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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, a review by Danae Cassandra

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Year of Release: 2013
Directed By: Tommy Wirkola
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Pihla Viitala
Genre: Action, Horror

Overview:
Get ready for a twisted take on the classic tale as Hansel (JEREMY RENNER) and Gretel (GEMMA ARTERTON) have turned pro, coping with the trauma of their childhood captivity by slaying witches for hire. But when seemingly unstoppable bounty hunters meet their match in an enemy so evil, it'll take all their training, weapons and courage to survive. PAYBACK IS A WITCH!

My Thoughts:
This is mindless action-horror, but I enjoy this a lot more than I probably should. I find this film a lot of really silly fun. Maybe I've played too much D&D, cause this is a D&D adventure. Maybe that it's the fun of the steampunk stylings or the genre mashup, both of which I enjoy. Or maybe I just really like Jeremy Renner. I think it's that one. Definitely that one.

Watched For:  Hoop-tober 3.0, Scavenger Hunt 19, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 22/52 (21 reviewed)

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 10th, 2016)

The Bad Seed, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Bad Seed
Year of Release: 1956
Directed By: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring: Patty McCormack, Nancy Kelly, Evelyn Varden, Henry Jones, Eileen Heckart
Genre: Suspense/Thriller, Horror

Overview:My Thoughts:
This was a really good film. The performances were all really top-notch. Though Patty McCormick impressive's, given her age when the film was made, it's really hard to single out any of the actors as standing out. They're all great, from the smarmy caretaker, to the distraught Mrs. Daigle, to the increasingly troubled Christine.

This is mostly a thriller with film noir stylings, though the horror lies both in Rhoda's actions and the idea of a child simply being born evil. Were it to end where it should, it would be true horror. However, Hays Code restrictions tack on an unnecessary epilogue after the hospital scene. The film should end at the hospital, and that it doesn't undermines the horror of the film. The fact that the rest of the film is so very excellent is really marred by that, but I'd still recommend it as an excellent old-school horror.

Watched For:  Hoop-tober 3.0, Scavenger Hunt 19, Horror/Halloween Challenge 2016

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3.75/5

Horror/Halloween Challenge Films: 22/52 (19 reviewed)

(From Horror/Halloween 2016 Challenge on October 10th, 2016)

"Due South" marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

Chicago Holiday - Part 1

This is a fun episode... I did enjoy it. Though I seen the teenage daughter of ambassador (or some VIP) running off to party on more then one show before. So that kinda took away from it a little for me. But the whole list on the match cover thing added to the storyline. The teenage girl seems to look familiar to me... but I couldn't place her. When I went to IMDB I find out she was on a single episode of Friday the 13th: The Series that I watched not too long ago. Other then that I didn't see anything I would recognize her from. So it must have been that.

My Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on July 5th, 2009)