RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR – “HOW RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER BECAME ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROSSING HORROR FILMS OF THE YEAR!”

RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR – “HOW RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER BECAME ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROSSING HORROR FILMS OF THE YEAR!”

It may come as a shock to many people (even horror fans) but Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) became one of the highest grossing traditional horror films of 2017 (with the exception of the monster hit remake of Stephen King’s It).  With $312.2 million at the Worldwide Box Office the final chapter in the long running zombie-action-horror franchise comes to a satisfying conclusion.  This film is the highest grossing of all the others in the franchise proving the extreme popularity of the films with fans of the actual game and general horror fans (and franchise star Milla Jovovich).

 

With this closing chapter writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson went back to basics in terms of style with the grittier action sequences and look of the zombies and monsters; he strayed from the more colorful visual palette of the past two films to return the franchise to the roots of the look of the original film.  Despite some questionable story elements, the film does a fantastic job putting all the pieces of the franchise together into a complete puzzle which fans, who have stuck through the duration of the films, will appreciate.  This is one of those few horror franchises where the same person has hung in there with each of the films till the end.  Anderson may not have directed all the films (just the original and the last three) but he has written them all and was producer for all of them over the course of fifteen years!  Some of the only other franchises to have a similar track record is writer/producer/director Don Coscarelli with the Phantasm franchise (37 years), writer/director Victor Salva and Jeepers Creepers films (17 years), writer/director Don Mancini with the Child’s Play franchise (29 years), writer/producer/director Sam Raimi and producer Rob Tapert with the Evil Dead films & television series (34 years) and writer/actor/director Leigh Whannell with the Insidious films (7 years), to name a very few.

 RE fans and general audiences have enjoyed watching the journey of the main character Alice (Jovovich) or “Project Alice” as she is also called in the films.  She has changed and developed from film to film gaining and loosing friends and allies on her quest to stop the Umbrella Corporation from destroying all of humanity on Earth.  The franchise has become one of the most ambitious horror franchises in history with characters from all over the world interacting in this zombie infested world.  The franchise has not only showcased some amazing fight choreography and action sequences but delivered the goods when it comes to the numerous monsters on display and death throughout.  Very few long running horror franchises have been able to have a protagonist as engaging and dynamic as Jovovich’s Alice and that is a testament to the commitment of the actor to the character and the Anderson’s writing to continue to test the character with new obstacles.

In terms of Box Office, all the films have grossed over $100 million at the Worldwide Box Office with the distinct oddity of The Final Chapter being the lowest growing Domestically (whereas Afterlife (2010) has the highest Domestic gross of the franchise with $60 million).  Obviously, the franchise is more of an International Box Office phenom then a domestic one.  By the time The Final Chapter was released earlier this year, interest in the franchise here was gone; only the die-hard fans came out to see how the franchise would finally end.  Internationally, the film did extremely well with over $285 million (a franchise best)!  With these numbers, even though the current run of Anderson films has come to an end, there is already talk of rebooting the franchise and starting over.  It should also be noted that the third film in the animated franchise Vendetta (2017) was also released this year (but Anderson has nothing to do with the animated films that stay more faithful to the games).

I don’t particularly like all the films in the franchise myself.  I still love the original film which is straight forward and retains the simplicity of an action-horror film that showcased both Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez’ talents for kicking ass and looking good while doing it.  I hated the Apocalypse (2004) as the cast was not nearly as strong as the original but it did add Oded Fehr and Jared Harris to the otherwise forgettable cast and I never liked the look of Nemesis.  They were back in form with Extinction (2007) but I think it’s because director Russell Mulcahy gives the film a great visual look and style with the desert looking apocalypse landscape (he did, after all, direct Highlander, Tale of the Mummy, and Resurrection, to name a few) and they added Ali Larter to the franchise (one of the great additions).  Anderson returns behind the camera with Afterlife (2010) which is the first to film in 3-D (with the same cameras used for James Cameron’s Avatar); all subsequent films would also get the 3-D treatment (I should know as I saw them all in 3-D on opening weekend).  Afterlife would bring new life into the franchise with its bolder color palette and more balletic fight choreography as the fights would become even more dynamic then in previous films.  Anderson’s cinematography would be the best here than in any of the previous films as the film took the strengths of the previous films and amplify them more.  Retribution (2012) would be a step down (in my opinion) as it focused more on the action sequences and less on the story as the whole film didn’t really seem to go anywhere as if it was a filler film for the next impending film (needless to say, Box Office for this film would dwindle tremendously from the previous film which became the franchise high domestically).  The tepid Box Office and audience response to this film meant that it was time to call it quits and thus The Final Chapter was released with a whimper domestically but to enthusiastic response Internationally.  This is one of the stronger films in terms of the actual story and plot as you see a lot of the stories of characters you’ve come to know finally come to a satisfying end.

