My review of Mulholland Drive

I don't get Lynch. I just don't get him. At the risk of sounding self absorbed, Anyone who knows me knows that I am no idiot when it comes to films. But I just do not get Lynch. maybe that's the point. I dunno. There were a few coherent plot points but they he turned around and made them not make sense anymore. Typical Lynch stuff really.having said that, the thing I like the most about Lynch is that his films are hard to understand. It gives great re-watch value to his films and it is a great break from the "plots" of films that have come out in recent years (where you can't figure them out because they are so amazingly stupid). It gives a uniqueness to him that few directors (if any) can match.

Acting/Characters: very well done. The performers did a very good job particularly Naomi Watts. But for a lot of the movie, the characters moved around as if in a dream. This is typical Lynch stuff and the actors did it very well. I enjoyed it. It takes a lot of talent to play characters like this and not only keep them interesting, but to still play them very well when everything has changed about them. Good stuff. 9/10

Plot: In terms of presentation of the plot: if you combine memento and Inception and throw in dashes of Eraserhead you will have this movie. But this one is far more coherent than Eraserhead. I'm still trying to figure out all of Eraserhead and I doubt I ever will. He made it that weird. But once I got to the end I could actually understand a lot of what happened. Not all of it of course, but most of it. I doubt if even Lynch fully understands what his movies are about. If I had to guess he just goes to bed every night and dreams the next scene. That's the thing about Lynch's films: they all have a very dreamlike quality to them. I kinda like that. You can go anywhere in a dreamlike world and Lynch understands that. 10/10

Screenplay: It goes along with everything else. It was really odd. But I feel that with Lynch films the dialogue is the least important aspect. It can be very important, but with films like this what you see is much more important than what you hear the people saying. But, it is often as incoherent as the rest of it all. 9/10

Likableness: I hope to see more Lynch films in the future. this film did nothing to make me want to stop seeing his films. I need to know if he made one that made sense. I doubt it, I highly doubt it. But if I see more maybe I'll understand. But I liked that this one had just enough coherency to the plot to keep you interested especially at the end where if you had been paying attention (which is absolutely vital in a film of his. you blank out for a few minutes and you are done) you began to understand the rest of the film. I enjoyed this one a lot. It wasn't as confusing as Eraserhead, it didn't completely click at the end like Memento, but it was good. 9/10

Final Score: 37/40 92% (N)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. Cameos
a. Angelo Badalamenti the soundtrack composer appears as the espresso-drinking movie exec at the beginning of the film.
b. Cori Glazer the script supervisor is playing the blue-haired lady.
c. Charles Croughwell the stunt coordinator is playing the vacuum man.

2. Originally filmed in 1999 on a budget of $8 million as a made-for-TV pilot, new scenes were filmed one year later on a $7 million budget given by the French film studio Studio Canal to wrap up the open ending which had been left unresolved in the original version so that a TV series could follow.
David Lynch initially resisted Studio Canal's offer to provide additional funds to complete the TV pilot as a feature film. Lynch's battles with ABC network executives had left him with a negative feeling about the project and the director felt he had run out of ideas for the storyline. When Lynch finally agreed to revisit the film, much to his horror he found that all the sets had been destroyed, and all of the costumes and props had been released by ABC (normally all sets, props and costumes for a possible TV series are carefully cataloged and stored for future use). Lynch claims this setback actually proved a blessing in disguise, however, when it finally generated new ideas about how to proceed with filming, and the director was able to come up with a satisfying conclusion to the story.

3. When Rita and Betty go to the Sierra Bonita apartment complex, the name next to #17 is L.J. DeRosa - a member of the art department on the film, Laura J. DeRosa.

4. David Lynch's 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller: - Pay particular attention in the beginning of the film: at least two clues are revealed before the credits. - Notice appearances of the red lampshade. - Can you hear the title of the film that Adam Kesher is auditioning actresses for? Is it mentioned again? - An accident is a terrible event... notice the location of the accident. - Who gives a key, and why? - Notice the robe, the ashtray, the coffee cup. - What is felt, realized and gathered at the club Silencio? - Did talent alone help Camilla? - Notice the occurrences surrounding the man behind Winkies. - Where is Aunt Ruth?

