What I Watched in October 2022

BARBARIAN (2022) is a horror thriller that does an excellent job of keeping the darker edge of its central premise hidden until the second act. In fact, it might be possible – if you could avoid the trailer or the ongoing online discussions – to see the film and wonder if it was going to be a meet-cute romantic drama. The initial lead characters are likeable and their situation compelling in ways that draw you into the scenario. It helps that both are being played by solid actors capable of walking the fine line between wary and curious. The point at which the film pulls its first narrative split is masterfully handled as the story switches to a third character we learn to dislike and slowly to distrust. But then the film adds another wrinkle that shows us the past awfulness that brings this entire tale to horror territory. BARBARIAN is a well made and smart film that knows its tricks are old but makes up for that by inventing new ways to hide their inevitable culmination. You have probably seen a version of this story before but not told in this way. That makes me appreciate the film that much more.

The List

BARBARIAN (2022) – 7 (well done mystery/horror)

UNINVITED (1987) – 5 (not bad but the budget hampers things)

THE MUNSTERS (2022) – 7

LADY MORGAN’S VENGEANCE (1965) – 6 (interesting gothic gaslighting tale)

HOUSE (1985) – 5 (rewatch)

TRICK ‘R’ TREAT (2008) – 9 (rewatch on the big screen)

STRIPPED TO KILL (1987) – 4

DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) – 9 (rewatch) (director’s cut on Blu)

THE HORRIBLE SEXY VAMPIRE (1971) – 5

HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY (1987) – 5 (mostly a waste but – stop-motion!)

BLOOD RED SKY (2021) – 9 (very well done)

SMILE (2022) – 6 (well-made, but not as engrossing as I hoped)

THE MUMMY (1933) – 9 (rewatch)

THE MUMMY’S CURSE (1944) – 6 (rewatch)

FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022) – 7

DARK GLASSES (2022) – 6 (Argento returns for an OK thriller)

THE BLACK CAT (1934) – 9 (rewatch)

THE RAVEN (1935) – 8 (rewatch)

HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944) – 7 (rewatch)

CRUCIBLE OF HORROR (1971) – 6 (interesting British creeper)

PARSOMNIA (2008) – 4 (needs to be about 15 minutes shorter)

X (2022) – 9

FATAL EXAM (1990) – 3 (needs to be about 30 minutes shorter – at least)  

HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1989) – 4 (rewatch)

MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE (1989) – 3 (low budget backwoods slasher)

HALLOWEEN II (1981) – 7 (rewatch)

SCARE PACKAGE (2020) – 5 (mostly unfunny, poorly paced anthology horror – last act ups it a point)

RENEGADE RANGER (1938) – 5 (standard B-western)

DON’T DELIVER US FROM EVIL (1971) – 7 (excellent French tale of adolescent obsession)

FREDDIE’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE (1991) – 4 (rewatch)

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD (2009) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

SHALLOW GRAVE (1987) – 7 (surprisingly solid thriller)

PHONE (2002) – 7 (well done South Korean ghost tale)

GOODNIGHT, MOMMY (2022) – 8 (good psychological horror)

THE DEEP HOUSE (2021) – 8 (very good French horror)

FRIDAY THE 13^TH PART 6: JASON LIVES (1986) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

DEADSTREAM (2022) – 7 (entertaining, funny take on livestreamed ghost hunting)

SCOOBY DOO AND KISS: ROCK AND ROLL MYSTERY (2015) – 6 (fun animated adventure)

THE KILLER MUST KILL AGAIN (1975) – 8 (rewatch)

SHOCK (1977) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

TERROR ABOARD (1933) – 6 (good pre-code murder thriller)

THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1943) – 8 (rewatch)