 

In terms of longevity and profitability, the RE franchise is one of the most successful despite the quality of some of the films which is typical of any franchise that’s run through six films (and three animated films) over the course of 15 years.  Anderson was able to have actors come and go throughout the run of the series keeping continuity and consistency which is also rare with horror franchises (or any franchise).

I’ve always been a huge fan of the films and will continue to be one even when the franchise is finally rebooted for the next generation.  This was a franchise by and from fans to and for the fans and that is a rare thing indeed.

RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR – “The Return & JEEPERS CREEPERS 3”

RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR – “The Return & JEEPERS CREEPERS 3”

It’s been over a year since the last “Rants & Ravings About Horror” as I took some time away to focus on my film festival – Something Wicked Film Festival, which focuses on animation, horror, fantasy, and science fiction shorts and feature films.  Now that we’ve completed out second year, I thought it’d be a good time to get back to pen & paper (or computer screen) as I just came back from a special screening of JEEPERS CREEPERS 3 (2017) which marks the return of The Creeper from a fourteen-year absence and writer/director Victor Salva, who has been behind all the films in the franchise thus far.

There was great anticipation for this film on my part as I thought JEEPERS CREEPERS II (2003) was an improvement over the 2001 original film.  I won’t get into the controversy surrounding director Salva as I’m under the impression that a person’s personal life should be separate from their art but I will get into the significance of these films.  In 2001, Salva’s original film was unleashed upon an unsuspecting public and even though it only made a little over $37 million at the Box Office (on a $10 million budget) it was very popular with audiences and The Creeper became an instant sensation.  The original film was dark and mysterious and centered on a brother and sister who see something unbelievable that gets them stuck in battle for their lives against The Creeper, an ancient creature that gets to kill for 23 days every 23 years.  The Creeper was unstoppable and an original creature that acted more human than monster with fantastic weapons at his disposal.  No one was safe especially those it smelled the unique fragrance of fear that it craved.  It also contained a unique twist ending no one was expecting.  The film played more like a slasher film with an unstoppable monster at the center which made it fresh and innovative at a time in horror that was dominated by torture porn and PG-13 horror.

When the sequel was released in 2003 Salva added a taste of revenge thriller to the mix as The Creeper went after a bus load of basketball players.  Character actor Ray Wise is Jack Taggart who wants vengeance against The Creeper and gets entangled with the creature on the last of its 23 days to kill before it goes into hibernation.  This film is better written and executed than the previous film, which had been hampered by a lot of common horror film conventions.  Wise was the crown jewel in this film because he brought so much weight to a film that could have otherwise been nothing more than a run of the mill monster film.  With a bigger budget that almost doubled that of the original at $17 million the film only managed to gross $35 million at the Box Office which was less than the original.  This film was better received by audiences and critics but the fact that it essentially made less than the original put any future sequels on hold.

The road to JEEPERS CREEPERS 3 was an extremely long one as there were rumors of a sequel for years and audiences were held in limbo.  The original proposed sequel CATHEDRAL would get a poster and teaser trailer but very little news about the film itself surfaced until 2015 when Salva official revealed he was working on a script.  Then the film went into production and the controversy surrounding the director’s past resurfaced even though it had been a problem that came up during the original film’s production process.    The question of how to divorce the art from the artist has been a debate for eons from the controversy surrounding such acclaimed directors as Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Mel Gibson, Roman Polanski, and more recently Nate Parker and Bill Cosby, to name a few.  This controversy is probably one of the reasons why JEEPERS CREEPERS 3 is not getting a wide theatrical release as with the previous films but a limited screening through Fathom Events.  A limited number of cities and theaters will screen the film and a small number of fans will get the chance to see the film on the big screen before it finds its way on DVD/BD and digital download and streaming.  I happened to be in luck as the local theater was a Fathom Events supporter and was getting the film. 

When I got to the theater for the advertised 7:00pm screening, I was shocked that it had already been “Sold Out” but I was lucky in that they added an additional for 7:10pm.  I immediately bought my ticket and waited the forty minutes for the film to start.

Being a huge fan of the first two films I likened the anticipation for this film with the same as I felt for PHANTASM V: RAVAGER.  The remarkable thing about the JEEPERS CREEPERS franchise and PHANTASM and I’ll even include CHILD’S PLAY is that the original creators have all been involved in the subsequent sequels (and in the case of CHILD’S PLAY it is original writer Don Mancini who now directs each sequel as well).  This gives the franchise a sense that each subsequent film is an official continuation and fans the belief that the films are uncompromising by studio interference. 

