Saw this film today. Absolute blast! I was transported back to the 80's. It's everything a kids adventure cum horror film should be. Dante is still a class act and it shows, as he gives a lesson to modern day film makers on how to mount and sustain an effective, involving drama. Some scenes are VERY scary for a 12A. Shades of Poltergeist and Disturbia, coupled with the chills of The Ring and Sixth Sense. The music was okay, lots of strings ala Herrmann/Psycho, but how I wished Dante could have rejoined with Pino Donaggio, as Jerry is no longer with us But that's not to dissmiss Navarrete, who does a very good job with a real orchestra. I just would have loved a new Pino score on this one. Still, don't miss the film. Highly recommended.
Any word on a release date yet? Or is this going to be direct-to-DVD? I've been almost as anxious for a new Dante movie as I've been a Carpenter movie, and now both are returning with movies I'm eager to see.
Considering the current fascination with 3D, it should have a good chance of getting a cinema release first in most territories. Having said that, I saw it today on it's first day and the cinema was pretty empty. I've seen a few ads on TV for it - FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GREMLINS!! - maybe some good reviews will help it along.
Saw this film today. Absolute blast! I was transported back to the 80's. It's everything a kids adventure cum horror film should be. Dante is still a class act and it shows, as he gives a lesson to modern day film makers on how to mount and sustain an effective, involving drama. Some scenes are VERY scary for a 12A.
Agreed. Some scenes such as the clown puppet are genuinely frightening, and I'm in my forties. But it's generally really good natured and very nicely done.
The 3D is well thought out and well used - it's been designed that way. I suspect my local hasn't got the 3D filter thingy precisely aligned because I was getting ghosting on some shots (where there was a light-dark contrast, such as scenes in the cellar). But it's a lot better than Piranha where the 3D has been done entirely in post.
Musically it was okay - nothing to get me anywhere near a CD release but there were several times when I thought "Jerry Goldsmith would have nailed that moment". Ah well....
So it's actually out in theaters now. I had no idea. I checked with the ones around me, but they don't have it. I'm guessing it's a limited release or something. I haven't even seen any ads on TV.
So it's actually out in theaters now. I had no idea. I checked with the ones around me, but they don't have it. I'm guessing it's a limited release or something. I haven't even seen any ads on TV.
I don't think you are in England. You have to be to see it at this time.
I'm gonna join in the praise for this one. A wonderful cinematic experience. Creepy as hell, but no gore, sex, torture, gross-out whatsoever. Just good clean fun. I missed Jerry more than Pino. He would have added another layer. Strangely, this film opened on Wednesday but has received no reviews in the papers today. That's a shame. It doesn't stand a chance against disappearing within a week
Strangely, this film opened on Wednesday but has received no reviews in the papers today. That's a shame. It doesn't stand a chance against disappearing within a week
After the laughable UK release of Cop Out, I have vowed to make sure I see stuff I want to see during the opening week, since there's no guarantee it's even gonna be there for a second.
Strangely, this film opened on Wednesday but has received no reviews in the papers today. That's a shame. It doesn't stand a chance against disappearing within a week
Odd. I'm fairly sure that the Telegraph wrote it up, if briefly. And Mark Kermode banged on about it this afternoon on Radio 5.
I'll probably wait for the 2D version as I get headaches watching the 3D one but it's great that Mr Dante is back.
I see from Empire that Mr Landis and Mr Carpenter also have new movies out-what with the resurrection of the 80's action stars in The Expendables, and the re-release of BTTF in the cinema, we seem to be having a mini 80's boom.
Deeley Boppers and Pop Socks will be back. Arrrgh!
I was actually on the lookout for the 2011 film by the same name, but then stumbled over this instead. I was amused how it seemed to harken back to the good ol' horror/comedy films of the 80's when - lo and behold - it turned out to be directed by Joe Dante himself. That came as a surprise!
The score was pretty straightforward horror stuff, but Navarette is an expert on that. He's good with those lush horror licks.
Still waiting for this one. Has yet to be released here in the US. I thought about buying the Region 2 Blu-Ray since a lot of BRs are region free, but when I looked into it I found, of course, that it is region-locked. Hopefully sometime this year it will finally be released here, even if it's just direct-to-video.
