Holiday Movie Suggestions 2: Halloween

WARNING: The following movies I am reviewing are all extremely inappropriate for children. If you were hoping for recommendations for a family movie night, then this post is not for you. Feel free to read my first Holiday Movie Suggestions for Halloween back in 2016 for more kid friendly material. Thank you!

This year, Halloween landed on a Wednesday- smack dab in the middle of the week. So, I'm sure a lot of people celebrated the spooky holiday during the weekend, but if you're still in the spirit to rattle your bones with some creepy movies then you came to the right place. The following movies I'll be talking about aren't necessarily made specifically for Halloween, but could be watched around this time if you're looking to be disturbed. I have seen all of them fully.

I was to stress that these movies can be very shocking for most viewers, but I picked them because as  a viewer myself, they stood out to me. Whether they be for good or bad reasons, you'll discover shortly. I'd suggest watching any of these if you're looking to be scared, and not just a quick jumpscare. Like, contemplate life and human decency- terrified.

*All movie summaries are from Imdb.com*
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OLDBOY (2003)

After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days.

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HkjrJ6IK5E

Rating- R
Genre- action/drama/mystery
Warnings- disturbing imagery/extreme violence/body mutilation/swearing/attempted sexual assault/sexual content

'Oldboy' is an adaptation of a comic by the same name that was created by Nobuaki Minegishi. This movie is directed by Chan-wook Park and written by Garon Tschiya, and is about a man named Dae-su Oh (Min-sik Choi) who is suddenly freed from incarceration after over a decade. After his release, he vowed to kill the man who put him in his entrapment in the first place. 

Make sure that if you want to watch 'Oldboy' that you're checking out the original Korean version made back in 2003. While this is the only version of the story that I've watched, I've heard that Spike Lee's version in 2013 lacks what makes the original so great. This story will leave you speechless; you may think you know where it is heading but by the time you're done with it, it will stay with you for a while. I don't think it's anything enlightening where you learn a lesson about your own life, but rather makes you think of how disturbing everything gets as the story movies on.

The character is very tragic, but is no victim. He gets out of prison ready to fight and there are a lot of gruesome and well executed fight scenes that an action fan will love. The choreography is stellar, and it made me want to get out of my bed and kick some butt too. With violence usually comes some bloody and wince-inducing scenes and that's exactly what this movie gives you, so if you're uneasy by that idea then this isn't the movie for you. There are also sexual scenes including nudity and an intense, prolonged sex scene that could make one uncomfortable if they're viewing this with other people, so be aware of that before you even consider watching this for family movie night.

This is such a gritty, intense film that might leave you screwed up and numb by the end of it with its psychological twists. It might also make you confused as well depending on how you interpret the ending. I think it's worth it though; I'd recommend at least one viewing by yourself or maybe with some close friends who can bare a few uncomfortable moments. 

I give 'Oldboy' a 5 out of 5 stars.

TEETH (2007)

Still a stranger to her own body, a high school student discovers she has a physical advantage when she becomes the object of male violence.

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCGbdgm0B_Q

Rating- R
Genre- comedy/fantasy/horror
Warnings- disturbing imagery/extreme violence/swearing/body mutilation/sexual content/sexual assault

(Description on Poster: Every rose has its thrones)

'Teeth' is an American film that was directed and written by Mitchell Lichtenstein and it is one of the strangest horror comedies I've ever watched. When you think you've seen it all, something comes along to prove you wrong and at the time I watched this 'Teeth' was that movie that made me question whether I should admire or be disgusted at the writer's creativity. 

You can probably take a good guess by the poster and summary what the lead character's advantage is when fending off desperate men, and it's just as uncomfortable and shocking as you can imagine. This movie follows the life of Dawn (Jess Weixier) who is an active member of her high school chastity club, but after an encounter with a boy she discovers that she is the living example of a deadly myth.

I see this movie as an odd cautionary tale by how often Dawn is placed in uncomfortable situations with the male population. There are countless scenes where Dawn is learning more about her ability because of how often she is being assaulted by people. This alone can drive many people away from this movie as a lot of these scenes are visual on screen, and I remember part of myself regretting watching this. 

You just grow a distrust for any man on the planet by the time you're done with this film, but since this is a comedy I think what the writer was going for it an exaggeration on what actually occurs in real like and what people in those situations would love to do to their assaulters. If you take it that route and see this more as Dawn being a strong female character, then this movie can become very enjoyable for you. 

