Skip to main content

The Month of Horror Day 16: Final Destination

Basement contributor Matt Bellamy has taken it upon himself to watch and review at least one horror movie a day for the month of October . . . because he's awesome that way! For this entry, Bellamy looks death in the face, and laughs.

My favourite horror series over the last decade; it's not like they're particularly great movies but they really speak to my sick, twisted, and blood thirsty sensibilities. I actually love the concept: death a.k.a. the grim reaper seeking to right the wrongs when someone manages to escape or cheat their fate, sending them six feet under in some of the most ingenious and creative methods imaginable. You never see the villain, it's always just some sort of supernatural force that will stop at nothing to balance out the universe. The first in the series follows a group of high school students and a teacher that were supposed to perish on a flight to Paris however through a premonition by the main character, seeing the disaster minutes before it happens, they get themselves removed from the plane. Their fate was sealed, they were supposed to die but they didn't so now it's up to that hard working reaper to pick them all off one at a time, in increasingly brutal and horrific "accidents". This isn't my favourite of the franchise, that would belong to either the 2nd or 5th entries but this is the original after all, so that counts for something! This is also the most serious one as well, much more horror here before the sequel took things in a darkly comic, and wholly more satisfying direction. People watch these movies for the inventive kills and that is exactly why I like them, the writers must have a great time coming up with situational, absurd yet still somewhat realistic ways for the characters to die--isn't that the pedigree of some of our favourite horror flicks? I think that's a big yes!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e