5. The film is dedicated to Jennifer Syme, a young actress whose story is startlingly similar to that of the character of Betty - but who in fact died after the bulk of the film was completed.

6. Adam Kesher smashing the producers' car windshield in with a golf club is a reference to the famous 1994 incident where Jack Nicholson did the same. Nicholson's nickname is "Mulholland Man".

7. The Cowboy has no eyebrows. This was done to give the character a more subtle, disturbing appearance.

8. Rebekah Del Rio (the singer at Club Silencio) first met David Lynch when a talent agent took her, on a whim, to a recording studio where Lynch happened to be and asked her to sing a song for him. She performed an impromptu version of "Llorando" which, also on a whim (and without her knowledge) was being taped by the audio engineer. Years later, Lynch decided to incorporate the song into "Mullholland Dr."; except for a few minor tweaks, this is the exact same recording used in the movie.

9. The Region 1 DVD of the movie does not feature "chapters"; attempting to "skip" to the next scene or chapter takes you to the "DVD" logo animation at the very end of the movie after all the credits and ratings and so forth. Director David Lynch requested this himself, as he has done on previous releases, such as The Straight Story. By allowing the film to be on one chapter, Lynch believes people will be more inclined to view the feature in one sitting, as intended. Robert Zemeckis also used this idea on his laserdisc release of Forrest Gump.

My review of The Muppet's Christmas Carol

Classic, just an absolute instant classic. In a way, I feel like Scrooge now, because I spent my time watching horrid slasher films around Christmastime and now seeing this has made me a much happier person (I had seen it before but not for many years).

Acting/Characters: Well, it isn't Michael Caine's masterpiece performance, but good golly did I have fun watching it. If I had to suspect, the cast of this film had a lot of fun making it. It certainly shows. I really like The Muppets. My favorite Muppet is Beaker but I also really like Gonzo and Statler & Waldorf. I feel that each Muppet filled role was done perfectly. I wouldn't have changed a thing. 10/10

Plot: It's A Christmas Carol with Michael Caine and The Muppets. What else is there to say other than 10/10?

Screenplay: I found myself laughing at the jokes, something that I have not done for a long time. I would laugh at bits of the slasher films because they were so stupid but I liked the jokes here. Not all of them were amazing but who cares? I liked them. I also liked the songs too. My favorite one by far was 'We're Marley and Marley WHOOOOAAAH" 10/10.

Likableness: This film is extremely likable. To any naysayers out there who say "bah humbug" I say better watch out or some of the creepier looking Muppets might become the Christmas ghosts on you. 10/10

As a final note I say to you all, God bless us, every one. Why? Because the DENVER BRONCOS FINALLY FIRED MCDANIELS!!!! Sorry. totally off topic but I am an avid Bronco fan (living in Colorado of course) and seeing how he destroyed my team kills me. Well, now he's gone. Anyway, totally off topic here. sorry.

Final Score: 40/40 100% (N)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. This was the first major Muppet project after the death of creator Jim Henson. Henson had performed Kermit and the role was now being handed down to Steve Whitmire. According to Whitmire he was incredibly nervous about taking over such an iconic character. The night before he had to go record Kermit's songs for the movie, he had a dream where he met Henson in a hotel lobby and told him how unsure he was. In the dream, Henson reassured Whitmire that the feeling would pass. After waking up, Whitmire was confident and able to do the part.

2. There is a store called "Micklewhite". Michael Caine's real name is Maurice Micklewhite.

3. David Hemmings, Ron Moody, David Warner, and George Carlin were among the actors who were considered for the role of Scrooge, before Michael Caine was chosen.

4. Towards the end of the film, a tavern called "Statler & Waldorf" (named after the famous Muppet hecklers) can be spotted.

5. Michael Caine considers the role of Scrooge to be one of his most memorable (to him) roles.

6. The movie is dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson and Richard Hunt. Henson, of course, was the creator of the Muppets. Hunt was one of the Muppet voice performers, perhaps best known as the voice of the character Scooter.