While the violence is enough to make you want to close your legs tighter together, some of the attacks are just so ridiculous based on the reactions of the victims and even Dawn, that it could illicit a laugh or two. I could definitely see how this is a comedic film, but for me, I was was growing sick seeing the constant mistreatment of the main character happening over and over. Still, it is a fairly cheesy movie that is out of this world that could be a laugh riot for you or a group of friends. Just note that this might deter you from having any sexual relations for a couple of days.

I give 'Teeth' a 3 out of 5 stars.

DEADGIRL (2008)

Two high school boys discover an imprisoned woman in an abandoned mental asylum who cannot die.

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU1oTQGRHCw

Rating- R
Genre- horror
Warnings- disturbing imagery/extreme violence/swearing/body mutilation/necrophilia/graphic sexual assault

'Deadgirl' comes from the mind of writer, Trent Haaga and is directed by Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel. This is a movie that would be alarming to the average viewer as it focuses mainly on someone who is not even alive. Two teenage boys discover a female body in an abandoned building that they come to realize while she is animate, she is also dead. What the boys decide to do with that body may leave you with your stomach churning- I know it did for mine. 

I don't know what I was expecting really; I had a feeling that this would dive into some dark areas of humanity that scares me the most because of how real some of the events in this movie can actually happen. The story follows each of the boys as they conflict over what should become of the dead girl, and the girl herself is the victim between their dispute. The story eventually expands to other characters who have their own intentions for the girl, and this ultimately ends up being this macabre observation on how easily people are swayed to act upon their impulses with the promise of pleasure.

This too is a movie where by the end of it you'll be disgusted with all of the male characters and wish nothing but hell for them. It desensitizes any sort of humanity they have, and unlike 'Teeth' it is not done as a way to be funny. It just is. 

The setting is awfully dull with dark aesthetics taking place mostly in the building where the dead girl is found. There are a lot of bloody scenes and scenes that are simply gross in its nature. You could probably imagine what would be gross about having a dead girl "alive" and all. There's also several scenes including terrible images of assault- physical and sexual.

I would recommend watching this if you have a strong stomach to brace for the duration of this movie. I wouldn't watch it again because I remember being so angry by the end and wondering why was it all necessary. All I could think of is the fact that people can be down right evil, and this is an example of how being vulnerable can motivate those people to commit heinous acts. This movie will leave you with a bad stomach, distrust for the male population, and a lot more questions asked than answered. 

I give 'Deadgirl' a 1 1/2 out of 5 stars.

ZOMBEAVERS (2014)

A fun weekend turns into madness and horror for a bunch of groupies looking for fun in a beaver infested swamp.

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR-SMWo0hHI

Rating- R
Genre- comedy/horror
Warnings- disturbing imagery/extreme violence/swearing/sexual content

(Description on poster: You'll all be damned!)

'Zombeavers' is a comedy horror flick that was directed by Jordan Rubin and also written by him, along with Al and Jon Kaplan. Judging by the title, I knew that I was in for a wild ride. You cannot tell me that you'd expect something serious from a title like 'Zombeavers' and you never do. 

It's about some stereotypical teenage friends who go on vacation to have fun on a campsite when they're suddenly faced with killer beavers. The beavers were actually terrifying to look at; obviously they look fake, but it still gives off a chill down my spine. Because of this, there are some bloody moments and moments where the victims of the beavers undergo some transformation that is even more scary to look at. However, you probably wouldn't care about who dies because what's usually associated with stereotypes? Little to no character arc.

These characters are carbon copies of either the typical get drunk and have sex teenager or the pure innocent virgin teenager. There's no in-between, but this movie does have a couple of plot twists that worked to its favor. Nearing the end, I wasn't sure about where this story would lead and with a story about killer beavers, it's not that hard for the movie to keep your attention. 

There was poor acting, but I'm sure that was just attributing to the comedy aspect of it. It might make you laugh, but I'm personally not a fan of acting that tries really hard to be bad that it's just bad acting in general. There is certainly at least one sex scene that is- again- used for comedic purposes but is still a little visually graphic. I would recommend this movie if you want to get a good laugh out of teenagers biting the dust to some animals. As funny as it can be, it's nothing a child should watch. It's better to watch with some good friends who you could joke with and rant about how you'd survive better than any of the characters in this film.

