Keith Harris

Please allow me to clarify, before the torches are lit, pitchforks sharpened, riots ignited and social media riled up in arms: I absolutely DO NOT under ANY circumstances support this 1975 classic EVER being remade, rebooted or otherwise resurrected in any way, shape or form as a franchise, PERIOD! … [Read more...] about Jaws: The Movie I’d Love To See Made Today

Psychological Horror Escapism Lost In TranslationIt is generally expected if not a courtesy for critics to warn of spoilers before discussing any story in detail, even when it sometimes feels unnecessary such as with classics acclaimed for decades. This is a special case, however, where I’d be remiss to not be EXTRA insistent. … [Read more...] about School-Live! Anime vs Movie

How Will The Reboot Reflect The Classic?“I am the writing on the wall, the whisper in the classroom, the sweet smell of blood.”In all seriousness, it’s hard not to be at least a little intimidated by what is arguably one of the most chilling character introductions in all of film. On October 16, 1992, American moviegoers were invited to witness and assist in the birth of one of the 90’s first major genre icons, a contemporary boogeyman spliced together from DNA of past urban legends & real-life tragedies for the silver screen – Candyman. … [Read more...] about Candyman Original Vs. Reboot (2020)

The Most Frightening Zombies that Movies and Games Have Brought UsWhat are your favorite types of zombies? Specifically, which variants of zombie or zombie-like creature in your anecdotal experience are the most memorable, and how so? Do you prefer one that is the scariest, smartest, deadliest, most tragic, most challenging, most entertaining, most original, etc? … [Read more...] about My Top 10 Zombie Types

When Do Remakes Go Too Far?This is a question that, like many in the subjective domain of art, has no simple answer: “When do remakes go too far?” By what metrics do we determine when they veer too off course from their respective source material? Where are the lines drawn, if any, when setting out to recreate an iconic work? How do we constitute the terms of said boundaries? Chances are, if you ask a hundred different people, no two responses will be exactly alike. … [Read more...] about Pet Sematary: Original Vs. Remake

If you were hoping for a review, then I’m sorry to disappoint. Truthfully, there’s little I can say about 1982’s divisive (to say the least) Halloween III: Season of the Witch that hasn’t already been said regarding the film’s quality or lack-there-of. Countless critics have already covered this movie in more depth than I ever could in a single blog, both to defend it and/or systematically tear it apart. … [Read more...] about Halloween III: Were the Fans Wrong About Season of the Witch?

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, let’s be clear: I do NOT prefer 2010’s Nightmare on Elm Street over Wes Craven’s 1984 original. To me, it was at best a mediocre, formulaic slasher with moments of quality. At worst, it was a thoroughly disappointing, uninspired homage filled with wasted potential and overused obnoxious jump-scares. It made money but crashed & burned overall in living up to its predecessor’s legacy. To be fair, that was no small task to begin with. … [Read more...] about A Nightmare on Elm Street: Original vs Remake

When enough examples of a specific outcome about a topic or action occur, it can become understandable to generalize about it. One common example of such stereotyping in horror is the jump-scare. While exceptions of course historically exist in which this trope is utilized to a quality result, the majority (particularly in recent years, as many would attest) are over-saturated in what amounts to a shortcut. Executed at its best, a jump-scare’s function within a movie generally demonstrates how the experiences of a character can disarm or lull the audience into a false sense of security in a variety of scenarios, which in turn leads to a sudden event inciting surprise or fear. … [Read more...] about Art of the Jump-Scare: Film vs. Video Game

Saturating media today probably more than any monster, zombies have so persistently infected pop-culture not only through fear of their countless variants but what the creature represents: The personification of death & the unknown. Outside generations of varying socio-political commentaries, the undead have from one perspective always symbolized death's creeping inevitability, possibly the most primal fear we can connect with regardless of cultural differences. Whether it's the suspense of not knowing if/when/how they'll catch you, how long you can stay a step ahead, debating what the point of it all is, or whether to end it on your own terms, the Hollywood zombie’s unique approach thoroughly embodies this. … [Read more...] about Slow Zombies vs. Fast Zombies: How Have They Influenced The Genre?