JEEPERS CREEPERS 3 is a long time coming but for fans of the franchise it doesn’t disappoint.  It takes the elements of the first two films and expands them and twists them into something new.  The film takes place directly after the original film (but before Part 2) in which a ravaged police precinct must deal with The Creeper who have killed their own.  Joining the police is Sheriff Tashtego (Stan Shaw) who has history with The Creeper from the last time it showed up.  Tashtego has assembled a group of bounty hunters with one purpose which is to kill The Creeper once and for all.  The Creeper may have managed to slip through his fingers this time but he seeks out the help of an old friend Gaylen Brandon (Meg Foster), who has been recently seeing the haunting image of her son Kenny (Jordan Salloun), who was killed by The Creeper twenty-three years earlier.  He hopes that she holds the key to finding a way to kill the monster once and for all.  Gaylen has problems of her own as she is told by Kenny that The Creeper is heading her way to settle old debts before disappearing again for another 23 years.  Also caught in the middle is Gaylen’s niece Addison (Gabrielle Haugh) which The Creeper soon takes a liking to.

One of the big differences between this film and the previous films is the fact that most of the film takes place during the daylight hour so audiences get to see The Creeper in all his gruesome glory.  This deflates and sense of suspense in the film which is okay since audiences are now accustomed to The Creeper anyways.  The other addition to the franchise is the overwhelming presence of the police and the action elements that police customarily brings with it.  There is more fire power and guns on display in this film diminishing the horror elements that made the first two films so interesting.  The film takes a page from the UNDERWORLD and RESIDENT EVIL playbook in this regard.  Even though these elements seem like a natural progression since the last film was released over a decade ago, old school fans will not like it.  I heard laughing in the background during some sequences when there shouldn’t have been and some people walked out before the end of the film.

 

I’m of the camp that enjoys these films because of the demanding work and autonomy of the film-makers and respect their passion for their own projects.  PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION may be director Don Coscarelli’s worst film because there is so much passion in the film that you can’t simply dismiss the result.  The same can be said of this film.  Director Salva has been living with the franchise for a very long time and by the end of this film you realize he has a definite direction on where to go next which is great for the die-hard fans.

This being said, random film fans (not the die-hard fans) will probably not agree with my assessment but there are some amazing new toys from The Creeper and he’s given more screen time in this film then both of the previous films combined so there is a lot to be thankful for.

RANTS & RAVINGS ABOUT HORROR - “The Films of Don Coscarelli – Creator of PHANTASM!”

There are many horror directors who have made a mark in the genre with a vast legacy of films like Wes Craven and John Carpenter and David Cronenberg.  Unlike those influential and profound directors, the there is a name that is just as profound but maybe a little less known which is that of writer/director Don Coscarelli.  Most audiences know him for either Phantasm (1979) or for his more recent cult favorite Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) but he is a director whose small catalog of films have been diverse in genre and subject matter.  

1976 saw the release of two of Coscarelli’s first features.  One, Jim, The World’s Greatest I still have yet to see.  It hasn’t been given a full DVD or Blu-ray release yet.  The most important thing to know is that Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm starred in this film and these would be two actors that Coscarelli would call upon time and time again.  The second was Kenny & Company, which is readily available and stars a young A. Michael Baldwin, who would later make up the triumvirate of stars to make the Phantasm franchise one of the most popular in horror history.  Kenny & Company is the story of two twelve year old’s days of enjoying life and growing up while learning some of life’s many lessons.  It’s a very well done coming of age story that shows Coscarelli’s strengths with a very young cast.

Three years later Coscarelli would unleash upon the world a nightmarish vision of a young boy whose world is turned upside down when death comes calling in the guise of boogeyman simply call The Tall Man. Phantasm was unlike anything audiences had seen before.  A nightmare that neither the characters nor audiences could wake up from.  The Tall Man, as played by Angus Scrimm, was a figure unlike Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees.  The Tall Man was inhuman and from possibly a different dimension and worst part about him is that he was unstoppable and unkillable no matter what you did to him.  Phantasm would catapult Coscarelli and take him into another world with his next film – The Beastmaster (1982).

The Beastmaster is not your typical follow-up to a successful indie horror film as it is an epic fantasy with a main character that can communicate with animals.  Having dealt with children in his previous two films Coscarelli decided to take on the next biggest hassle with film-makers which are animals and there are plenty of them in this film.  Television actor Marc Singer was tapped to star as Dar, the Beastmaster, which he would resume for two sequels and the television series (albeit a different character) which would be one of his most iconic characters next to that of his character in the television series “V” (the original mini-series and its sequel “The Final Battle” and the ongoing series).  Coscarelli got to work with an accomplished group of actors with Tanya Roberts, Rip Torn, and John Amos.  Although Coscarelli did not have a say in how this franchise would ultimately develop after he departed, he wouldn’t allow that to happen to his first major success therefore when given a major studio and budget provided by Universal he stepped back into the nightmare world of The Tall Man with Phantasm II (1988).

