Character Spotlight- Rachel Carruthers- Halloween 4 & 5

**This post contains spoilers**

Michael Myers has his sights set on returning to Haddonfield, Illinois, after a violent escape during a late night ambulance ride. Myers’ new target? His eight year old niece, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris). Jamie, haunted by nightmares and visions of Myers, leans on her adoptive family for support. Jamie’s stepfather, Richard (Jeff Olson), and her stepmother, Darlene (Karen Alston) are dedicated to building and providing a loving home for Jamie. But her stepsister, Rachel (Ellie Cornell) is more concerned about having to cancel her date with Brady (Sasha Jenson), because she’s the fill-in babysitter for Jamie. 

Rachel is stressed out. Brady quickly moved on with Kelly Meeker (Kathleen Kinmont). But Rachel has to put the Kelly (aka “little miss hot panties”) dilemma on the back burner, while Michael Myers tears through Haddonfield on Halloween. A night of trick-or-treating with Jamie takes a disastrous turn, leaving Jamie and Rachel with three options: run, hide, or stand and fight.

This is Michael Myers we’re talking about after all. The Shape, The Boogeyman, or as Jamie also calls him, The Nightmare Man. Michael single-handedly annihilated the entire police force, and Myers, the unstoppable killing machine, doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Sure, Jamie has a handful of supporters ready to protect her: Dr Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasence), Sheriff Ben Meeker (Beau Starr), Brady, and I can’t forget about local bar owner Earl (Gene Ross) and his gang of “beer bellies.”

A collection of townspeople and Dr. Loomis are all armed to the teeth, but bullets are not enough to completely stop Myers. Jamie also needs emotional support, and that’s why Rachel plays a crucial role in Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers.

The relationship between Jamie and Rachel has a few awkward ups and downs. There’s the one scene, where Rachel feels the need to have a tricky conversation with Jamie about their relationship, explaining the differences between biological sisters and stepsisters, while reminding Jamie she still loves her all the same. 

Rachel whines and pouts about having to cancel her date with Brady. She quickly apologizes to Jamie (after a few strong and harsh words from her father), and you could say Rachel was just throwing the kind of tantrum that’d you expect from a teenager, who’s upset about missing out on a date.

But Rachel slowly corrects her mistakes, confidently stepping into the role of a big sister. Is she nervous? Scared at times? Sure. Still, Rachel fiercely acts as a shield for Jamie throughout the movie. She’s willing to risk her life during a deadly cat and mouse game. After tossing Earl’s corpse on the side of the road, Rachel, exhausted and fed up with Myers, hits the gas on the pickup truck to run Myers over. Yeah, hitting Myers with a pickup truck wasn’t enough to take him out, but it’s still a big moment in the movie. A few good shots with blood smeared on Rachel’s face, determined and deadly serious about delivering the final blow to Myers. 

Michael Myers is back in Halloween 5, ready to leave another trail of bloody destruction to get to Jamie. Rachel knows how truly dangerous Michael is now. You have to believe she’s more prepared for a fight this time around. Protecting Jamie is the main goal. But there’s a big problem with Rachel’s role in the story for The Revenge Of Michael Myers, because Michael murders Rachel during the early stages of the movie.

Killing off Rachel well before the halfway point of the movie is one of those weird decisions I’ve never been able to understand. She was an important character, filling the role of Jamie’s guardian and her protector, the big sister, who threw herself in harm’s way to ensure Jamie’s safety. 

Rachel’s death is easily one of the more disappointing death scenes in the Halloween franchise. They didn’t even give Rachel a chance to fight back. Michael surprises her, stabs her with the scissors….and that’s it. No struggle, no big chase scene, or any kind of tension to at least give Rachel a chance to survive. Rachel deserved a better send-off. Her death scene is the kind of throwaway kill you save for a newbie character to add to Michael’s kill count. You don’t do THAT to Jamie Lloyd’s big sister.

You can see and feel Rachel’s absence after her death. Sheriff Ben Meeker is still around, but he’s busy trying to organize his police force to hunt Myers. Dr. Loomis is deadly serious about putting an end to Michael’s reign of terror, but age is catching up with him.

So who else can Jamie depend on? Tina (Wendy Kaplan)? She’s more concerned with partying, pulling pranks with Spitz (Matthew Walker) and Samantha (Tamara Glynn), and dealing with her boyfriend, Mike’s (Jonathan Chapin) mood swings. Deputy Nick Ross (Fran Como) and Deputy Tom Farrah (David Ursin)? They’re both numbskulls and bumbling fools. You can take one look at Ross and Farrah, and you’ll instantly know they don’t stand a chance against Myers.

The final images of Rachel in the Halloween series? Her corpse is sitting up in a chair amongst Michael’s creepy collection of dead bodies in the attic. It’s an emotional scene. Rachel is dead, and Jamie is heartbroken, calling out to Rachel for help, because she knows Myers is closing in. To be clear, I’m not against killing off Rachel, BUT her death should’ve meant something. Rachel could’ve been by Jamie’s side during the big finale, fighting with her sister until the end, and maybe Rachel’s death would’ve had a bigger overall impact on the story.

Rachel deserves a spot on Halloween’s list of memorable characters. Ellie Cornell always delivered earnest performances, and the sisterly bond with Danielle Harris was believable. Rachel was forced to make life or death decisions. You always got the impression she was someone, who had to quickly figure things out before Michael had a chance to get his hands on Jamie, a real person dealing with the dangers of trying to survive relentless attacks from a maniac. 

Of course, my only complaint about Rachel is, she should’ve had more screen time in Halloween 5. Rachel and Jamie only have one scene together. Rachel visits Jamie at the children’s clinic, and that’s it. Maybe they didn’t want to do a retread of the events in Halloween 4, reusing the Jamie and Rachel run and hide from Michael, waiting for the right opportunity to strike back formula. But I would’ve preferred watching Rachel guide, and protect Jamie through the madness of surviving Halloween night against Michael Myers over seeing her dead body added to the collection of corpses for Halloween newcomers. 

Character Spotlight- Dr. Dan Challis- Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

 **This post contains spoilers**

Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin) needs help to solve the mystery behind her father, Harry’s (Al Berry) death. The police? A private investigator? Maybe a detective? What about a divorced doctor with two kids? After a chance encounter with Harry at the hospital, and the discovery of one of the many infamous Silver Shamrock Halloween masks, Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins) takes an impromptu trip to the quiet town of Santa Mira with Ellie.

Dan’s helping Ellie find closure and answers for her father’s murder. He’s trying to stop Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy), the evil mastermind behind Silver Shamrock, before the big giveaway happens, hopefully saving the lives of unsuspecting children. Surely he’s a good guy, right? 

Dan’s story is a bit unusual. He’s a doctor, so you could say he likes helping people. But Dan has a noticeably icy and strained relationship with his ex-wife, Linda (Nancy Kyes). Another big problem? Dan has a bad habit of breaking promises to spend time with his son, Willie (Joshua Miller) and his daughter, Bella (Michelle Walker). Towards the end, Dan actually had a good excuse. He was being held captive by Cochran and his army of androids, and Dan was trying to stop a nationwide sacrifice. Still, that’s the only legitimate excuse for Dan’s unfortunate streak of carelessness. 

Dan is a ladies’ man! The coroner’s assistant, Teddy (Wendy Wessberg), playful flirting with Nurse Agnes (Maidie Norman), and his fling with Ellie in Santa Mira. Dan, in spite of all his faults, has a laid-back personality and a knack for smooth talking at the right moments. And let’s not forget, he is a doctor. Dan is a seemingly irresistible Casanova, but on the other side of that, it’s easy to take a guess that infidelity might’ve played a role in his divorce from Linda.

Is Dan a screwup? Sure, he’s a bit selfish. He lied about going to Santa Mira with Ellie, but Dan Challis is not a mean-spirited person. You always get the feeling his heart is in the right place, but he just can’t get out of his own way. One self-induced mistake after another, because Dan would’ve been able to take his kids trick-or-treating, if he never went to Santa Mira with Ellie. 

Tom Atkins brings a likable and cool everyman charm to Dan. It’s almost impossible to not laugh at this guy. His ex-wife hates him. He’s not spending time with his kids, so what does Dan decide to do? He runs off to a town that he’s never been to, with a woman, who’s at least half his age and a six pack of beer. 

Dan is not your typical hero, but he’s a scrappy and resourceful fighter, who won’t quit. He outsmarted Cochran, defeated his androids, and Dan is responsible for destroying the factory. And Dan managed to survive an attack from the android version of Ellie, Cochran’s final curveball. 