I give 'Zombeavers' a 1 1/2 out of 5 stars.

RAW (2016)

An innocent teenager, studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFlXVX2af_Y

Rating- R
Genre- drama/horror
Warnings- disturbing imagery/extreme violence/swearing/cannibalism/sexual content

(Description on poster: What are you hungry for?)

'Raw' is a French movie that was directed and written by Julia Ducournau. It follows Justine (Garance Marillier) a girl just beginning her first year at a veterinary college when she is overcome with the desire for human flesh. I remember that it took me until the very end of the movie to figure out why in the world the lead would suddenly crave this, but if you were to watch this a second time the clues are several and nearly obvious. However, in relation to the first time I watched this I felt puzzled by the whole situation and the characters' actions didn't help at all.

In this universe, being a cannibal is uncommon yet everyone including Justine treats it as if she just got a paper cut and is just waiting for it to heal itself. I was shouting internally for her to just visit a nurse and see what the cause was for this behavior, but that never even crosses her mind. On top of that, practically every character you meet is unlikable and makes the viewing of this movie rather draining.

However, since I know that there are hints to the truth behind Justine's hunger for other human beings, I do like the mystery behind it. That mystery motivated me to continue watching and figure out what was happening- or rather why it was happening. Once the ending comes along, if you were as clueless as me then it would hit you like a bullet.

Even so, it's like a cycle: with one good thing about this movie, it brings me back to my faults with it. Once you know the twist, you wonder why certain characters acted a certain way in the first place. What happens to Justine could have been better avoided, but it's not, and that leaves me annoyed.

There's a lot of scenes that involve blood and dead animals, plus harm done to the human body, making it a lot of body mutilation for one movie. There are also some intimate scenes and a graphic sex scene that could make even the most sex positive person uncomfortable.

I watched 'Raw' because I heard a lot of praise for this movie, and while it's not the worst thing in the world, it just didn't sit well with me. The character motivations are unpredictable, the plot is mostly just build up to the twist which makes you question everything you just watched, but the cinematography is well done and some scenes provided a good sense of tension that still stick with me now.

I give 'Raw' a 3 out of 5 stars.

Venom (2018)

When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life (Source- Imdb.com)

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Mv98Gr5pY

Rating- PG-13
Genre- thriller/science fiction
Warnings- disturbing imagery/swearing

I'm not Marvel fanatic as much as the next guy, but I've always been fascinated by Venom.

This dark version of Spider man enthralled me when I was first introduced to him in 'Spider Man 3' (2007), at least, that's what I used to think it was: just a darker version of Spider man. This creature is so much more than that, as it says in its origin story that Venom is actually a sentient alien symbiote that has a liquid-like form and needs a host in order to survive on Earth.

According to Venom's wikipedia, its first appearance was made when it used Spider man as its host in The Amazing Spider-Man #258 in 1984. It later went on to merge with other hosts, the most notable being journalist Eddie Brock, who is the star of this latest adaptation. I'm going to focus not so much on the original Venom and Brock, and just critic the movie on its own.

Say this is a clean slate, that this is the first ever anyone has ever heard of Venom, how does it hold up? Was this movie something I could really get attached to, or was it better to split and find a better movie that night?

This film centers on Brock, who is still a hard hitting journalist in this version, as he sets out to investigate a scandal involving a powerful CEO named Carlton Drake that lands him into hot water by becoming the host of a symbiote known as Venom. Turns out the pair have a genuine connection to one another, and as the story progresses you see how this human and symbiote can work together to play by their own rules.

The first thing I want to point out is how fast this film felt to me. It's said to be 2 hours and 20 minutes long, but it felt more like an hour, and I find that to be due to two factors. One being that I enjoyed it a ton, it was an interesting story from start to finish. Albiet, the beginning was a little dragging, but once Venom gets into the picture it's so much fun and you may find yourself laughing a lot. I didn't expect to laugh because hey, an alien possessing your body doesn't sound like a laugh riot to me, but the dialogue between Brock and Venom is very quick and sassy. It's as if you're watching two friends bicker, it's hilarious to listen in on it.

