FINAL GIRL explores the slasher flicks of the '70s and '80s...and all the other horror movies I feel like talking about, too. This is life on the EDGE, so beware yon spoilers!
Apr 21, 2006
untitled
Sweet mother.
That is how you adapt four videogames into a story for the screen.
And that, my friends, is how you make a fucking horror movie.
WARNING: The comments section of this post contains spoilers.
Jim...you are so right about the nurses. Not nearly enough screen time. And yeah, for a second, I started to think about Thriller!! And please...list what you liked about it!
I've been thinking about this flick almost non-stop since I got home, and tomorrow I'll be dragging Rachael so I can see it again!
There were a few times I actually sank into my seat and covered my mouth with my hand in that "Oh my fucking god" fashion.
I saw it. I loved it. I thought the crunching and popping noices from the "nurses" was exceptionally creepy. Congrats to the sound effects team. This movie was exactly how horror should look (and sound). By the by, did you get to see the remake of the OMEN coming out 6-6-06? Julia Stiles? I am not opposed to remakes, but I will have to wait and see about this one.
I saw about half of the Omen trailer and then there were echnical problems...I couldn't really judge it, but it's not something I was looking forwward to anyway.
I agree- that bone-popping sound was fantastic, in sort of nauseating way.
Sorry you didn't dig it Chadwick, but I had a sneaking suspicion you wouldn't.
This movie is far from flawless, beyond question. There are times when the script and acting are dodgy, and it's really long. I think it became a case of trying to cram as much as possible into one film, and so certain aspects came up short.
There was definitely alot of...err, 'shout-outs' to fans of the game. I noticed many instances where elements were lifted almost directly from the games.
I can't look at the movie from the perspective of someone who's never played, obviously, but I've read many reviews an comments and opinions are sharply divided amongst BOTH players and non-players. Jae, for example, liked it and hasn't played the games. I think, wuite simply, you dug it or you didn't. There doesn't seem to be much of a middle ground.
I like a movie about crazy religious cults, though, that's for sure.
And the whole barbed-wire revenge sequence was pretty fucking amazing, I thought, although that church organ cue made me laugh.
Poor Cybill. I liked her...and I thought for sure they were going to bring her back as a monster.
Oh man...and I loved the demon children things that attacked Rose when she first got to Silent Hill. Loved that part.
I enjoyed being able to have dorky little "a-ha!" moments about moments like that one after the movie was over and everything was put in perspective...all the characters "made sense". A world created by pain...
And did anyone else see the megatones of lesbianism in the film? The whole thing could be seen as an anti-homosexual allegory, I think. Wife goes against husband's wishes to help daughter, getting closer to a non-male family dynamic. Lesbo biker cop in leather gets burned at the stake as a witch. Mostly females in the movie, all set for eternal damnation.
"And did anyone else see the megatones of lesbianism in the film?" Ha. I think you might be stretching it a little bit, although the Cybill burned at the stake-thing could be read that way. Hmm. I didn't feel it was anti-woman... I liked the fact that the major roles were all women for a change, and they weren't all good or all bad. Strong mothers, weak mothers...and Cybill, a woman as strong protector who takes on the bad guys unafraid.
Although there was one point, I think at the hotel...when Rose and Cybill were about to charge in somewhere...Rose said something to Cybill and I thought..."They should totally start making out!" :P
I don't know...the acting was clunky in parts but overall I didn't see it as badly as alot of other people did. Same thing goes for the dialogue- there were some real goose eggs, but...
Anyway. Folks could keep going back and forth over this forever. I liked the story- I LOVE the idea of a demonic world created out of hate and pain and a need for revenge. While I hate hand-holding, I think everyone would've been completely clueless had they not explained things forthrightly- that said, the narration over the flashback sequences was superfluous. The visuals and dialogue in the shots would have sufficed.
I thought it was beautiful and unabashedly R-rated...gory without being explicit...and really good without being perfect.
I liked the horror aspect of it, the visuals were cool, I really liked Pyramid head, when he tore that girl in half was hard core. But I couldn't stand the main bad lady. Burn this burn that. No depth. It was just way too easy of a character. Too obvious the self-righteous person is really the evil person.
I see what you're saying about the Christabella character. Never for a second did I think she'd be the good guy (although I was surprised that Dahlia ended up being so...neutered, I guess. Just sort of pathetic.), and maybe that's a bit stereotypical.
What I did like about Christabella was the fact that she wasn't just an evil cuckoo religious nutso, but that she was so power-mad in her self-righteousness that she convinced everyone that the apocalypse had already come and there was no one else left...and only she could keep them safe.
