de Horror Snobs, outubro 29, 2020
26

Everybody always writes about "the best" and "top 10" but what is scarier at Halloween time, turning the lights low, settling with your popcorn for a good chill fest and falling asleep from the sheer boredom.  Damn the popcorn bowl is on the floor and the piece that got stuck in your tooth left more feeling than that title you watched. Or didn't watch. Imagine the horror if you spilled your drink too.

So these titles are ones for you to steer clear of to avoid that situation. We gave our reasons why we felt they were bad and why we watched them, so now you don't have to.  If you have had the displeasure of watching these, what did you think?  


OAL's Choices


Movie Name: 
Dead Waves

Country:
 Japan

Release Date:
  Feb 5, 2005

Duration: 
1 hr. 17min
Hiroshi Usui is the producer of a hit TV show about exorcisms, but ratings have been falling lately. To combat this, the producers visit the Nagao residence and perform an exorcism on a young woman said by her eccentric family to be possessed, but the procedure goes horribly wrong. Meanwhile, Hiroshi is party to information about "dead waves", signals from malign spirits that combine with television waves, which he begins to believe in when he realizes that increased numbers of local suicides--including that of his ex-girlfriend--coincide with his show.


My Rating:
  5.5/10
MDL Ratings: 4.7/10 from 15 users

Why I watched it. LOOK at THE COVER. Doesn't it just beg horror fans PLEASE watch me? Damn deceptive cover. So we start with Boresville-san going to Crazy girls house for his boring job. And then... some cool stuff.. .and it goes right back into snoozeville. I DARE YOU to watch this and give me some good points. The bad editing and incomprehensible storyline will send shivers down your spine.


Movie Name:
Pray

Country: 
Japan

Release Date: 
Oct 16, 2005

Duration: 
1 hr. 17 min.


Two young adults, Mitsuru and his girlfriend, Maki, kidnap a little girl and hold her for ransom to pay off a drug-related debt. As they hide out at an abandoned school, they attempt to call the girl's parents only to find out from her parents she has been dead for a year. Mitsuru's friends also arrive, with ulterior motives of their own. Soon, members of the group are brutally killed by an unseen force. Is the mysterious little girl responsible, or is something far more sinister at work?


My Rating:
  5.5/10
MDL Ratings: 5.8/10 from 47 users

The internet sang the praises of this while writing ASK MDL: Halloween back in 2018. Don't believe everything the internet tells you. The premise sounds amazing. The execution of this work should have met the guillotine long before reaching the film editors' computer. Bad, bad acting, poor editing and huge gaps in the story make this nearly unwatchable.

Movie Name: 
Hana-dama

Country: 
Japan

Release Date: 
Jan 18, 2014

Duration: 
1 hr. 46 min.


Transfer student Aonuma Mizuki is bullied mercilessly by classmate Aya and others. Nevertheless, Mizuki is always able to maintain her calm composure. Kirie, who has a passive character and is also bullied, becomes interested in Mizuki and longs for her. The two become close. With a guy named Shibanai, Mizuki and Kirie decide to stand up to their tormentors. Mizuki, though, is badly beaten by Aya. Kirie and Shibanai are assaulted by teachers and endure shocking violence. Mizuki decides to get revenge. She wanders the street at night. At that time, Mizuki becomes possessed by a poisonous flower spirit. The madness of the flower spirit begins.

Movie Name: 
Hana-Dama: Phantom

Country: 
Japan

Release Date:
 Feb 27, 2016

Duration: 
1 hr. 23 min.


Teiichi (Shima Ohnishi) works as a projectionist at a movie theater that is about to close down. One day, he sees a girl in black reflected onto the screen. He checks the film, but he can't find the girl anywhere there. Later, he finds the girl sitting down in the theater. He hides her in the projectionist room, but she disappears. Teiichi leaves the theater and sees the girl again. He's drawn to the girl's phantom and arrives on the riverside. His lost memory then comes back

My Rating:  3/10 

MDL Ratings: 4.3/10 from 10 users 

Phantom- My Rating:  1/10

 # of Watchers: 3

The synopsis is what drew me to these. More Phantom than the first one, but I like to start at the beginning, so I watched both. GORE PORN should be an effing genre. Cause that's wtf this was. Finding new and inventive ways to violate girls and their corpses. Enough squick to go around and share. Why did I watch the second after having to live through the first? Hope is a terrible thing. Hope that that synopsis meant it was a better movie. NOPE, it was worse!!!!

