As I am writing this under the glow of the hunter’s moon, ominous vibes spread through. Just in time for All Hollow’s Eve, a batch of new scary fare is coming our way.
Over on Disney+, the best Marvel output in a while has just dropped. Werewolf by Night comes to us from an unlikely source. Film composer Michael Ciacchino takes the helm with panache. With brilliant use of silvery black and white photography, he adds an old-school flare reminiscent of thirties or forties Universal monster films. If it wasn’t for the modern creature effects, it seems timeless complete with cigarette burns and film scratches.
Gael Garcia Bernal stars as Jack Russell, one of many summoned for a contest after a renowned monster hunter has died. Laura Donnelly plays the deceased’s estranged daughter, coming to claim her birthright. An excellently over-the-top turn by Harriet Sansom Harris, most know as Bebe from the show Frasier, rounds out the cast. Thanks for this perfect Halloween treat, Marvel.
Also from house of Walt, Hocus Pocus 2 is streaming for those nostalgic for the nineties. Having grown up with the original tale of the Sanderson sisters, I was rather skeptical of how well a sequel would go. In many ways, it is a mixed bag. On one hand, Bete Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker are entertaining; picking up where they left off.
On the other, what made the first so engaging were the heroes; making this endeavor extremely lopsided. I can’t even pull the main characters out of a lineup. But bland characters are a pitfall of most Disney Channel original movies, which this feels like. The ending was a surprise though with its opening tie-in, worth the price of admission if you would like to watch this with family.
Netflix must have been sensing this wistful tinge as they tapped Rob Zombie to direct The Munsters. A prequel of sorts, we meet The Count and his daughter Lilly in Transylvania as he is trying to set her up with eligible bachelors. One date with Count Orlock from Nosferatu was quite silly. But in a subplot, two buffoons bring to life a man they call Herman. And once he becomes famous and Lily takes one look at him, love at first sight.
Rob Zombie has his usual crew of misfit actors including Daniel Roebuck and his wife Sheri Moon. Each one inhabits their characters to a point that they seem less parody and more just camp fun. In fact, the aesthetic reminded me of The Brady Bunch Movie. It doesn’t seem like Zombie would be suited here, but this is easily his most accessible film to date. With cameos from Cassandra Peterson and Dee Wallace, it is all in good fun.
Now for those not squeamish, Hulu’s new incarnation of Hellraiser is worthy of Clive Barker. Utilizing elements from the first two movies as well as his novel The Hellbound Heart, director David Bruckner and co. craft a devilish concoction. We are introduced to Riley some thirty minutes in, a recovering addict who encounters a puzzle box that opens a nightmare realm. For those uninitiated, this space houses demons who drag those by hooks and chains back to be tortured. When her brother becomes unwittingly ensnared, her guilt forces her figure out what the box is and how to get him back.
One great element at play is how much we care about these characters before the worst befalls them. So many horror movies makes these people like cannon fodder where we almost want them to die. But not all humans are good; Goran Visnjic plays a madman bent on meeting the demons’ god to be granted his desires. However, Sense8’s Jamie Clayton steals every scene she is in as the Hell Priest, pins and all. No matter your preference, these are all good spooky viewing.
