If you’re going to see Hereditary, my advice is to see it at least twice. It would be nearly impossible to pick up on every little clue and hidden symbol the first time which may not be important to some. But to fully appreciate how each of these pieces fit together to create such an unbelievable ending, well, that is really something. I found during my second viewing, it wasn’t about knowing what was going to happen next, but just the dread of having to go through it all over again. Hereditary is not a conventional horror movie and this is not a conventional family.

Hereditary follows the odd, tragic and hellish dynamics of the Graham family: Annie (mom), Steve (dad), Charlie (daughter) and Peter (son). The movie’s opening scene is an obituary for Ellen, Annie’s mother, which lays out some of the family’s lineage right away, a list of predeceased members and survivors of Ellen. It’s a nice setup to immediately introduce some roots of this family tree even if we don’t know any of what it means. Marking the start of the puzzle you’ll be putting together as you watch until the end.
Annie works as an artist and creates meticulously detailed dioramas that mirror her memories and visions. Many of which replicate rooms in her own home and depict her family members as she sees them. These dioramas pop up throughout to help foreshadow future events and fill in blanks from the past. I also got the sense Annie uses this art form to help control and compartmentalize her grief and other things much, much worse.

So, is it scary? OMG YES ABSOLUTELY. But it’s more than scary, it’s emotionally gutting and if you allow yourself to sink down into the uncomfortable, harrowing moments of the Graham family, their trauma feels like an inescapable nightmare.

You spend much of the film thinking you’ve nailed down exactly what this whole thing is about and what the character/s need to overcome, and the writing continues to redirect you like some fucked up GPS. I continuously changed my answers from a movie about overcoming loss, to forgiveness, to a haunted house, etc. All seemed plausible and not unheard of in a scary movie, but the list just got longer. Each horrible moment is worse than the next. It doesn’t get better and there is no way to predict if it ever will.  The writing doesn’t follow audience emotion like in a formulaic slasher film: where we know whose story it is, what the last showdown will probably look like and that the rest of the characters exist merely to be picked off. That’s what the audience wants from a slasher (and we love it!). However, each member of the family in Hereditary is fleshed out in some way where no one seems expendable. I didn’t want anything to happen to any of them.

Director, Ari Aster, uses multiple elements of horror we in the community look for: original, less predictable storyline, believable acting, interesting camera work, sickening tension, gripping suspense, violence, gore, ghosts/monsters/slashers (whatever fits), haunting score and hell, even jump scares. This movie has it all but the difference being, each element serves an actual purpose. Nothing feels hollow or for show. Not that every movie needs to do all of this every time, however, to witness all of that happening on screen AND you’re truly terrified AND your heart is being ripped out (emotionally) AND you’re failing to predict how it will all end…I related all of those feelings to the girl behind me blurting out through prolonged screaming, “What is this!??” after a particularly horrifying scene where I was having no trouble melting into my chair. The shadowy figure sitting behind me summed up my feelings so perfectly in that some of this movie is so indescribably disturbing and I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it.
So, was it perfect? No, and that’s also objective, but I thought it could have been cut down in places and some of the pacing in the middle of the movie was a little slow and I don’t know if we needed as many seance scenes that we got but that was honestly about it.

But I pose that question because Hereditary has been increasingly hyped as the next Exorcist or Sixth Sense since January and that type of marketing can turn people off or raise the standard too high before anyone can even see it. I don’t believe those types of comparisons did Hereditary any favors because horror fans are awful about letting anything dethrone a classic, if it somehow even could.
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After this opening weekend the horror community seemed very split on Hereditary. I have a theory that if Hereditary was released quietly, without as much in-your-face marketing and high praise comparisons, it may have won more of those people over who weren’t supportive. It would have been an indy horror gem with beautiful production value and sharp writing that no one knew about and horror fans had to go find on their own. But that’s also counterproductive. We want horror treated with respect and consideration for noteworthy awards and cited in the running with other ground-breaking films. There are many that deserve it! I think there is a complicated balance to keep the horror community happy. But Hereditary comes at a perfect time where just last week horror lovers everywhere clamored in anticipation for the Halloween 2018 trailer and we got our dose of a beloved franchise we all respect and can once again revel in that nostalgia come October. I have never been against remakes/reboots and in some cases have preferred some over the originals. That being said, I do think there is plenty of room for original ideas regardless if they're well received and this newfound psychological, sophisticated turn horror has taken. 