It’s ironic how Dan’s irresponsible decisions weirdly leads to him possibly saving everyone from Cochran’s evil scheme. His actions angered Linda, he neglected his kids, and you could say he’s responsible for Teddy’s death. But Dan still puts his life on the line to fight Cochran. 

A man who benefited from a series of lucky breaks, Dan Challis also endures a number of setbacks. Android Ellie, and Dan pleading with the networks to remove (“STOP IIIIIIIITTTT!!”) the Silver Shamrock jingle commercial. Did Dan succeed in stopping the final commercial? We’ll never know for sure, but it doesn’t hurt to believe in the possibility that Dan was able to pull off one last Hail Mary. 

Character Spotlight- Conal Cochran- Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Conal Cochran (Dan O’ Herlihy), a savvy Irish gentleman, the proprietor of Silver Shamrock Novelties, and the savior of a small town named Santa Mira. A toymaker, the master of gags, practical jokes, and Halloween masks, Cochran is seemingly a charming businessman with a big heart. Rafferty (Michael Currie), the hotel manager and one of Cochran’s loyal subordinates, adores Cochran, praising him as a benevolent icon. The big secret? Cochran is an evil mastermind, who’s planning to use Silver Shamrock masks to carry out brutal ritual human sacrifices targeting children.

No underboss. Nobody to claim the title of the right hand man or woman. Conal Cochran is the unquestioned decision maker. He’s the final boss, so it’s easy to understand why Cochran uses androids as his enforcers, an efficient hit squad obeying his orders. 

Cochran, a sharp and obsessive control freak, demands unwavering loyalty. The wiretapped phones, the surveillance cameras, the curfews, and the androids. He’s not going to take any chances trusting flawed humans. No debates, no arguments, and no committees. Need an example? Starker (Jonathan Terry), a “local boy,” was bitter about Cochran denying him a job at the factory. Starker loudly vented about his plans to burn down the factory and eliminate Cochran. Big mistake, because Cochran obviously ordered two of his androids to kill Strarker moments after his rant. 

Cochran mastered the art of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Buddy Kupfer (Ralph Strait), his wife, Betty (Jadeen Barbor), and his son, Little Buddy (Brad Schacter) believed they were about to watch a harmless commercial. Buddy was ready to take notes, and Little Buddy was excited to be the first kid to participate in the big giveaway! The bad news here is, it was all a setup, or a “demonstration” for Cochran to test his deadly Halloween masks. Little Buddy was a guinea pig, suffering a brutal death via his new pumpkin Halloween mask.

That’s what makes Cochran so dangerous. He lures you in with his charisma and his endearing personality. You believe he’s a trustworthy and kind old man, but there’s an insidious monster waiting for the right moment to strike underneath his welcoming persona. Just think about that sinister smile, as Cochran watched Buddy and his family suffer. He enjoyed every second of it, and you could say Cochran had a strong sense of pride knowing his masks actually worked.

Dan O’ Herlihy does a wonderful job of quickly switching gears as Cochran. The aftermath of the “misfire” scene and Marge Guttman’s (Garn Stephens) death sticks out. When Cochran arrives, he’s upbeat and reassuring about Marge’s condition. Of course, it’s all lies. Notice how Cochran’s demeanor changes, when he turns his back and wants to know what happened to Marge. You can hear the tone of his voice change. He’s angry, disappointed, and you can tell Conal Cochran is not the kind of man, who tolerates mistakes, loose ends, or any cracks in the foundation. 

The scene, where Cochran explains why he’s doing what he’s doing is another good one. Listen to the rumbly tone in O’ Herlihy’s voice. It’s sick, but he’s serious about completing his mission. Cochran is disgusted by the reality of Halloween being reduced to children begging for candy, because for Cochran, Halloween has a deeper meaning and a bigger purpose. 

Cochran is unstoppable! Or is he? Cochran is a calculating and cerebral villain. His greatest adversary? Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins)! Cochran, a thinking man, was always one step ahead of Dan and Ellie (Stacey Nelkin). Cochran knew they were lying about being a married couple, and he knew Dan wouldn’t leave the factory without trying to save Ellie. That’s why there’s an android version of Ellie, conveniently waiting for Dan to rescue her. No locked doors, no security protocols, no android guards outside her door. It was almost too easy to rescue “Ellie,” and Dan took the bait. 

Cochran is smart, so what happened? His ego got the best of him. Showing Dan the demise of The Kupfer Family was a big mistake. Dan learned how to use the Silver Shamrock emblems against Cochran and his cronies, because he watched how everything unfolded step by step. 

Taking a few steps back, Cochran could’ve easily ordered the androids to kill Dan, when he snuck into the factory. Dan’s immediate execution would’ve saved Cochran a lot of trouble. Instead, Cochran was more concerned with gloating and celebrating. Ellie (the android version), his plan b or the ace up his sleeve, didn’t stop Dan from warning the networks about his plans.

Cochran realizes he’s been defeated, but something strange happens. Cochran looks up at Dan, smiles, and he gives Challis a final round of applause before his demise. Why? I’ve always believed Cochran was able to respect and admire Dan’s gritty and persistent efforts. Cochran never believed Dan could’ve pulled it off. He was bested by someone, who didn’t stand a chance. Dan, the unlikely and lucky hero, with a fighting spirit, and you could say Cochran graciously accepted his defeat, while acknowledging Dan’s victory. 

But let’s not forget about the final channel playing the dangerous Silver Shamrock jingle commercial. Did Dan really win in the end? Maybe it was a case of too little, too late? We don’t know if the network pulled the last commercial. There’s a chance that Cochran, the ultimate devious prankster, succeeded. You always want to believe everything worked out for the best. The big feel good happy ending, but you simply can’t underestimate Conal Cochran, whether he’s alive or dead. 

Character Spotlight- Rodger- Night Of The Demons (1988)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Hull House is crawling with demons! Run, hide, or fight? Well, panic is Rodger’s (Alvin Alexis) first reaction to everything that happens inside and outside of Hull House. If he can’t run from danger, Rodger will do his best to find the best or any available hiding spots, hoping to wait it out until sunrise. 

Suzanne (Linnea Quigley), Sal (William Gallo), Stooge (Hal Havins), Jay (Lance Fenton), Frannie (Jill Terashita), and Max (Philip Tanzini) were all more concerned with partying and sex. Judy (Cathy Podewell) and Helen (Allison Barron)? They knew something was wrong. And Helen actually saw the demon in the mirror.

Rodger? He warned everyone about the dangers of Frannie’s suggested past life séance. Rodger, the son of a preacher, knows playing around with supernatural evil forces is a bad idea. Notice how seriously Rodger approaches everything compared to everyone else. When Angela (Amelia Kinkade) starts the past life séance, Rodger is the only one, who turns his back to the mirror. He didn’t want to take ANY chances of getting caught up in the madness. 

Rodger, with a justifiably nervous Helen, tried to leave Hull House before anyone else. Sure, Sal eventually realized something was off after Angela’s dance and a bizarre encounter with Suzanne, but it’s a case of too little, too late. 

Is Rodger a coward? He did break Judy’s fall from the roof, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that he bailed on her more than once, when the duo was cornered by demons. The scene in the crematorium? Judy is pushing to escape, to quickly find a way out. Rodger wants to sit and pray, and he’s too scared to make a move.

It’s easy to wag the finger of shame at Rodger. Judy and Sal constantly try to motivate and reassure Rodger, but nothing clicks. He still panics, leading to one conclusion: Rodger is a chicken, who’s only concerned with saving himself. Or maybe he’s not? Imagine this, you’re basically trapped inside a creepy and abandoned funeral home. Your best friends are possessed by demons, and they’re all trying to kill you. On top of all that, you only have a slim chance of making it out alive, IF you can outrun and possibly outsmart Angela and her entire crew until sunrise.

That’s A LOT to deal with, so staying calm, or trying to be the brave hero isn’t so easy. For years, he was an annoying character for me, but if you really pay attention, there’s some strong realism for Rodger’s mindset throughout the movie. He’s reacting and responding how almost anyone would, if they were being chased and hunted by demons. 

Alvin Alexis delivers a convincing performance. You can believe Rodger is genuinely scared. Alexis plays a guy, who’s ready to jump out of his own skin, but Rodger also does whatever it takes to survive, including jumping through a window. Alexis’ performance is also good for a few laughs. Rodger’s outbursts are hilarious, ripping on Stooge, and some chuckles for Rodger bolting at the first signs of trouble. 

