Warning, Shaking Camera May Cause Headache

It's October which means Top Five Lists have returned. For real this year. I'm still busy, as usual, but I've managed time to include this blog in my daily weekly life. I'm still anticipating on moving Bleeding Dead to Wordpress but the process is slow and the site itself will differ more from the basics I've created here. Less like a blog and more like a functioning website. This is still a bit of a ways off though and for the time being business here will continue as usual. So its October and that means lots of Halloween and Horror related stuff to indulge in for the next month. And as I can't do thirty one days of reviews I do my part with my top five lists. As always I like to interject that this is my opinion and I base these lists off a number of things, including personal preference in which no way should account for an actual legitimacy in ranking. Therefore I always encourage that you post your own in the comment section as I like to see what my readers would rank. But before I get to that I must remind that for the month I'm running a contest to win a copy of Room 237 on Blu Ray. If your interested in entering you can find more information here.

It's a love-hate genre. Often most people can't stomach the shaky camera movements long enough to finish the film whilst others more or less just despise their existence. However, as I said with the Torture Porn sub-genre (that has basically fallen asleep now thanks to these) it'll one day be looked back on like the slasher genre, maybe not as loved but remembered as a part of horror no less. Art reflects the current flow of the world, the same reason we've been seeing a rush of End of Ze World films is the same reason we've been seeing a slew of Found Footage films in the past few years; it's what our culture is reflecting. Our lives are rapidly lapsing into a technologically dominant society (which could be good or bad, we'll see how it turns out) and its inevitable that smartphones and facebook are seeping their way into film's plots. With the Found Footage films approaching them as real-life captures of horror instills doubt initially, but as the film goes on you start to second guess it and then you find yourself on Google trying to decipher the fact from the fiction. Or maybe you just sit there with your arms crossed and hate them all the way through, but to each his own. Whichever is your preference is for watching them here are my Top Five Found Footage Films (thus far):

#5 Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Cannibal Holocaust falls low on this list because it wasn't approached as real, but it uses the same stylized camera movements found in the sub-genre and there are very real images in it. For that Cannibal Holocaust is really less remembered as a prerequisite for the sub-genre and more as a force of its own. It's a sonnet of human brutality, with an explicit honesty that is harsh to the viewers' tolerance. It's bigger than the genre because it is simply a fantastic exploitation film with a highly iconic image of horror and it existed before the time of the internet. There isn't quite a film like it. But less of why its great in itself and more as to why it's a good found footage film. Despite a misconception on most Cannibal Holocaust has a well thought concept about a couple of filmmakers who's found footage reveals the final moments of their lives as they document a tribe of cannibals in the Amazon. The film depicts violent, primitive, and often sadistic acts by the tribe and of the filmmakers, asking who's really the savage and who isn't. The graphic brutality of the real animal killings is about as close as its get to real without being snuff and has a strong effect when watching. Its a manifesto for cannibal films, a still to this day taboo watch, and among many other notaries it is also one of the first incarnations of the found footage genre. Cannibal Holocaust is a horror-must, found footage or not.

#4 Troll Hunter (2010)

At the risk of using the patter most commonly spoken by cant-speaking tweenagers, Troll Hunter is pretty legit. Its hard to imagine that a film that is not only a found footage entry but a documentary on the secret world of hunting trolls got a lot of recognition and praise. Of course though if you see Troll Hunter you can understand why because it really is that good. Not only original, exciting, and dare I say epic? Troll Hunter is a strong foreign film that only the Norweigns can pull off with the same seriousness and ease. It follows a group of filmmakers who in trying to expose a bear poacher instead find the best kept secret of trolls walking among us and meet the man who single-handedly takes them down at night. Hans is up there with the great movie monster hunters, including Van Helsing, Quinn from Jaws, and Daryl from The Walking Dead and worthily earns his spot. As does Troll Hunter on the any found footage list.

