Twist Your Mind into a Frenzy: Banshee Chapter

BANSHEE CHAPTER: 2013: Sci-Fi Horror: What happens when you take actual events involving CIA mind control and infuse them with the directorial style of the Paranormal Activity franchise?


Why do you ask?

Well, you get a very original and twisted tale that really makes an impact.  Honestly, I had my doubts about this movie.  Whenever I see or hear about "found footage", I roll my eyes at the dismal failure of the latest Paranormal Activities.  Then I realized what made the first one special and the subsequent sequels suck.  It's the premise.  


What?

Sure, a haunted house is nothing new, but the first Paranormal Activity made it feel new because not since Blair Witch Project was found footage executed so well. It's the syntax.  In Banshee Chapter, you get a whole new premise that is at times very believable and often pretty terrifying.  I don't throw around these words often.  This movie made me say, "Oh Shit" a couple of times.  I decided to keep the lights on, at least for the first half, which is something of an accomplishment.  


This movie will mess with your mind right from the start!

MKUltra was a very real experiment that the CIA conducted on unsuspecting college students with a drug.  In this movie it's DMT-19, a highly dangerous and powerful psychoactive drug that is not very well known or utilized by the uninitiated.  Raver kids with pacifiers aren't popping this at a rave while listening to Deadmua5.  

   
MK-ULTRA was real..

As much as I'm tempted to go into details about the premise and what makes this movie have real traction, I won't because the unraveling is as much of a part of this movies as the scares; and believed me there are plenty.  I counted at least 6 where I was jolted.  It was pretty sweet!  This is why I watch horror movies.  


An unlucky participant of DMT-19

Thomas Blackburn, who is so much like Hunter S Thompson it's ridiculous, is played by Ted Levine.  That is the only notable actor in the movie.  You might and should remember him from Silence of the Lambs.  Yes, he was Buffalo Bill..

  
Yes, Buffalo Bill is in it.."Oh wait, was she a big fat person?"

The female role is capable and her accent only shows a few times, but she did well.  Her chemistry with Ted was pretty decent, but that was probably more Levine's ability than hers.


Thanks a lot!

There are plenty of references to H._P._Lovecraft work so if you're interested in some history there's that.  I recently reviewed a movie Re-Animators, which was based on his work so it's funny how his influence has come up a few times.  Just coincidence I guess.



Back to MK-Ultra and the references to Clockwork Orange, which were found in some of the footage, pun intended.  One of the best scares was in this scene..


This scene is freaky.

From the beginning scenes to the end, you will get scared, I don't care how horror movie hardened you are.  I mean I'm on my 5th week straight watching and this one jolted me.  Just remember one thing...



If aliens are telepathic and DMT makes one sensitive to telepathy, are users of DMT somehow able to interact with aliens telepathically?



Clip one..

Trailer

B

Sweet Dreams..

The Traveler. open the doors to Horror> I guess...

THE TRAVELER: 2010:  Horror:  Well, apparently you can spell the name of this movie two ways...how odd.  I only wish that this movie were as odd.  Pretty derivative but it had its moments. It seems that horror movies are hard to come by these days.  Good ones that is..

 
Is that Val Kilmer?


I guess so...

I really do appreciate everyone sending me their movies to rate, but I can only rate movies I want to rate..  That being said.  I have been bored..  and is this movie the cure?..no 


That's right, I wasted my time watching this crap..

I mean, it's not horrible, but you can spend your time elsewhere...D

Feel it again...We are what we Are>..Yes!. R ish..

WE Are What WE Are.. Now.. Horror:  I liked this movie.  I really did.  It had all the morose and odd elements that I expect from a horror movie.   


Are you full?

And the best part is that another website was soo  lucky to get it first....I had to have second billing..  Fine.. it is a damn great horror movie and I desperately want to review it.


Yes,, a little closer...

This movie starts with the perfect, I mean perfect horror movie premise... It's raining and the rain won't stop.  How creepy is that? Ok, not that much..Fine.. So be it.  


Why are her fingertips bloody??

As my very eloquent aforementioned photo represents, there is something very sinister about these young girls... and their DAD..
Something Very sinister Indeed!

  
So you say?

As I was saying this movie has all the great characteristics of an Awesome horror movie and a twist to die for..do you have the patience to watch it and find out?


WELL DO YOU??

You have No Idea.. the ending will absolutely smash you...Don't believe me???

Me???

You should.. watch it and beware..B+

American Horror Story? Yes..S1: E:12 Afterbirth

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: S1: E12 AFTERBIRTH:  Ok, so Halloween is over and I have to admit that watching horror movies every night for a month was interesting.  I'm still watching them, but I decided to turn it down a notch and get into an actual show. Resisting the tantalizing ads from American Horror Show daily for about 2 years, my curiosity finally got the better of me and I caved in., 


You what??

This is the first time I review a televised show and I dare say it will be one of the few times, perhaps only times.  I had no intention of reviewing any episodes but Aftermath, the 12th in the first season, is really ground breaking in my eyes as a show.  Note, FX is not paying me, although that would be nice..


Boring, take nap..

Seriously, I don't want to wax poetic about this show so I won't. I tried to watch non horror movies today, stumbling on a few decent documentaries, but I'm still hooked on the adrenaline that watching good horror brings.  The same thing happened last year when I went over 2 months straight.  I know, I know, get on with it..


What is this gibberish?

Long story short, this episode had just about everything you could put into 1 hour of televised programming.  It had the return of the rubber man, the death of Ben, the arrival of a new family, the exit of the new family, a new baby, and last but not least a new serial killer who apparently inherited his dad's pathology.  That's quite a recipe for success there.  I don't think I'm ruining anyone's surprise here since I realize I'm very late into the AHS game, but so what, it's my blog live with it.


Rubber man has fun with the new arrivals.

Leading to this!!



And THIS!!


Nice, although the Redrum effect would have been nice in a mirror..



So and so tries to commit suicide..Ben, that's it.


Hot girl finally gets her baby, for a second..


Hot girl, thinking about something...oh yhea Hayden..

AND...


Hot..err Hayden with a shotgun and a bikini for no apparent reason.

OK, so that last one wasn't in the actual episode but I couldn't help it.  IF this review seems very odd, it's because I haven't been able to sleep for a few days because....drum roll...I keep having really bad night terrors and the nootropic fueled lucid dreams I soooo raved about in one of my previous posts* DO NOT STOP.  


ME at about 3:30 am finally realizing that I Can't shake this nightmare.

Apparently the little "technique" I was experimenting with to coax myself into a nightmare after waking from it worked very well and is still working. Now it just happens.  a lot..

This is what I wanted to happen..



AND this is what I got..



SO back on target, this was a great episode, watch it, or don't watch it.  Most of you are probably already aware of this episode and the show, I'm just sharing here. Let's all step back and enjoy one more gratuitous picture of eye candy from the show while I pop in The Blair Witch Project again for the 5th time.

Sweet Dreams!