I truly love a good possession movie and there are a lot of them, many not so good, but I faithfully watch them all. I bought into the hype of Veronica a couple days ago as Rotten Tomatoes gave it a perfect score and it seemed like every horror group I follow was posting some click-bait about viewers needing to turn off the movie halfway through. I read up a little on the premise in that it’s set in Spain and follows Veronica, a high school girl, looking to conjure her dead father’s spirit through an Ouija board. She instead conjures a demon who violently possesses her AND during an eclipse no less. Plus, she has an adorable family whom she must protect while she battles the harrowing demonic visions and monsters that afflict her. All of this and I haven’t gotten to the scariest part of the whole thing. Apparently, Veronica is based on real events of a girl who died after playing with an Ouija board. So yea, I was ready to watch.

There have been a couple movies in recent past about the Ouija board that I thought were just okay and what I think was missing among other things, for me, was depicting the actual board game as something to be frightened by. There were plenty of creepy things that occurred surrounding the game, but I almost forgot it was about Ouija at all. I wanted to see more of a connection even if it’s not an easy thing to do. As someone who doesn’t believe Ouija boards hold any evil power, I was interested to see if they would be able to take the hokey-ness out of it. I liked that the the board look super creepy and its design was ancient and dark and red. I also appreciated that there was more of a physicality to it, when it cracked in half during the first séance, I had this overwhelming feeling like something was terribly wrong. I felt part of that experience even more. And then I was ready to see some wild body manipulation and speaking in tongues, possession shit! It’s a small note that probably doesn’t matter to most people, but I appreciated that they made the Ouija board a little scary again.

I was getting a heavy dose of It Follows vibes from the stripped down, subtle and suspenseful  scares to the spine tingling score. The pacing was well-balanced and shot so realistically that it felt like this could have actually happened. A nice way to allude to the alleged true events the film is based on.

The most compelling facet of Veronica is her commitment to raising and protecting her younger brother and sisters. You instantly care about each of them and even though Veronica is enduring things like hallucinations, night terrors and haunting voices, she continues to make them her priority. It was the one uplifting sentiment I could take away among the waves of fear and anxiety. Veronica freaked me out and most notably lead actress, Sandra Escacena, was mesmerizing in her ability to portray a typical, sweet, teenage girl and suddenly flip to a possessed, demonic entity. Reminded me somewhat of Ashley Bell's performance in The Last Exorcism. There are some amazing possession, visual effects they do with her too which was the highlight for me.

You can watch Veronica on Netflix and maybe don't watch alone ;)

There has never been something to scare me more than a clown. I'll thank the childhood memory that started it all: A 2 foot tall, circus clown doorstop given to me as a gift (hah!) which propped itself against my bedroom door, dancing in a frozen pose, into the dark hallway. The best part? This little jester was positioned so that my night light illuminated only the face of the clown, staring me down with a toothy, painted smile each evening. NOT COOL, NIGHT LIGHT. From there, I just assumed clowns were not for children. It would be much later when I would discover IT and a guy named Stephen King, who really understood the horror behind my clown phobia.

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Now having said all of that, I will watch any clown movie I can find because I seek out the feeling of being scared. Many horror fans are always searching for that feeling in a film. Heading into the theater last night brought forth a wave of excitement along with a healthy dose of, "Why am I doing this to myself? The original IT did not go well for you when you were 12, Jessica." Bottom line is this version of IT was a gory and entertaining horror experience, the whole package type of horror. You get 80s nostalgia, comedic relief and a riveting, charismatic horror icon that elevated the role of Pennywise and freaked everyone out. Not just those already uneasy about clowns. My girlfriend will attest to this.