Movie Name: 
Vampire Night

Country:
 Japan

Release Date:
 May 6, 2017

Duration: 
1 hr. 13 min.


Police officer, Yukimura Sayo, and her younger sister, Miwa, who is an archer with an injured elbow, visit a ryokan located deep in the mountain. What the sisters don't know is that this traditional inn, famous for a nearby hot spring with healing qualities, is in fact a den for vampires...
My Rating:  3/10

MDL Ratings: 5.4/10 from 17 users

I love a good vampire story; this was not it. I have watched ALOT of bad vampire movies over the years, but this takes the cake.  Bad, bad acting, being hurt one second, not hurt the next scenes, terrible editing.  And before you yammer on about Budget etc. look at the year it was made.  Any amateur on a computer can make better edits for FREE. Acting by kids in elementary school play would have won Oscars next to this.  Just no.  Once again if you feel brave enough to challenge my claim, go ahead and watch this title.

Soju's Choices
Movie Name: 
Cello

Country:
 Korea

Release Date:
 August 18, 2005

Duration: 
1 hr. 34 min
Mi Ju is a part-time music professor with a tragic past. When she was younger, she was an up-and-coming cellist, until she was in a car accident with her rival/best friend, Tae Yeon. After Tae Yeon died, Mi Ju gave up playing the cello and decided just to teach. One day, she is sent a mysterious cassette tape that contains a haunting cello duet that dredges up some painful memories of Tae Yeon and almost causes her to get into a car accident.
Miju is distant from her loving family, which includes her two daughters, husband and sister-in-law. Her older daughter is mentally disabled and mute but falls in love with a cello she spies in a window. Mi Ju buys it for her and begins to teach her how to play it.
Anyways, things start to get creepy slowly but surely, the family's golden lab, Sunny, begins barking all the time until one morning he is found dead. Mi Ju starts seeing things, her daughter begins playing that haunting song on the cello, the sister-in-law goes crazy after her fiance breaks up with her and "accidents" befall the household. Is Tae Yeon out for revenge or is Mi Ju's guilt driving her crazy?
..  MDL Rating: 7.1 by 78 viewers| My Rating: 6  ..

Trying to look back to this movie brings me back no thrilling memory. There is not even one scene in this movie that stands out to me. Nor does any remaining inkling of fear. I stand by what my opinion about this movie was when I watched it first two years ago — mediocre. I don't even know why I gave it a 6 initially. Might as well go and pull the rating down upon reflection.

Movie Name: 
Mother's Revenge

Country:
 China

Release Date:
 April 15, 2016

Duration: 
1 hr. 24 min
A mother of four who froze to death during a night of heavy snow was brought back to life by a malevolent cat spirit who jumped over her corpse. Summer, Spring, Fall and Autumn find themselves in danger and try to escape their possessed mother.
..  MDL Rating: 5.0 by 9 viewers| My Rating: 5  ..

Alright, I will admit, the message “don’t mistreat your mother” and story-line were clearly thought about in this movie. The production company and screenwriters tried. The movie even started strong with an ominous feel and welcoming attack by the ghost,  but as the movie progressed and you unraveled what it really was about... Honestly, while I had not seen the ending in this movie coming, the entirety of the movie still ended up leaving a bland taste in my mouth.  It just was not scary or all that exciting ‘horror’ wise. 

Movie Name: 
Sunod

Country:
 Philippines

Release Date:
 December 25, 2019

Duration: 
1 hr. 40 min
It centres on a woman who's desperate to find the cure to her daughter's illness. She takes a job at a call centre, only to be haunted by the ghost in it.
..  MDL Rating: 6.4 by 5 viewers| My Rating: 5.5  ..

