I never ever, ever, ever (and I mean never) go to horror films. I’ve been writing reviews for nine years, and have yet to see or comment on one during that time. Nonetheless, I do have (some) history with scary movies. The first one I can recall seeing was Psycho, the classic Alfred Hitchcock film starring Anthony Perkins, released in 1960. The climactic scene had my heart humming for days. The second was The Exorcist, released in 1973. The special effects were limited but so very effective. If you saw it you can never forget Linda Blair’s head spinning around. It took me six years to summon the courage to see another scary movie, this time it was Alien, a 1979 release. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since, and my wife has still not forgiven me for “dragging” her to that one. It was without a doubt the most terrifying film I have ever seen. (Yes Jurassic Park and Jaws were scary, but they were not horror films, rather great adventure stories; big difference).
So why did I go to see Hereditary (billed as a film in the horror genre), a movie you may never have heard of? Well, looking at all the movie options available around here on our paper’s deadline date, was scary enough. One after another, mostly pure junk (by my standards) other than a couple I have already reported on. So, since I was already scared of what was out there, I decided to top off the evening with a “scary” movie.
Forty minutes in, I had had enough. I was one of several patrons who walked out at the same time. The story moved slowly, so slowly that it was ridiculous. The highlights that I saw before leaving were a couple of funerals, with one eulogy the best scripting of the day. There was no horror before I left, although I could see it building slowly, very slowly to some sort of distressful ending. After forty minutes, I could have cared less what the outcome was, and take my word for it neither would you. Enough about this tragic example of filmmaking, and on to something a little brighter.
Hereditary
Entertainment Rating: 0 stars
Rating: R: No profanity, one gruesome moment
Possible Oscar Nominations: None
There was a delightful little film we saw a couple of weeks back. Its’ called Show Dogs. It was still in the theater at the time I wrote this column, but may be gone by the time you read this (not an animated film). It’s the story of an NYPD police dog named Max, assigned to the FBI working undercover, to catch some high end dog-nappers. He ends up as a contestant in a glitzy dog show in Las Vegas, which alone is worth the price of admission. That the dogs talk to each other adds to the fun, young kids will love this one, you might too if you like dogs.
And, I will close with a mention of the absolutely best TV series imaginable. I know many of you are devoted to the Netflix series The Crown. It’s one of the finest productions I’ve ever seen and we’re busy watching at least one episode a day until we’re caught up. Everyone we have talked to who watches this show, agrees its’ as good as it gets. If you don’t have Netflix, it’s well worth your time if only for this series.
1 Comment
I think you are very wrong.