Bill Skarsgard had enormous shoes to fill as the big bad, Pennywise, and he brought an intense performance while still pulling off an over the top, colorful costume and dramatic head and face makeup. I was concerned seeing the first images of Pennywise in the movie's early stages. Specifically, whether his appearance would be less unnerving and more of a joke to viewers who don't find clowns all that scary. But, Skarsgard erased those concerns once I heard him speak. The way he was able to master the creepiness of his child-like squeaks to lure children in and then revert to gravelly, hellish bellows in his true form was mind-blowing. Honestly, just him standing still was chilling. I couldn't wait for him to get back on screen. Each sequence of Pennywise was played up as something new to terrify each member of the Losers' Club and feed on their fears. I continuously looked forward to how Pennywise would materialize into their worst nightmares. Also, really glad it wasn't happening to me.

The best part about this movie was how funny all of the kids in the Losers' Club were because the audience got some relief in between our clamoring screams. There were moments that I may have blacked out due to well-timed and unpredictable jump scares and, I admit, I also made myself aware of  the exits upon entering the theater.
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I would recommend IT to anyone who was a fan of the original or just wants to have a good time screaming in front of their loved ones. I truly loved this movie. It did not help that as I was leaving the theater, there was a single, red, floating balloon tied to a storm drain nearby. As if Pennywise were reminding me this was only Chapter One.

Get Out is something writers dream about creating. Making something that speaks so inherently to themselves and more importantly to the world at large. Calling out social issues with such realness in an artistic way and ostenatiously proving horror movies with a message appeal overwhelmingly to horror fans as well as viewers previously apprehensive to the genre. Imagine doing all of that as part of your horror writing and directing debut. Jordan Peele did that.

 I'm glad for it because the community needs it and Get Out sets a precedent for new ideas in horror. I've been deliriously vocal in pushing for the future of horror and my issue with people hanging back on originals and never giving any recent horror movies credit.  There's a lot of shit to trudge through and I agree there, but the horror community needs to look closer for the real efforts certain films are making. As an aspiring filmmaker myself, what impression does that give me to try out my vision? Get Out has done the work I have always dreamed.

In Get Out we follow Chris preparing to meet his girlfriend's parents. The kind with a sprawling property, a black maid and black groundskeeper, a beautiful home. Chris is black, his girlfriend, Rose, is white. They seem happy together but Chris is ever discerning in the dynamics of their relationship. He continuously schools her on the reality of the black experience compared to the white experience. And that  experience ranges from meeting parents, dealing with cops and socializing as the black guy dating a white girl. It's refreshing and Rose seems to be adept at handling each situation. Too adept.

Chris gets to the house and is met with Rose's  dad who tries too hard to relate to him on the surface, never anything deeper beyond "my man" and " Obama." He explains away the fact that his "help" is black and he couldn't bear to let them go. That type of conversation is not casual but geared towards Chris' race and the need to make him comfortable. However, not from an actual human perspective.

Now watching Chris' interactions with outlier white people in this film can be shocking in the way that you may say to yourself, "There is no way someone would say that to another person." And I think that is the point. You'll see very subtle moments of conversation that are supposed to be "getting to know someone" jargon and they turn into subjects very much centered around the fact that Chris is black. It feels insane. It's supposed to feel insane. It's to be expected when you're black.  

Maybe go watch American History X as a precursor before you see Get Out so you can understand that Chris is not overreacting.

It gets better with Rose's mother. She's a psychiatrist continually apologizing for the antics of Rose's father and the obvious plays he's trying to make to Chris. You won't realize that her doctored hypnosis goes deeper and more harrowing. Circling a spoon in a teacup and bellowing, "Sink."

I don't go hard with spoilers in any of my reviews because I hope you just go see the movie! I will say beyond the social commentary this movie is scary as fuck! They work all the psychological shit on you first and about the time the heavy gore comes in, you're begging for it to happen. These people are straight up awful. But I can talk about the way this movie gutted me, differently than any of my favorite horror films.

