Old Movies Like Old Friends - "Innocent Blood"

There are movies that come on cable that I'll always watch because I love the emotional payoff they give me, even if I already own them on DVD.  This list is as varied as my mood, which is why you'll find "Somewhere In Time" along with "Innocent Blood".

This movie got my attention because it's directed by John Landis, who was fresh in fame from "An American Werewolf in London".

Basically, Marie (Anne Parillaud) is a vampire who enjoys sex as much as blood.  Her personal credo is "don't play with the food".  However she makes the mistake of accepting the invitation of a crime boss named Sallie (Robert Loggia), who finds out the hard way what Marie is.  Before she can kill him, she has to escape being killed herself by his henchmen.

Joe (Anthony LaPaglia) has been working undercover, trying to infiltrate the mob.  When he goes after Marie, and finds out what she is, sparks fly. They become lovers.  So when Sallie wakes up as a vampire, Marie tells Joe she has to kill the crime boss before he bites and infects others.

If you love vampires and love stories, this movie is for you.  It's a typical Landis film, which means it contains graphic horror, but black comedy is prevalent throughout.

Hey, how about "some Italian" tonight!

Mooney Does Movies: "Let the Right One In"

I've been reading in my favorite horror magazines about this movie. About how it takes the usual vampire tale into a whole new realm. Well, to be honest, I'm very leery about being told how "unique" and "different" something is, because about half the time I disagree.

Lemme tell you - this movie takes vampires into a whole new realm!

Based on the book by John Ajvide Lindqvist (and screenwritten by the author), LTROI takes place in Sweden. The DVD released in the U.S. is dubbed, although the deleted scenes are in Swedish with English subtitles.

The story is a basic, sweet little love story with a horrific twist. Twelve year old Oskar meets twelve-ish year old Eli when she and her "poppa" move into the apartment next door. The attraction is instantaneous, but Oskar is hesitant in only a boy-with-a-crush can be. He has every right to be, especially after he discovers that Eli is a vampire, cursed to be forever locked in a preadolescent body.

In addition, Oskar is the target of a group of boys who take special delight in tormenting and bullying him. Oskar bears their brutality as best he can, until Eli takes notice and tries to convince him to fight back.

The movie sets a very pervasive tone with the harshness of the winter weather. Seeing Oskar bundled up, nose running from the intense cold, and seeing Eli sitting in her sleeveless shirt and barefoot on top of a mountain of snow, makes their differences all the more striking.

Of the whole movie, two scenes stand out in my mind (no spoilers here) - when Eli tells Oskar she has to be invited into his house (since, according to legend, vampires cannot cross thresholds of homes inhabited by the living unless asked), and the final scene between the bullies and Oskar at the swimming pool. What happens in those two instances will forever remain with me.

Rating: a full moon

I will be getting this movie for my Keepers Collection.

Mooney Does Movies: "SAW V"

The tag line says "You won't believe how it ends." Trust me, you won't.

Bad points: A lot of time is spent showing you how one of the "victims" in the past is actually working with Jigsaw. (Other than Amanda.) Nothing really convoluted, but I was more interested in seeing how the latest batch of victims solves their dilemma and survives the traps. I would guess two-thirds of the movie concentrates on one police detective still investigating Jigsaw's past.

Good points: A neat salute to E.A. Poe. Every movie begins with a victim, and this one will not disappoint because it doesn't conclude the way you expect it to. The victims and traps are pretty decent. Special grisly effects are superb. But the ending...whoa!

Is this version as good as the others? Not really, but it still has its moments. Will you want it? Sure, especially if you're collecting the series. Will there be a SAW VI? Count on it.

I give this movie a three-quarter moon.

Jigsaw may be gone, but not forgotten.

Think "apprentice".

Mooney Does Movies: "Splinter"

Horror movies can be labeled in three categories: evil men, creature features, or supernatural (unknown forces, etc.) SPLINTER is a creature feature, although the reason for it existing is never explained.

This little direct-to-DVD features a bunch of new names (Jill Wagner, Shea Whigham, and Paulo Costanzo), and is directed by a first-time director Toby Wilkins.

Shame it had to go to DVD because its quality and fear factor is enough to make it a damn good theater release.

In short, the story is about a likeable couple who are off to celebrate their anniversary with an overnight camping trip. The camping trip doesn't work out, so they head into the nearest town and motel. Unfortunately, they are carjacked by another couple who have no qualms about holding a gun to their head.

Since cars still need gas, they stop at the next station to fill up, and that's where they come across SPLINTER, a faceless, formless entity who has already taken over the body of the gas attendent. And, unfortunately, the living dead guy comes after them to infect them as well.

The movie becomes a "hostage in a small space" saga with unexpected grossness, scares, and events, which I will not elaborate on for fear of spoilage. Suffice it to say, even I flinched at a couple of scenes.

The makeup and special effects are top notch. The acting is credible, and the ending is, well, typical. But overall, a damn good scare if you're in the mood for a no-brainer.

I give this one a three-quarter moon.

Mooney Does Movies: "Quarantine"

When "The Blair Witch Project" came out with its shaky camera work and in-your-face reality, it broke new ground. I liked it because it was a fresh approach, and although there was zilch blood-letting, the movie scared the beejeebers out of me.

Then there was "Cloverfield", which I LOVED. Again, the basis of the movie was one lone person videotaping a "real" event as it was happening. In this case, a Godzilla-type monster destroying New York City. Like BWP, the only thing I had to oversome per se was slight dizziness brought on by the constant camera movement.

Now, here's "Quarantine". Based on the Spanish film "REC" (which hasn't been released in the US yet), it's the story of a woman reporter and her lone videographer following a bunch of firemen as they answer calls around town.

One call sends them to an apartment building where they find some of the tenants foaming at the mouth and attacking others like mad dogs, chewing through necks and arms. Unfortunately, while these firemen and police, and the newslady with her tag-along camera man, are trying to figure out what's going on, the building is battened down tighter than Fort Knox. And anyone who tries to escape is, well, shot.

This movie slapped me in the face with improbabilities. Like, if someone's shut off the power, how is the elevator able to work? And how long IS the battery life for one video camera?

At first I wasn't impressed. Well, not until I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about it. Now I want to see it again because the damn movie has gotten under my skin. I also want to see it in another theater because the one I was in had the film way too dark (you could barely make out the characters when the camera was using its night vision.)

I also want to the see the original Spanish version when its released in the US.

Will this movie scare you? Hell, yeah. Worse if you're in a theater with a bunch of scream-happy teenagers.

Initially I planned to give this movie a half moon. After a restless night, I'm changing my vote to a 3-quarter moon.

Initially, I didn't think I would be interested in getting a copy of this movie once it was released on DVD. I'm re-evaluating THAT thought as well!

Mooney Does Movies: "It's Alive"

Check out the Cohen version, originally released in the 70s. Back when horror was produced without CGI.

IMDB is here.

Wikipedia is here.

Want to spend Halloween with a good old-fashioned scare? Try it! It's a classic!