The second reason for why I think the movie went so quick is because the plot points went by too fast. The more I think about it, things just seemed to happy abruptly with no real rhyme or reason. I think the beginning and middle part was good as far as taking its time to build things up, but the last 20 minutes or so, the characters' personalities just seemed to shift slightly.

One example I'll use is Venom, he's an alien with the purpose to use humans for his own selfish desires. When he forms an emotional bond with Brock, I can't really tell where that comes from. Don't think I assumed this happened either, there are a couple of scenes that clearly state that Brock and Venom felt like they got closer over time and are sincerely disheartened by not having the other in their life.

To argue against my own opinion, it could be because in order to survive a human and a symboite must be compatible with one another and when you have someone inside you 24/7, you're bound to gain some attachment to them.

Speaking of attachment, I found it hard as a viewer to feel sympathy for Brock despite him being the main character. The way that he goes about things, particularly in the beginning of the movie, isn't so admirable. In fact, they're very impulsive without any regard for other people's feelings. Yet Tony Stark was the same way. So was Dr. Stephen Strange, and I ended up liking both of them in the end. I suppose that it makes the story more exciting if the main character isn't the model of perfect behavior. Maybe with time, I'll warm up to Brock's character.

I think the conflict was done well. It may be a little predictable, but I'll let it slide because it makes sense to Brock's character to want to research into a big scandal. The way the side and minor characters are incorporated into the story is well done too. There were some moments where I was shocked that the movie would go down that route, but that's a good thing because they weren't afraid to diverge into dark material.

I noticed how the relationship between Brock and side character Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) was really reaching for a romantic storyline. When you watch the movie, you may think it's no problem, but I just was sick of it being pushed onto me.

It kind of sends a toxic message to people about how you could keep pushing something to happen and eventually your romantic interest will come around to you. To argue against that, if we're being realistic, a lot of people do this and not everyone knows how to properly pursue a romantic interest. So, I'm hoping that the sequel will address this and that this sort of behavior isn't healthy.

I'm not sure how to feel about the main villain of the story. On one hand, I liked the fact that he didn't look like a typical badass with bulging muscles and that obvious demeanor that is so obvious to the audience that he's the bad guy, but on the other hand I find him a little forgettable. I feel like in a month, when people are raving over Venom still, they'll forget about the villain and his contribution to the story.

The fight scenes were incredibly fun to watch and the design of Venom was fantastic; the symbiote looks frightening and looked like it was really sticking onto its hosts. This film is a little more graphic than previous Marvel movies with gruesome death scenes that could send a chill down your spine or induce serious nightmares. I just wish they went even further with it. For a PG-13 movie, I think they pushed some boundaries, but I know for sure that the writers could have gone even further with it.

There is also moments where certain characters use swear words that you would chastise a child for for using, so if you intend on seeing this with a child then be aware that there will be curse words and not the simple words like hell, damn, or shit. If you're not comfortable with that, then reconsider watching with the children. This is best suited for older family members or with friends. You could watch it alone, but I think this is the type of film that you'd want to watch with other people to share in the enjoyment.

Some critics have deemed this movie to be poorly made while others find it to be well done; I'm here to say that regardless of what you think of it after watching, Venom was a fun ride. Whether you joke about how terrible it is or how cool it is, I believe that it will be a memorable film that people will be excited to see the sequel for.

The beginning and ending weren't my favorite parts and some decisions made in the script are a little questionable, but the fighting was stellar, the comedy had the theater cracking up a lot, and as long as I had a good time, I think it's deserves some credit.

I give Venom a 3 out of 5 stars.

(Note: I'm practicing my video skills. Go check out my brief video on Venom at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQf7QRbHLvI. Enjoy and subscribe!)

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
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Anne's actress looks familiar, where is she from? Speaking of which, Brock's actor looks familiar too. Where was he from?

The scene with the little girl getting the pin from Carlton Drake was really cute, but since he's going to be a villain it kind of dampens it.

Both Drake and Brock's boss said, "Have a nice life." Is that phrase like...a thing? Are they working together?

I'm not really a fan of Brock right now. How can I feel bad for someone who sneaked into his fiancé's emails and deliberately and carelessly pushed someone to admit to a scandal? If this movie is trying to make me feel bad for him, it's not working.

Is it just me or is Hardy (the actor) trying too hard to make Brock sound drunk?