I am a biracial, gay woman with all sorts friends. I pass for white, I pass for straight and I get to witness people who don't approve of either talk in front of me, hatefully, as though I'm like minded and part of the crowd they think they're in. It's a privilege I will always own that doesn't feel good. My girlfriend is white but I am lucky to be with someone who  gets it. It's complicated. My mother is white and my father is black  and knowing the two of them, they are perfect for each other. I am proud of the life that they have provided me and the opportunity to have such a diverse set of family on each side. I'm not sure I would be as capable as I am without this familial origin. I owe everything to it. It's where my writing comes from. I am lucky. To offer a different perspective of appearing white(and totally not being white)and meeting your girlfriend's family, you almost want to make a point of clarifying that fact. Just because you never know. Luckily for me, it hasn't been an issue but I know the apprehension even from the opposite side.
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​Obviously I have strong feelings about Get Out so anyone that wants to see it with me for a second, third or fourth time, let me know. Can't wait to see what  Jordan Peele puts out next. Btw, the soundtrack is slammin'.

I was so looking forward to Fede Alvarez’s latest horror movie, Don’t Breathe. As a huge Evil Dead fan, I was surprisingly astonished by his remake starring Jane Levy. The gore was great and the homage to such a classic came through with a respectful confidence of someone who is clearly a fan of Evil Dead himself.  Alvarez brings Jane Levy back in Don’t Breathe as Rocky. Once again cast as a tortured scream queen (mostly internal screaming) who is going through some real shit. Her personal and difficult life experiences help to fuel the danger and extreme horror she finds herself in.

This movie settles right into the home invasion premise that past films like The Strangers, You’re Next and Hush have done so effectively. The difference is a type of role reversal right from the start where the victim in the house was never the victim to begin with. This time the victim doesn’t want his assailants to leave. So when Rocky and her friends decide to bust into a blind veteran’s house reported to be sitting on a ton of cash, their heist goes dreadfully wrong.

​Stephen Lang plays “The Blind Man” who was another exciting asset to the movie for me as he already plays the relentless and terrifying, Increase Mather on the television show, Salem. I find he performs this role well and somehow made me feel less and less empathy for a blind man who had lost his daughter in a fatal car accident. I think the plot forces you to examine good and evil from controversial perspectives and decision-making of those desperate to find a way out of whatever haunts them. I felt for Rocky and her need to make money fast to remove herself and younger sister from their rough home life, but not by way of stealing from someone else seemingly incapable of defending themselves. At the same time, Blind Man has a tragic past, living with the loss of his daughter, but once inside his secluded home some horrific truths are revealed, only to become worse.

The standout moment for me was when The Blind Man is searching for the intruders and the lights cut out and the basement drips down into darkness. I could not imagine the fear that comes with suddenly losing your sight and then what’s worse, something deadly coming for you in the meantime. There was this constant turning of tables between The Blind Man and the intruders and this just evened the playing field. I was overwhelmed and uncomfortable for the duration of that scene and honestly, for most of the movie I was bracing myself through stark silences repeating themselves around every unknown corner of that house.
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If you like tension-filled thrillers that rip you up inside and stop your heart,  Don’t Breathe is in theaters now.

I saw The Witch the night before its official release date and it did so much to me. I love witches and not since the television show, Salem, have I been so moved by a witch tale that not only terrifies but makes you fear them in the way you should. Many times, they are portrayed as too hokey or over the top, takes me out of it and searching for something more deserving and just.

I think HitFix said it right when their banner review on the trailer read: It feels like we're watching something we should not be seeing."

It is exactly how I felt and exactly how you should feel watching an authentic witch film. I immediately reverted back to the history of the Salem Witch Trials and the issue of accusation versus proof, hysteria and delusion versus supernatural. I liked that these issues could not be confused in this telling.
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I'll warn you that the atrocities of this movie come few and far between. I am assuming atrocities are good things to you in the context of horror films. The suspense is built up as realistically as it can be creating a feeling of living in each of those moments. I'm reading a lot of reviews now that I've seen the movie, where people are upset, basically about zero jump scares or the type of fleeting blockbuster film making that takes away from what this film is trying to do. I'll warn you again, that if you're looking for something with instant gratification, some type of false death grip that leaves you after you leave the theater. This isn't for you. If you want something that stays with you long after the credits roll. Stay with me.

