1. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR-1979
To be honest, this isn’t a great movie and not even a good one. Hell, I wasn’t even scared watching it so that says something. This is, supposedly, based on the true story about this home where murders had taken place there and, a few years later, a family move in only to deal with some nasty ghosties. This film stars James Brolin as the head of the household who doesn’t know what to think when all these strange things start happening. Now, if I went to a home where I heard “Get Out”, blood driping from walls etc..., watch that door hit me in the ass as I run away. I can’t recall if blood dripping happened in this movie and I don’t care.
2.THE CHANGELING-1980
This film stars George C. Scott as a writer who rents a home so he can start writing his next book. He has no idea that this house is one mean and ugly home that wants to do some damage. He starts to investigate about the history of the home and we know a sickly kid died there which is why that old wheelchair is ominous. This was a Canadian film that is still considered one of the more famous films we have done and I remember being quite scared but I would like to see it again. I have heard many say it is not that great but I want to make my own decision. I was impressed many, many years ago...which doesn’t mean much. By the way, it is based on the writer, Russell Hunter, who rented out the Henry Treat Rogers mansion back in the 1960s and he stated these experiences happened to him.
3. THE ENTITY-1983
This film freaked me out and is quite a chilling movie with a great performance by Barbara Hershey as the young mother who is abused and routinely raped by an unseen enemy. The doctors and other scientists believe she is having some incestual affair with her son and basically lost a few nuts and bolts, but when her boyfriend witnesses an attack and leaves( because he has no balls), the scientists decide to try and catch this entity on camera. They don’t expect to see anything but ..they are wrong. This is based on the Doris Bither case from 1974 who was not a reliable gal but it still created enough of a stir for this film to be made and it is one unsettling film.
Which film would you choose?
The Changeling was a creepy film. I didn't know it was based on real events though.
ReplyDeleteThat Amityville Horror is laughable now. Watch the remake with Ryan Reynolds. Much better version.
I actually like the original Amity film over the remake because the remake took itself so serious.
DeleteHi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteSadly we can add pop/reggae singer Johnny "I Can See Clearly Now" Nash to your list, and don't forget Helen Reddy.
Based on the trailer, I agree that The Amityville Horror seems tame and lame. Halfway through it occurred to me that they stole the music from the shower stabbing scene in Psycho. The trailer for The Changeling is also more funny than frightening. The voiceover for The Entity also fails to rattle me. These three trailers of films released in the late 70s and early 80s demonstrate how far horror has come since then. Things that used to scare audiences make modern audiences laugh or yawn. I don't think I ever sat through any of these films. However I like Geo. C. Scott and love Barbara Hershey and their pictures would be the ones I'd pick. I just now watched a couple of scenes from The Entity. Seems like Barbara is doing the Linda Blair thing. I wonder what possessed her. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyIwvnNtVGk
Thanks for the creepy entertainment, dear friend BB!
The Entity is one scary film and one they have no idea what was fixated on this person. This is the one to see first and the The Changeling. Yeah, I love these TV spots because they are campy and bring back fond memories.
DeleteI saw the theme and my mind was racing. So, All the President's Men, The Post, and Spotlight. I don't think I have seen any of your choices but like the spooky Halloween theme.
ReplyDeleteSo, horror films. Was I supposed to know that before I put my brain in gear???
DeleteHahahaaa...yup..horror films based on true stories. Mind you, the last one you chose is horrific so I would say it applies.
DeleteAll too spooky for me. But I can actually think of a few films this week. Now that is unusual!
ReplyDeleteNow I am curious as to which ones.
DeleteWe sort of matched on Amityville, I just chose the remake. The Entity is a huge nope for me. lol
ReplyDeleteWe do kind of match. Why is the Entity a huge No? It’s actually quite good.
DeleteNot surprised that Amityville Horror is popping up on a lot of lists this week!
ReplyDeleteIt is the film to pick for sure.
DeleteThe loss of so many talented people fits right into the wreckage this year has been! Though I have to say with Eddie Van Halen he was somewhere between a three and four day a pack smoker for decades so as tragic as it indeed is I can't say it's a surprise.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about Amityville being sort of lame but I liked it well enough when I saw it in the theatre to go out and buy the book. Haven't bothered with the remake.
I'd forgotten entirely about The Changeling! LOVE George C. Scott but he's been in far better films.
I have to say I'm honestly shocked that we have a match this week with The Entity! I thought for sure no one else had seen it! Again I'm a big Barbara Hershey fan and she commits to her role but the film was only passable. Did you know her role was offered to Jane Fonda, Jill Clayburgh, Sally Field and Bette Midler first?! All declined.....unsurprisingly. At the time this was made they were the queens of the box office so I can't see any saying "Oh a horror movie would look great on my sheet at the moment!" :-)
I struggled (that will be a recurring theme for me this month) but finally did come up with three that I at least found tolerable.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)-Plot: An attorney (Laura Linney) defends a priest (Tom Wilkinson) accused of negligent homicide after an exorcism.
Basis: Anneliese Michel died after being subjected to an exorcism. She was found to have been malnourished and dehydrated. Her parents and the responsible priests were charged with negligent homicide and sentenced to three years' probation. Her epilepsy was likely the real culprit.