Phantasm II was a new nightmare as young Mike has now grown up and been obsessed with finding and destroying The Tall Man.  This time around Mike is played by the “studio approved” actor James Le Gros instead of A. Michael Baldwin who originated the role.  A different actor may have taken over for Mike but all the rest of the original cast (that are still alive) returns with a bunch of new faces to be terrorized.  This film was just as dark as the original but contains better make-up effects and more action.  This was less a moody horror film like the original but that didn’t diminish the film’s impact on audiences.  A franchise was born and The Tall Man would continue to haunt audiences’ nightmares for more films to come.

Coscarelli’s next film would be a film about survival and a more realistic nightmare in Survival Quest (1988).  Lance Henriksen leads a group of city slickers into the mountain wilderness at the same time as a military group with opposing ideals.  When one of the military group is killed they blame it on Henriksen’s group who is then forced to get his group to safety before they get killed one by one.  This is an adventure film of man against man and man against nature.  A very good film that shows that Coscarelli can navigate an adventure film alongside a horror film.  This is a film that was generally ignored by everyone despite some fine direction and performances.  It would also be Coscarelli’s final non-horror film as he would then focus only on horror films which generated his biggest successes.

After the dismal returns of both Survival Quest and Phantasm II (whose cult audience would continue to grow), Coscarelli would have trouble getting his next few films off the ground.  Fortunately, Phantasm would be the one property he could get money for albeit at a reduced budget.  Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) would ultimately go straight to video but that would be a good thing as Coscarelli would have complete control of the franchise.  A. Michael Baldwin would return as Mike as well as Bill Thornbury as Jody, Mike’s older brother (who was absent in the previous film).  This film would bring back the entire original family from the first film and would be what fans were waiting for.  The Phantasm franchise has never been one easily understood as it asks more questions than it answers and that would not change with this film.  One added element to the franchise would be more humor.  Bannister’s character of Reggie usually carried most of the comedy in the previous films but it is spread across several supporting characters in this film as if Coscarelli was designing this film to be more fun and less horrifying (I mean by film three I doubt The Tall Man is as scary as he used to be).  There are new creatures in the film and Coscarelli reveals more of the world as the audience learns about everything as the characters do.  This film would do excellent business on video which would make getting the next film in the franchise off the ground a bit easier.

Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) would see life straight to video four years after the previous film.  Although armed with an even smaller budget than the last film Coscarelli came up with a brilliant idea for the film which was to utilize unused footage from the original film.  He would splice this with a story that would reveal the true nature of The Tall Man in order for Mike to finally find a way to destroy him.  This film is not as exciting and action packed as previous films in the franchise but it does try hard to answer the big questions that audiences have had since the first film was released and it continues to world build.  Unfortunately, for fans at least, the film ends with even more questions than answers as if it was just a prelude to something bigger which is what Coscarelli always intended.  Oblivion was intended to be a bridge for an even larger film to end the franchise but as of yet that film hasn’t materialized (more on this later).

It would be another four years before Coscarelli next film which would be as far away from the Phantasm franchise as he could get with the mummy horror-comedy Bubba Ho-Tep, which would see an aging Elvis and “JFK” (Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis, respectfully) in a retirement home battling a mummy.  Based on a story by Joe R. Lansdale, Coscarelli would craft the second biggest film of his career.  In many circles this is considered his best film (especially by younger audiences).  This film just had the perfect cast (with Bannister appearing in a small role), script, make-up effects and monster and had the perfect balance of comedy and horror.  This is still one of my favorites of Coscarelli’s films as I’m sure it is too many.

It would take ten years before Coscarelli’s next feature film saw release in the form of another adaptation of another writer’s work.  In 2012, John Dies at the End would greet audiences with a different type of Coscarelli film.  Based on the book by James Wong, this film is a horror and sci-fi fantasy with all types of monsters, drugs, and different worlds thrown in.  It’s hard to describe the film without giving too much away and it’s a film to experience, just trust me.  It’s both funny and a grand adventure into the strange and weird and it is never predictable.

Coscarelli takes his time in between projects but that doesn’t mean he’s lying low.  In 2005 he directed another Joe R. Lansdale story “Incident on and Off a Mountain Road” for the television series Masters of Horror and most recently he wrote and produced what will be the final chapter in the Phantasm franchise – Phantasm: Ravager which is directed by David Hartman and should be released later this year.  He may best be known for the Phantasm franchise but his style and technique as a film-maker is the reason why so many people consider him a Master of Horror.