thread: 2010-11-03 : Horror Flick Pies
On 2010-11-03, Vincent wrote:
Compassionate: The movie cares about its characters, feels for them, and treats them with depth and grace. Example: Lake Mungo.
Critical: The movie has a sharp, incisive, well-founded, critical take on its subject matter. Example: Pick Me Up.
Topical: The movie has something to say about something, generally, so that's fine. Example: The Wilderness.
Thrilly: The movie doesn't have much to say about much, but whatever, that's not the point. Example: An American Werewolf in London.
Contemplative: The movie raises a topic but doesn't, after all, have much to say about it. Example: Monsters.
Preachy: The movie has something to say about something, but it's hamfisted and simplistic. Example: The Last Winter.
Stupid: The movie regurgitates that same stupid thing. Example: Splice ("Me go too far! Me am play gods!").
Vicious: The movie hates and despises its characters and wants to punish and belittle them. Example: Jack Ketchum's The Lost.
Deep: The women in the movie have pasts, inner lives, individuality, humanity. Example: Mulberry Street.
Quirky: The women in the movie probably have pasts and inner lives and stuff, all signs point to yes, but the movie doesn't develop them deeply. Example: Isolation.
Diverse: There are several women in the movie and they all have individuality and character. Example: Carriers.
Strong: The women in the movie are tough, competent, capable, and intense. Example: The Screwfly Solution.
Stock: The women in the movie are recognizable stock types. Example: The Last Winter.
Shrill: The women in the movie mostly fret, bicker, nag and scream. Example: Frozen.
Evil: The women in the movie are all wicked stepmothers and seductive stepdaughters. Example: Splice ("Me go too far! Me am play gods!").
None to speak of: What women? Example: Dreams of Cthulhu: Rough Magik Initiative.
Cliched: Wicked stepmothers and seductive stepdaughters, yes, but also virginal daughters in danger, self-sacrificing mothers, wise grandmothers, nagging girlfriends, put-upon supportive wives, ever-faithful fiances. Example: The Other Side.
Nuanced & Convincing: The relationships in the movie are complex, realistic, and well-observed. Example: Ginger Snaps.
Broadly Drawn, Positive: The relationships in the movie are stock, not especially insightful, but overall good: people who care about each other, care about each other. Example: Isolation.
Broadly Drawn, Negative: The relationships in the movie are stock, and furthermore bad: people who are supposed to care about each other instead bicker, fight, lie and resent. Example: Frozen.
Idealized: The relationships in the movie are stock, plus static. Relationships never transcend their types. Example: The Mist.
Trite & crappy: ...And furthermore, the relationships' types are all the worst ones. Example: The Tomb.
