Editorials
[31 Days of Halloween] Day Twenty-Nine: James Wan’s ‘The Conjuring’
Halloween is nearly here! That means our 31 Days of Halloween is nearly at its end. Because it’s Halloween week, we’re dedicating the remaining entries to films that really go big on the scares. For our final Supernatural Spooks Tuesday, it doesn’t get much bigger than The Conjuring, a 2013 box office juggernaut. The James Wan-directed spookfest proved horror could thrive in the summer blockbuster months and launched an ever-expanding Conjuring universe filled with sequels and spinoffs.
Synopsis: In 1971, the Perron family move into a bargain-priced farmhouse fixer upper. It doesn’t take long before strange activity begins, and it escalates into a terrifying paranormal haunting that poses a serious threat to the family’s well being. They turn to paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for help.
Key Players: Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga created two of horror’s most loveable characters in Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Perron family is played by Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, and Kyla Deaver. Look for the film’s composer Joseph Bishara to make an appearance as the evil entity Bathsheba. Fun trivia: Bishara also played the Lipstick-Face Demon in Insidious, proving the composer is well versed in scaring audiences.
Why It’s on the List: The Conjuring set the chilling tone right off the bat with a strong opener that introduces both the Warrens and the inhuman entities they encounter. In this case, creepy doll Annabelle. It never eases up on the scares or atmosphere either. Each and every member of the Perron family deal with their own personal paranormal encounters, from wardrobe nightmares to goosebumps-inducing games of Hide-and-Go-Clap and beyond. No matter how you feel about the real-life Warrens, Wilson and Farmiga make their on-screen counterparts insanely charming. All of this, with the retro horror vibe, makes it easy to see why this box office darling enticed viewers of all types into the world of horror.
Annabelle Returns?: The evil plaguing the Perron family home is strong, and this nightmarish scene indicates just how far-reaching it can be. Because it’s not too happy about the Warrens’ interference with its plans, it targets them through their daughter, Judy, by unleashing Annabelle. Or does it? Either way, it’s effectively spooky.
Where You Can Watch: The Conjuring is currently available on Netflix.
New month, new horror recommendations from Deep Cuts Rising. This installment features one random pick as well as four selections reflecting the month of May 2024.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a self-loathing serial killer, a violinist’s murderous ghost, and a postmodern vamp flick.
Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973)
Pictured: Ted Bessell and Sian Barbara Allen in Scream, Pretty Peggy.
Directed by Gordon Hessler.
The TV-movie Scream, Pretty Peggy first aired as part of ABC Movie of the Week. Bette Davis plays the mother of a reclusive sculptor (Ted Bessell), and after the previous housekeeper goes missing, a local college student (Sian Barbara Allen) fills the position. Little does she know, though, the young employee’s predecessor was murdered — and the killer is still on the loose.
Admittedly, Scream, Pretty Peggy isn’t difficult to figure out; its inspiration is obvious. However, Bette Davis’ overstated performance and the son character’s macabre artwork are enough to stay tuned and learn who’s behind the killings.
Scream, Pretty Peggy is now available on physical media from Kino Lorber. Perhaps watch the movie with your own mother this Mother’s Day (May 12).
Paganini Horror (1989)
Pictured: The ghostly killer in Paganini Horror.
Directed by Luigi Cozzi.
For National Buy a Musical Instrument Day (May 22), check out this absurd Italian entry in the subgenre of cursed music horror. A rock band unleashes hell when they unknowingly use a satanic piece of music composed by Niccolò Paganini, the violinist who was rumored to have made a Faustian deal.
Even though Paganini Horror is hardly deemed a standout of Italian Horror, and the movie indeed drags itself toward the finish line, there are some bright spots worth focusing on. For instance: Donald Pleasence. If that’s not enough, the very ’80s aesthetic helps gloss over the flaws in Daria Nicolodi‘s uneven script.
Paganini Horror is now on physical media from Severin Films and is also streaming on SCREAMBOX.
Nadja (1994)
Pictured: Suzy Amis Cameron and Karl Geary in Nadja.
Directed by Michael Almereyda.
These vampires may or may not cast a reflection, but they sure do love to reflect. David Lynch executive-produced as well as briefly appeared in the film, which Roger Ebert succinctly described as “Deadpan Noir” in his review. This tale of revenge and philosophical pondering begins with the vampiric namesake (Suzy Amis Cameron) seducing the daughter (Galaxy Craze) of Van Helsing after he killed Nadja’s father, Dracula. From there a war erupts between the two sides, all while taking place in modern NYC.
Nadja is quite slow but also just strange, stylish and creative enough to keep your attention. In addition, the trip hop soundtrack is easy on the ears, and Peter Fonda plays a memorable Van Helsing. Overall, this is a unique and artsy approach to vampire horror.
Nadja is now streaming on Freevee.
The Bone Snatcher (2003)
Pictured: Scott Bairstow, Warrick Grier and Rachel Shelley in ‘The Bone Snatcher’.
Directed by Jason Wulfsohn.
For National Sunscreen Day (May 27), dig up the monster movie The Bone Snatcher. It will take more than a high SPF to protect the sunburned characters here; they are stuck in a South African desert with a bizarre monster called the Esikhulu.
The best things about The Bone Snatcher are its setting and the creature. This beast, which is brought to life on screen using a combination of practical and digital effects, sports a ghastly design to go with its unnerving ability to animate skeletons. Something else this movie has going for it is a refusal to show the monster too often; that way there is less chance of becoming desensitized to the Esikhulu. Ultimately, this has nothing on John Carpenter’s The Thing, however, those more forgiving fans of Syfy-ish creature-features should be satisfied.
The Bone Snatcher is currently streaming on Tubi.
#1 Serial Killer (2013)
Pictured: Jason Tobin in #1 Serial Killer.
Directed by Stanley Yung.
May is AAPIM, and the subversive #1 Serial Killer (originally titled Chink) is relevant when discussing the “Invisible Asian” notion. Acknowledging the irony, Stanley Yung’s movie has gone widely unnoticed despite its potent take on race and identity.
Jason Tobin (Warrior) delivers a compelling performance as the vile protagonist here. The self-hating, Ted Bundy-admiring character discriminates against other Asians after years of mistreatment and disregard, and that growing rage finally manifests as cathartic violence.
#1 Serial Killer is currently available at digital retailers like Apple.
No genre is as prolific as horror, so it’s understandable that movies fall through the cracks all the time. That is where this recurring column, Deep Cuts Rising, comes in. Each installment of this series will spotlight several unsung or obscure movies from the past — some from way back when, and others from not so long ago — that could use more attention.
‘Infested’ Review – One of the Best Spiders Attack Horror Movies in Years
‘The King Tide’: An Island Town Rots with Moral Decay in Canadian Folk Horror Fable [Review]
Limited Edition Morticia & Wednesday Addams ‘Monster High’ Dolls Releasing Next Week!
TWO New ‘Evil Dead’ Movies Now in the Works; Sébastien Vaniček & Francis Galluppi Directing
‘The Borderlands’ – Unearthing a Found Footage Hidden Gem
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