I too would wonder how my ex fiancé's cat is doing.

What was Brock's motivation to take Dora Skirth's advice? All he did after meeting with her was see his ex and see that someone better is dating her. Maybe it's to feel better about himself?

Brock, Dora told you not to touch anything! I know that was your friend, but if that were me, I would've left them there to get the story. Everyone for themselves when it's a matter of life or death.

Just hearing Venom say food makes me happy. I love the voice.

Poor lobsters...

I like Anne's new boyfriend, he isn't as much of a jerk as I thought he would be. Thank goodness, I hate that trope. It forces you to side with the main character.

That's sad that the symbiote is going to control the little girl, but glad to see the writers aren't holding back any punches.

I did not expect Dora to die. I thought she'd be Brock's new love interest or maybe a villain with the symbiote inside of her who will be saved. I'm going to miss her.

Don't let that sweet Latino guy die! Oh, thank goodness he'll be okay.

I think everyone's favorite part in this movie- or most memorable- will be when Venom tells Brock to jump and Brock uses the elevator instead, with Venom calling him a...I'm not quite comfortable saying it on my blog so here's a hint: calling him a cat. It's way funnier when you see it.

I am so freaking happy they made Anne scream at the sight of Venom. I've seen too many movies where something crazy happens and a character reacts very calmly to the situation. Like no, you'd be screaming or at least running away.

After just being informed that Venom is speaking to Brock, I wouldn't really accept that apology from Brock for getting me fired. Then again, Brock is in a pretty terrible situation, there's no need to bring that up.

Oh no, Brock you may have to reconnect with Venom. You got Drake to worry about with his symbiote.

Is Venom going to connect to Anne or her boyfriend to reach Brock again? No, please don't kill the dog! And he took the dog!

The dog's name is Gemini. What a cutie!

Hold up, why when Venom is controlling Anne she got to have this super curvy body? Is that really necessary to show that she has boobs and ass? It would've been more awesome if she looked like how Brock looks when he has Venom, that way the audience has a bit more suspense on who is behind the symbiote.

That kiss scene was intense. You even had Brock moaning a lot to it too, I mean...wow. That was the most sexual make out scene I've seen in any Marvel movie (unless I'm forgetting a one big one, and I feel like I am). Like...they do know Rule 34 exists, right? People are going to sexualize the hell out of female curvy Venom and that kiss scene. They might just be asking for it, since it will certainly make the movie more memorable.

If you're not compatible with a symbiote, you die, so how come Anne was just fine after Venom left her body? The point this movie is trying to make is that Venom and Brock are compatible; I thought that was just a one human thing. Now it can be more than one? Also, did the dog die after Venom left him? Did the blonde girl die?

Now I'm thinking what the heck would make Venom a loser on his own planet. It will probably be explained in the sequel.

(Probably not the accurate quote but...) "Tell me the real reason you came back" "You"
Okay, that was sending some real romantic vibes! Where did this come from?

There! Brock said "Have a nice life" to Drake. Why is that such a powerful quote for them? Like I get that Drake said it to Brock, but his boss said that to him to. Plus, I don't know, I feel like there was something stronger that could've been said.

"Venom, no!" They really are best friends now, aren't they? I'd be relieved to have the symbiote off of me.

He's grieving over Venom's death?! Oh my God, this relationship runs deep!

If Venom planned the kiss, then that's even further proof that something romantic is going on between the two (I know there isn't, but the evidence is strong), but if Anne planned the kiss (which I'm more likely to believe) then that's messed up how they just threw that in. And to top it off with Venom saying they'll get her back, that's so wrong! The boyfriend has been nothing but helpful through this entire story, and Anne would find an excuse to cheat on him like that. That's not cute or something to strive for, that's cheating plain and simple. Plus, who the heck would want to reconnect with their ex after they cost them their job, got a symbiote in their body, and could possibly kill you at any moment? That's not a moment to be like, "Maybe things could still work out."

In addition to that, why does every superhero (or anti hero in this case) needs a romantic interest? There was a trailer for Aquaman that clearly shows a romantic interest. Why? Does everything need to include romance to get the story going? Well sure it does, because you can't be a superhero or anti hero without having a romantic interest. There goes my dreams of saving the world...

Stan Lee! I was almost worried you'd never show up!