The Mothman Prophecies (2002)-Plot: A man (Richard Gere) investigates the Mothman, a strange red-eyed creature that appears to signify impending disasters.
Basis: Journalist John Keel wrote The Mothman Prophecies after investigating hundreds of reports of sightings and other strange phenomena in Point Pleasant, West Virginia during the late 1960s.
The Entity (1982)-Plot: A woman (Barbara Hershey) is tormented and sexually molested by an invisible demon.
Basis: In 1974 Doris Bither claimed to have been repeatedly sexually assaulted by an invisible entity leading to her being observed by doctoral students at the University of California, Los Angeles.
I am surprised that we match because I also thought I was the only person to have seen this little known film. I almost went with The Mothman Prophecies which I though was quite creepy. The Exorcism Of Emily Rose...was there not an earlier film about this, an I don’t mean The Exorcist. I did read about this poor German girl and it was a crime what had happened to her.
DeleteI'm not old enough, or maybe young enough, to watch scary movies. Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a pain free day.
Hahahaaa...I love your answer! Full of pain but I had a great Thanksgiving dinner with hubby. We made a turkey and everything even though it is just the 2 of us. Today I hope to make some bookmarks.
DeleteNot a fan of horror, so haven't seen these. Around the time Amityville came out, there was a documentary about the actual events in the house. I saw that, and that freaked me out. It's way creepy. Of course, I was a kid then, so that might have contributed to the freak out factor.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw the same thing and that was scarier than the movie. I scare easily but even Amity didn’t scare me much. I just thought the people were stupid.
DeleteI never got the like for Amityville. Such a blah movie, as you say. The Entity was an interesting one from what I remember.
ReplyDeleteIt was not a great movie and I recall thinking they were quite stupid to keep staying in this house. I am shocked you saw The Entity.
DeleteThis is a genre that is a favorite of my wife's and mine. To me truth is more interesting than fiction.
ReplyDeleteI've seen your first two picks and they are good ones.
So many to choose from--too bad I can't remember many right off. But a few that pop into my mind that I've watched somewhat recently:
The Green Book (2018) which depicts a tour that black jazz musician Don Shirley did in 1962. He's been a favorite of mine since I first learned of him in the early seventies. I was surprised and very happy to see this film made.
Yankee Doodle Dandy based on the life of George M Cohan. I've seen this film several times. Love show biz films!
The Wrong Man a 1956 Hitchcock film starring Henry Fonda who stars as a jazz musician arrested for a crime he didn't commit. There is a opening prologue where Alfred Hitchcock tells about the film being based on a true story. Good stuff.
Three Came Home 1950 film based on the book of a female American author who was interred in a Japanese prison camp in Borneo during WWII. It was an engaging film made all the better by the fact it was a true story.
So many more...
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Oops! Looking at the other comments and then looking at the Wandering blog I realized that the theme was Halloween or horror films--oh well, I saw "true story" and that's what I went for.
DeleteMe too, lol!
DeleteHahahaaaaa.....I love your Picks especially, for the first 3, a theme within a theme since it involves musicians. I really like Greenbook and don’t get all the hate for this film because I doubt either actor would have made this film if they thought it was prejudicial. Besides it is a true story! Yankee Doodle is a fun musical biopic that really showcases James Cagney’s musical ability. Do you know, I still have not seen The Wrong Man!i love Three Come Home which, I think, is one of Claudette Colbert’s best film roles.
DeleteHi Birgit, I've not seen any of these films, but I'm amazed that I didn't know that Kirk Douglas has died, he's up there along with Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner for me. Kirk outlived them all, though. My Husband has just said when I asked him if he knew, yes he said that's why Spartacus has been on tv, umpteen times in the last wee while. Hope you are well, Kate x
ReplyDeleteKirk was one of the greats like Olivia De Havilland. If you would look at all the famous people who died this year you would be surprised.
DeleteI've only seen The Amityville Horror. I thought it was okay, but it's way overrated. I've been meaning to see both of those others forever. I need to get on them.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, it is way over-rated because it is not a good movie but it is campy. You must see the others.
DeleteHi Birgit - lots to think about here ... of your choice - I'd like to see the Changeling ... but hadn't realised it was based on real life. Take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteYes, it is even with that old kid’s wheelchair...that would be freaky to see.
DeleteI've not seen any of these, but I at least have heard of Amityville Horror. I did like your synopses of these, though. And of course, I'm once again late visiting.
ReplyDeleteNo worries and 8 must go over and pay a visit!
DeleteI remember reading The Amityville Horror when I was a teenager, but never saw the film. I'm not familiar with your other two picks.
ReplyDeleteMy own choices would be: Papillion, Dead Man Walking and Billy Elliot.
Pass on the film as it is campy and not that great. You chose great true story films but none are horror related but if one is in prison and deals with what Papillion was dealing with, I would say that is horrific.
DeleteWe have lost so many this year, famous and otherwise.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Spooky Movies October:)
Stay safe. Be well.
These all sound like they bring on the major creeps factor!
ReplyDelete