I have a question.
Can you rank these films without giving spoilers?
I posted this question here because I didn't want to receive bias from any of these films' respective boards.
Thanks ahead of time...
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
It Follows - Tense, suspenseful, scary, extremely atmospheric, and quite simply my favorite pure horror film of the last ten years. Loved the cast, the direction, the score. You can poke all sorts of holes in the premise, but the execution was so strong I didn't care. I rate this a 9.5/10.
The Conjuring - I saw this once not long after it came out and I thought it was decent but thoroughly unexceptional. I'll be upfront about how I don't care for the films of James Wan. I think he's probably the most overrated genre filmmaker of the past several years. I've never found any of his visual imagery the least bit scary (the demon in Insidious being the least intimidating big-screen horror villain I've seen in a while). He also has a tendency to try to mix the eerie and atmospheric with a hyperkinetic, aggressive style and I just don't think it's worked in any of his films. I especially disliked the path this film took in its last half-hour, but that's all I'll say since I don't want to give spoilers. This is his best movie because there are solid performances and a number of effective setpieces, but that last half-hour derailed the film. I rate it a 6/10.
The Babadook - I admit I'll need to see this one again. I understand what it was striving for, but for the most part, I found this a grating psychological thriller. The lead actress delivered an excellent performance, but the child was so shrill and annoying that it took a lot of effort just to keep watching. Basically, well-made but not particularly gripping or entertaining to me. 5 out of 10 for me.
I'd rate Sinister a 7.5 out of 10.
Thanks for the thorough input.
Something tells me I should watch them in that order, starting with The Babadook, The Conjuring, and then It Follows last.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
Be curious what you think when you see them. I wish I loved all three as I watched them all with high expectations (even though I didn't care for Wan's past films, the reviews for The Conjuring were so good), but 1 for 3 is better than nothing. I actually rushed to see It Follows in theaters as soon as I heard it got a wide release. It was wonderful to see on the big screen.
shareWell since we've had some exchanges here, I guess we might as well have a little chit-chat on the topic of horror films.
Just curious: What sort do you like? Psychological horror..? Atmospheric horror..? Ghostly stuff..? Gory stuff..?
For over ten years now Horror films have been incredibly bland, generic, throwaway pieces of emptiness with strangely synthetic sets, bad lighting, no atmosphere or compelling characterization, and really cheap "scares." So my expectations for any "scary movies" these days are always extremely low. I won't be expecting much from any of the three movies above (and yet somehow that still won't guarantee I'll get much out of them; but I'm curious, though).
On the other hand, I have a huge collection of obscure horror gems from different decades. They are really cool, chilling works (half of them are British teleplays from the 70s). I can suggest some if you might be interested.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
Very nice of you to offer recommendations. About the only genre of horror I don't care for is torture porn. I otherwise enjoy just about every kind of horror film there is. I have to admit it's been a while since I've gone back and watched the classics. When I was in high school and college, I tried to catch as much 80s horror as I could. I have to admit I'm not as well versed in 70s horror as I should be (I've seen the obvious classics: Exorcist, Jaws, Alien, Dawn of the Dead, Halloween, TCM, etc.; but not much beyond that). In the last several years, I've primarily been watching the newer stuff that's been coming out. You are correct that the horror genre has become very bland, though I still see the occasional bright spot.
shareWell I finally watched The Conjuring a few hours ago.
I hadn't even remembered your post above briefly reviewing the film. As I watched it with my ex-girlfriend, I mentioned how I felt the film became too energetically overblown in its last 15-to-20 minutes. And sure enough, upon revisiting your post above, you stressed the same complaint (though you mentioned 30 minutes, which, I suppose is more accurate, since I also felt the tie-in with the entity attempting to threaten the paranormal couple's daughter back at their home was a bit tacked on or unnecessary). The energetic tone of the climax was unbalanced.
I can almost envision every portion of the film that Warner Bros. had edited into the script. The climax in The Conjuring resembled those elements that they also forced into the reedits of Blatty's The Exorcist III and Schrader's Exorcist: Dominion. Alterations were ordered in the case of both films after their initial shoots had been completed. Both films consequently have multiple edits and completely alternate versions. Warner Bros. has a history of such antics. In the case of The Conjuring, I imagine they ordered rewrites incorporating additional elements into the script before preproduction even began (perhaps stuff like, excess application of crucifixes and emphases on spiritual belief in parts of the film, for example; an intelligent film would leave religious matters ambiguous, like Poltergeist or The Exorcist).
It's too bad because I thought The Conjuring was very good for the first hour or so. Its resolution, though, was a tad painful to watch. It ended like an episode of X-Files or something. The film was doing so well up until the exorcism moments, and even then I could accept it as some over-the-top occurrence. But some of the dialogue became cookie-cutter and the emotions portrayed became rather hammy/cheesy. I've no doubts that certain moments during the exorcism itself were forced into the movie by execs (watch Renny Harlin's reshoot of Exorcist: Beginning for more of this).
It was scaring my ex a bit at the end (lol). Too bad the film sorta fell apart for me. Oh well... at least horror is on the right track lately, and Crimson Peak is out in less than a weak.
I will watch The Babadook and It Follows soon.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
I have not seen Babadook, but I did see the other 2 films.
The Conjuring interested me because it was based (somewhat) on actual events, family,and actual investigators.