I bet that child in the begging who got the pin from Drake is feeling really good about herself now. Might be getting teased at school for being put on a pedestal by an evil man. She just wanted her question answered, poor thing.

If I didn't watch that Youtube Video Death Battle of Carnage versus Lucy from Elfien Lied, I would've been so lost on who that redhead guy was in the after credits scene. He's going to be something else in the future...

Slenderman (2018)

In a small town in Massachusetts, a group of friends, fascinated by the internet lore of the Slender Man, attempt to prove that he doesn't actually exist- until one of them mysteriously goes missing. (Source- Imdb.com)

Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySy8mcceTno

Rating- PG-13
Genre- Horror
Warnings- disturbing imagery/inappropriate language

NOTE: The beginning summarizes the origins of Slenderman. If you want to skip this part, scroll down until you see this message: READ HERE.

Slenderman is arguably the most popular Creepypasta character of all time. He was originated by Something Awful forms user, Eric Knudsen (known on the website as, Victor Surge) as an internet meme back in 2009. Since then, people have been fascinated by the character to the point where a video game was made in his honor in 2012, called Slender: The Eight Pages. Your mission in the game is to collect eight pages in a dark forest before Slenderman catches you. From video games to cosplays to fan art, Slenderman has entered into many avenues of entertainment, and finally in 2018, he has also taken over the big screen. 

I first learned about Slenderman back in high school shortly after the first game was released and I was also interested with the creature right away. I like how his simplicity makes him spooky, how he didn't need to be over the top to scare the pants off of you. His appearance has changed over time, but he is commonly depicted as an abnormally tall human with long arms and a blank face. I also appreciated how his killing style was more subtle, or as it says on theslenderman.wikia.com, more "passive-aggressive" often stalking targets for years at a time before ever attacking. 

I heard somewhere that if someone is deathly afraid of a certain character, then that character represents what they fear in real life. When it comes to Slenderman, whoever is afraid of him may have a deep seeded fear of being watched and never really knowing the future and where they stand it in. This boils down to the fear of the unexpected. It could also be the fear of being possessed, since Slenderman's lore involves him being some sort of evil Pied Piper- toying with people's minds and convincing them to venture through the woods where they are killed. 

READ HERE

It is no surprise to me that a movie about Slenderman has been released, though it does seem way too late to bring him up now since it's been about 9 years since he was created and 6 years since he really spiked in mainstream popularity with his first video game. I'm also always concerned about these type of movies where they adapt from original materials. You know, video game adaptions, book adaptions, and so on. I feared the writers would make it this a cheesy teenage film with jump scares all the time and it has nothing to do with the original content at all. 

Nevertheless, it didn't matter how this movie ended up being. I knew that I was going to watch it and bear the consequences of my actions. On that note, did I feel inclined to learn even more about the mystical monster after seeing his debut film or did I grow insane with each passing minute watching it?

Slenderman the movie follows a group of high school friends who decide to watch a video about the horror character, only to be faced with spine-chilling repercussions. One by one, the friends succumb deeply into the virus that is Slenderman and they try to stop the monster from finishing them off through death.

This story is nothing that I haven't seen before, and it was no surprise to see how the heart of the film stayed relatively the same from how I imagined it before watching it. The characters even felt recycled from other movies I've seen like this- The main lead who is the perfect honor student, the troublemaker, the token minority, and the forgettable one who gets axed early. There isn't necessarily anything bad about have a similar storyline and character, but this has been overdone to death. Although, it's not like I had any other ideas that wouldn't also be overdone, so I don't judge the plot too harshly. 

What I will judge it harshly on is how the series of events took place, because that got on my nerves. There are rules that are addressed in the beginning of the film that have absolutely no value in the end. I remember waiting for someone to mention why the rules no longer applied, but it never came. The characters also acted incredibly foolish for what I found to be no discernible reason other than to create tension and suspense for the audience. It was to the point where I couldn't find myself feeling sorry for any of the characters; I felt embarrassed just watching them act idiotic. 

There were a few scenes that felt like there was more to it than it should've been, and I'm probably right cause scenes from the trailers never appear in the final product and so the foreshadowing for those missing scenes don't make an impact by itself. The ending to this movie kind of relates to this statement, as I felt that the ending came out of left field. 

