2006 AFTER DARK HORROR FEST

2006 After Dark Horror Fest – A review of 4 films by Larra

So I truly enjoyed the idea that I was able to sit in a theater, eat buttery pop-corn and enjoy horror for more than 4 hours in a row but I was NOT happy with the fact that I had to get up outta my seat for every feature (after I was told by numerous theater representatives that I could stay in my same 'perfect' seat).

I think that Horrorfest should focus on their VIP tickets or at least let the theaters know that if someone has any form of 'higher-ticket-status' or has paid extra for something it should be acknowledged.

DARK RIDE

A group of college kids on their way to spring break in New Orleans decide to stop along the way at a closed-down Asbury Park haunted house with a dark secret; you see, approx 14 years earlier there was a horrific double-murder within the Dark Ride attraction and the killer has escaped from the mental institution he was sentenced to and has returned to the Dark Ride. Once inside the drugs, sex and murder begin and one-by-one the coeds are picked-off and added to the props in the Dark Ride.

I seem to remember something similar back in 1981, oh that’s right, it was called The Funhouse. Hmmmm, coincidence? Also, I’m all about remaking an old movie, updating or whatnot but if you’re going to “pay homage” to certain films don’t blatantly rip them off ie; that hitchhiker scene sure did resemble a 2005 film---- the rainy night, a sexy hitchhiker in a cowboy hat--- can you say HO1KC? Boy did Jamie-Lynn Sigler of Soprano’s fame pick the wrong horror movie to start with!

This film would have made a better Halloween maze.

UNREST

1st year medical student Alison senses something evil lurking in her Gross Anatomy lab. Could it be that she spends too much time personalizing her cadaver or could it be that while waiting for her financial aid to go through she has to stay in temporary housing in a spooky old V.A. hospital? Either way, Alison is not a happy camper and to make matters worse, she’s starting to feel like her cadaver (which is covered in self-inflicted wounds) is trying to tell her something.

After some sleuthing via “Google”, Alison soon discovers that her cadaver was a murderer possessed by an Aztec curse and that by dissecting her body in the name of science the curse has been unleashed to wreak havoc on Alison and her classmates.

Um, okaaayy…

THE GRAVEDANCERS

Well, the way this movie started out looked quite promising: a young girl being persued by an unseen attacker is left dangling by her neck above a staircase….. Seems to get right down to the action!

Fast forward one year later; college buddies Sidney, Kira and Harris (Dominic Purcell of Prison Break) are reunited at the funeral of a friend and while reminiscing over drinks, the trio decide to go back to the graveyard to continue the party where they find that someone has left a mysterious envelope containing an Irish rhyme of sorts atop their beloved friends grave. Well, the rhyme, which the drunken revelers chant aloud while dancing atop the graves of the towns “undesirables” turns out to be a spell that conjures up the dead for 30 days, and as you can guess, havoc ensues.

There was more soap-opera drama in this flick than daytime t.v. and don’t even get me started on the crappy effects and retarded ending. Did Dominic Purcell fall and bump his head when he signed up for this?

REINCARNATION

Japanese director Motsumora is shooting the movie “Memories”, which is based on the true story of a college professor who goes on a murderous rampage at a hotel killing not only his family, but hotel employees, guests and finally himself, all in the name of science. You see, the psycho professor was studying reincarnation.

Motsumora decides to take his cast and crew to the actual hotel where the murders took place 35 years earlier to get them ‘in touch’ with the victims and it seems that his cast is taking the term ‘getting into character’ literally as they reenact that fateful day scene by scene in this scary tale of crime and punishment.

Japanese horror is always a joy to watch with its creepy images and simple effects that give you goose-bumps and although there are some parts that are just too strange to even try to understand along with a decent plot twist, this was definitely an enjoyable film. I just hope that if I am reincarnated I come back as some kind of animal…..