I thought for sure that the townspeople would turn against her when Rose revealed all that info, but I'm glad they all stayed right in line- and in a sense, she WAS keeping them safe, although she was only stalling the inevitable.
I went to see it today and I for one was glad of the explaination since I didn't have a clue as to what was going on.
It didn't take anything away by not knowing what was going on but it helped to know all of that by the end of the movie. If the explaination hadn't been there then it would have just been a wtf moment to me.
No I have never played any of the games but watching the movie will motivate me to try and get them on the game system I have.
I still don't get some of the things but that is alright. I will end up watching it again and maybe I will pick up some things I missed. Yes I loved it enough to want to see it again and again.
I loved the part where the guy ripped the girl's skin off and flung it at the church door. That alone was worth the price of admission. It was kind of a shame that Hellraiser meets Carrie had to end the film and not Pyramid Head and his extras from the Mummy series (good call, Chadwick). Ah well. They'll undoubtedly make a couple more sequels.
Heather: For the most part, the movie's storyline/plot was culled from the first and third games (3 is a true sequel to the first game), and I find that the storyline of the games makes less sense than the film.
In the games, Dahlia leads the church cult, which attempts to resurrect a demon, Sammael, through Alessa. When only half of the demon manifests itself, they burn her and keep her barely alive in the hospital. Alessa clones the good part of herself and produces an infant, Cheryl, whom the game's protagonist finds in the road as an infant. It's all pretty confusing, and I much preferred the movie's plot- Alessa wasn't a demon, but the demon came to her in her time of weakness, attracted by her rage.
Silent Hill 2 is a stand-alone story wherein various characters are "called" to Silent Hill, as the town acts as a type of Hell for each of them, making them pay for their sins.
Silent Hill 4 (my least favorite of the series) takes place mostly in a man's apartment...he discovers a portal to Silent Hill in his bathroom, and he must try to stop a serial killer who is trying to use Silent Hill's power to carry out his deeds.
If you haven't played any of the games, I'd suggest SH2. It's scary and the plot is fairly linear. 2 and 3 are my favorites...the first game is really good too, but as a game made for PS One the graphics are pretty subpar compared to later additions.
Brennon- I think most people (myself included) wanted more Pyramid Head, and I was very surprised he didn't make an appearance at the Church clusterfuck. But that scene on the steps...holy shit. It was so terrifying and visceral- I'm surprised it made it passed the sensors. I really liked the barbed wire Carrie party, though- it was soooo over the top and BIG and insane. And the bed-floating thing was pulled right from SH2, so that made me smile, too.
Ahh I see, thanks for explaining that a little. Between you and another friend of mine I managed to figure out everything I think. Even so I want to go to see it again on the big screen.
Movie news is saying in made $20.2 million on opening weekend. I didn't hear how much it took to make it so hoping it made a lot of money and will make even more. I added my $6, well $10 if I include the stupid coke I bought once inside.
Christabela was ridiculous at times, but you have to admit Alice Krige did a fine job with what she was given. Same with Radha Mitchell. And Butch Cop was *hawt* omg :-) Total lesbianism there, but I didn't really see anti-woman. Gucci the cop was so weak, come on, but the little girl had such unsettling, uncanny mannerisms... All in all, the movie was worth it for all the "descending darkness" scenes--something really physically terrifying about the red cracks covering everthing...
I just saw it today, Wow! I have to say I loved it. While it is far from my favorite film, I enjoyed it very much. My real problems were a couple of lines of cheesy writing. I am so happy to go to a theater, sit down and not be disappointed. I really love the fact they did not give it the happy, sappy reunion ending where everybody lives happily ever after.
I think the actors did the best they could with the script, and it wasn't so much the acting as it was the dialogue. Ah, well.
The husband/cop side story was pretty weak, but I suppose it was necessary for the audience to get the whole parallel-world thing. You KNOW people would be saying "Why didn't they just go GET HER?" if it wasn't shown that SH is a completely separate dimension at times.
I was really bummed when Cybil got the Kenny Rogers Roasters treatment.
From what I've heard the husband/cop side plot was added because the studio wouldn't approve a script with no men in it. I thought it worked to show the different levels to SH though and I liked the end which they couldn't really have pulled off as well without the husband. Maybe they could have just spend less time on them.
I also heard the movie was much longer so I'm hoping for lots more scenes in the DVD. Maybe even more Pyramid Head!
23 comments:
So...was it good?
By your comments, I have to assume it sucked ;P
Thanks for being one of the first to try it. I'm planning on seeing it this weekend if I can.
Joel <---Still no account
Preach it, sister. I haven't played the videogame, but the movie was quite good. Scary, even.