Remember when I said that there were rules set that didn't matter? Well, the ending seems to create this entirely new rule that was never mentioned before and leads the characters to do things that they may have otherwise not done. It still boggles my mind about why that rule was created, and why did it only apply a certain person.

The only times I ever got scared while watching this film was when there were jump scares, because the music was so loud that you couldn't help but jump out of your seat. I did know that they were coming though, so that doesn't make the jump scares well done. A lot of the time, the scares would fake you out by building up to this surprise when the surprise doesn't actually occur, but obviously it will happen once the character turns around ever...so...slowly. 

Same formula, different format.

I almost forgot to mention the greatest character of all, Slenderman. I think he was fine as far as character design and how he appeared in the film. His presence without him physically being there is a great way to instill fear in the audience, by the film making Slenderman manipulate phones, music, and of course people's minds. You're not sure of what's real and what's not, and those are the types of things I like to see in a scary movie because that's the scariest thing that could happen to you in my opinion. You can escape from a killer, but you can't escape your mind. 

There are death scenes included in this PG-13 movie, after all, how could you not have one? But, until I got to this point in the review, I nearly forgot there was any death scenes at all. All of them were just mediocre to me, and that was either because they weren't even shown or they were no real care for the character being killed. 

A death scene is only scary if you care about the person this act is being done to, and if someone is found to be unlikable- not as if they're an antagonist- but just couldn't care less about, then that death can be easily forgotten about too. There's little to no blood from what I remember but there is certainly a lot of ominous scenes that could unsettle some people. 

Slenderman was an entertaining movie, and I would recommend watching it with people who are at least 13 years old (I agree with the rating on this one) since there is a little talk involving sexual acts and younger people may be inclined to look up what they mean. Aside from that, there is only one use of the F word in the film but could still be enough to worry parents.

It is a little painful to watch if you hate seeing character doing silly things just because, but maybe with some friends you could drown that pain with cracking jokes. If I were alone, I probably wouldn't watch this again because I think there were several plot holes, flat character development, and not very frightening for a Creepypasta adaptation.

I give Slenderman a 1 out of 5 stars.

Subscribe to Garnet Jen on Youtube. This is a link to my Slenderman video. Always trying to learn more about editing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvQzBKxoOWU

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

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Why would Hallie be cool with Wren getting her sister Lizzie detention? Side note, Wren's actress looks very familiar...

It's probably just me, it's definitely just me because I didn't do this, but these high schoolers who I assume are freshman or sophomores are talking about sex way too much for their age. Circle jerk, POV pornos? Do friends really discuss that with each other casually? I'd expect that from college students, but not high school.

Katie, who has an alcoholic father and wants to run away from home is going to be the first person to die. Can they make this stuff less obvious once in a while? Can't it be someone who has a fairly normal life and still feels inclined to be with Slenderman?

It's pretty easy to be cursed by Slenderman, isn't it? Just go online and click on "Summon Him" and there you go. Cursed for life. Must be the equivalent of kids being able to buy Ouija boards at Target.

Why didn't they show Katie walking into the woods? Couldn't they have just had a quick scene where she walks away from the crowd during the field trip? Jumping from her looking at the forest to the police searching for her makes me think she just vanished out of thin air.

How is Hallie just ignoring the fact that Katie's dad broke into her house? I wouldn't be like, "I'm sorry Katie is missing," I'd be like, "What the hell are you doing in my house? Get out!"

I have several issues with the scene where the girls sneak into Katie's house. First off, why after being arrested by the police for breaking into Hallie's house and assaulting her is Katie's dad back at home? Why is he not in jail? Second, why would the girls think that it would be better to sneak in by purposely waking the dad up and having one girl talk to him while the other two go to Katie's room? He's more likely to hear something up there if he is fully awake. Third, why did Hallie allow Wren to be alone with him saying that she'll do anything to cheer him up when just the day before Hallie was assaulted and yelled at by that same dad who broke into her house drunk? Hallie is a terrible friend, because Wren could've been yelled at by the dad too or worse in the middle of the night when he's been drinking and missing his daughter. 

That scene where Slenderman's shadow is crawling along the wall behind the girls was good. I liked that part a lot.

"Why would she run away? Maybe because she has an alcoholic father...," who you met in the middle of the night to comfort in any way you can. How dumb are you? Also, that's all we really know about Katie, that she has an alcoholic father. That says nothing about her as it does about her family. How was Katie like as a person? 