#3 Grave Encounters (2011)

The mock paranormal documentary with the combined found footage film style is a fresh and logical piece in the tired sub-genre. A satirical take off the paranormal investigation shows that frequent the basic cable channels it follows a cynical television crew through an old asylum that in turn is really haunted. The latter findings generate a generous portion of old fashioned jumpy scares and creepy moments to make your spine shiver. It has this haunted house quality about it which I loved, where the set design and sound tech made the viewer feel as if the characters were walking through a haunted maze of sorts. Echos off the walls and the distorted sanity plays thick in a place where the halls and rooms change to their own pleasing and guide the characters where they choose, often to their deaths or worse. Grave Encounters is also rather funny, which is always a good bit of relief when your locked in an abandon asylum. Avoid the wannabe-meta sequel that replaces the cleverness of the first with a snarky lead and weak script. Watch the first for original scares with good laughs, and as champion of the sub-genre.


#2 Lake Mungo (2008)

Out of all the films on this list I'll give that Lake Mungo is by far the most convincing film in it's documentary style approach. It utilizes the lighting, angels, and tone of television-like documentaries giving you an impression that what you see could be very real. There isn't reenactments, and Alice's weird happenings aren't caught by her vocal friend lugging around a hand held. Instead photos, interviews, and crappy home movies are shown to give you a sense that Alice lead a dark life that ultimately led to her early death. What it leaves you with? A surreal creepiness that may keep you up at night.

#1 Paranormal Activity (2007)

Haters will hate with this one (for the next 20 years no doubt) but Paranormal Activity is without a doubt the best found footage film. It's simplistic and in that the most effective at being convincing. I'm not a fan of the series, as I've said before, but I admire and respect the first film for it's technical ploys more so than it's plot and character anomalies. As a whole I do find the series smart but the sequels lack the impact the first had. Footprints, closing doors, and no ghosts dressed in white make it feel real. It's haunting. The little film that could holds a similar resemblance to Carpenter's Halloween in how word of mouth got it seen. I've likely just lost more than half my readers by making that statement but it's what I've noticed. Halloween is the most prominent and important film in the slasher genre (slasher 101, if you will) and I'll attest that Paranormal Activity is the most prominent and important film in the found footage genre. Blair Witch did it first, or Cannibal Holocaust, depending on your preference but Paranormal Activity did it best.

Honorable Mentions: The Blair Witch (1999), the original found footage sensation that uses the simple rustle of leaves to terrify. [REC] (2007), a reporter and her crew are quarantined inside an apartment building while doing a story and capture something terrifying instead. The Fourth Kind (2009), a take on the real disappearances of several locals in small town Alaska where the real footage is intertwined with the live action.

If you're reading post your own.

Horror Short: 15.05.08 (2013)

Directed by Nikki Chatwin
Written by Nikki Chatwin & Jason Chatwin
Staring Scarlett Sibson, Fern Chatwin, & Tim Wilson
Camera Operators Nikki Chatwin & Jason Chatwin

A police recovered video tape reveals the final moments of four young people who's curious spying on the neighbors house brings a chilling terror into their home. The short film is a compilation of modern horror concepts, most familiarly the home video camera and always unsettling plastic masked killer, that will best appeal to those who enjoy home invasion thrillers. The sixteen minute run is pallid with blood but replete with suspense, the latter holding the chill of the film. The likely killer that will turn off most is the idea isn't all that original with minor characters that you never really get to meet. With saying that though the execution is done well and while its an additive to the ever growing found footage film collections its a really good one at that.

With exceptions the found footage genre is best done when no money is provided to you, in that the scares feel more authentic. 15.05.08 has this asset best to its viewing as the natural chemistry of the cast (likely all friends and family) with the shaky cam makes it feel like a real youtube video, and I don't mean that offensively. Though its noted that despite an overall average sub-genre use of the camera there are a few unique and creative shots that I quite liked seeing. There's no exception here in questionable character motives but its a facet of horror that I just accept. The script may not be all that original but it's really the production and the direction here that make the film a pleasant viewing. 15.05.08 is a chilling little short film that will appease those who love the genre type and is an overall good late night watch.