7. Jacob and Robert Marley surrounded by wailing cash boxes is a nod to Bob Marley & The Wailers.

8. According to 'Brian Henson, the decision to use Gonzo and Rizzo to narrate the story was made because he wanted to incorporate the narration and prose of the Charles Dickens novel into the film.

9. At the conclusion of the song "One More Sleep", Kermit is seen standing alone in the street and a shooting star can been seen streaking across the sky. In many (in not all) of the Muppet movies, a shooting star goes across the sky at some point when Kermit is on.

10. Rizzo the Rat is named after Dustin Hoffman's character in the film Midnight Cowboy Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo.

11. The word "Muppet" itself first appeared in 1956, and was said by Henson to have been created by combining the words "Marionette" and "puppet". However, Henson was also known to have stated that it was just something he liked the sound of, and he made up the "marionette/puppet" story while talking to a journalist because it sounded plausible.

My review of Sorority Row

 The sisters of Theta Pi
Are dying to keep a secret

Yet again we have another dumb tagline. I like mine better. It is a variation of the one for Terror Train

The stupid girls
of Theta Pi
some will live
some will die
no one cares

I decided now to go for a modern slasher film. After Slaughter High this thing is as good and new as Scream. But I'm not gonna let my hatred of Slaughter High get in my way of an honest critique of this crapfest. But you know, I realized something while watching this movie. Anyone who kills enough people (3 or more according to the definition) in enough time that it can be fit into one film isn't a Serial Killer, but rather a Spree Killer. Now, Don't get me wrong, Michael and Jason and the like are Serial Killers but killers in movies like this are Spree Killers. But yeah, moving on.

Acting/Characters: Well, they are pretty much the same. They were difficult at times to remember who they were. That is never ever good. You have films like Psycho and Scream and you could name off all of the characters and what they were like in your sleep. My favorite character by far was the killer. why not? he's doing us all a favor. But you know, the acting was not the worst I have seen. It certainly wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst either. That is because you had one or two characters that had good roles. But, I have discovered that it is easy to play a girl who freaks out all of the time and even easier to play a psychopath. But yeah, the characters are just like very other slasher film out there. when you want the killer to win you are either watching The Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, or a really horrible film where the characters are so annoying that you just want them dead so that the film can be slightly watchable. 3/10

Plot: well, another college prank gone wrong film. *groan* It was slightly interesting near the end, but for the other 90 minutes, it was just the girls with a conscience freaking out and the girls without one being b******. Either way you wanted them all to die and the killer to win. That and the killings. There was a long stretch of time between killings. I watched this film to see girls get cut into pieces with a tire iron I didn't watch it to hear them talk about what's going on for 50 minutes. Why does anyone watch a slasher? for the killings! This one was low on them until the very ending. So yeah, It had a rather pathetic plot that got mildly interesting near the end. 3/10

Screenplay: Who writes these things? I surmise, that it would take 100 monkeys on typewriters 100 years to write a Shakespeare play. Well, it would take one monkey 5 minutes to write this nonsense. The monkey would have occasional bursts of intelligence, but overall, the end result would be this. I don't understand how professional screenplay writers come up with his stuff and think it is a good idea. It isn't the worst screenplay that I have come across, but at the end of the day it isn't even as good as the screenplay for Terror Train. 1.5/10

Likableness: When the killer was on screen killing off all of the people that you disliked and no one was talking it was a very fun film. But sadly, there were probably a grand total of 10 minutes where that happened. It was just your average slasher flick. Since the slasher genre is so bad, that isn't a compliment or anything. It's just a fact. When will I find another good one? I hope soon. 2.5/10

Final Score: 10/40 25% (S)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. The movie was originally intended to be R-rated, but after the success of 2008's Prom Night remake, Summit Entertainment planned to trim it to a PG-13 rating. However, the studio changed its mind, and decided to keep the movie as a solid R-rated movie.

2. The bird-shaped cane that Cassidy grabs for a weapon in one scene is a homage to the original The House on Sorority Row, as it's the same style cane that Mrs. Slater carries in that film.

3. According to the script, Cassidy's surname is Tappan, and Jessica's is Pierson.

4. The name of the college the girls attend is Rosman, named after Mark Rosman, the writer/director of the original film, as well as the executive producer of this film.

