I'm definitely not a fan of slasher movies, but John Carpenter's Halloween is just incredible in my eyes. It's one of those movies I can rewatch constantly and never get bored. I feel that much of it has to do with how fantastic the direction is. Carpenter uses plenty of long shots and slow transitions, and there's almost always some chilling detail daring the viewer to find it. The villain feels especially scary because of how quiet and foreboding he is. The iconic music and sound effects just seal the deal. Despite how many times I've seen this, it always surprises me with how effectively it can build tension and how firmly it can grab my attention, despite my adversion for the genre. It doesn't do that by being original (I mean, it is one of the most quintessential examples of the genre) but by just being a damn good movie.
Francis Ford Coppola's vision of the iconic Bram Stoker novel is certainly a striking one. The aesthetic of this movie is fascinating and full of personality and is without a doubt the main selling point, along with an impressive soundtrack and a legendary performance by Gary Oldman.
However, I certainly didn't like the writing, which to my eyes was a weird mix of refined gothic sensibilities and rauncy, over the top scenes (like all the sex scenes). The movie can't seem to decide if it wants to be serious or campy and as a result the tone was all over the place for me. Some characters are downright absurd, or feel like a mockery of how they were in the original story.
Overall, I can see why this movie is loved, but it definitely wasn't for me. I can't deny its qualities, especially in the visuals and music, but they were not enough for me to rate it any higher.
The Thing is probably my favourite horror movie, and might as well be my overall favourite. Everything works in perfect sync: the absolute isolation, the outstanding sound design, the performances, the incredibly masterful pacing. It's a movie with desolate, yet powerful imagery, a sense of tension and horror like no other and an antagonist that is often laid bare for the audience to see, but still remains an inscrutable, otherworldly threat. Outstanding practical effects and iconic scenes are just the cherry on top of a masterwork that grips you and never lets go. Without a doubt, a classic and a powerful reminder that "the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown".