It’s also ironic how Rodger winds up being the hero to save Judy (“Climb, girl climb!”) during the finale. Yes, Rodger hesitated. He almost ran away, but he found just enough courage to come back and rescue Judy. You can say a lot about Rodger. He’s a wuss, a chicken, or you could say he’s selfish. Still, what’s important about the ending to his story? The one thing Helen, Stooge, Max, Jay, Frannie, Sal, and Suzanne couldn’t do? Rodger survived. 

Character Spotlight- Corey Cunningham- Halloween Ends

 

**This post contains spoilers**

We’re finally here! It’s time for the final showdown between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, but what about Corey Cunningham? Corey becomes the number one outcast in Haddonfield after accidentally murdering young Jeremy Allen (Jaxon Goldenberg) during a disastrous night of babysitting. It’s a horrific sight, with Jeremy’s body laying in a pool of his own blood. Jeremey’s mother Mrs. Allen (Candice Rose) is frantically screaming for a response from Jeremy, while Corey helplessly stands at the top of the staircase with a knife in his hand. 

The tragedy was an accident, and time is supposed to heal all wounds, right? Corey tries to keep to himself. You can tell he wants to keep a low profile, but Terry (Michael Barbieri) and his gang of hooligans are determined to make Corey’s life a living hell after he refuses to buy them beer.

Little by little, you can see it. Corey is going to snap. He’s angry. Corey is tired of taking the abuse, but there’s still hope! Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) introduces Corey to her granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). 

The relationship between Corey, Laurie, and Allyson starts off well enough. Laurie sees this poor guy, who’s become a villain in Haddonfield. Laurie knows EXACTLY how that feels after the tragic fallout from being one of the main figures, who inspired a lynch mob against Michael Myers in Halloween Kills. Allyson is lonely after the death of her parents and her friends, and she’s one of the few people, who can say she fought and survived Michael Myers. Allyson can be the emotional support system that Corey needs, while Corey helps her recover from the heartache she had to endure in Halloween and Halloween Kills.

So Allyson takes Corey to a Halloween party. He’s having fun, dancing, and Corey is finally coming out of his shell and starting to enjoy himself. But things take a turn for the worst, when Mrs. Allen (Candice Rose) viciously berates Corey about Jeremy’s death. You can see that look of rage on Corey’s face, when he’s leaving the bar.

After another run-in with Terry and his gang, Corey comes face to face with Michael Myers. It’s an eerie scene, where Michael has Corey by the throat, and you see the flashbacks piecing Corey’s story together. This is the big moment, where Corey looked into Michael’s eyes and gave into all the anger and bitterness boiling up inside of him. Michael Myers is not someone to let his victims go free. It’s an unprecedented moment for Myers, because you have to believe he could feel the evil in Corey’s heart. 

Corey’s first kill? Well, you could say Corey murdering the deranged homeless man, who wanted Michael’s mask was self defense. Corey’s visibly upset and shaken up after the murder. But it’s only a matter of time before Corey crosses that fine line for standing up for himself and choosing vengeance. 

You’ll notice the pattern, when Corey takes a more sinister path for setting a trap for Officer Mulaney (Jesse C. Boyd). It’s the first kill, where the odd partnership between Michael and Corey truly starts to materialize. Corey officially gives up on trying to turn his life around, as he encourages Michael to kill Mulaney. The duo team up to beat and slaughter Mulaney. Corey wants Michael to show him how to kill, as Michael regains his strength, and Corey’s bloodlust gets stronger after this scene.

Corey increasingly becomes more brutal and smarter, with how he chooses to approach his murders. The trap he sets for Terry and his gang, and how he calmly slithered into the radio station to kill Willy The Kid (Keraun Harris) and his receptionist (Diana Prince), are two good examples of seeing how things escalate during Corey’s transformation into a cold- blooded killer. 

The big scene where Corey and Michael team up to kill Dr. Mathis (Michael O’Leary), and Deb (Michele Dawson) perfectly encapsulates Michael and Corey’s relationship and Corey’s story. Corey killing Dr. Mathis? It was sloppy and over the top. On the flip side of that, Michael’s approach to murdering Deb was clean and quick. Also, Michael looks at Corey before he stabs Deb to show him how to do it the right way. 

The master teaching the apprentice is a key moment during Deb’s death scene, but there’s a lot more going on here. There’s a look of admiration on Corey’s face, when he witnesses Michael murdering Deb. He’s clearly in awe of Michael, as he unwraps the bandages on his injured hand, another strange and ironic connection to Michael. Remember, Michael’s hand is severely injured after Laurie blew parts of it off with the shotgun in Halloween 2018. Corey was already too far gone, so he gravitated towards Michael. Corey sees Michael as a father figure, a role his stepdad, Ron (Rick Moose) failed to fill, no matter how hard he tried. 

Corey slowly becomes The Shape, mimicking Michael’s movements and mannerisms. There’s a great callback to the original Halloween film, when a stoic Corey is standing outside near Laurie’s house. He’s waiting for Allyson, and the shot with Corey standing behind the bushes is similar to Laurie seeing Michael standing outside of her house in the 1978 film. Seeing Corey in Michael’s mask was strange. If we’re going down the road of someone directly following in Michael’s footsteps or at least teasing it, you’d have to go all the way back to Halloween 4 and Jaime, and Laurie in Rob Zombie’s Halloween films. 

Corey’s mother, Joan (Joanne Baron) undoubtedly played a role in his troubles. Joan was overprotective and had an unhealthy obsession with her son. It’s a twisted mother/son relationship, because Joan couldn’t stand the thought of Allyson taking her sweet baby boy away from her. Corey murdered Joan after she slapped him. Unbeknownst to Joan, her innocent son had already reached a point in his life, where he was determined to punish anyone who disrespected him. 

“If I can’t have her, no one will.” Corey’s final words before an attempted suicide to pin his death on Laurie, driving a bigger and more permanent wedge between Laurie and Allyson. Corey and Allyson loved and trusted each other as the only two people in the world, who could make each other happy. Corey knew Allyson was frustrated with Laurie before he stabbed himself. That was his backup plan to punish Laurie with a life of misery and loneliness, if he couldn’t have Allyson. Luckily, his plan backfired, when Allyson came to her senses.

There’s some strong irony with Corey being Michael’s final victim and his final kill. Of all the people in this world, how can you be so stupid to betray Michael Myers? But Corey’s buffoonery after he failed to kill Laurie proved he was reckless, and he was a little bit too cocky for his own good. 

Corey could’ve left Haddonfield for good with Allyson. He could’ve had a happy and romantic life with Allyson after he killed the homeless man. That should’ve been his wake up call, but Corey chose vengeance over love and happiness. He wanted to light the match and burn it down. 

Early on in the movie, before she realized what he was turning into, Corey had support from Laurie. Laurie was actually willing to help Corey. As the story progresses, Laurie offered professional help for his “infection,” combined with the nonnegotiable condition of staying away from Allyson. He had a strong support system with Allyson, and Hawkins (Will Patton) believed Corey deserved a second chance after Jeremy’s death. The scene after the disaster at the Halloween party with Allyson is one to remember. Corey didn’t want Allyson to waste her time trying to fix him. Allyson had her hands out, with tears in her eyes, basically begging Corey to allow her to comfort him.

Rohan Campbell did a wonderful job capturing all of Corey’s emotions. You can see the rage, the confusion, and the conflict within Corey, and Campbell nailed the more geeky and innocent side of Corey’s character.

Corey made the choice to worship at the altar of Michael Myers, but there’s a chance Corey always had evil in his heart. He didn’t have to kick the door THAT hard, when Jeremy locked him in the room upstairs. It’s an incident that makes you think about what Jeremy’s father, Roger (Jack William Marshall) told Laurie. Roger wanted to forgive Corey for Jeremey’s death, but he saw a different person, when he looked into Corey’s eyes after he murdered the homeless man. It wasn’t the same nerdy kid who mowed his lawn. This version of Corey made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, so maybe the darkness inside of Corey was always there.

Halloween Ends features two boogeymen, and who knows, maybe Michael would’ve eventually succumbed to his injuries and old age in the sewers, if he never crossed paths with Corey. There’s also the babysitter connection between Laurie and Corey. Laurie was a hero for protecting Lindsey (Kyle Richards) and Tommy Doyle from Michael in the 70’s, but Corey became a villain after his dreadful night of babysitting. 

Laurie sums up evil, and Michael and Corey’s stories with that final line in her book: evil never truly dies, it just changes shape. For a brief period, Corey was The Shape. There’s almost no chance for another evil infection spreading throughout Haddonfield with Michael and Corey dead, finally bringing peace to a small and quiet town that desperately needed it. 

Welcome To Horror Month 2015!

