Modern Days, Modern Ways

So, if you learned one thing this month it's that I really love horror movies!  Something that I don't love too much are modern day horror movies, but occasionally there are a diamonds in the rough.  Walk with me? (Are we going to walk through this blog post? No.  But I've always wanted to say that.)
Here are horror films that I've enjoyed  since the year 2000.
The Others (2001): Horror got its roots from the gothic and this film just oozes with the gothic.
28 Days Later (2002): This is not the Sandra Bullock movie!  Stunningly scary.
The Ring (2002): I still have to ask myself if I want to watch the ending without my hands over my eyes.
Saw (2004): Jigsaw gives his victims choices.  Now that's just insane, but it works.
Wolf Creek (2004): If you ever want to call it predictable, its many twists and turns won't allow you to do that.
Hostel (2005): I never knew how squeamish I was until  I watched Hostel.
Paranormal Activity (2007): Slow and steady wins the race.
The House of the Devil (2009): A nice helping of 80s horror, and a dash of Rosemary's Baby equals perfection.
The Last Exorcism (2010): You'll be asking lots of questions and I mean that in the best way possible.
Let Me In (2010): Very beautiful.  Is that odd?  Watch it and tell me differently.
Insidious (2011): Absolutely terrifying. Absurd plot, but oh man does it work! Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" is the scariest song ever!

Remakes and Legacies

Remakes are plain and simple, more often than not they should never be done! 
By Legacies I mean sequels,prequels,trilogies,etc.
Halloween Legacy
The first one came out in 1978 and it is still the best.  It can still induce some goosebumps.  Part 2? I can't stand it.  I'll admit I kind of like where it picks up for a bit, but after that I want to rip out my eyes.  My brother on the otherhand likes it, so you have two perspectives now.  Part 3? What the hell was that?! Amen if you've never been able to finish it!  Part 4?  Kind of cheesy but it breathes new life into this legacy.  Part 5? Still better than 2 but just not that great.  Everything else?  Please, make it stop!!
Halloween Remakes
I've only seen the first of Rob Zombie's rendition and I'm not really a fan.  I respect the fact that Zombie really wanted to get into the mind of the famed serial killer (who wouldn't).  However, the film lacks the spark of the originals.  It almost felt like I was watching two very different films with the first half and the second half of the movie, and that's not something I like here.  But hey, I know a lot of people that do like the film, so just watch it and get your own opinion of it.
Friday the 13th Legacy
I really like the first part because I understand the motives of the killer and it's really creepy.  The second part I like because it's our first taste of Jason as a killer.  The rest? Should never have happened.
Friday the 13th Remake
Jason runs?  Yeah, I don't think so!!
A Nightmare on Elm Street Legacy
I only love the first one! But I do like Wes Craven's New Nightmare (what part is that exactly? I lost count).  New Nightmare is fresh compared to all of the other sequels.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Remake
Why did you have to do this Jackie Earle Haley?! You're such a gifted actor!  I was initially excited when I learned that you were the one going to take the spot of Freddy, but...I don't even want to talk about it.
Scream Legacy
I love you Wes Craven! I don't like the third film, but all is forgiven.  I love the others, I mean that! They don't make me cringe in any way.  Might I love Scream 2 over Scream?  I have this debate with myself all time! Still not sure.
Dawn of the Dead Remake
I love this film! I know many fans will tell you otherwise but the zombies run! They run, like I always knew they should! 
Saw Legacy
Wow! I just wish you didn't keep turning out films.  The first 2 films are impeccable, the rest? You don't really need them but maybe you'll get sucked in.  All I have to say is that when this film first came out, it was breathing new life into the serial killer horror genre.
Paranormal Activity Legacy
I don't know...this might just be turning into a Scream thing.  I love Scream and I don't feel that all the sequels have shamed it.  PA was excellent, just the right amount of scary. PA 2 was also good.  PA 3 was unbelievable.  If you want an intense amount of chills you should definitely be watching this one! It might just be the best thus far.
I'll stop here.  Obviously there are others, but I just don't have that kind of time.

The Kevin McCallister Syndrome

Hello Squirrels and any other creature you might find yourself to be, 

As a way of getting to know me, I thought I’d let you know that I care for the well-being of society.  Whenever I can I try to inform those dearest to me about life threatening diseases, so I welcome you with open arms today.  I warn you to please brace yourself for the Kevin McCallister Syndrome.

 The disease gets its name from Home Alone, when the film’s young protagonist, the Kevin McCallister, decides to take war on a pair of “wet bandits” trying to rob his home.  When Kevin makes his life threatening decision he utters the most chilling words from an 11 year old, platinum blond, pouty lipped male ever!  “This is my home, I have to defend it!”  Dun, dun, dun!  No just kidding, it’s not a horror movie.  But speaking of the genre, most of its characters seem to suffer KMS.  You know what I mean if you have ever yelled, “What the heck are you doing?  Stay with the group you numnut!,” whenever someone wants to investigate or be a hero.