You can watch 15.05.08 for free on youtube. If you have a short film your interested in having reviewed you may send it to me at bleedingdead22@yahoo.com.

Press Release: Holy S*%T! It’s a DOUBLE Dose of Horror in One Press Release!

Holy S*%T!  It’s a DOUBLE dose of horror in one press release!

#1: Independent Horror Feature Film SKEW will be released on DVD on Redbox in the U.S.A. on March 12^th, 2013 and iTunes April 2^nd, 2013.

The psychological horror feature SKEW has been described as “Truly unnerving” (Rogue Cinema), “A terrifying movie” (Arrow In The Head) and “Paranormal Activity on steroids” (Australia’s A Night of Horror International Film Festival).

SKEW follows three close friends who head out on an eagerly anticipated road trip with video camera in hand to record their journey.  What starts out as a carefree adventure slowly becomes a descent into the ominous as unexplained events threaten to disrupt the balance between them.  One by one they must struggle with personal demons and paranoia as friendships are tested and gruesome realities are revealed…and recorded.

#2: And the Cult Hit SKEW will be released on DVD in Japan on April 5^th, 2013.

Before such box office hits as Paranormal Activity (2007), Cloverfield (2008), and Quarantine (2008), writer/director Sevé Schelenz brought SKEW, his first feature film, to camera in 2005.  Within the same vein as The Blair Witch Project, Schelenz creates a first-person account in psychological horror that will keep audiences on edge until its revealing conclusion.

SKEW has been accepted in over 50 festivals, won several awards including “Best Feature” (Nevada Film Festival), “Best Director” (Late Night Horror Film Festival) and “Indy Spirit Award” (Horrorfest).  The film has received great reviews and found distribution in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Russia and Japan.

For more info on SKEW contact Sevé Schelenz at sleepapneaprods@hotmail.com.

SKEW trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjwBwuKD8mI

Note from Editor: My review of Skew may be read here, if interested. There will also be more exciting news from Sleep Apnea Production coming soon.

Skew (2011)

Simon, Rich and Eva are on a road trip heading to a friend's wedding. Simon brings along his new camera to document the highly anticipated trip. What starts out hopeful though turns sour quickly when Simon begins to notice that his camera isn't capturing images right as it creates an askewed vision of the persons' face. And when the blurred people become victims of horrible deaths Simon starts to infer that his camera may be more unique than he thought. Not all is at surface value though as the three friends seem to have a heavy strain on their relationship and the camera is only irritating things more.

Skew succeeds in being a genuine mind fuck, for lack of a better phrase. Inexplicably the camera has a draw to it's carrier Simon and chooses it's victims based on his tampering with matters of life and death. At the core though Skew isn't about the odd deaths that occur from the lens of the camera but the secrets that possess each friend. There's quite a bit of baggage that's weight is felt throughout the film, even as details become apparent and the big 'secret' is revealed you still fell that you've only gotten part of the story. Which is an attribute to the screenwriter and director Seve Schelenz who did successfully instill that tension between each friend and create depth in this portion of the script. The film does drag though and be cautious that you'll spend a good portion of it not understanding what the hell is going on. Also Skew just has some genuinely creepy moments, hence my photo choice below.

Acting is really weak, not awful all around but a good portion of it seems to be trying a bit hard and a little unnatural. Though each character has their moments of seriousness and they are convincing there are a lot of other parts where it's just not strong. It's not all the actors fault though as a good bit of the problem lies in the writing of the character's themselves. Eva's is difficult to like as she comes off rather pissy from the start, not really allowing us to get a good side to her character even if her anger is warranted. Rich felt almost absent from the film, having few lines and not really making a noticeable presence till the end. And lets be honest, no one really likes the person behind the camera, whom which this unfortunate is Rich. It's that unsought out narrator role that requires constant commentary. Found footage films make it hard for me to address the DP of a film as often they are shaky but as far as cuts, editing, and basic lighting go it's all fairly good.