Yeah, I know I'm late on this, but it's time for horror month! We still have a few weeks left in October, and it's 100% horror on my blog with blood, flesh-eating fiends, gore, ghosts, demons, ghouls, werewolves, vampires, malicious supernatural creatures, and monsters.

You'll see a few new movie reviews, some redos, and all new Character Spotlight posts, so strap yourselves in for some horror fun on Mitch MacReady's Movies & TV World!

MMR

American Horror Story- Murder House- Episode 5- Halloween Part 2

**This review contains spoilers**

Synopsis: Following the events of Halloween Part 1, Violet (Taissa Farmiga) is safe and sound with Tate (Evan Peters) during an unusual date night. But the date takes a bizarre turn, when a group of disfigured and bloody high school kids ruin Violet and Tate’s peaceful moment on the beach.

At the house, Ben  (Dylan McDermott) attacks Larry (Dennis O’Hare) after another heated argument, because Ben is sick and tired of Larry’s demands for a $1,000 loan. Ben’s ultimatum? If Ben catches Larry in one more trespassing incident, Ben will kill Larry without hesitation.

Meanwhile, in a desperate attempt to protect Violet, Tate lures the bloody high school kids away from Tate and Violet’s hiding spot with a chase to the beach. Violet tries to call 911 for help, but Constance shows up to force Violet into a talk about Addie’s (Jaime Brewer) death. At first, an enraged Constance (Jessica Lange) blames Violet for Addie’s demise, but Constance lightens her tone, because she needs a shoulder to lean on.

A panicky Vivien (Connie Britton) suspects something fishy after an eerie phone call from Hayden (Kate Mara), and a frustrated Chad (Zachary Quinto) smashes pumpkins on the porch after Patrick’s (Teddy Sears) disappearance. Vivien hits the panic button for Luke (Morris Chestnut) after a series of warning signs for Hayden’s intrusion, but Hayden corners Vivien with a shard of glass, and Ben is unconscious after a sneak attack from Larry in the basement.  Suddenly, Nora (Lily Rabe) surprises Ben with a few words of encouragement. Nora’s pep talk gives Ben some motivation, but Hayden is determined to murder Vivien and Ben’s unborn child for revenge……….

Review: Tate’s speech about high school? It’s disturbing and dark, and Evan Peters did a wonderful job of selling Tate’s disdain for high school life. Tate and Violet are sitting on the beach together, and Tate expresses his disgust and hatred for having to fit in, to be normal, and gain acceptance. Tate rejects the idea of needing a memorable run in high school to enjoy life, and Tate dismisses high school life as a blip on the radar. There’s a glassy and far-off  look in Peters’ eyes during the speech, and you can really feel Tate’s sadness about high school during this scene.

Who are the disfigured high school kids? Well, a few things are clear. For starters, they’re dead, but that’s okay, because the dead can walk the earth on Halloween. On top of that, the kids have a score to settle with Tate, and they’re not leaving until Tate gives an explanation or an apology.

Tate tries to fight a series of flashbacks with some clues to the incident, and Tate escapes prosecution during sunrise. Chloe (the only cheerleader in the group) pushes Tate for an explanation, but the high school kids run out of time, because they only have “special visit privileges” to the living world for one day (Halloween), and their time is up.

Constance calms down after a talk, but Constance drops a bombshell on Violet during their harmless chat: Tate is her son, and Addie is Tate’s sister. Tate is an unstable kid, and Constance knows the news of Addie’s death would crush Tate, so Constance urges Violet to keep Addie’s death a secret, and Violet agrees.

At the house, Ben confronts Hayden, but Larry smacks Ben in the back of the head with a shovel. Ben is out cold, and Larry tries to burn the house down, but Chad shows up at the last second. Upstairs, Hayden confronts Vivien, and a shocked Hayden snaps, when Vivien announces her pregnancy. Remember, Ben never told Hayden about the baby with Vivien.

To make matters worse, Hayden reveals her pregnancy with Ben to Vivien, and the plans for an abortion. Vivien tries to talk some sense into Hayden, but she won’t listen. Instead, Hayden smashes a frame with a picture featuring Violet, Ben, and Vivien. She picks a BIG piece of glass from the frame, and Hayden tries to cut the baby out of Vivien.

After some help and a pep talk from Nora, Ben shows up. Hayden will spare the baby and Vivien’s life….under one condition: Ben has to tell Vivien the truth. With no other choices in front of him, Ben reveals all of his dirty secrets about his secret relationship with Hayden, including a recent trip to Boston to reunite with Hayden.

A stunned Vivien and Hayden are heartbroken for different reasons, Hayden drops the piece of glass, and Luke arrives on the scene to apprehend Hayden for a trip to jail. Without any resistance or arguments, Ben packs all of his belongings to leave the house with one good-bye kiss on Vivien’s forehead. 

This is going to sound really strange to some people, but Vivien is kind of a hypocrite in this episode. Why? Well during a phone call with Hayden, Vivien reveals details for her affair with a married man from the past. Of course, the affair happened before Vivien met Ben, and I’m assuming Ben doesn’t know about Vivien’s affair.

Eh, wait a minute. Why is Vivien so judgmental towards Ben for his affair with Hayden, when she did the same thing at a younger age? I’m not saying Ben deserves a clear 100% pass. Not at all. He’s a habitual liar, who ruined the lives of two women, and he deserves his punishment. BUT Vivien is standing on this holier than thou pedestal, and she’s scolding Ben left and right? Sorry, but that doesn’t work for me.

Yeah, I know. Vivien is the victim, and a psycho stalker is determined to ruin her life, but Vivien should be more understanding. Am I saying Ben deserves Vivien’s forgiveness with no strings attached? No. But She's not in a position of authority to lecture others about morals, because Vivien's past is tainted. 

Anyway, the build and all the “Where is she hiding?“ teasing for the confrontation between Hayden and Vivien is just perfect. Hayden’s mind games include, cryptic writing (“ask him”) on a steamy bathroom mirror, a fire in the bathroom, and a nasty Halloween prank. The prank? Vivien walks into the kitchen, and there’s an explosion of blood in the microwave. Vivien is distraught, because she believes Hayden microwaved the family dog, but Hayden used some tomatoes to trick Vivien.

The moment with Hayden holding Vivien hostage, and Ben trying to play the role of a peacemaker is a real nail-biter, because you have no idea what’s going to happen next. Will Hayden listen to Ben? Will Hayden cut Vivien? What’s going to stop Vivien from launching a sneak attack out of the blue? 

And there’s a symbolic shot with Ben looking at the broken family picture towards the end.  If you’re wondering, it’s the same frame Hayden smashed during the confrontation with Vivien. The smashed picture is symbolic, because Ben’s family is broken, and Hayden is the catalyst. Ben deserves a lot of blame, but Hayden is one of the main reasons for the Harmon’s demise as a family.

Also, there’s a little cliffhanger for Hayden’s fate after the fiasco at the house. Luke is driving Hayden to the local police station. At the police station, Luke steps out to open the backdoor……but Hayden is gone with no signs of an escape. Luke is baffled, because Hayden seemingly vanished into thin air. Oh, and Luke doesn’t know Hayden is a walking corpse.

Towards the end, there’s a shot of all the Murder House’s victims (Chad, Patrick, Nora, Moira, Nurse Gladys, Nurse Maria, etc.) walking together. It’s a bizarre and creepy sight, because you can see walking casualties for the Murder House’s wrath. Patrick tries to apologize to Chad, but when you look at the hopeless looks on the faces of the victims, Patrick’s apology is insignificant, because the Murder House victims are doomed to suffer an eternity of hopelessness and misery.

I’ll tell you this right now, if you’re expecting a bloody brawl between Hayden and Vivien in Halloween Part 2, you’ll be disappointed. The long-awaited confrontation between Vivien and Hayden delivers, because you hear both sides of the story from different POVs for the women in Ben’s life, and the timing was perfect. Ben ran out of lies and excuses, and you can’t tip-toe around the Hayden problem for another three or four episodes, because you‘ll run into a dog chasing its tail problem. To add to that, the Hayden confrontation adds the essential big event to this episode to maintain the momentum after Halloween Part 1.

What’s going to happen, when Tate finds out about Addie’s death? Will he turn on Violet? Remember, Violet encouraged all the pretty girl stuff. Also, Tate and the group of high school kids obviously share a dark past together, and you have to believe Tate is trying to block the memories out of guilt. And Nora helping Ben was a nice surprise, because she’s an unlikely choice to fill the role of a helping hand.

Larry Harvey? He’s running out of options for his $1,000 loan, because Ben finally stood up to him. No requests, no talks, no compromises, no delays. Ben issued a simple and blunt warning to Larry, but Ben is not out of the woods yet. Larry is still alive, and it’s clear Larry is more than willing to complete the mission to destroy Ben’s life with help from Hayden.

