cmoore0013

It's been a while since I have been truly amazed by a new horror film. With Hollywood so dependent on PG-13 horror lite and badly conceived remakes, it's not small surprise that the best horror films of the past 5 years or so have been coming from Europe. In the tradition of Haute Tension and The Descent, Inside quickly builds to the terror and never lets its audience go.

Inside gets its power from the fact that its story is so simplistic. The film is an unstoppable force of nature, much like the film's vague villain.

If the film was to have any flaws, it would be that the lead character, Sarah, comes off as a complete, utter bitch in the first few minutes of the film. Also, the cop subplot felt silly and underdeveloped.

At a brisk 75 or so minutes, there's not a lot of time for padding and other useless things. The complete lack of fluff gives Inside a rare quality that very few films have.

Hollywood, take note, this is how you make a real horror movie!!!

Screen Gems' Prom Night, the latest in a long, seemingly endless line of pre-teen geared PG-13 horror films, proves that Hollywood still has a long way to go before they realize how a good horror film works. Prom Night promises a lot, but leaves the viewer feeling stood up and alone by the end of the movie.

A remake of the popular 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis slasher vehicle, Prom Night discards the original's more interesting plot and opts for a more obvious, silly, and TV movie storyline, centering around innocent teenage Donna (Brittany Snow) and the older male teacher who is obsessed with her. Needless to say, the new story could have truly gone somewhere and it's a shame that it ends up feeling more like a typical Lifetime movie event rather than a scary or suspenseful thriller.

The young cast manage to give pretty decent performances, but they have very, very little to work with. Dana Davis as Donna's best friend, Lisa, is especially likable.

The film's condescending PG-13 level shocks and scares are pretty dull and bland, but the film does have a nice pace to keep things rolling smoothly, which is one thing that you can't say for other watered down pre-teen efforts like Boogeyman and When A Stranger Calls.

Fans of the original might want to consider this new film as more of an unofficial sequel in the Prom Night series. Eiher way, no matter how you think of it, remake or sequel, it's a disappointing, scare less affair, with a lots of potential, but little pizazz.

I went into this film not knowing what to expect. I had heard that it was one weird movie, but to my surprise, I ended up enjoying it very much. The plot is simple, besides a truly bizarre prologue and epilogue. The acting and characters are likable, certainly more so than the ones normally found in these types of movies.

I must say that this film has a cruel and disturbing edge to it. A few scenes do provoke a few goosebumps, such as the theatre scene and the locker room scene.

A must see for rare slasher enthusiasts and those who love retro horror movies.