5. Several of the music tracks used for background during dialog are used in the video game "Sims 3" when the Sims' stereo is set to "Custom".

6. The frat boy who drunkly declares himself a "sea pig" is directly referencing the original film, wherein a student jumps into the sorority swimming pool and declares the same.

7. Leah Pipes originally read for the part for the character of Ellie. After auditioning for Ellie, she auditioned for the part of Jessica. After a second audition for the role of Jessica, as well as a makeover of hair extensions and a wardrobe change, she was given the part.

My review of Slaughter High

Marty majored in
Cutting classmates

Another dumb tagline. A college major joke for a High School film.

I just can't stop can I? I don't know why I feel the need to keep watching these horrible slasher films!Maybe it's the challenge of finding a good slasher beyond the big 3 (Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream) slashers. By the time I'm done, I will be able to give you all a short list of the good ones I have found. But, until then, I have to deal with this nonsense. *shudder* I hate the synthesizer music that plays over and over again every few minutes. And when it isn't, you have sound effects and music that wouldn't be out of place in an old Scooby-Doo cartoon.

Acting/Characters: stereotypes. Overacted stereotypes. Every single syllable of every single line is over-enunciated. It gets annoying very fast. But you know something? I think I finally figured it out, we don't care that people in these movies die because they are all so stupid that they deserve to die. It is almost a kind of natural selection. So in a way, the killers in movies like this are the true heroes for riding the human population of retards like the teens in slasher films. I dunno, maybe I'm just being heartless. But the characters in the film are brainless so it all works out. Usually the killer has somewhat of a brain, which is what allows him to successfully kill people, but not in this movie. If any of the characters had a brain, the events of the film wouldn't have happened. Also, my biggest beef with the film has to be that all of the kills are impossible. well, almost all of them. there was one of them that could have easily happened. But the rest of them are impossible in one way or another. It was ridiculous. 0/10

Plot: so. many. plot. holes. I don't get it. How can a human being be so stupid? I mean, these kids have a lower IQ than any other group of kids in any other slasher film that I have ever seen. That is saying something. Every event in the film could have been avoided if the characters had just done one thing differently. And you will know full well what that is if you are ever forced at gunpoint to see this. I just don't get it. Then they tried to have a "twist" ending that completely failed. Basically, the filmmakers looked at the film and said to themselves, we have already thrown in every single possible thing to make this movie bad, what can we do to make it worse? there has to be something!" well, they found it. The ending...oh the ending hurt my head. A lot. I have now seen every dumb trick that they can throw at me. At least, I hope so. Again, once you are held at gunpoint and forced to watch this, you will understand. I know that some may argue that this film just didn't try to take itself seriously, that might be true but it hid it well if that was the case. i thought that this movie was trying very hard to be the next Halloween. Maybe I just don't get Cult Classics.
0/10

Screenplay: Like I said before, every single syllable of every single line was overacted and over-enunciated. EVERY LAST ONE!!! The directors told the actors "we know the screenplay is the worst ever, so make it worse. Come on we're going for the record here: all the Razzies". it shows. 0/10

Likableness: Maybe I'm just taking this movie too seriously or i don't understand films like this, but this is truly one of the worst films I have ever seen and I would gladly add it to any list saying so. I would pick Sleepaway Camp again over this (although, Sleepaway Camp had such a rocking ending that it is an incredibly easy choice). But I would do Sleepaway Camp without the ending. It was that bad. 0/10

Final Score: 0/40 0% (H)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. Simon Scuddamore, who plays the film's slasher, committed suicide shortly after production of the film.

2. The films working title was "April Fool's Day", however the title was changed to keep this film from being confused with the Paramount film April Fool's Day which was released the same year.

3. Star Caroline Munro was actually 36 years old during this film where she played a 'teenage' heroine.

My review of Urban Legend

It happened to
someone who knows
someone you know...

You're next.
what a stupid tagline


Like I said in my review of Candyman, my next review will be of a horror film. well, my next one probably will be of one as well. Eventually I'll run out and I will have an excellent list of horror films to see and horror films to avoid. This one certainly goes in the latter category. It is always best to avoid campy Scream rip-offs.