Rating: 8/10

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American Horror Story- Murder House- Episode 4- Halloween Part 1

**This review contains spoilers**


Synopsis: In 2010, Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) and his boyfriend, Patrick (Teddy Sears) are stuck in a miserable dead in life at the Murder House. Chad is preparing an extravagant Halloween showcase for the house, with the hopes of a front page magazine cover for a prestigious home decor magazine. Chad and Patrick are broke, but Chad keeps his fingers crossed for some positive publicity for the Halloween showcase to help sell house, giving Chad and Patrick a chance to move on with their lives.

After a heated argument about Patrick’s infidelity with his personal trainer, Patrick leaves the house, but the stranger in the latex suit surprises an unsuspecting Chad. Chad thinks Patrick is wearing the suit as a sign of good faith to move on after the argument, so Chad approaches the stranger. The stranger in the latex suit attacks Chad, the stranger dunks Chad’s head in a tub of water and apples, and the stranger breaks Chad’s neck. A stunned Patrick suddenly returns to apologize, but Patrick is stuck in a stunned silence after witnessing the sight of Chad’s corpse and the stranger in the latex suit…..

Ben (Dylan McDermott) and Vivien (Connie Britton) point the finger at Marcy (Christine Estabrook) for the lack of progress during a failed campaign to sell the house, so Marcy suggests a solution to fix the problem. With Ben and Vivien’s permission, Marcy hires two “fluffers” to redecorate and add a much needed sense of style to the house for a showcase on Halloween night. Marcy’s choices for a bargain deal for cheap fluffers? Chad and Patrick.

A panicky Vivien purchases an alarm system with Luke (Morris Chestnut) as an on-call security guard. Violet (Taissa Farmiga) reconnects with Tate (Evan Peters), and Tate reveals more details for the chilling backstory surrounding Nora Montgomery, Charles Montgomery, and the house. After a series of vehement refusals, Ben agrees to treat Tate again with a new set of rules: The treatments must take place outside of the house, and Tate is not allowed in the house under any circumstances.

On Halloween, Moira (Frances Conroy) visits her sick mother, and Constance (Jessica Lagne) buys a mask with a beautiful woman’s face for Addie (Jamie Brewer). Addie is tired of her annual Snoopy costume for trick-or-treating, and she wants a change as a “pretty girl” after a makeover from Violet.

Vivien reaches another tense boiling point with Ben on Halloween night, but a series of debilitating stomach pains forces Ben and Vivien into an emergency hospital trip. Violet is at home alone with strict “Do not open the door” orders from Ben, but a frustrated Larry Harvey (Dennis O’Hare) shows up. Larry bangs on the front door with demands for the $1,000 payment from Ben, and Violet runs into another problem, when the stranger in the latex suit returns………

Review: A vindictive Chad is still bitter about Patrick’s infidelity, so he decides to sabotage’s Ben and Vivien’s marriage. Chad suggests tearing down the gazebo (remember, Hayden’s corpse is buried under the gazebo) to expose Larry and Ben’s secret, and Chad takes his prying to another level with a crippling suggesting for Vivien. Using Chad’s suggestion, Vivien checks Ben’s phone bill to see a series of phone calls with Hayden’s number. During another tense argument, Ben lies about his trip to Boston (i.e. he never visited Hayden). 

Ben is stuck in another tough spot with Vivien. He’s running out of lies and time, and you can feel Vivien’s frustration here. To make matters worse, Vivien leaves a voicemail on Hayden’s phone, because she wants the truth about Ben’s trip to Boston……and Hayden returns the call. The look of devastating shock on McDermott’s face is priceless, because Hayden is supposed to be dead.

Charles and Nora? Tate tells another creepy tale (in an attempt to scare Violet) for the Montgomery’s creepy past. A vengeful boyfriend for one of Nora’s abortion clients kidnapped the Montgomery’s baby boy after a cryptic phone call. After the kidnapping, the police returned the dismembered corpse of Charles and Nora’s child in a box. Nora is focused on the funeral, but Charles uses his unconventional methods as a surgeon to “cheat death,” and Nora is horrified at the sight of Charles’ abomination.

During the hospital visit for her mother, a conflicted Moira removes the breathing tube on her mother’s life support machine, and Addie suffers a horrible death during her trick-or-treating spree. A hit and run driver kills Addie, and a grieving Constance tries to bury Addie in the Harmon’s backyard for a resurrection, but Addie loses the fight for her life. You can love or hate her character, but you have to feel sympathy for Constance after Addie’s death, and Jessica Lange did a great job of selling Constance’s overwhelming heartbreak for Addie.

Remember Hayden? Yeah, she’s not gone. For the finale, Vivien and Ben return to the house. The alarm is going off, and Violet is gone. There’s a knock on the door, but it’s not Larry Harvey. Instead, Hayden is standing outside, and a rattled Ben slams the door in Hayden’s face before Vivien notices anything.

A great shocker to close the show, and the timing is PERFECT. In the scene before Larry’s return, Violet is in the house alone, and Larry is banging on the door. Unbeknownst to Violet, the stranger in the latex suit is standing behind her.

There’s a pulse pounding shot with a petrified Violet standing in one place, with the stranger in the latex suit a few steps behind her, and you can hear the fiasco with Larry frantically knocking and ringing the door bell at the same time. The synchronization during this scene is brilliant, because Violet’s fate is up in the air, and you have no idea what’s going to happen first. And to add the icing on the cake, they pull the plug at the right moment with a sudden cut to the next scene.

As far as new editions to the cast go, Morris Chestnut’s screen time is limited here, so I can’t say too much about him, but you get a feeling he’ll play the role of a reliable support system for Vivien.

Halloween Part I is flawless, and so far, it’s the best episode for American Horror Story’s first season. My memory is kind of hazy, and I’m reliving the first season now, but I watched every episode in Asylum (season 2), and I vividly remember Coven (season 3, the most recent season). So when you compare this episode to other AHS episodes, Halloween Part I is a top contender  for the best AHS episode in all three seasons. On top of that, the short run time for this episode helps a lot, because you're dying to see what's going to happen next, when the credits start rolling.

The finale is loaded with suspenseful “edge of your seat” moments and nerve-wracking tension, the big return at the end is genuinely shocking, and Halloween Part I features one of the best cliffhangers you’ll ever see.  What happened to Violet? Will Constance seek revenge against Violet (remember, Violet is the one, who encouraged the “pretty girl” stuff)? Is Tate hiding something? Who is the stranger in the latex suit?

Halloween Part I features tantalizing unanswered questions, and there’s something fishy about Marcy. Out of all the people to hire, why would she choose a deceased Chad and Patrick? Marcy alluded to her close relationship with Chad and Patrick in Episode 3 (or “Murder House“), so there’s a chance Marcy is working with the evil forces (Constance?) at the Murder House to sabotage Ben and Vivien.

Rating: 10/10

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Character Spotlight- Sheriff Ben Meeker- Halloween 4 (1988) & Halloween 5 (1989)

**This post contains spoilers**

"Martians could land on Ben's doorstep, and all he'd do is spit once, and get himself a shotgun."

That's a direct quote from Earl (Gene Ross), the owner of a bar in Haddnonfield, Illinois, after the announcement of a mandatory curfew for locals as a precautionary measure for Michael Myers' return. Earl wanted answers for closing the bar early and losing money. Earl and his buddies provided a helping hand in the fight against Myers, but that's another story for another time. Think about Earl's quote for a second. Sheriff Brackett's (Charles Cyphers) replacement didn't have a problem standing face to face with the little green men from Mars, so you know he's ready for the fight against Michael Myers.

Beau Starr is a tough and grizzled enforcer as Sheriff Ben Meeker. There's no fear in Meeker, and his daughter Kelly (Kathleen Kinmont) is off limits. Ben warned Brady (Sasha Jenson) about "groping" his daughter with a promise of having to answer to a shotgun for disobedience, and Kelly threw in her two cents, as Brady passed second base (Ben's arrival with Rachel and Jaime interrupted Brady and Kelly's make out session the couch in Ben's home). The price for Ben catching Brady and Kelly in the act? Ben will "skin" Brady alive without thinking twice about it.

It's hard to forget about the relationship between Ben Meeker and Donald Pleasence's Dr. Loomis. As always, Loomis is the paranoid old warhorse, who will do anything to stop Michael Myers. At first, Meeker is reluctant to trust (Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers 1988) Loomis, but after Kelly's death, Meeker lowers his guard for accepting Loomis' help in the next chapter (Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers 1989). 

