Courtesy of IMDB
I love horror movies. Even as early as sixth grade, I would stay up late into the night pirating “Children of the Corn” or “Rosemary’s Baby” on my Acer Chromebook because I was so drawn to the genre. I made for a very maladjusted eleven-year-old, but those films taught me the beauty of bloodshed or some fake-deep shit like that.
In honor of Halloween, here are three horror films that have come out this year and my thoughts on them.
“MaXXXine”
The final installment in director Ti West’s “X” trilogy, “MaXXXine” follows a 1980s adult film star as she forays into the LA movie scene, all while a killer hunts the starlets of Hollywood.
Whether or not this film counts as a horror movie is up for debate. The involved narrative and lack of supernatural elements were much more akin to a thriller. However, the suspense was effective, and the movie commented on the horror of Hollywood and moral panic. Mia Goth’s performance was unsurprisingly fantastic, but the writing and direction of the film were commendable as well. West evoked a seedy LA mood, just as glamorous as it is dangerous. Though the film was stylistically different from its tripartite predecessors, I thought other elements that were not as rich in the previous films were able to shine through, like the soundtrack and aesthetic.
I liked the complimentary mix of gore, thrill and stakes in this movie. Even if you have not seen the earlier films in the trilogy, you will be rooting for Maxine by the end. There is something immeasurably human about the hunger for recognition and being given what one is due — I love that Maxine is a character who knows what she wants and fights tooth and nail to get it. For fans of the series and newbies alike, “MaXXXine” is a satisfying conclusion that lives up to its unapologetically dynamic lead.
“Longlegs”
I would argue that “Longlegs” was one of the more hyped horror movies of this year. I was excited when I watched the previews, but in the theater, I found the film itself to be severely underdeveloped. The beginning used mystery to build suspense, which is a common horror movie technique because it works. However, for the execution of a film to succeed, the mystery needs to be carefully expanded on. That was not the case for this movie.
The film’s plot was predictable, the writing was subpar and it tried too hard to be artsy. The final product was overly convoluted and did not even scare me. I thought the ending was a bit of a deus ex machina that felt lazy. Overall, I do not recommend this film, even for those with reasonably low standards. Looking up a TikTok clip of Nicholas Cage’s scenes, will be a far better viewing experience than sitting through the entire film.
“Late Night with the Devil”
I watched this movie on Hulu after a bad week to try to get in the mood for Halloween. I had not heard anything about it online, but I saw that it got good reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and like the sheep that I am, I pressed play with high hopes.
The film was entertaining, with versatile freak David Dastmalchian and young talent Ingrid Torelli’s performances being the highlight. The style was fun and engaging, with most of the film occurring on-air during a fictional talk show. The scariest part was the last 15 minutes, which, without spoiling anything, was a well-executed sequence of chaotic, nightmarish madness.
Did this film attempt to redefine the horror genre? Absolutely not. But it served as an enjoyable escape into a retro world of demons, paranormal skepticism and the complicated ethics of television. If you are looking for a cinematic masterpiece, this film does not hit the mark. But if you want a creepy vibe with some ’70s camp to boot, “Late Night with the Devil” delivers. Just do not expect it to haunt you long after the credits roll.
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