I hate that pun. I hate myself for using it.
Gravedancers
Gravedancers is the story of three people that go to a graveyard to grieve for their friend, when they find a mysterious card prompting them to dance and celebrate life. Unfortunately, this results in all three of them being haunted, but will they be haunted...TO DEATH!?
Bling blong bling blong. So, first, I want to talk about how this movie looks. The lighting isn’t the best, so it comes off as amateurish. However, the lighting in movies is so not like lighting in real life, that’s kind of an illusion it is easy to fall prey to, so the lighting of this movie can easily be considered more accurate to what’s real. That said, there are filters in the day to make it look dark, and that just always comes off as...poor. Anyway, they wanted to keep the whole movie dark, gray, shadowy, which it is. It doesn’t add to the suspense of the film or atmosphere in my opinion. Idk, it’s just kind of a flat forgetful darkness.
This movie seems tired and cliche. My first thought watching this movie is this is a horror movies that horror movie character watch in other horror movies. It’s so flat. It’s such a nothing horror movie. The characters are nothing characters, and the acting is subpar, and not subpar in a way that these are bad actors because I know a lot of these actors. Subpar in a way where it seems like many of them just weren’t down to make a horror film. Here’s the thing about this movie though, and why these characters and circumstances fall so flat, this movie does not care about its human characters. This movie cares about its ghosts, and I’m gonna be honest, I can appreciate that.
This movie stars three different murderous ghosts, each with a different background, personality, and m.o. that comes through whenever they starting shit, and I love that. Once this movie introduces the parapsychologists, and they get into the background of these ghosts, that’s when the movie REALLY gets start, and from that point on? This is a legitimately good movie. It still has all the flaws above, but it becomes genuinely fun and interesting.
The practical effects a good. They are likely to be more impressive to someone who doesn’t know how the make-up effects in this movie were done. The stiffness of the effects are kind of noticeable. Furthermore, the CG effects are good but not that great. What both of these effects all have going for them is the Nintendo factor. For a while it has been Nintendo’s thing that they don’t have the best graphics, but their shit is going to look good anyway because it is so well designed. That’s the case with these effects. They are so well designed, conceptually, that you gotta give them props. The CG effects in particular work because it isn’t trying to be realistic. It’s going for something more ethereal, atmospheric, and fun. Also, the blood in this film is good, too.
This movie has no cussing and no titties, and just a little gore, and it’s more blood and blood stains then anything. That makes this an excellent film for the young horror fan. If I have a gripe, the movie could be a little tighter, I think there’s some plot points that could be scrapped just because what’s the point in even pretending to develop these shallow characters? Also, there are some concepts that are too big for this movie, and as such, come of a little silly. There aren’t many, but these small moments can definitely take someone out of the film for a minute.
That’s Gravedancers. It seems basic as hell early on, but if you scratch the surface there’s a good romp underneath. I don’t think it is a must own or a must watch, but it is a very good watch and if you’re interested I suggest you go ahead and check it out.
The Devil’s Backbone
The Devil’s Backbone is less about a single character and more about an orphanage of boys during the Spanish civil war, and the mystery behind the ghost that haunts it.
Do you only speak english and hate subtitles? Then this is not the movie for you. Do you only watch horror in hopes of being scared? Then this is not the movie for you. Do you enjoy well written characters, drama, and suspense? Then this is the movie for you!
It’s actually difficult to pin down Backbone’s strength, as it achieves all of its goals quite competently, and no one aspect seems obviously superior to any others. I think the movie’s primary attraction is watching these orphan boys grow together as friends and then faced with some very depressing obstacles. It first, it may seem like this is just a historical drama with a spooky ghost on the sidelines, and it is, but when things start falling apart they fall apart very quickly, and when it is done well it is always difficult watching children in difficult circumstances try to navigate the adult world. Now that I think about it, this film has a lot in common with The Reflecting Skin. Although I would say this film is slightly less depressing and has a central antagonist. On the flip side, this film also has hope, and by the end you’re left wondering if there’s still hope. The Reflecting Skin was clearly a film with no room for hope. Perhaps the element of hope actually makes Backbone the more depressing feature.
The film feels like an old photo. If it had a smell, it would smell like old books. It’s rarely feel truly dark. Most of the film has a rather warm tone to it, and that’s true for the film itself and several of the characters. There’s just a warm undertone to it all. It has a lot of good effects, which ought to be expected from the great Del Toro. The crowning jewel here is Santi, the ghost. I love the design of Santi. I think it’s just brilliant and unique. Simultaneously sad, horrific, and beautiful. That, my friends, is a ghost!
Honestly, if there is one problem with film is that the villain could be more of a person and less of a sheer villain. The actor, however, is fantastic. The two individuals responsible for the orphanage and the two primary kids are also fantastic, and everyone else is quite good as well.
Some people believe this is Del Toro’s best film. Whether it is or not, I absolutely believe it is a must see film at the very least, and potentially a must own one.