Highlight moments for this relationship include a heated argument on the steps of the police station in Halloween 4. In an attempt to control an outbreak of panic, Meeker wants Michael Myers' return to remain a secret, but Loomis spills the beans in front of Earl and his buddies. Loomis mentioned Myers' name as motivation for Earl and his friends. Remember, Michael's massacre at the police station? Well, Loomis wanted to use Earl and his friends as a temporary police force, but Meeker doesn't like the idea of a bunch of town drunks and their ring leader running around in the dark with shotguns. And the bickering between Loomis and Meeker during the sting operation in Halloween 5? Hilarious.

Unfortunately, Sheriff Meeker was a victim of The Man In Black/Dr. Wynn's raid on his police station. Michael Myers escapes a lifelong prison sentence, and Ben Meeker suffered a brutal death during the shootout. A bittersweet ending for the Sheriff, but Ben Meeker earned a spot on my list of memorable and likeable Halloween characters.

Also, remember the cliffhanger at the end of Halloween 4? Loomis had his finger on the trigger, as Jaime Lloyd (Danielle Harris) stood at the top of the staircase with a bloody pair of scissors. Myers was dead, but Jaime Lloyd was ready to kill anything in her path. Loomis almost pulled the trigger on his gun, but who stopped him at the last second? Sheriff Ben Meeker. Just think about that for a second as some food for thought in the Halloween franchise. Without Sheriff Ben Meeker, there's no Jaime Lloyd in Halloween 5 or Halloween 6/The Curse Of Michael Myers.

Character Spotlight- Sam- Trick 'r Treat (2007)

**This post contains spoilers**

Do you believe in Halloween? Take some time to think about your answer, because if you're leaning towards no, you'll have to deal with a visit from Sam. On Halloween night, Sam embarks on a mission to protect Halloween, and any non-believers will suffer the consequences.

Henry loves Halloween, but his wife Emma? That's a different story. Emma "hates" Halloween, and she's in a rush to remove all the decorations before her mother arrives for a visit. Sam attacks and he crucifies Emma as a scarecrow, and a devastated Henry is horrified at the sight of his wife's dismembered corpse.  

Mr. Kreeg? He's a miserable codger, who detests Halloween. Kreeg uses his dog and a mask to scare trick-or-treaters into dropping their bags of candy on his doorstep, because Kreeg wants all the candy for himself. But Sam steps in to teach Kreeg a lesson he'll never forget. Sam could've murdered Kreeg during a fight to the death, but Sam made a willing choice to spare Kreeg's life, and Sam walked away from Kreeg's house without looking back.

Sam is a pint-sized devil with a nasty mean streak, but he saves his wrath for evildoers and the non-believers on Halloween. When other supernatural forces take control and impose their will on Halloween, Sam will quietly sit back and enjoy the show. Remember the werewolf massacre during "Laurie's first" in the woods? Sam refused to step in and save Steven, because he deserved his punishment.

It might take some time, but Sam could be the next real horror icon. They pulled the plug on Jigsaw in Saw III, and we never got a chance to witness a REAL return for John Kramer. Saw 4-7 showed bits and pieces of John Kramer in flashbacks, and Saw 6 put more focus on Jigsaw with the health insurance dilemma, but that's it.

Think about it, horror needs a new icon and a fresh face. Sam is an ideal choice, as the menacing enforcer, who's determined to protect Halloween. On top of that, Trick 'r Treat has a strong cult following. Plus, a lot of Trick 'r Treat fans are foaming at the mouth for the planned sequel.

Although, it's hard to avoid a conundrum, when you start talking about horror sequels. On one hand, Sam needs more films to establish a real legacy, so we can compare, contrast, and rank Sam amongst other horror legends (Michael Myers, Freddy, Jason, etc.). You can't use two films as a legit measuring stick for a legacy, because you have to leave some room for praise AND criticisms.

The bad side? You're taking a BIG risk of devaluing the prestige of the original with too many sequels, because film series (especially horror) with too many sequels have a low success rate. Remember Halloween: Resurrection? Paranormal Activity 4? The underwhelming and unbearable Saw sequels? Sure, there's a chance we could see a Halloween 4, Halloween III: Season Of The Witch, or A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, but it's a rare occurrence nine times out of ten.

Film series don't improve with more sequels, and it's an undeniable truth that's impossible to ignore. IF we get a Trick 'r Treat III in the future, I'll keep my fingers crossed for the best (a lot of that depends on the sequel), because Sam needs to stack some more bricks on his foundation for a sturdy and valid legacy.

If you're interested, you can follow this link to read my spoiler review for Trick 'r Treat (2007)-

http://mitchmacready.blogspot.com/2013/10/trick-r-treat-2007spoiler-review.html

And here's the link for the minor spoilers review-

http://mitchmacready.blogspot.com/2013/10/trick-r-treat-2007spoilers-review.html

 

Trick 'r Treat (2007)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers, no big reveals, plot twits, or character deaths**

Intro- Emma & Henry

Emma (Leslie Bibb) “hates” Halloween, but her husband, Henry (Tahmoh Penikett) is a devout believer in Halloween and the traditions attached to the holiday. After a stroll Warren Valley’s annual costume parade, Emma pushes Henry to remove all the decorations before her mother arrives for a visit. Henry warns Emma about breaking the sacred rules during Halloween night, and Emma learns her lesson the hard way, when a tiny enforcer/demon named Sam (Quinn Lord) decides to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget.

My Thoughts:  Shocking. That’s the one word I would use to describe this storyline. This was a GREAT opener for Trick ‘r Treat, because it sets the tone for the film. You know that Sam isn’t someone to mess with, and you know you’re about to see a sick and twisted horror anthology film, that won’t hesitate to pull any punches.

Principal Wilkins

Steven Wilkins (Dylan Baker) is the town principal for Warren Valley’s elementary school. Steven lives alone with his son, Billy (Connor Christopher Levins), but unbeknownst to other Warren Valley citizens, Steven lives a secret life as a cold-blooded serial killer……

My Thoughts: Dylan Baker is an ideal choice to portray the nerdy and quirky outcast, but there’s a dark side to his character here. Steven receives a dose of his own medicine later on, but there’s a genuinely surprising twist involving the father/son relationship between Steven and Billy.

Scavenger Hunt

Led by Macy (Britt McKillip), Chip (Alberto Ghisi), Schrader (Jean-Luc Bilodeau), Sara (Isabelle Deluce), and Rhonda (Samm Todd) take a trip to an abandoned rock quarry to test the limits of an old legend. Years ago, after receiving a collective payment from their parents, a school bus driver was ordered to murder eight mentally ill children by driving the bus into the quarry head first.

Although, before the bus driver hit the gas pedal, one of the eight chained children escaped, and drove the bus off the cliff. The bus sunk to the bottom of the quarry, killing the eight children, and the bus driver mysteriously disappeared after the incident. Throughout the years, this tragedy was dubbed the School Bus Massacre.

My Thoughts: As the leader, Macy is the “mean girl” in the group, so she feels the need to bully the geek (Rhonda), but Macy’s prank backfires in the worst way, when the REAL threat shows up.

Laurie’s First

At a young age of twenty-two, Laurie (Anna Paquin) is still waiting for her “first.” With some prodding from her older sister, Danielle (Lauren Lee Smith) and her two friends Maria (Rochelle Aytes) and Janet (Moneca Delain), Laurie agrees to attend a party deep in the woods with a wide variety of men for different tastes. But during the trip to her big night, Laurie is stalked by a masked man with fangs.

My Thoughts: With all the teasing and sexual innuendos, you’re lead to believe Laurie is about to lose her virginity, and she’s beyond terrified about the big night, but that’s not  the case. I won’t give away the big surprise here, because the twist is that good. If you’re jaw doesn’t hit the floor after Laurie's revelation, then you’re apart of a tough, tough crowd.

Mr. Kreeg VS  Sam

Living alone with his dog, Mr. Kreeg (Brian Cox) is a miserable codger, who loathes Halloween. Mr. Kreeg uses his dog and a glowing mask to scare trick-or-treaters into dropping their bags of candy at his doorstep, so Mr. Kreeg can have all the sweet goodies to himself. But Mr. Kreeg is stuck in a life-or-death fight, when Sam invades Mr. Kreeg’s home to punish the grumpy old grouch for his all his crimes during Halloween.

My Thoughts: Trick ‘r Treat set the bar high with the previous shorts, the film needed to end with a bang, and Mr. Kreeg VS Sam didn’t disappoint at all. After the big fight is over, Trick ‘r Treat fools you with a baffling conclusion, but everything changes, when some old friends from Kreeg’s past show up.

