Low key, suttle, unassuming could be used to describe this
film. From these words one might think it’s not worth watching. But these are
the qualities that make it so good. And are maddening to any horror fan or
director. So simple and under the radar. Most probably only checked it out for
the fantastic poster and or Ethan Hawk. Why aren’t more horror movies like this
not made?
Nothing wrong with the horrifically gawdy over the top wide
release films. But for true horror fans we tend to enjoy things, with feeling,
that feeling of the hair raising up on the back of your necks, jumping out of
the seat, having to look away from the impending doom, yelling at the
characters who want to check out noise in the basement. People say they love
horror and they list Stephen King and Evil Dead. But I want to talk to people
who love Peter Struab, Jack Ketchum, Robert Bloch, Dan Simmons, watch the films
‘The Host’ (2006), ‘Touch of Evil’ (1958), ‘Night Moves’ (1975), ‘It Follows’
(2014). Anyone could have made this movie on a shoe string budget. Some kids
using an iPhone or camcorder. Or some college students in Michigan who hit up
everyone they know for money to make a low budget horror film. Let all of us fans
agree Evil Dead and Stephen King are the shit and talk about the others.
It added an extra layer of creepy that this neighborhood is
right up the street from where I currently live. The film is a horror story
before the supernatural comes a knocking. The hero has no idea why he is doing
all these random things to escape and absolutely maddening he doesn’t stick to
one strategy. And the Grabber is playing his own little games that only make
sense to him. The Grabber is here to punish naughty boys and chew bubble gum,
he’s all out of gum.
Ethan Hawke is just one of those actors that keeps showing
in good movies. He has been a few big movies, but repeatedly finds good movies
to be in. Mr. Hawke could be thought of a horror actor as of late but looking
at his IMDB page he has been in all types of movies, indies and takes
supporting rolls. Seeing interviews with actors on how all the good rolls dried
up or they got type casted. But Ethan has avoided this fate, been all over the
place for the better part of 40 years staring in big studio pictures and low
budget indies. It looks like his Daughter Maya Hawke is going to take after her
dad. She already has 25 acting credits in four years.
A great story, that is going to spawn a prequal and a ton of
copy cats. It leaves a simple blue print on how to make a great movie. No need
for quick and witty dialog, big special effects budget, traveling around the
world for the perfect shot, tons of shooting locations, or make up. At the end
of the day anyone in the world could have shot this in their basement. Maybe
the production quality and acting wouldn’t be as good. At the same time it’s
not that easy to come up with a great idea, write it into a screen play, and
transfer that on to film. Writers Joe Hill (son of Stephen King), Scott
Derrickson, and Robert Carhill, and a mask designed by Tom Savini, just make it
look so easy here.