Acting/Characters: My favorite actor, and therefore favorite character in the film, was Robert Englund. You would all, of course, know him better as Freddy Kreuger. But, the puns were distinctly absent from his performance which is probably why I liked him the most. The rest of the characters were just what every other college stereotype in a slasher film is. You have the goth, best friend, final girl, good guy, party animals, disbelieving Dean etc. Nothing new at all. I don't know why I expected differently. Especially after dozens of these things. 2/10

Plot: If there is one thing I hate, it is PLOT HOLES!!! The ending is one big "Well wait, how did...? Wouldn't they...? That doesn't make any sense!!!" If your gonna have a twist ending, make sure that it is plausible. This one wasn't. Not even close. The plot did have promise i must admit, but they failed to even try to make the film original. If you can't at least find a few ways to make a film original, don't make the film! Also, they fall victim to the fact that by the end, you know who the killer is because A. it's never whom the characters suspect and B. everyone else is either dead or the Final Girl. They could have done better. But they didn't. I don't know why. 2/10

Screenplay: take every single screenplay cliche of a horror film and put it in this one and there you go. you have this films entire screenplay. I don't get it, these people re professional screenplay writers and they come up with this nonsense. why? 1.5/10

Likableness: I've certainly seen worse. I have seen much better as well. This film took a promising plot and riddled it full of cliches and predictability. But, it had its moments where it could be entertaining, particularly when Robert Englund was on the screen. But that was about it. It had some decent kills too. The rest were implausible and just plain stupid Especially once you find out who the killer is. A normal person with superhuman strength? it doesn't work. 2/10

Final Score: 7.5/40 18.5% (S)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. When Paul and Natalie walk into the hidden room in Wexler's office, a puppet of Freddy Krueger can be seen just before they see the axe. Robert Englund, who plays Wexler, played Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street

2. The author of "The Encyclopedia of Urban Legends" is Charles Breen. The doctor on Tosh's bottle of lithium is a doctor Charles Breen. Charles Breen is the production designer

3. Sarah Michelle Gellar accepted the role of Sasha but had to back out due to schedule conflicts with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

4. Jodi Lyn O'Keefe was originally offered the role of Sasha, but turned it down to take part in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

5. The movie's fictional location is Melbourne, New Hampshire. Melbourne is the name of the director's home city in Australia.

6. The last name of Natasha Gregson Wagner's character is 'Mancini'. Don Mancini is the name of the writer of all the "Child's Play" films, and the other actor that is featured in the beginning of the film, Brad Dourif, does the voice of Chucky.

7. The Latin motto of the university, which is featured on its emblem in some scenes, when translated, gives you the identity of the killer.

My review of Candyman

well whaddyaknow, all the time I spent searching for another good horror/slasher film wasn't wasted. I actually found one. I don't think I'll bother with the 3 sequels (or any upcoming remakes that might happen I don't know if there will be any). It amazes me that good horror films like this one do exist. why can't there be more films like this one? It isn't Oscar worthy but it doesn't melt my eyes with how bad it is either.

Acting/Characters: Finally! A film where not every single character is knife fodder. well, you can still kinda tell who is gonna die, but it isn't immediately obvious. The acting for this film wasn't too bad. i especially liked the main character. But, as with most horror films of this nature, my favorite character was the killer. I really liked what they did with the killer. Other horror films should take note. 8/10

Plot: Basically take Bloody Mary and replace it with Candyman. It isn't the most original plot ever in the area of the bare basics (although I dunno, this might have been the first film like this that deals with curses and bogeymen. I doubt it). However, most slasher films have an unoriginal plot and just leave it at that. This film actually tries to do original things with its plot. I always commend a film for that. It is so incredibly rare in this genre. I also really liked the ending as well. It surprised me a bit. I will admit that the plot had some predictable moments. Particularly with the rising action, but I feel that they didn't completely overshadow everything else and they were few and far between. 7.5/10