Okay, this one I watched randomly on YouTube. I was just browsing the app on my TV one day, and since I watch horror movies so often, this came up. I thought “YOLO” and went in. 

When this movie started, I knew I was going to end it with a WTF face.  Now there is a difference between a plot with suspense and a  plot that’s just confusing.

To me, this plot came off as confused. Very confused about where it wanted to go and how it wanted to get there. The execution could have been better.  Besides, right till the last true ‘horror’ part — it really was not frightening.  

Movie Name: 
Bangkok Dark Tales

Country:
 Thailand

Release Date:
 December 25, 2019

Duration: 
1 hr. 40 min

"Bangkok Dark Tales" is a film made from 3 situations 3 horror stories and 3 creepy places in Bangkok that you will never forget.
The first story is about Gam, a businesswoman who has to work overnight on New Year's Eve, and she has to sit next to her workmate's table who died a few weeks ago. The experience that Gam has to face that night, it changes her life forever.
The second story is about Bee, Net Idol wannabe, and Ann, a woman who never believed in ghosts. Both of them come to Bangkok for the 1st time. They were renting a creepy house that use to be a brutal murder family place. Who is gonna survive that night? Let's find out.
And the last story is about the cinema theatre that allows only ghosts to come to see a movie, but suddenly one couple accidentally gets into that cinema. Can they both get out of that cinema? Because it closes permanently and opens for ghosts only.
..  MDL Rating: 6.0 by 2 viewers| My Rating: 5.5  ..

I also found this one on YouTube accidentally one day. I must say, YouTube really is acting as my horror movie supplier at this point hahaha.

Alright anyways, with this movie...they tried, I'll give them that. But unfortunately, everything they tried was a rinse and repeat from almost every wannabe horror project already made. 

It’s like going to a cafe to buy a  piece of chocolate cake but then... 
While it’s not something that will give you diarrhoea, you still know that the cake you’re eating is from Betty Crocker’s packet mix, and it’s also burnt at the bottom. 

In fact, I believe I've seen at least 3 more works where these plotlines have been used. The movie was not scary, it was not something new, and it was nothing exciting. Simply mediocre.

If you really wanna watch something with this structure (3-4 short horror stories within one movie) — I suggest watching “3 A.M. (2012201420142018)”  or “Phobia (20082009)”. Those are far better. 

Wandering_Queen's Choices
Movie Name: 

Judge

Country: 

Japan

Release Date: 

Nov. 8, 2013

Duration:

1 hr 17 min

Seven people who committed the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride are locked up in a sealed space by someone. These seven people must play a game which is a matter of life or death. ~~  Adapted from the manga series "Judge" by Yoshiki Tonogai. 
 [My Rating:    2.5/10] [MDL Ratings: 6.3/10 from 153 users]

I had read the manga and thought it would be a fun movie, so I was excited to watch this one.  Too bad it sucked for me. It isn't much of a horror movie as it is an attempt at a thriller, even then it was boring. I mean, I don't want to knock this movie any harder than I already have, but this shit really gave me a migraine. The camera work with crazy POV movement is awful for any audience to endure for so long.
Movie Name: 

Shaolin vs. Evil Dead

Country: 

Hong Kong

Release Date: 

Nov. 12, 2005

Duration:

1 hr 34 min

Brother White, during his latest mission stumbles across his old nemesis, the vile Brother Black (Louis Fan), whose modus operandi involves annihilating the souls of the dead in lieu of guiding them to a higher plane of reincarnation. Black's intense envy of Brother White drives him to the point of summoning a towering, seemingly unstoppable evil that White must draw on all of his resources to combat.
[My Rating:    2/10] [MDL Ratings: 5/10 from 5 users]

The most horrific thing about this movie is the English dubbing. I watched this movie a long time ago and still recall the level 3000 cringe of the English dubbing. This movie is such a flip. The comedy bits were scary boring, and the horror bits were randomly funny.
Movie Name: 

The Chasing World/Tag

Country: 

Japan

Release Date: 

