NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1990) - ORIGINALLY RECEIVED POORLY, TOM SAVINI REMAKE APPRECIATED MORE IN LATER YEARS...BUT NOT BY ME

 

1990 was a weird year for movies - many films from this year seem to have one foot still in the eighties but the other foot unsure of which way to walk. The only NOTLD official remake, directed by special effects extraordinaire Tom Savini, in collaboration with George Romero, is one such film. At the same time, it struggles within itself to stay in homage to the original but be something new at the same time. Originally audiences and critics gave it a thumbs down, citing this same misguided nature. Future decades would be much kinder to this unique remake, but I still have lots of problems with it. 

My biggest complaint of many is the casting and in particular Patricia Tallman in the lead as Barbra (not to mention her hairdo.) I understand in this version Barbra is not supposed to be a passive wimp like the original but a warrior instead, as merciless in killing the zombies as Ben and the rest. Still, I don't understand this casting choice. And even worse, the guy they chose to play Cooper - he just doesn't have that annoying vibe about him like the original, which btw, was played by one of the shareholders, he wasn't even a pro actor. Tony Todd, however, is awesome as Ben and one of the main reasons to watch this. 

The things that work - my biggest plus here is the exclusion of all the TV and radio reports from the original and just sticking to the action and rest of the plot. The zombies of course are awesome, thanks to Savini. Music is excellent but still doesn't come close to matching the original. The opening sequence in the graveyard, I like the little changes they make. 

I've come to realize over time with this and lots of the sequels how special the original farmhouse from 1968 is. That house in a lot of ways is one of the main characters of the original and it casts such a perfectly desolate and creepy backdrop that is just not there in any other version. Maybe it was haunted.

Savini never really found his footing as a director and to me, he is to blame for the mixed bag this ultimately became. Still, as a homage, and firmly putting down roots for the last three decades, it's too late now - Savini's version is part of NOTLD's permanent family history, like it or not.

Streams on Tubi and Pluto. 2.5 stars/5

THE STORY OF THE JERSEY DEVIL AND FACT OR FICTION TV SHOW - THEY WENT INTO THE WOODS WITH A PSYCHIC FOR "THE LAST BROADCAST" (1998)

     

  This is the bad guy, his big line is "I'll see you back at camp, man!" 

Considered a pre-cursor to Blair Witch and the very first found footage film, like it or hate it, it's also credited as the first full-length feature to ever be completely produced on store-bought equipment. It's a like it or lump it kind of movie. Younger folk will not like the dated technology. One of those where the story and cinematic style have to pull you in from the get-go. 

It follows a similar storyline to Blair Witch (or is that other way around.) Some jerky guys from New Jersey start their own cable show on one of those local community channels. They decide to do a special episode on "The Jersey Devil" where they will broadcast live from within the woods. They take a psychic with them to help find the spirit of this so-called Jersey Devil and he lands up killing all of them. Or did he? 

Last Broadcast streams on Tubi, Freevee, Prime & Shudder.  2.75 stars/2.75

HORROR REPOST WEEK CONCLUDES WITH "WICKED, WICKED" (1973) THAT'S THE TICKET - SAN DIEGO 1972 MEETS PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AND IT'S IN 'DUO-VISION'....DUO-WHAT?!

This man seriously needs to get tested.

Having carved it's own unique niche almost fifty years ago, Wicked Wicked remains the only film ever produced in Duo-Vision. Which may be a good thing. Some bloke got the bright idea to do a whole movie in split screen and call it Duo-Vision. That it turned out to be for a low-budget drive-in horror flick is only to our benefit as B-movie fans. And it's not a bad flick. 

A serial killer is on the loose in a seaside resort and it's San Diego 1972. Tiffany Bolling, one of the most charismatic starlets of B-cinema, shows off her singing skills as the hotel's entertainer and she's one of the main reasons to see this freaky flick. And to it's credit the split screen editing is quite good as is the location and a little gore thrown in for good measure. 

On the other hand, the film's music, played by a single organist is awful. One can understand what they were trying for but it's the wrong organist and a bad score. Also, legendary 60's actor Arthur O Connell is badly miscast here as the hotel's custodian and looks like he'd rather be somewhere else. Special effects are cheesy but somehow blend well with the rest. While I can't really explain why, somehow the flick has a certain patina to it that works. Viva La Wicked Wicked! 2.75 stars/2.75 Only available on DVD thru Warner Archives. 

WE ALSO DIG...

TIMECODE (2000)

How 'bout FOUR screens at once? Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) uses four digital cameras at once and charts his story using music staff paper to create a bold experimental film. Since it is physically impossible for every viewer to look at each screen at the same given moment, in effect he created the only movie that is a completely different movie for each person but still the same movie. Ya dig? A great cast of A-listers and it's all improv! Highly recommend. 3.0 stars/5

HORROR REPOST WEEK - THIS ONE'S A WOODSY THRILLER AS ANNE HECHE AND THOMAS JANE CAMPING AT A REMOTE LAKESIDE WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER GOES MISSING IN "THE VANISHED" (2020)

 

Anne Heche's tragic passing last year still has me reeling and it wasn't until recently that I was even able to watch one of her films. Two of my favorites are the Hollywood formulaic but enjoyable Six Days & Seven Nights and the fairly obscure indie Beyond Suspicion. Heche is paired here with Thomas Jane (for the second time, also see the series Hung) as a couple camping in a majorly cool RV at a lakeside in Alabama when their daughter goes missing. At that point the mystery is on and there's no shortage of creepy characters in their midst to wonder who the killer is. 

For my tastes the film has just the right amount of twists and turns. And the ending, while very left field, will grab you no doubt. Actor Peter Facinelli directs for the first and only time here and does an admirable job especially in building suspense but otherwise lacks notable style. Heche, as was usually the case, is excellent given this material, she had such a great on-screen presence and will be sorely missed, already is. 

The RV they camp out in is state-of-the-art and given the screen time a presence of it's own. It is a pleasure to watch. the thing has pop out rooms, movie theater, full kitchen, bathtub, the works. If you haven't seen it, The Vanished is worth at least one good watch and holds it's own in the insatiable outdoor woodsy thriller genre. Currently streams on Tubi.  2.75 stars/5

Editor's note - 10/3/24 - this is a repost, as of today The Vanished is only available VOD on either Apple or Amazon.