This film came to my attention through Jason at Film Reviews From the Basement who was tweeting while watching the film and expressed much perplexity as the events came to focus. Which in itself is a fair assessment of the film as it really works on a level of disrupting logic to the viewer. I'm not sure if I even liked Skew per-say but it is unique and serves as an interesting take to the found footage genre. It does suffer from a few possessions found in the sub-genre, such as Simon's typical and annoying 'I won't put the camera down' pester that easily pisses off Eva, for good reason. This does, however, have the most feel to the original sub-genre film, The Blair Witch Project, than those that have followed. It picked up a lot of intentional or maybe unintentional homage which I respect, despite not having liked The Blair Witch Project. Based on the rating on IMDB a lot of people didn't like it and as I said I'm not even sure I liked it, but it's interesting and it at the least deserves a watch. 

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

Dennis has recently married Julie and is now step dad to her two girls Katie and Kristi. He's a struggling videographer, a business which he runs out of his home giving him access to a lot of video equipment. While filming arguably the most dull sex tape ever between him and Julie an earthquake happens on film. But the natural disaster pales next to what Dennis sees after the quake has stopped, a spirit standing in their room. Immediately he wants to pursue this further and sets up cameras around the house to see if he can find anything else quite like it. It doesn't take the spirit long, or rather Toby, to make another appearance on tape as he's not shy. But as the haunting becomes more evident Dennis is discovering that this isn't harmless as Toby has a plan for his family, particularly the youngest Kristi.

I enjoyed both one and two in the franchise, finding them properly paced and effectively jumpy but as a whole I'm not necessarily a fan. That's not to say I don't like them, because I do, its just I appreciate them more for their technical plots and story buildup rather than have an actual love for the series. Where the first two relied on the subtly paced and what you don't see, the third takes the opposite approach and bares all. In the end it works rather well, this is by far the most terrifying of the series and I was in constant dread knowing that every time they were on camera something was going to happen, you just didn't know what. Which is a brilliance behind the writing, you've come to expect a certain set of rules to the ghost that's been stalking this family but they essentially throw away all previous behavior and throw you off with new bits of horror. Paranormal Activity 3 made more ploys towards the typical haunted house film (I saw that babysitter peak her head around the corner), where the ghost became physically violent and manifested itself in front of us for scares. The last fifteen minutes not only change how you see the spirit but how you see the series as a whole, it will literally alter your viewing experience. I immediately wanted to go back and watch the previous two films.

Dennis the likable hippie bum of a step dad is essential in pissing this ghost off with his camera taunting. Am I the only one who noticed Katie basically grew up and started dating her step dad? The parallels between Micah and Dennis are endless down to camera obsession and not having any clear manifestation of a job. While cute, younger Katie and Kristie are not young prodigy actors I hate to say. But I don't necessarily expect much from such so I won't pry further. Lauren Bittner and Christopher Nicholas Smith are fine as the parents, they seem convincing as a couple and that's all that really is needed. In this film the focus is less on the family's emotional struggle and more about the spirit and setting up what's to happen. Therefore acting is incidental and things such as camera placing are more prominent. In addition to two bedroom cams directors and DP set up a living room camera with its base on a fan to give a wide scope moving effect around the room. A very adept approach in creating a new way to scare the audience, as we see what the characters in the kitchen don't.

The film fells less realistic, as did the second, than the first despite having Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (directors of the documentary Catfish) there to give it that more realistic approach. Though it had its slow moments the first film's realism was based off the sense that everything was on camera, even the pointless stuff. The third is not so much; everything that is on camera is relevant to the plot and set up so it comes off more as a film than that cleaver found footage effect. As of last time the trailer is deceptive, I don't believe that one clip in that trailer makes it to the actual cut of the film. A lot of reviews are claiming this as the best film in the series, I'm less kind. I'll admit while it's the most dire of the series (I jumped...a lot) I'm still accrediting the first film for being the best. Simply because I prefer the what we don't see to what we do. Still that's not to prevent you from seeing the third installment, without a doubt it'll be the scariest experience you've had in theaters for a while.