Jul. 11, 2015

Duration:

1 hr 25 min

A film that depicts young women's fragile and sometimes dangerous emotional turbulence and their fear of being chased by the unknown. Female high school students, including Mitsuko, Keiko and Izumi, become the targets of ghosts with various appearances including a groom with a pig's face and female teacher with a machine gun.
[My Rating:    1.5/10] [MDL Ratings: 6.5/10 from 666 users]
[OAL Rating  Rating:  5/10 ]

I will be honest; I went in blind to this. My friend told me to check it, and to this day, I'm confused as fuck about this movie. It is like a random bunch of scenes stitched together with a player one video game reboot system which is meant to be scary. I don't even know if this movie can be categorized as horror?  The fake blood was just so sad considering all the kill scenes, and the CGI is the worst. Seriously though, what the fuck is this movie? Someone explain it to me.
Movie Name: 

The Wig

Country: 

Korea

Release Date: 

Aug. 12, 2005

Duration:

1 hr 46 min


Before being released home after cancer treatment, Soo Hyun is given a gift box from her sister Ji Hyun (who was made mute after a disturbing roadway accident). Inside the box is a long, black wig which Soo Hyun eventually begins to wear every waking moment. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that something sinister lies within the wig and its history. 
[My Rating:    4/10] [MDL Ratings: 6.1/10 from 319 users]

 I actually have a fear of hair (especially long hair), it creeps me the fuck out. I don't know why the hell I wanted to watch this considering my fear. Anywho, aside from the actual nasty long hair being visible, this movie sucks. It so boring with its cliches and lame jump scares. The most annoying part for me, is why this poor-trying-to-survive-cancer girl has to go through this shit too? Give her a break and pass it to some spoiled rich chick.
Kate's Choices
Movie Name: 

Ghastly

Country: 

Korea

Release Date: 

Aug 4, 2011

Duration:

1 hr 32 min


It all begins when Ka Hee (Hwang Ji Hyeon), an emotionally and psychologically damaged woman, finds a spirit medium to help her address her troubles. Her inability to give birth to a child had long tortured her, and now she will do anything to cheat that fate.
She ends up burying an orphan in a large traditional pot used to bury kimchi underground during the winter and killing him. What she gains for this merciless act is a child of her own. Ka Hee eventually gives birth to a son she names Bin, but Ka Hee soon meets a brutal death.
The film continues as Bin's aunt Sunny (Han Eun Jeong) and her husband, Jang Hwan (Park Seong Min) come to live with the now orphaned Bin in his home, which is haunted and where the pot still is. Bin also starts to reveal his violent side.
[My rating: 3.5/10] [MDL rating: 6.5/10 from 466 users]

I would simply describe it as cheap and lazy. The scariest part of the movie was me worrying about anyone with epilepsy watching it and getting a seizure. It was filled with random flashy light and quickly changing scenes/pictures. Both the story and the acting was questionable, as if they overdone it but did not do enough at the same time. How is that even possible? Most side plots bring NOTHING to the main story; the characters are not consistent in their portray and motives. Also, why they introduced the sub-plot line of the husband having hots for Yoo Rin was beyond me, since it NEVER led to anything. Truly. The sub-plot is just gone at some point, never to be mentioned again. 
Movie Name:
Ju-on: Girl in Black

Country:
Japan

Release Date:
Jun 27, 2009

Duration:
60 min
A nurse named Yuko (Kago) has a strange experience while taking care of a girl named Fukie. Test results show a cyst inside Fukie's body, but that cyst is actually the leftover grudge from a baby who was unable to be born. The cyst's grudge spreads to Fukie and everyone around her. Soon Fukie's father goes mad and commits murder. Fukie's sister Mariko has special spiritual power, and together with their mother, they have some success driving out the evil spirit. But the worst of the grudge is yet to come.
[My rating: 3/10] [MDL rating: 6.5/10 from 392 users]