I love the pacing, I love the second guessing and I love the fire that draws me closer. Follow the voices. I was absolutely spellbound. Please, see it.  

Image Courtesy of: http://redcarpetcrash.com

I never knew a scary movie could make me feel so emotional, enlightened and nervous all at once. This Austrian horror film does many things in terms of  real depictions of body dysmorphia, torture, psychosis and irreparable grief. There isn't one scene you can watch and fully trust until you reach the end. An effective technique for a film like this. One that doesn't rely much on over the top CGI or intense gore. It kept me watching and seeking to understand. I fell partial to the peculiar, yet close relationship between twin brothers, Elias and Lukas. Maybe because I am a twin myself, I get the camaraderie, the looking out for each other and the undeniable bond. We see them interact together against beautiful scenic backdrops. They like chasing each other through cornfields, swimming in rivers, exploring caves. They really love catching bugs. Although, as close to the earth as they seem, it becomes glaringly obvious from their impressive home, they come from privilege, they live in a very modern home, state of the art environment. This idea of materialism continues when their mother returns from a cosmetic procedure, her entire face bandaged, she is physically unrecognizable to Elias and Lukas. We are unaware of why she's had the surgery, but her behavior towards the boys is cold. Even colder still towards Lukas. The boys begin to wonder if this is their mother at all.

​Now that I've set this up a little better, you have to know how moved I am by something that seems like such a simple plot before it unravels into a story about coping and disbelief. Doing what you have to do.
Touching on the dysmorphia a bit I really love the dichotomy of plastic surgery and the presence of identical twins, I think it says a lot. Dysmorphia deals with seeing  things that aren't there, no sense of self. In fact, you see yourself in negative ways that may not exist. I like how this movie brings in identical twins and the fact that the mere presence of 2 seemingly identical beings would perhaps wipe away any dysmorphia, if only the for the fact that someone exists, who looks exactly like you. There is a constant reminder that may or may not possibly help remembrance of these facts. This is something I picked up more in terms of mirror imaging and the way someone with body dysmorphia may see themselves and grow resentful. It's something to ponder but I like that this movie even makes me think of it.

I'm never about spoilers because I always hope you read these reviews and go out and watch the movies for yourselves. Here are my clues: Pay attention to all the decor in the house and the difference by the mother in behavior towards the twins. These were the 2 observations I most enjoyed attempting to decipher so hope you do too. Let me know what you thought!

Image Courtesy of: imdb.com

​Arnold Schwarzenegger's daughter, Maggie, is bitten by a zombie and this strain of virus presents itself in 6-8 weeks of infection instead of almost instantly, as most zombie movies depict. This way the audience gets to witness the change as a devastating disease and humanizes the zombie virus in a real way.  A father trying to prolong the time he has with his daughter before the inevitable happens. Here's what I like about this movie:

First, all the zombies are convincing and each time we encounter them it's poignant, moving and terrifying. Reminds me of how well The Walking Dead handles emotional zombie scenes, but Maggie goes deeper. Abigail Breslin plays the title character, portraying a typical teenager facing typical coming of age situations. Issues with parents, dating dilemmas and physical changes. The balance of her teenage experiences paired with her physical deterioration from the zombie virus is harrowing and heartbreaking to watch.
 
When Maggie's friend gets her out of the house to chill at a party, we learn more about what happens to the victims inflicted with the zombie virus and then understand why Maggie's father is increasingly determined to keep her safe. I think this movie is exactly what the horror genre needs. Maggie is a fresh contribution to the zombie movie collection that plays on many of the situational stories (still very awesome) we see time and again. 


I also want to say I have not seen Schwarzenegger in a better role since TERMINATOR. But seriously, he is excellent in this. Go see it!

Image Courtesy of: www.scifinow.co.uk