Jim...you are so right about the nurses. Not nearly enough screen time. And yeah, for a second, I started to think about Thriller!! And please...list what you liked about it!
I've been thinking about this flick almost non-stop since I got home, and tomorrow I'll be dragging Rachael so I can see it again!
There were a few times I actually sank into my seat and covered my mouth with my hand in that "Oh my fucking god" fashion.
Aahhhhhhh.
I. Loved. It.
I saw it. I loved it. I thought the crunching and popping noices from the "nurses" was exceptionally creepy. Congrats to the sound effects team. This movie was exactly how horror should look (and sound). By the by, did you get to see the remake of the OMEN coming out 6-6-06? Julia Stiles? I am not opposed to remakes, but I will have to wait and see about this one.
I should have stayed home and just read a good book.
I saw about half of the Omen trailer and then there were echnical problems...I couldn't really judge it, but it's not something I was looking forwward to anyway.
I agree- that bone-popping sound was fantastic, in sort of nauseating way.
Sorry you didn't dig it Chadwick, but I had a sneaking suspicion you wouldn't.
This movie is far from flawless, beyond question. There are times when the script and acting are dodgy, and it's really long. I think it became a case of trying to cram as much as possible into one film, and so certain aspects came up short.
There was definitely alot of...err, 'shout-outs' to fans of the game. I noticed many instances where elements were lifted almost directly from the games.
I can't look at the movie from the perspective of someone who's never played, obviously, but I've read many reviews an comments and opinions are sharply divided amongst BOTH players and non-players. Jae, for example, liked it and hasn't played the games. I think, wuite simply, you dug it or you didn't. There doesn't seem to be much of a middle ground.
I like a movie about crazy religious cults, though, that's for sure.
And the whole barbed-wire revenge sequence was pretty fucking amazing, I thought, although that church organ cue made me laugh.
Poor Cybill. I liked her...and I thought for sure they were going to bring her back as a monster.
Oh man...and I loved the demon children things that attacked Rose when she first got to Silent Hill. Loved that part.
I enjoyed being able to have dorky little "a-ha!" moments about moments like that one after the movie was over and everything was put in perspective...all the characters "made sense". A world created by pain...
I saw it, and I didn't think it was all that great. My review is shit, but you can read it here. I just thought it could've been something much, much better.
And did anyone else see the megatones of lesbianism in the film? The whole thing could be seen as an anti-homosexual allegory, I think. Wife goes against husband's wishes to help daughter, getting closer to a non-male family dynamic. Lesbo biker cop in leather gets burned at the stake as a witch. Mostly females in the movie, all set for eternal damnation.
Huh? Am I alone here?
"And did anyone else see the megatones of lesbianism in the film?"
Ha. I think you might be stretching it a little bit, although the Cybill burned at the stake-thing could be read that way. Hmm. I didn't feel it was anti-woman... I liked the fact that the major roles were all women for a change, and they weren't all good or all bad. Strong mothers, weak mothers...and Cybill, a woman as strong protector who takes on the bad guys unafraid.
Although there was one point, I think at the hotel...when Rose and Cybill were about to charge in somewhere...Rose said something to Cybill and I thought..."They should totally start making out!" :P
I don't know...the acting was clunky in parts but overall I didn't see it as badly as alot of other people did. Same thing goes for the dialogue- there were some real goose eggs, but...
Anyway. Folks could keep going back and forth over this forever. I liked the story- I LOVE the idea of a demonic world created out of hate and pain and a need for revenge. While I hate hand-holding, I think everyone would've been completely clueless had they not explained things forthrightly- that said, the narration over the flashback sequences was superfluous. The visuals and dialogue in the shots would have sufficed.
I thought it was beautiful and unabashedly R-rated...gory without being explicit...and really good without being perfect.
And I loved the Carrie-esque revenge sequence.
Long time listener, first time caller.
I liked the horror aspect of it, the visuals were cool, I really liked Pyramid head, when he tore that girl in half was hard core. But I couldn't stand the main bad lady. Burn this burn that. No depth. It was just way too easy of a character. Too obvious the self-righteous person is really the evil person.
Welcome, anonymous!
I see what you're saying about the Christabella character. Never for a second did I think she'd be the good guy (although I was surprised that Dahlia ended up being so...neutered, I guess. Just sort of pathetic.), and maybe that's a bit stereotypical.
What I did like about Christabella was the fact that she wasn't just an evil cuckoo religious nutso, but that she was so power-mad in her self-righteousness that she convinced everyone that the apocalypse had already come and there was no one else left...and only she could keep them safe.