Let's say the way to beat Slenderman was to give up valuable possessions, then why would these girls think Slenderman would want their possessions broken and torn up? "Here is my precious cup I made in 5th grade, Slenderman. Now it is broken so you can use it, because I know you'd love to drink from broken shards of glass!"

Chloe, I know you've been complaining that you don't believe in Slenderman, but if you already went so far as to walk in the woods at night, tear up your last photo of your late father, and put on a blindfold, then you should have some common sense to not take off your blindfold as soon as Wren says, "Don't take off your blindfold." I don't even feel sorry that you went insane; that is absolutely your fault.

Why open the door if you think Slenderman is behind it? Why is your first instinct to go towards the danger, and not try to escape through your window? Also, I heard from my brother that what would've been cool is if Chloe imagined that it was her father behind the door. I agree that that would've been interesting and make her arc stronger other than admitting she lost her dad and never doing anything with that information.

Why is Wren having a hallucination of Slenderman in the library even though she never saw him? 

Why is Hallie not having hallucinations if she saw Slenderman? Was seeing him in the woods while her crush was talking to her a hallucination or real? Both answers would not make sense and I'll tell you why. If you think it was a hallucination, then she should only be having a hallucination if she saw him back in the woods, which never happened. Only Chloe saw him. If it was real, then that would start the hallucinations afterwards, therefore Hallie should agree with Wren at this point because she should have have hallucinations like she did, but she's not, which doesn't make sense. This adds onto why is Wren getting hallucinations at all, because let's say that Hallie saw Slenderman for real in the woods, then she should have hallucinations way before Wren who has yet to really see Slenderman.

You know what would've been amazing? The scene where Hallie is getting ready for her date with her crush shows her brushing makeup under her eye. Imagine if the writers made her do that to cover up dark bags under her eyes to imply that she lied to Wren and she was having hallucinations, but she's covering it up so she doesn't look any less than perfect. I would've loved that!

That scene with the crush on top of Hallie bugging out was so funny; I can see that becoming a meme. Just Hallie screaming as different faces pop up, like Shrek.

I know that when someone tells you not to do something, 99 percent of people would feel inclined to do it anyway. But, if Hallie's crush knows about Slenderman and knows about Katie's disappearance and Chloe not going to school and Wren going crazy and his girl stressing to him not to watch the video, then why would he think it'd be okay to watch the video right away? 

This is the scene that Chloe finally returns to school and stabs herself with the scalpel...wait no, that's not happening? Well, why still talk about cutting the animal eye then? You know that's not going to lead anywhere!

Did I suddenly walk into Inception? What's with the constant waking up from nightmares?

So because Hallie didn't believe in Wren, Wren decided to bring her little sister into all of this mess and guarantee her a lifetime of insanity or death...that makes sense.

"The only way to save Lizzie" What? How did Lizzie suddenly become the only victim to save? Matter of fact, why is Hallie even able to save Lizzie from Slenderman? This wasn't mentioned when Chloe went insane, so what makes Lizzie any different? How does AlleyKat know that Hallie needs to sacrifice her soul for Lizzie? It's not like AlleyKat did that for someone else or else she'd already be dead, and it's not like anyone did that for her because she's still crazy (as far as the audience knows).

Wren's death was very lackluster. Just YOINK!

Hallie saying, "take me" to Slenderman but immediately running away screaming after he shows his full form could be a meme for when someone says they're ready to sleep with you, but after you show how big you are they are scared and run away.

Why is Lizzie narrating the ending like this movie was about the power of sisterhood? Why is she making this sound like the Slenderman curse started with Hallie and her friends? It was clearly stated that this has gone on years before them. Have there been other cases like Lizzie's where someone was saved by a friend's sacrifice? If so, then why isn't that reported more? Why haven't people taken Slenderman more seriously if there are so many cases that suspect it was because of Slenderman that the kids were taken? This whole movie just leaves me with so many questions!

So the only time a black person is not killed in a horror movie is when she is not wanted. Chole was left to be crazy forever, which is a fate worse than death. 

Last comment: I forgot when this happened in the movie, but at some point Hallie is looking at her test in class and her last name is Knudsen. The same last name as the creator of Slenderman. 

Very cute! If I was him, I would've squealed.