Another 2019 Film that I meant to see and never got around to. Did it live up to the hype?
It is Halloween in 1968 and a trio of teens turn the tables on some bullies. Of course, pissing off bullies will definitely have no consequences.
I'll just get the obvious thing out of the way- this did not need to be a Period Piece. It adds nothing.
They meet up with a new guy in town and end up at a Haunted House.
They walked away from a first-run Drive-In Showing of Night of the Living Dead for this?
Also Horror Film shows NotLD Cliché.
They exposit about a creepy girl who would ready Scary Stories (told in the dark) to kids long ago.
Hmm...I see no danger in keeping her book of said Stories. I also see no danger in spending 30 out of this Film's 100 minutes with nothing but Setup.
The Stories start to be written by the Book itself and they spell doom for the subject.
Hey look- that thing from the Poster!
The Stories keep making bad things happen and they can't seem to stop it by burning the book or ripping out the pages.
Honest question- have you tried just writing 'The End' like half a page down? Wouldn't that work?
Who will live? Who will die? Will they wrap this story up or just hope for a Sequel?
To find out, stream the Film or buy a physical copy like some sort of Caveman.
A Film with some good moments, but it does make you wait. The most obvious issue here is the Pacing. I get that there is a bunch of stuff to set up, but they still take too long. As noted, the Film is right at 100 minutes and they don't get to the first Story until 30 minutes in. Would a Cold Open have killed you? Think about it- the Plot is built around the Stories told by this lady/spirit long ago. Why not start with one of those to set the mood? Instead, we get all of the Characters getting to know each other, them seemingly trapped and then them almost immediately getting out. Way to set up and immediately diffuse a conflict! The actual Stories are handled nicely, with interest-looking monsters in each one. The Film does struggle with a sense of identity. The Stories play out in an Anthology-style format, but they try to make it 'real time' to make people think of anything but. It ends up being a bit awkward and not as strong as either version of it could be. Do one kind of Film or the other. I'm also going to say it 'I'm not that invested in these kids.' They aren't bad Actors, nor are they badly-written- I just didn't get all that invested in them. Scary Stories has good moments and delivers in key parts. The problem is that they tried to create a Genre Hybrid and it just didn't work. That said, I did find a product that I need in my life...
A pretty good Film that straddles the line between Anthology Film and straight Horror. It's just a shame that the Subplots and slow start hurt the final product so much.
I'll just get the obvious thing out of the way- this did not need to be a Period Piece. It adds nothing.
They walked away from a first-run Drive-In Showing of Night of the Living Dead for this?
Also Horror Film shows NotLD Cliché.
Hmm...I see no danger in keeping her book of said Stories. I also see no danger in spending 30 out of this Film's 100 minutes with nothing but Setup.
Hey look- that thing from the Poster!
Honest question- have you tried just writing 'The End' like half a page down? Wouldn't that work?
To find out, stream the Film or buy a physical copy like some sort of Caveman.
My friend was jazzed for this and dragged me into watching it with her. It seemed like a stunted cross of Goosebumps and Stranger Things. I'd rather have done without so much connective tissue in favor of letting each story stand on its own.
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