I thought for sure that the townspeople would turn against her when Rose revealed all that info, but I'm glad they all stayed right in line- and in a sense, she WAS keeping them safe, although she was only stalling the inevitable.
I went to see it today and I for one was glad of the explaination since I didn't have a clue as to what was going on.
It didn't take anything away by not knowing what was going on but it helped to know all of that by the end of the movie. If the explaination hadn't been there then it would have just been a wtf moment to me.
No I have never played any of the games but watching the movie will motivate me to try and get them on the game system I have.
I still don't get some of the things but that is alright. I will end up watching it again and maybe I will pick up some things I missed. Yes I loved it enough to want to see it again and again.
So good. I can't wait to see it again!
I am looking forward to the DVD so I can buy it!
I heard they're working on a fifth game, which will be nice too.
I loved the part where the guy ripped the girl's skin off and flung it at the church door. That alone was worth the price of admission. It was kind of a shame that Hellraiser meets Carrie had to end the film and not Pyramid Head and his extras from the Mummy series (good call, Chadwick). Ah well. They'll undoubtedly make a couple more sequels.
Heather: For the most part, the movie's storyline/plot was culled from the first and third games (3 is a true sequel to the first game), and I find that the storyline of the games makes less sense than the film.
In the games, Dahlia leads the church cult, which attempts to resurrect a demon, Sammael, through Alessa. When only half of the demon manifests itself, they burn her and keep her barely alive in the hospital. Alessa clones the good part of herself and produces an infant, Cheryl, whom the game's protagonist finds in the road as an infant. It's all pretty confusing, and I much preferred the movie's plot- Alessa wasn't a demon, but the demon came to her in her time of weakness, attracted by her rage.
Silent Hill 2 is a stand-alone story wherein various characters are "called" to Silent Hill, as the town acts as a type of Hell for each of them, making them pay for their sins.
Silent Hill 4 (my least favorite of the series) takes place mostly in a man's apartment...he discovers a portal to Silent Hill in his bathroom, and he must try to stop a serial killer who is trying to use Silent Hill's power to carry out his deeds.
If you haven't played any of the games, I'd suggest SH2. It's scary and the plot is fairly linear. 2 and 3 are my favorites...the first game is really good too, but as a game made for PS One the graphics are pretty subpar compared to later additions.
Brennon- I think most people (myself included) wanted more Pyramid Head, and I was very surprised he didn't make an appearance at the Church clusterfuck. But that scene on the steps...holy shit. It was so terrifying and visceral- I'm surprised it made it passed the sensors. I really liked the barbed wire Carrie party, though- it was soooo over the top and BIG and insane. And the bed-floating thing was pulled right from SH2, so that made me smile, too.
Pure madness.
Ahh I see, thanks for explaining that a little. Between you and another friend of mine I managed to figure out everything I think. Even so I want to go to see it again on the big screen.
Movie news is saying in made $20.2 million on opening weekend. I didn't hear how much it took to make it so hoping it made a lot of money and will make even more. I added my $6, well $10 if I include the stupid coke I bought once inside.
Christabela was ridiculous at times, but you have to admit Alice Krige did a fine job with what she was given. Same with Radha Mitchell. And Butch Cop was *hawt* omg :-) Total lesbianism there, but I didn't really see anti-woman. Gucci the cop was so weak, come on, but the little girl had such unsettling, uncanny mannerisms... All in all, the movie was worth it for all the "descending darkness" scenes--something really physically terrifying about the red cracks covering everthing...
I just saw it today, Wow! I have to say I loved it. While it is far from my favorite film, I enjoyed it very much. My real problems were a couple of lines of cheesy writing. I am so happy to go to a theater, sit down and not be disappointed. I really love the fact they did not give it the happy, sappy reunion ending where everybody lives happily ever after.
Yeah, I gotta see this one again.
I think the actors did the best they could with the script, and it wasn't so much the acting as it was the dialogue. Ah, well.
The husband/cop side story was pretty weak, but I suppose it was necessary for the audience to get the whole parallel-world thing. You KNOW people would be saying "Why didn't they just go GET HER?" if it wasn't shown that SH is a completely separate dimension at times.
I was really bummed when Cybil got the Kenny Rogers Roasters treatment.
Hawt and hot.
From what I've heard the husband/cop side plot was added because the studio wouldn't approve a script with no men in it. I thought it worked to show the different levels to SH though and I liked the end which they couldn't really have pulled off as well without the husband. Maybe they could have just spend less time on them.
I also heard the movie was much longer so I'm hoping for lots more scenes in the DVD. Maybe even more Pyramid Head!
Even LONGER?! I can't wait for the DVD with all the extras...I'm really hoping for deleted scenes!
*nerdgasm*
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