J*A*S*M

It is foolish to expect even average quality from anything coming out of the Sci-Fi Channel, and Living Hell is very bad. The only positive thing that could be said about it is that it’s not too boring. The TV quality can be clearly seen both on the actors and – mainly – the special effects, which look more like something out of an old video game than a modern movie. I could never recommend this to anyone, but there’s worse crap out there. 20%.

That was quite some bullshit, but pretty original at that; it was watchable. The performances aren’t good, the film doesn’t have anything interesting to offer and I will probably forget I watched it in a couple of days, but on the other hand, it’s not the kind stuff that makes you curse its creators when you watch it. Killing Ariel would fit better in an anthology series. 35%.

What a big surprise this film was! Since I didn’t know much about it beforehand, during the first twenty minutes I was pleasantly curious about what would happen next. And what a joy it was to see that someone had finally fulfilled my wish and chose the topic of Nazi experiments, one that offers innumerable possibilities for the horror genre. The entire film is permeated by a good atmosphere and there are even some effective jump-scares at the beginning. Most of the story takes place in an abandoned underground military base, which helps a lot. Outpost joins the group of successful new English horror, it has many elements of it, like the cold northern rawness of Wilderness, for instance. Recommended, 65%.

Exploitation drowning in a sea of clichés, holes in logic and awful performances. The first half is terribly soporific, while the second half is only about how the victims will be massacred and thus depends on the execution. The torture scenes are not that terrible, they are average, but they, and the film as a whole, reek of amateurism. Regarding my judgment, the entire film swings between Boo! (mostly the first half) and two stars (mostly the second half), and I think 20% is appropriate. Yeah, and it’s supposed to be based on real events… sure!

A pretty enjoyable and watchable little crocodile movie. It didn’t make me shiver in fear, but it did manage to make me feel some tension. It’s a pity that when the crocodile attacks or eats someone, we don’t get to see much. Also, in terms of screenplay, those 90 minutes are rather empty. I’m aware the film’s main focus is the psychology of the characters, but that could have been the background of something other than the template “for the boat and back”. What is certainly good are the beautiful settings and the credibility of the plot as a whole.

Wow, this was “great”! Not only was this a big pile of bullshit, but the special effects were awful, and so were the actors, and it wasn’t even fun. If the intention of the creators was to make a serious horror film… no, let’s leave it there. But I’m glad I avoided falling asleep because that ending was awesome! :D

Bravo! The Spaniards confirm once more their privileged position on the horror scene. The Orphanage doesn’t surprise with an original plot but with its ability to generate true fear and tension through a strong effect on the subconscious. The entire film relies on a very carefully built atmosphere that forces the viewer to feel fear, even if there is nothing to really be afraid of, there aren’t any heart-attack inducing jump-scares, no manifestations of terrifying ghosts; everything works with sounds, plays with light and dark, and the camera movements.

Finally a ghost story that didn’t bore me. The climax was a lot of fun in fact, it’s a pity it wasn’t longer. That said, I didn’t feel fear for a second, I was startled only twice and the first half at least is generic, so I don’t understand very well all that enthusiasm. Above average for the subgenre, but I prefer other kind of films.

I must give it a full score. It’s truly nerve-wrecking, with a perfect villain, it really worked on me overall, something that doesn’t happen very often. The runtime is right, if it was longer it would need to repeat itself and would get boring. The entire film has a pretty gloomy and depressive tone, making the moments when the characters get a chance to escape all the more shiny. The logic stumbles in some parts, but it can be forgiven thanks to how flawless everything else is. Objectively 80%, but for me it’s 99%.

This movie is awesome! It’s been long since a horror film pulled me into the story in such way that I felt scared. REC is probably the best and most original zombie flick I’ve even seen and far above all the other films shot with a “handheld camera”. Unlike Blair Witch, it never gets boring (really, things move at full steam from beginning to end, there isn’t a single quiet moment), the characters are very believable in their fear, terror and ignorance, and their behaviour is logical (unlike Cloverfield). The old house and the fact that danger can lurk behind every door generate an amazing atmosphere that is best enjoyed watching the film alone and in the dark. I now must correct my ranking of favourite horror movies. Wholeheartedly recommended.