are some effective set pieces, with the unseen flashes of activity and sound design particularly good, though the film plods in between, always promising more than it delivers. The found footage isn't as tiresome as it might have been. Not without some strong points, but overall, this isn't an essential film.

"The Vegetarian", by Han Kang

Novel, 2007

Engrossing three part novel, charting the course of a psychologically disturbed, largely unloved woman, through the eyes of her husband, brother in law, then sister. This seems to be a book about power and personal suffering and the sublimation and determination of the individual. While some of the scenes are incredibly difficult to read, this is a truly powerful book which is gripping and relentless, right up until the touching conclusion. The passivity of the main character throws questions back to the reader about their own responses and actions.

"The Guest", directed by Adam Wingard

Movie, 2014

A film which flits between thriller, horror, mystery and teen romp but ends up being none of these things. Some good atmosphere and ideas early on, though these are subverted through clumsy foreshadowing, obvious plotting and a weird sense of non-anticipation as incident follows incident with indecent haste. A film which isn't so many things, it's tricky to say what it is. Hokum and entertaining to a point, but the sort of shameless sequel baiting fodder which really doesn't deserve a franchise.

"Collected Ghost Stories", by MR James

Fiction, 1931

Supernatural tales, most of which stick close to established formulae (mysterious books and texts, eerie buildings) and can merge and blend a little into each other, but pepped up here and there with either humorous touches or the appearance and meta-fictional disruption of a narrator barrelling into proceedings. These are therefore stories to be enjoyed over a long period of time. More often than not, the stories are satisfying and, if a little old fashioned, can nonetheless conjure quite an atmosphere. There are, however, a few less powerful. 

"The Babadook", directed by Jennifer Kent

Movie, 2014

A powerful atmospheric horror about a bogeyman, taking many of the genre's tropes (creepy house with a cellar, strange magical texts and a family battling good versus evil) and fits them in an Australian suburban set up, very much focusing on young mothers. This fresh approach to older, conservative forms reaps huge dividends, with the mother/son relationship swinging wildly and the absence of a male dominant figure striking. The plot swerves a little too wildly here and there, but this is a really bold, interesting and gripping horror.

Image: Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42530460

"Eraserhead," directed by David Lynch

Movie, 1977

Eerie characters, settings, situations and morality. Everything in this tale of domestic life is eerie. Horrific at times - most of the time - but stylistically and surrealistically so, through hissing radiators, apparitions, deformed dancers, even more deformed babies and a cast of gruesome characters. This is a film worth enduring, though it truly is a test of endurance, showcasing themes and motifs played out in the director's later works. Not enjoyable as such, but hugely perplexing and there's no doubting the power of a dark imagination is truly at work.

"Die, Monster, Die!" directed by Daniel Haller

Movie, 1965

Curious mixture of horror tropes, from a spooky house, innocent virginal female lead, disabled and mad parents and mad scientist, to 60s' surreal and at times psychedelic science fiction feel. Karloff hams but is possibly upstaged by his insane and damaged wife, while the dashing young male lead both looks old enough to have been the heroine's father. Enjoyable hokum which never fully grabs attention but keeps rattling along at a decent pace and throws up plenty of oddities, including the odd genetically mutated giant tomato.  

"Inferno," directed by Dario Argento

Movie, 1980

Dreamy horror, full of deserted buildings, surreal sets, a progressive rock soundtrack and blood. All these elements are wonderfully realised, giving the film an excellent tension, although the story seems a little confused and the acting, every now and again, stultifying. The violence is nasty, although this goes with the territory. An effective piece, all in all; at least it would have been if only the story and direction could just have been given a little more of a leg up over the grisly set pieces.

"The Woman in Black", by Susan Hill

Novel, 1992

Effective ghost story, packing suspense and creating an evocative, oppressive atmosphere. Much of this is probably attributable to the first person narrative, taking the reader into a world which is written in what appears to be very deliberately 'olde worlde', with a groaning bucket load of mist, marshes, haunted houses and phantoms. While the style occasionally threatens the power of the narrative, in the final analysis, it doesn't, leaving a feeling of a good read by the end of the story.

"13 Ghosts," directed William Castle

Movie, 1960

Take out the outrageous Illusion-O gimmick, which neatly and effectively removes most of the tension in the film and leads in to some fairly tedious special effects, and 13 Ghosts is a pretty effective haunted house movie. While younger characters and cast members grate, Margaret Hamilton (the witch in The Wizard of Oz) is a sinister, enjoyable presence playing a twisted housekeeper along similar lines to Mrs Danvers in Rebecca. Daft hokum, of course, but  watchable and, where there is no call for the Illusion-O viewing goggles, some moments of genuine tension. A strange picture, overall.

Here's a trailer which hints at daftness.

"30 Days of Night", directed David Slade

Movie, 2007

Edgy vampire horror set in Arctic Alaska, in which a Neil Tennant lookalike leads a gang of vampires against a small town's dogs, its police station and then anything else living. There are some decent concepts within this set up, but the film never fully makes the leap from a series of set pieces in which evil usually triumphs over good and various characters crack under pressure. While the vampire characters are pretty menacing, they're not fully convincing and speak in a funny, made-up language. Entertaining if you can stand the gore.

"The Voices", directed Marjane Satrapi

Movie, 2014

An odd, grisly comedy which through its main sequence of events - principally the fates of the three main female characters in the drama and the use and portrayal of mental health - leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Yes, this is entertaining and well paced and, from a technical point of view, very well done, but it's not really good enough to rise above the gravity of the fates and illnesses which seem little more than plot devices. The talking pets are also a little naff - occasionally amusing, but mainly superfluous. As, indeed, is the whole movie.