Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is available to stream on Amazon and is probably the weakest movie in the Paranormal Activity franchise. This is a Christmas horror movie as the whole thing involves a house with a Christmas tree in it. Let’s face it, that’s as close to Christmas horror as you should want to get. It does do that satisfying thing that all the Paranormal Activities do which is tie back into the others nicely. … [Read more...] about Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension Review
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David Day – Co-Host & Producer
It goes without saying that I enjoy horror movies. I also like to run, hike, read (comics, fiction, sci-fi, fantasy), write, and spend time with my family. I am usually pretty direct and find that honesty and kindness are what is most important to me. Along with Bryce, I am a co-founder of Horror Movie Talk. What Kind Of Horror I Most Enjoy I love suspenseful horror. Anything with a good build of tension and suspense usually scratches my itch quite well. I like to be left in the dark with my thoughts a lot, just as far as movies are concerned. A fresh spin on a common trope usually works well for me. TWISTS! Give me a twist that is clever and well-executed, and I will love you forever! M. Night Shamaylan holds a dear place in my heart for his movies. Practical effects rule the day in my book. I grew up watching Jim Henson stuff, and I believe that shaped a good portion of my tastes as far as horror is concerned. Labyrinth is still one of my very favorite movies. Some … [Read more...] about David Day – Co-Host & Producer
Keith Harris – Blog Writer
Hello there! I am the blog writer for Horror Movie Talk. As a longtime horror and general movie fan, I thrive on feedback and encourage discussion both to get to know others' tastes and broaden my creative perspective. Having drawn & written since early childhood in addition to directing two short films in college on my road to an eventual professional career as a director and/or screenwriter, I am passionate in my opinions & ambitions on the potential of visual storytelling. Apart from that, I'm largely just another guy. When not working or volunteering at the hospital, I enjoy a good mystery novel, comics, or manga. I have multiple projects I regularly develop for my own stories, scripts, and graphic novels, including a children's book I'm in the process of publishing. My other hobbies include walking & martial arts for exercise, some video games, Youtube, Netflix, friends and family time. Horror I like most: I can definitely enjoy a well-made slasher, horror comedy, … [Read more...] about Keith Harris – Blog Writer
Bryce Hanson – Co-Host & Producer
I'm a big fan of horror movies because it's rare that they aren't interesting. Whether it is a straight to VOD or the latest theatrical release, there is always something to talk about. I also like to sing, wax philosophical about mythology and religion, contemplate the void, and spend time with my family. I am usually up in my head about something, so apologies if I'm looking off into the middle distance. Along with David, I am a co-founder of Horror Movie Talk. What Kind Of Horror I Most Enjoy I'm a big fan of horror movies that are more relatable and story/character driven. I particularly like films that focus on family based hauntings, or that deal with religious or devil stuff. I prefer a slow burn that builds suspense rather than straight ahead gore and running from monsters/zombies. That being said, I also like horror movies that feature over-the-top tastelessness, and/or ridiculous premises. Some of my favorite horror movies are: The Exorcist Hereditary The Blair … [Read more...] about Bryce Hanson – Co-Host & Producer
Silent Night, Deadly Night Review
This week, we rented Silent Night, Deadly Night and to be honest, it might be one of my new favorite horror movies. Silent Night, Deadly Night can be found for rent on Google Play, iTunes, YouTube, and VUDU. If you want to own the recently release Blu-ray edition, click through to Amazon. Silent Night, Deadly Night is about a young man named Billy who witnessed the murder of his parents at the hands of a criminal in a santa suit. Since then, Billy grew up in a catholic orphanage where his traumatic childhood has been stringently repressed by the Mother Superior and has been imbued with a strict and black and white morality. Billy is still terrified by Santa even as an adult, but one fateful Christmas Eve, he is asked to be Santa Claus for the store he works at. That experience along with a series of events brings Billy to the point of a psychotic break, and he begins a killing spree dressed as Santa. It’s awesome. Silent Night, Deadly Night is the best version of this … [Read more...] about Silent Night, Deadly Night Review
Black Christmas Review
If you loved the story of Ralphie and his red ryder b-b gun in A Christmas Story, then you’ll love this other Christmas classic by Bob Clark. In Black Christmas, the Pi Kappa Sigma Sorority receives a strange and obscene phone calls during their Christmas party right before Christmas break. The reactions to the phone call range from disgust and offence to amusement. Barb played by Margo Kidder fires back her own obscenities in return, to which the phone call ends with a sobering “I’m going to kill you”. The faceless killer, which can be described most accurately as a maniac, then stalks and kills several inhabitants of Pi Kappa Sigma. The sorority tries to get the police to take them seriously when they can’t find a missing sister, but the police don’t take any action until a dead body shows up in the park. There’s also a relationship storyline that you won’t care about. Black Christmas Review Black Christmas was an interesting movie, but not the most entertaining. There … [Read more...] about Black Christmas Review
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Original vs Remake
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
The House That Jack Built Review
The House that Jack Built isn’t getting a wide release until December 14th, but we went to a one night only showing of the director’s cut a month early at the Cinema 21 in Portland. So this is a rare instance where we can provide a review well in advance of a wide release. The film tells the story of an unassuming, yet prolific serial killer named Jack. It's told through a series of 5 short vignettes of some of his notable kills. It’s told over the course of 12 years from the mid-late 70’s to the mid-late 80s and takes place in the rural Pacific NorthWest of the United States. Jack’s nom de guerre is Mr. Sophistication, which he writes on the grisly photos he takes of his victims. Throughout the film Jack's descriptions of his personal condition, problems and thoughts are told through a recurring conversation with the unknown "Verge". Jack views himself as a sophisticated man and the story is told through his own mixture of arrogant and narcissistic sophistry. The House … [Read more...] about The House That Jack Built Review
The Ritual Review
ALL HAIL NETFLIX! Now that we have that out of the way let’s talk about The Ritual, a Netflix original movie that was released on the streaming platform in February of 2018. I can’t believe that movies of this caliber, that is to say, theatrical release worthy movies, are created in the quiet depths of a streaming platform. I didn’t hear much about the production of this movie. Instead, it just showed up on my Netflix suggestion bar, and I watched it. There must be a better way to hype these things, right? Anyway, The Ritual is a well-done horror movie that capitalizes on the natural spookiness of camping and the woods. The Ritual Trailer I don’t know if you are a camper, but I am. For years I worked a job that had me camping for a good portion of the year as I maintained trails in a National Forest. I got quite used to camping in the backcountry, but the thought never left some primordial part of my brain, “What if something was out there?” The Ritual is very good at … [Read more...] about The Ritual Review
Art of the Jump-Scare: Film vs. Video Game
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