Summary: Director/writer Michael Dougherty packs a plethora of genuinely surprising twists into Trick ’r Treat, and he uses a smooth interweaving technique to connect the dots with each storyline. And more importantly, Dougherty never clusters everything together to the point where you get the feeling you’re watching a clumsy attempt to be too tricky failing before your very eyes. No, Dougherty carefully moves the pieces of the puzzle into place, and Doughtery’s is able to drop a layer of clever hindsight on each storyline.

It might take some time, but I can picture Sam gaining a loyal fanbase, as the next true horror icon. Sam doesn’t speak a word in Trick ’r Treat, but his menacing presence casts a dark shadow over each storyline throughout Trick ’r Treat. And those who disrespect Halloween in any way, shape, or form, will suffer the consequences after learning an unforgettable lesson from Sam.

If you love horror and Halloween, Trick ’r Treat is a MUST-SEE. Most horror anthology films suffer one big problem: Inconsistency. Well I can tell you, Trick ’r Treat doesn’t suffer from this problem. Trick ’r Treat is loaded with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, dark humor, bloody gruesomeness for the gore fiends, and enough spooky atmospheric tension to provide a handful of bone chilling moments. It’s a festive treat with everything any die hard horror fan could possibly ask for, and after one viewing, you’ll understand Trick ’r Treat’s strong cult following. I can’t wait for Trick ’r Treat 2!

Rating: 10/10


Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

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Trick 'r Treat (2007)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

Trick ‘r Treat is a horror anthology film, and characters from different storylines interact with one another every now and then, so I’ll do another separate synopses and my thoughts after each one breakdown review. Trick ‘r Treat is set on Halloween night in the small town of Warren Valley, Ohio, and the story follows various residents in Warren Valley, who encounter a series of bizarre and supernatural disturbances throughout the night. And yeas, this step by step synopses/breakdown of Trick ‘r Treat is in chronological order.

Intro- Emma & Henry

Emma (Leslie Bibb) “hates” Halloween, but her husband, Henry (Tahmoh Penikett) is a devout believer in Halloween and the traditions attached to the holiday. After a stroll Warren Valley’s annual costume parade, Emma pushes Henry to remove all the decorations before her mother arrives for a visit. Henry warns Emma about breaking the sacred rules during Halloween night, and Emma learns her lesson the hard way, when a tiny enforcer/demon named Sam (Quinn Lord) decides to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget.

My Thoughts: Shocking. That’s the one word I would use to describe this storyline. This was a GREAT opener for Trick ‘r Treat, and the image of Emma’s demise is more than capable of pulling a reaction out of you. You knew something bad would happen to Emma after she blew out the candle in the jack-o-lantern, but it wasn’t so easy to predict the severity of her punishment. Sam’s plan? After Henry takes some time to watch a dirty movie inside, Sam waits for the right moment to attack Emma, while she’s alone. Henry awakes from his nap to find Emma crucified as a scarecrow. Limbs dangling, Halloween lights wrapped around her body, blood everywhere. It’s a real nasty sight. This opener sets the tone for Trick ’r Treat, because you know you’re about to see a movie with some sick and twisted stuff, and more importantly, this opener establishes Sam as a lethal threat.

Principal Wilkins

Steven Wilkins (Dylan Baker) is the town Principal for Warren Valley’s elementary school. Steven lives alone with his son, Billy (Connor Christopher Levins), but unbeknownst to other Warren Valley citizens, Steven lives a secret life as a cold-blooded serial killer. For his first victim on Halloween night, Steven poisons young Charlie’s (Brett Kelly) candy, but Steven runs into some problems during Charlie’s burial in the backyard.

My Thoughts: Dylan Baker is an ideal choice to portray the nerdy and quirky outcast, but there’s a dark side to his character here. Steven receives a dose of his own medicine later on, but there’s a genuinely surprising twist here. Throughout the early stages of Steven’s story, Bill constantly badgers Steven into carving a jack-o-lantern. When Steven is finished with Charlie, Steven accompanies Billy to the basement, so they can start on the jack-o-lantern together…but Steven and Billy aren’t carving a pumpkin. No, they’re carving Charlie’s severed head. And Billy puts an extra effort into carving out the perfect eye holes.

Another good swerve. Two thoughts ran through my mind after the first time. 1. Billy’s going to discover his dad’s secret, and freak out. Or 2. You know, Billy carves out a normal jack-o-lantern from a pumpkin. Steven teaching his own son how to kill, dismember, maim, and torture helpless victims? Yeah, I didn’t see that one coming.

Scavenger Hunt

Led by Macy (Britt McKillip), Chip (Alberto Ghisi), Schrader (Jean-Luc Bilodeau), Sara (Isabelle Deluce), and Rhonda (Samm Todd) take a trip to an abandoned rock quarry to test the limits of an old legend. Years ago, after receiving a collective payment from their parents, a school bus driver was ordered to murder eight mentally ill children by driving the bus into the quarry head first.

Although, before the bus driver hit the gas pedal, one of the eight chained children escaped, and drove the bus off the cliff. The bus sunk to the bottom of the quarry, killing the eight children, and the bus driver mysteriously disappeared after the incident. Throughout the years, this tragedy was dubbed the School Bus Massacre.

Macy has plans to summon the zombified versions of the eight children by collecting eight jack-o-lanterns, and using them as peace offerings for the children. But a harmless hoax takes a turn for the worst, when something unholy emerges from the depths of the quarry.

My Thoughts: As the leader, Macy is the “mean girl” in the group, so she decides to pull a prank on the geeky outsider, Rhonda. With Chip, Schrader, and Sara’s help, Macy tries to scare Rhonda with costumes resembling the eight children. Rhonda is frightened, but things go too far, when Rhonda bumps the back of her head on a rock after a fall, but it’s not over yet.

Schrader puts a stop to the prank, because Rhonda is freaking out, but during Rhonda’s hysterical meltdown, the REAL School Bus Massacre children emerge from the lake. The jack-o-lanterns can protect anyone against the eight children, but Macy defiled the ritual by kicking a jack-o-lantern in the water. Rhonda locks herself in the only elevator that’s capable of reaching the top of the quarry, clinging to her jack-o-lantern like a hunk of precious gold. For revenge, Rhonda rides the elevator back to the top alone, leaving the rest of the group to suffer horrible gruesome deaths at the hands of the eight children. As Rhonda ascends to the top, she gives a cold and unapologetic wave good-bye.

Jaw-dropping stuff. After a while, you knew it was only a matter of time before the real  School Bus Massacre children showed up. But Rhonda abandoning everyone else? Yeah, it’s another Trick ‘r Treat twist that hit me like a slap across the face. It’s easy to feel sympathy for Rhonda, but her willing decision to let everyone suffer a painful end really caught me off guard.

Laurie’s First

At a young age of twenty-two, Laurie (Anna Paquin) is still waiting for her “first.” With some prodding from her older sister, Danielle (Lauren Lee Smith) and her two friends Maria (Rochelle Aytes) and Janet (Moneca Delain), Laurie agrees to attend a party deep in the woods with a wide variety of men for different tastes. But during the trip to her big night, Laurie is stalked by a masked man with fangs.

My Thoughts: With all the teasing and sexual innuendos, you’re lead to believe Laurie is about to lose her virginity, and she’s beyond terrified about the big night, but that’s not  the case. At the party, Laurie attacks her mysterious stalker. Here, it’s revealed Laurie, Danielle, Maria, and Janet are werewolves, and Laurie isn’t looking to lose her virginity, she’s looking for her first kill as a werewolf. If you’re jaw doesn’t hit the floor after Lauire’s revelation, then you’re apart of a tough, tough crowd.

Mr. Kreeg VS Sam

Living alone with his dog, Mr. Kreeg (Brian Cox) is a miserable codger, who loathes Halloween. Mr. Kreeg uses his dog and a glowing mask to scare trick-or-treaters into dropping their bags of candy at his doorstep, so Mr. Kreeg can have all the sweet goodies to himself. But Mr. Kreeg is stuck in a life-or-death fight, when Sam invades Mr. Kreeg’s home to punish the grumpy old grouch for his crimes during Halloween.

My Thoughts: Trick ‘r Treat set the bar high with the previous shorts, the film needed to end with a bang, and Mr. Kreeg VS Sam didn’t disappoint at all. During the fight, I seriously had no idea, who would come out on top, as Mr. Kreeg struggled to defeat Sam. It’s funny, because Sam constantly toys with Mr. Kreeg at first, but when Sam prepares to deliver the final blow with his pumpkin lollipop, Sam decides to walk away? That’s right. Sam uses his lollipop to remove and eat a candy bar from Kreeg’s chest, and he causally strolls out of the house like nothing happened. It’s a baffling conclusion, but everything changes, when some old friends (more on that later) from Kreeg’s past show up.