Screenplay: Like most horror films I feel that this was the weakest part of the film but that doesn't mean that it was Razzie worthy. it just needed a bit more fine tuning is all. certainly not the worst I have seen. Not the best either. It thankfully didn't have any cringe worthy lines in it. It could have very very very easily though. There were times when it traveled that fine line between mediocre and bad. But, it'll do. It didn't need Casablanca's screenplay but I felt that it needed a bit more tuning. 6/10

Likableness: I was very entertained by this one. It helped vindicate the horror genre for me. I have seen so many bad slasher films that they are starting to blur together but this one is one that I will remember as being one of the better ones. It isn't even close to the level of quality of say, Scream 1 and 2 or Black Christmas, but it is certainly one of the best horrors I have seen in a while. 7.5/10

Final Score: 29/40 72% (D)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. There is a Guy Fawkes mask hanging next to Helen's bathroom mirror. Fawkes is an infamous figure in English history (an influence from Clive Barker's original story perhaps), who attempted to blow up the English Parliament on November 5, 1605. Every year the British celebrate Guy Fawkes Day by lighting bonfires and burning Fawkes in effigy.

2. Virginia Madsen claims that she was hypnotized for some of the film's scenes.

3. "Sweets to the Sweet" which is written on the walls in two areas of Cabrini Green is actually a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

4. Virginia Madsen is allergic to bees, so an ambulance was always on set while filming the bee sequence. Also, Real bees were actually put into Tony Todd's mouth while they where shooting the climax. His only protection was a mouth guard that kept him from having the bees go down his throat. Also, The bees were breed specifically for this movie. They need to make sure that the bees were only 12 hours old so that they looked like mature bees, but at that point, the stinger isn't powerful enough to do any real damage.

5. The architecture flaw of the medicine chests and people being able to sneak in, is something that Bernard Rose discovered in his research for the film and there was actually a series of murders that were committed this way.

6. On the DVD commentary, Alan Poul said that had Virginia Madsen been unavailable, the part of Helen would have most likely gone to the then unknown Sandra Bullock.

7. Exterior, hallway and stairway scenes were actually filmed for a few days in the infamous Cabrini-Green housing projects, though the producers had to make a deal with the ruling gang members to put them in the movie as extras to ensure the cast and crew's safety during filming. Even with this arrangement, a sniper put a bullet through the production van on the last day of filming, though no one was injured.

My review of Terror Train

The boys
and girls
of Sigma Phi,

Some will live.

Some will die.

This is now my 6th Jamie Lee Scream Queen film (lets see, Halloween 1,2,4 Prom Night, and now this. never mind, it's my 5th Jamie Lee Scream queen film) I agree withe very critic who gave this a positive review: you could do worse.

Acting/Characters: It could have been worse. it could have been a lot better too. Jamie Lee plays the same character that she played in Halloween and Prom Night just with a different name. The rest of the characters are just what every other knife fodder slasher teen is in the other films. But I feel that,surprisingly, these kids did just a tiny bit better than the kids in the other slashers. Nothing award winning (maybe Teen Choice Award winning but everyone with even half a brain knows that they aren't real awards anyway). Jamie Lee obviously had the most character. Boy, she can scream. You know, one thing that I have noticed is that no matter how old Jamie Lee is when doing a film, she sounds exactly the same. Her voice that is. I bet the second she started talking as a young child she sounded like she does now. I'm rambling on a random tangent but yeah, it could have been worse. 4/10

Plot: If Alien taught us one thing about Horror Films is that a claustrophobic setting is always a plus. There are few more claustrophobic settings than a train. I liked that a lot. Other than that, it was the same thing as every other slasher: masked killer stalking and killing teens until only Jamie Lee is left. If I hadn't seen so many films like that I might have enjoyed the plot a bit more. But I also noticed that this film had a Dr. Loomis sort of character. Not someone who was desperately looking for the deranged killer but rather an adult who is really the only person who really knows what is going on and has more brains than all of the teens combined. I also liked the ending a bit more than I did with the other slasher films. The identity of the killer isn't something that this film tries to hide, but it still manages to get in a few twists that you didn't see coming. So, at least this film tried. 6/10