I'm well aware that Japanese horror often goes for unusual scares and gruesome pictures, but some lines should not be crossed. At some point, it goes from scary and disturbing to ridiculous and laughable. And if you put baby Voldemort in the belly of a young girl, you have crossed the line. The thing is: it was overall boring. I could barely remember any scene right after I finished it. Not to mention the failed jump scares that were so strangely timed and often out of place, I could not care less about them. It was an edgy mess presented unintentionally in a truly comedic way. 
Movie Name:
The Whispering

Country:
Korea

Release Date:
Jul 13, 2018

Duration:
1 hr 31 min
After the notorious college entrance exam, Eun Ha and her friends are supposed to have fun but are still busy to build a better career to enter a better college. “This is going to be our last winter as a teenager, and we should do something memorable!” Woo Sung, the teenage ‘Youtuber’ suggests an idea to go out for a trip. On their way to the beach, they unexpectedly arrive at a spooky closed-down haunted house, where the owner killed his wife and daughter. Despite a shaman’s warning to stay away from this haunted house, Woo Sung plots to broadcast a fake live show of ghosts. When they are shooting, each friend disappears one by one after hearing a whisper. And when Eun Ha is trying to find her friends, she hears another whisper of somebody she knows.
[My rating: 3.5/10] [MDL rating: 6.1/10 from 165 users]

Truly nothing worked in this movie. What even was it? Started as a typical horror, moved on to be a slice of life set in high school. Then it gives the psychological thriller vibes, to end with some cheap jump scares typical for found footage and paranormal horrors. They introduced too many plot lines for both living and dead characters, but in the end, none of them is explained and explored enough for me to care.

Worst aspect? The cast had no chemistry. Nothing was believable coz I could not even grasp why these people were friends and decided to go anywhere together. You had all types of stereotypical horror characters, but since there was no clear connection between them, I felt like they might kill each other before the ghosts do. I kind of wanted them to die as soon as possible, so both their and my suffering would end, and I could turn the movie off.
Movie Name:
Horror Stories II

Country:
Korea

Release Date:
Jun 5, 2013

Duration:
1 hr 35 min
The omnibus film will hold episodes centered around the theme of ′afterlife′:

"Beginning Story - 444": Department Head Park and new employee Se Young walk into the secret basement storage room to take out old files. Park knows Se Young possesses a freaky talent, which is to communicate with the dead. Park orders Se Young to draw out secrets from cases that are suspected of insurance fraud. At 4:44 AM, when their stories about to end, a dark shadow is cast over them.

"Cliff - Jeolbyuk": Dong Wook and Sung Kyun are stuck on a dizzying cliff, where they can't see the ground. They only have one candy bar. In order to live, one of them has to die.

"Accident - Sago": Ji Eun, Mi Ra, and Sun Joo fail a teacher certification examination. To cheer themselves up, they set out on a road trip. Due to an accident, it soon turns into a nightmare.

"Escape - Talchool": On his first day as a trainee teacher, Byeong Shin is humiliated by his students. He follows a strange story told by his student Tan Hee, who is possessed by black magic. He then becomes locked in the entrance to Hell.
[My rating: 3.5/10] [MDL rating: 6.4/10 from 323 users]

I don't even know. The first Horror Stories was not that great either, but at least the connecting plot was engaging and interesting to watch. Here, they failed from the Beginning (Story). Cliff legit seemed like a Snickers ad and Accident was painfully predictable and boring with close to zero horror elements in it. I was a bit excited for Escape since I enjoyed the story from the Horror Stories directed by Jung Bum Sik, but what I've got here I could never predict. It didn't fit the mood of all the other stories, was far more focused on ridiculous humour and crazy plotlines than horror, but it was at least a bit entertaining.

Even though the first Horror Stories were mediocre, this had even less plot, less interesting characters and less proper scares. 

So Guys and Ghouls, what do you think?  
Give us your opinion on these titles in the comment section below!


Edited by Jojo (1st editor), KimWanHee (2nd editor)

the chasing world dead waves pray hana-dama vampire night cello mother's revenge sunod bangkok dark tales shaolin vs. evil dead judge the wig ghastly ju-on: girl in black the whispering horror stories ii