Summary: Director/writer Michael Dougherty packs a plethora of genuinely surprising twists into Trick ’r Treat, and he uses a smooth interweaving technique to connect the dots with each storyline. And more importantly, Dougherty never clusters everything together to the point where you get the feeling you’re watching a clumsy attempt to be too tricky failing before your very eyes. No, Dougherty carefully moves the pieces of the puzzle into place, and Doughtery’s is able to drop a layer of clever hindsight on each storyline.

A prime example for clever hindsight is Mr. Kreeg’s storyline. During the beginning, Mr. Kreeg insults Steven in his backyard, as he’s burying Charlie. Moments later, you see Mr. Kreeg BEGGING for help from Steven’s POV. To return the favor word for word with a cold shoulder, Steven responds with “Screw you,” and Steven walks into his house without looking back. After Steven leaves, an anonymous attacker strikes Kreeg. Later on during Kreeg and Sam’s fight, it’s revealed Sam was the anonymous attacker.

And Laurie’s First is my favorite storyline in Trick ‘r Treat. Dougherty’s set up for this twist was perfect. Laurie is strolling through the woods by herself. The masked stranger reveals himself as a vampire, and he bites Laurie on the neck. Seconds later, a body falls into the campfire party with Danielle, Maria, and Janet. You think it’s Laurie……but you see a terrified Steven. Steven posed as a vampire with fake fangs (earlier in the film, Steven murdered a young woman during the parade using the fangs), but in a shock, Laurie turned the tables on him. Steven was such a despicable and cowardly lowlife weasel, and he FINALLY got a taste of his own medicine in the end. Oh, and Marilyn Manson’s “Sweet Dreams” was a nice fit as a background song for the nightmarish ambiance during this scene.

It might take some time, but I can picture Sam gaining a loyal fanbase, as the next true horror icon. Sam doesn’t speak a word in Trick ’r Treat, but his menacing presence casts a dark shadow over each storyline throughout Trick ’r Treat. And those who disrespect Halloween in any way, shape, or form, will suffer the consequences after learning an unforgettable lesson from Sam.

If you love horror and Halloween, Trick ’r Treat is a MUST-SEE. Most horror anthology films suffer one big problem: Inconsistency. Well I can tell you, Trick ’r Treat doesn’t suffer from this problem. Trick ’r Treat is loaded with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, dark humor, bloody gruesomeness for the gore fiends, and enough spooky atmospheric tension to provide a handful of bone chilling moments. It’s a festive treat with everything any die hard horror fan could possibly ask for, and after one viewing, you’ll understand Trick ’r Treat’s strong cult following. I can’t wait for Trick ’r Treat 2!

Rating: 10/10

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Mitch's Memorable & Disappointing Death Scenes!

Of course, I'm talking about death scenes, so be warned, this post will be full of spoilers!

Sentimentality, a tear jerking, or maybe you were just happy to see said character go? My first example of being happy to see a character go would be Dave Kleinfeld from Carlito's Way. He was such a slimy, backstabbing weasel, and you were just waiting for that one moment, when he finally got what he deserved. That moment came, while Kleinfeld was in the hospital recovering from an attack. Carlito reveals his knowledge of Kleinfeld planning to use him as a fall guy to save his own ass from the DA, Norwalk. Of course, Kleinfeld showed no mercy for betraying the one man, who trusted and believed in him, but Carlito got the last laugh, by taking the bullets out of Kleinfeld's gun.

                                                                Carlito's Way


                                  
                                                     

                                                               Fright Night 2

Another one of my picks comes from Fright Night 2. It looked like Regine was moments away from taking Charley with her to become a servant for all eternity, but Peter Vincent saves the day at the last second.

I know most of you might think this moment is predictable. Vampire, sunlight, and the good guys prevailing through adversity. The same thoughts were running through my head, when I watched Fright Night 2 for the first time years ago.

You can see the outcome coming, but it's all done so well. You believe that hopeless and frightened look on William Ragsdale's face, as he reaches up for Regine's hand. Looking at McDowall's petrified body language and facial expressions, you would believe Peter is running away for cover, but he grabs a piece of a broken mirror to reflect the sunlight on to Regine (which is a pretty creative way of using sunlight on vampires).

And with Regine, cocky, confident, and finally believing she has Charley right where she wants him, is shocked to see Charley fight her control, pulling her into the beam of sunlight. One moment Julie Carmen (Regine) is salivating in Vincent's cowardice and her triumph over Charley, and the very next moment, the rug is pulled out underneath her, as she meets her end. Predictable for sure, but everyone did such a great job of selling the moments, it's almost impossible to look away.

                                

Which brings me to the disappointing part of this post. Remember how Bane died in The Dark Knight Rises? Throughout the movie, he's built up as this unstoppable adversary/monster, and then this happens:

                                                          The Dark Knight Rises

                               

In a matter of minutes, Bane's mystique fades away, because Talia is the true primary villain and mastermind, who pulled all the strings, making Bane look like a hired goon. And on top of that, the big moment for his death was so sudden and weak. He tosses Batman around like a ragdoll at first, has a brutal fist fight with him....and out of nowhere he's taken out by a blindside attack? Very underwhelming and disappointing.

Adriana was convinced Christopher was going to go with her into the witness protection program. But Christopher pulled a fast one. The set up was just brilliant. I can remember watching the premiere of this episode with my father, and both us were sucked into believing Tony's call about Christopher trying to commit suicide. Gandolfini sold it so well, but Adriana knew what was coming, when she looked out the window and saw the empty forest. Drea de Matteo's look of heartbreak after realizing the love of her life turned his back on her is something to remember, because Adriana was one of the RARE likeable characters on this show, who you could actually feel sympathy for.

                                                            The Sopranos
 
                           

                                                          Predator2

There's only once scene worth watching in Predator 2: the fiasco at the slaughter house. Keyes (Gary Busey) was so sure he finally set the perfect trap for the Predator, but as usual, the Predator outsmarted his prey, quickly killing all of Keyes' men. And Keyes saves his rival in the movie, Harrigan (Danny Glover), and is beheaded seconds later by the Predator. A true shocking moment, because it appeared Keyes was done for, he comes back, saves Harrigan, and then he turns around to meet his own end.
                        
                                                         Deathproof

Stuntman Mike was supposed to be a sociopath, but this is how it all ends for him?


                           

Take away Vanessa Ferlito's steamy dance and the final chase scene, and DeathProof is a real chore to sit through. It's Tarantino's worst film by far, and I struggle to get through the whole thing in one viewing every time I decide to watch it. And the dialogue? Yikes?  DeathProof is a prime example of Tarantino's greatest strength also being his greatest weakness. That scene where the women are at the diner sitting around the table and talking about random, meaningless bullshit with Kurt Russell quietly sitting in the background drives me nuts and bores me to tears. It's a case of Tarantino getting way, way too carried away and obsessed with character dialogue.

Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi

You would've thought Luke was done for after he unceremoniously turned down The Emperor's offer. But Vader's conscience kicked in, as he watched his son scream and beg for his help. Using similar reasons for my Fright Night 2 pick, The Emperor was basking in the glory of his triumph, while torturing Luke, as he prepared to deliver the final blow, but at the last second, the rug is pulled out from underneath him, when Vader, his number one apprentice, turns on him to save his son's life. Also, you can feel Vader's dilemma, as his head darts back and forth between his smiling master and his son, who might be seconds away from taking his final breath.

But something about this scene always bothered me from the first time I saw ROTJ as a kid. Why in the name of all things holy would Luke carelessly toss his lightsaber to the ground like that? I get the whole point of Luke having faith in his father to do the right thing, but still, it would've made more sense if Luke gave himself a fighting chance.

Halloween Resurrection

Mind-numbingly stupid.

It's the only way to describe this scene. Laurie Strode is the primary protagonist in the Halloween franchise, and they kill her off in the opening minutes of the movie? Imagine a movie where Spider-Man or Batman are killed off in the first ten or fifteen minutes, and afterwards, you have to watch a storyline that revolves around Mary Jane or Alfred. You don't bring out the main course first, go to the dessert, and finish with the appetizer. Laurie's death was a supposed to be a special moment with the right build, but Resurrection takes the ass backwards approach by killing off Laurie in the opening.

And to make matters worse, after Laurie's death, you're forced to sit through a shitty film with gaping plot holes, terrible acting, a hideous final showdown between Myers and Busta Rhymes, and for some reason, the writers felt the need to turn Busta into a karate master wannabe.