John Landis' American Werewolf in London

I did not see this film until recently, but I wish that I had discovered it sooner. It is a great film, that has you anticipating the next scene the whole way through. I would love to see this film recreated now with today's technology. I believe that the outcome would be phenomenal. The story harnesses an unique plot, that broadly sets itself apart from other werewolf films. This is a must see for any horror or creature fan. It uses great creativity to capture your attention, and then delivers the final punch by incorporating details that pull you farther into the story. 

In a time where horror movies were not too popular, John Landis created an amazing work of art. In my opinion, this movie stands out among the others created during this time. It encompasses many unique aspects that gave it a refreshing feeling compared to other horror movies that I have seen recently.

In the beginning of the film, two characters bake pack across the country. They stumble upon a small town, and decided to take a break there. The environment of this location, initially creates a eerie feeling, that last throughout the movie. They feel so overwhelmed by this awkward environment that they decide to leave. Before their departure the citizens of this town give them a warning to stay away from the marshes. As they venture on their way, they decide to ignore this warning and they head straight into the marsh. At this point it becomes apparent why the warning was initially given. They're both attacked by a werewolf, and as a result one character dies, and one is bitten. The legend of werewolves that is represented in this film, is extremely intriguing. You then continue to follow the story of this character as he transitions from man to werewolf.

As the character progresses, I couldn't help but feel extremely worried for him and the people around him. Was he going to break the curse? Was he going to terrorize the town? As the full moon arrives, you see the detailed transformation. When this film was created they did not have the advanced imaging technology that we have today. With that said, the transformation scene in this film is exceptionally well executed in my opinion.

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Why All Movies Deserve Recognition

When someone sets out to create a movie, it is not just a spur of the moment decision. That is a desire that has most likely been with them for a very long time. When asked as a child what they wanted to be when they grew up, they probably replied with something like, "a director!" This alone is a reason to take everything that they create seriously.

Many of us have gone to see a movie and afterwards we immediately state our opinion of it. "That was  a waste of money," or " why did we decide to see that one?" The fact of the matter is that some people may have enjoyed that film. Just because it was not for you, does not mean that it was worthless, or not worth your time. That movie required an unimaginable amount of work, money, talent, bravery, enthusiasm, and motivation.

Some movies are by nature not as good as others. Maybe the creators did not have as large of a budget, the same opportunities, or not as much experience as the man who created a hit blockbuster, but either way, their movie deserves credit. Every person in the industry has to start somewhere and work their way up. You think Michael Bay was given his place? No. He worked hard for it, and started off doing small time gigs. So take into consideration that someday, that director may be a big deal.

 It is a tough business, and every amount of support could help that individuals dream become reality. Next time you are at the movie store or surfing the web, consider giving a less recognizable movie your attention, and if you like it, share it. Any small boost could help and it is surely appreciated by all the people involved with creating it.

Think about the things that you do in your daily life. Writing? You write to share your ideas, or get them out of your head and onto a page. This is in order to share that. Just like why I am writing this blog right now, it is to share it to a large audience. Well, that is exactly what the creators of movies are doing. They're taking their ideas, and creating something out of it. All in the hopes that someone will come upon it and take their time to watch what they have made. So again, consider switching it up. Instead of watching the big time, high budget, award winning movie, give your time to another. And maybe you will be surprised that you actually enjoy the film.

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John Carpenter's Halloween Review

I think it is an accurate statement to say that anyone who has any basic knowledge of the horror genre has heard of Halloween, Michael Myers, or can at least recognize his face. This movie has been my all time favorite movie since I was young. It was the film that I grew up watching every Halloween season, and even other times throughout the year. If you haven't seen this movie, then you need to.

It is a staple of the Halloween Season, no matter how much time has passed, Michael Myers will always be an iconic image. Watching this movie instantly gets me into the spirit of Halloween. The great thing about it is that it is a franchise, so even after I re-watch the original over and over again, I have a different film to move onto after.

Halloween is not for everyone. Some could find it extremely boring, and some can't look passed the low quality. It is an older movie, that originally had a very low budget. Therefor, it does not have the best effects. However, if you can look past this, then this movie could easily become anyone's favorite film, or it could even becomes a family tradition.

As I said before Halloween had a low budget. The mask used by Michael Myers is even just a basic William Shatner mask. During the time of production they needed a cheap but effective way of producing a recognizable, yet unique character. They took a William Shatner mask derived from his role in Star Trek, painted it white, added a few details, and made the eye holes larger. Who would have guessed that such a simple change would have created perhaps the most recognizable character in horror?

Growing up with horror I have become accustomed to all types of it. Including low budget, or "boot-leg." I see these movies as more than just the visual qualities, but I see the time and effort that is put into making them. They're works of art, that hold the creators dreams. This is one reason why I find so much greatness within this movie. Even though it was created with a low budget, it has managed to becomes extremely popular, and it even worked its way to having a cult following.

With this in mind, consider watching this spectacular movie. For what they had to work with, they managed to achieve a lot. It is an annual staple for my Halloween season.

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