Screenplay: well, this is like the rest of the movie, it could have been a lot worse. It could have been like every other slasher film out there. In many ways it was, but the screenplay found a few ways to be a bit better than the rest of the slashers. It was still decently generic. 4/10

Likableness: you know, I wasn't rolling my eyes as much as I normally do during a slasher film which is always nice. But that isn't to say I didn't roll my eyes. there were certainly moments where I did. But overall, I must agree with he critics: you could do worse. A lot worse. It was decently entertaining and I must give it credit for that. 5/10

Final Score: 19/40 47% (M)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. The idea for Terror Train came from a dream that Daniel Grodnikhad. One weekend night after seeing the films Halloween and Silver Streak, Dan woke up and said to his wife, "What do you think about putting Halloween on a train? His wife answered, "That's terrible. He jotted down "Terrible Train" on a piece of paper on his nightstand. In the morning he changed the title to TERROR TRAIN, wrote up 22 pages, and made a deal on it with Sandy Howard's company at 3 in the afternoon.

2. Jamie Lee Curtis shot this film back to back with the similarly themed slasher film Prom Night in late 1979. Both films were shot in Canada; Prom Night in Toronto and Terror Train in Montreal.

3. The film's German title is 'Monster im Nacht-Express', which translates to 'Monster on the Night Express Train'.

4. 'Derek MacKinnon' who played Kenny also played ten other characters, making it eleven in total.

5. Filmed aboard actual train cars that were converted to allow space for large camera equipment for the production.

My review of Piranha 3D

Meh. You know, as I am an 18 year old college student, movies like this teach me many things. I have survived the serial killer stuff of high school, and now I have to survive a few more serial killers and 4 spring break vacations to beach locations and I can finally go on to become a security guard for an evil corporation. I am in the prime of my life for an unfortunate occurrence that ends my life in a violent way. High schoolers get killed by serial killers, college students get killed on Spring Break and if you survive that sweet. Dr. No is hiring. Ya just gotta make it to 30 and your rate of dying by some unseen violent occurrence drops drastically. I'm rambling here and probably not making much sense so yeah, Piranha 3D.

Acting/Characters: You know, Jerry O'Connell should stop doing horror films playing a character named Derrek. It just doesn't end well. That aside, there didn't really need to be acting in this film. All anyone really had to do was panic and die. My favorite characters by far were Christopher Lloyd and Richard Dreyfuss. I particularly liked all of the Jaws references with Dreyfuss. No characters flat out annoyed me which is always nice. Overall, it could have been worse. However, they put kids in the movie! Kids have no point. You know they're not gonna die so why put them in there. every character in the film should be fair game for a brutal and bloody death. Kids can't die in horror. What's the point? 6/10

Plot: You can pretty much tell the plot from looking at the poster. All it is is blood,, blood, and more blood. This is one of the goriest films I have ever seen. This is a total "shut down and enjoy the carnage" movie. So yeah, other than piranhas eating people, there isn't too much in the way of plot. Not that there needs to be. 6/10

Screenplay: Packed full of Jaws references especially in the very beginning. I liked that. I like it when movies reference other movies. Other than that the screenplay was a bit weak. Like most of the movie, it could have been a lot worse. 5/10

Likableness: Maybe it's just because I was tired that day or that I might not have been in the mood for that level of gore, I just wasn't feeling it. But I still recognized its good points. And its bad points. I doubt that the sequel will succeed. It might though. If it doesn't take itself seriously like this one, it could work. But yeah. it was a halfway decent film 5/10

Final Score: 22/40 55% (M)


TRIVIA TIME: 1. Alexandre Aja planned to have Joe Dante (director of the original Piranha (1978)) and James Cameron (director of Piranha Part Two: The Spawning (1981)) play boat captains who give safety lessons to the teens. Dante wanted to do it but Cameron was too busy.

2. The movie has a movie poster with the same style as Jaws and its sequels i.e. the monster at the bottom of the sea concept

3. Richard Dreyfuss' character has the same first name (Matt) as his character in Jaws. Dreyfuss' character is called Matt Boyd in this movie whereas in the earlier film his character was called Matt Hooper.

4. The director filmed scenes specifically for the trailers and TV spots.