After I saw the movie, I looked up some information about the real family and the real husband and wife paranormal investigators. It made the movie fun to re-watch.
"Sinister" scared the dickens out of me....especially as the movie progressed.
I would watch it again.
I heard they made a Sinister 2 recently, but I heard it's not as good as the first one.
We'll have to see though.
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I saw a trailer for The Conjuring. It seemed to have a documentary sort of format. If this is the case, then that sucks. I was looking forward to a straightforward decent spook film (something that hasn't been done well in ages). Oh well... at least there's a chance that Horror could be getting on the right (or a better) track.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
It Follows was probably the most pointless movie I've seen on years. I would give it 3/10.
I haven't seen The Conjuring.
The Babadook was a 7/10 until a disappointing third act.
Sinister was fairly intriguing in parts but in the end it's just a Frankenstein's monster of a film, cobbled together from bits and pieces stolen from other, mostly much better, movies (The Exorcist, Saw, Poltergeist, 8mm, etc)
It follows- 3/10 -not scary. Boring. Confusing. Didn't explain anything.
The babadook- 9/10 - scary. Creative and had really good acting.
The conjuring- 8/10 - scary classic haunted house film.
Perhaps I shall watch the three of them in October.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
Good, and then afterwards you can ask yourself why you spam boards with questions irrelevant to the actual film. This is the Sinister board. You seem to be completely consumed by the feelgood factor which makes you think you can go in blindly and ask n00b questions where they don't belong. You're a giddy, overexcited horror n00b. Most people know the type. Don't do this again.
shareGood, and then afterwards you can ask yourself why you spam boards with questions irrelevant to the actual film.Do you know the definition of spam? If so, provide it to me as well as examples that support your accusation.
You seem to be completely consumed by the feelgood factor which makes you think you can go in blindly and ask n00b questions where they don't belong.Can you rephrase this and make it tighter? Sometimes concise articulation is better than more sophisticated and complicated diction. What are you really trying to say? ("Completely consumed"..? LOL, nice exercise to see how many words one can fit in a sentence to make it as complex a sentence as possible; I look forward to evidence in the form of quotes of mine that help to illustrate just how "consumed" I am here)
You're a giddy, overexcited horror n00b.You've used this word twice and I don't know what it means. Also, again, please provide evidence that helps to support your usage of words like "giddy" and "overexcited." I see no such theatrics or dramatics in this thread; only respectful discussion between posters who were nice enough to address my OP with out a fit.
Most people know the type.Don't you have the balls to speak for yourself and yourself only..?
Don't do this again.There aren't words or sentences in the English language sarcastic enough to give this sentence the proper response it deserves. I'll therefore take it as sarcasm in itself and pretend you are imaginatively assuming the caricature role of some sort of high-ranking officer. My fittingly comical response is therefore, "Yes sir!" Although, in actuality, I think we both know that in the future, I'll more than likely do as I damn-well please.
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Similar thread here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1457767/board/nest/247228390?d=247486569#247486569
It Follows 7.5/10
The Conjuring 5.6/10
Haven't seen Babadook.
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A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him.
It Follows is the best of the bunch you mentioned. Superb film. It's well-crafted and quite an original take on some common horror themes.
Sinister would be next on the list. Not a perfect film, but quite good.
The Babadook was OK. It was very heavy-handed in its message -- nothing subtle about it. It also loses steam about two-thirds of the way through and ceases to be scary. A good movie for people who don't like to have to think about what they're watching, as it spoon-feeds everything to the audience.
The Conjuring is easily the worst of the bunch. A silly, unrealistic plot based on tired "supernatural" tropes.
I agree re IT FOLLOWS. Although nothing is explained... it was an unsettling movie. I thought about it long afterwards. Imagine always having to be alert and on the move because something is coming for you, no one else can see it and there's no stopping it.
A family moving into a creepy house in the middle of nowhere has been done to death.
Over the course of a year we swallow 4 spiders in our sleep
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i honestly believe whoever doesn't like 'the babadook' has issues
i honestly believe whoever doesn't like 'the babadook' has issues.I must agree with this. I finally watched it last night and it was a terrific film. I was quite impressed. A much better film than The Conjuring, it exceeded my expectations.
I do have issues -- I have issues with horror movies that don't scare me. I never once felt those characters were in danger. It was so obvious that the "evil" was just a metaphor for depression. Once I realized that the characters were never in any actual danger, it was just a snoozefest. At least a movie like The Shining provides some good entertainment to go along with its metaphors.Boy oh boy...
It Follows is the best of the three.
The Babadook is also quite good.
Did NOT care for The Conjuring.
Well I finally watched It Follows last night. That was a very interesting, constantly engaging, and superbly directed film. It's basically a slasher with an innovative premise and unique plot elements.
I liked The Babadook more, but It Follows was good and equally well-directed. I am inspired and proud of both the directors of these two movies. The funny thing is, both movies had a production budget of only $2 million. That's damn good. Fantastic even! And quite the coincidence. It Follows made about $14 million, however, while The Babadook made about 7 (not counting DVD sales for either). I am thoroughly impressed. This is huge for rising filmmakers worldwide.
I will agree that The Conjuring became too silly and perhaps even a bit cringeworthy in its final twenty minutes or so. It was actually damn-good up until a certain point. That's a pity.
I'd love to know what the director of It Follows could do with another atmospheric film that isn't exactly a slasher.
I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way
It Follows may be the best horror movie in the last decade.
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