If you haven’t caught on you might be in danger.  KMS occurs with a simple lapse in judgement.  One who suffers KMS is one that is already in danger in their home, but instead of running out screaming for help decides to take manners into their own hands.  It is a very risky move, that’s why it’s called  a lapse in judgment, many people have died.

Let’s take a look back at a few of those that lost their lives from KMS and those lucky ones that lived to tell the story.

Carrie (1976)/ Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie:

Carrie's mom Margaret is just your average gal.  She holds her Christian values to the highest "T", which means she must ward her house of everything evil, including her slutty, demonic, telepathic daughter.  If you have seen this movie you know that Carrie is only one of the three, but that doesn't stop Margaret, who SPOILERT ALERT, tries to kill her but meets her end with her daughter.  Oh and the house was brought down too. 

The Goonies (1985)/ Starring Sean Astin, Josh Brolin:

Alright now the actual film does not take place inside the home, but when Mikey sets forth on his adventure with his friends, he is attempting to protect his home one last time from the land buyers.  He hopes he might find treasure so he takes a map he finds in his attic and it leads them to a restaurant basement.  All I have to say is that the next time you find a dead body in a restaurant freezer you don't send the one friend who was too slow to get underground with y'all to send for help, especially when he is known for telling silly stories about the Jacksons coming over to his house.  Anyways Mikey and his friends go further underground, they find a wishing well, another dead body, and a pirate ship with more dead bodies.  Oh and treasure!  Now things turned out well for Mikey and his friends, they got to keep their homes, but they could have totally gotten killed along the way, they were held hostage, the ground could have collapsed, the cave did collapse.  I'm just saying, things get crazy when you decide to go treasure hunting underneath Olive Garden.

Fear (1996)/ Starring Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg:

Sweet, young Nicole just started dating an older guy, David with a creepy boyish voice.  Her dad Steve is totally fine with it.  Ok, he isn't, and when he finds out that he has every reason to hate him, Steve lets David know.  He threatens the kid to stay away from his 16 year old daughter, but David is totally psycho and makes everyone believe that Steve physically abused him with his self inflicted wounds.  So of course Steve tries again and wrecks havoc on David's home that he shares with a bunch of guys that you would never invite to Sunday dinner.  Steve sees no way for David to know it was him, and even if he did there is no way he could retaliate because he designed the security system on his own home (don’t we all?).  Little does Steve know that David got the code from Nicole when they were still going out and he and his friends mean business.  SPOILER ALERT: Steve makes it out alive in the end, although he and his entire family were almost killed several times.  The security guy, David and his friends, and the family dog were not so lucky.

Twelve and Holding (2005)/ Starring Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho:

"This is my tree house, I have to defend it." Ok, no one in the movie says that, but it would be really cool if they had.  This is a little indie gem about how important it is to come of age, but before any of them can do that, they have to grieve a terrible death.  Rudy, his twin brother Jacob, and their two friends Leonard and Malee have a tree house and they are also bullied by the local twelve year old hoodlums in their neighborhood.  One day when trying to defend themselves, the gang throws a bucket of urine on the bullies (because we all have one lying around), and to no one's surprise, the bullies don't like that.  They threaten to destroy the tree house so Rudy and Leonard camp out inside the house that night in order to defend it, but tragedy strikes when the boys fall asleep and the bullies throw a bottle of fire up on the assumption that nobody was inside.  THIS IS NOT A SPOILER ALERT BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE STORY BEGINS.  Leonard lives and Rudy sadly never makes it out alive.  On a sidenote the film also stars the late great independent film star Jeremy Renner.  Renner isn't dead but after years of neglect from Hollywood he is finally getting the attention he deserves, but the chances of him ever doing an independent film again are slim to none.

Paranormal Activity (2007)/ Starring Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat:

Micah and his Lauren Conrad eyed girlfriend, Katie have been experiencing some unusual activity in their home.  Like any normal person would, Micah gets down to the bottom of it and decides to film the whole thing from their bedroom.  Several days, and an attempted Ouija board game later he finds out that there is indeed a paranormal presence in their home.  But he kind of doesn't do anything because it is totally starting to grow on Katie who likes to watch her boyfriend standing up for several hours while he sleeps (nothing weird about that).  Everything turns out well in the end even though it is entirely creepy oh and SPOILER ALERT, Micah totally gets his limp body thrown to the camera by Katie the same way that LC would have done it to Spencer Pratt had she the crazy, demon strength.

Home Alone (1990)/ Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci:

I can't make a list about KMS without including the originator.  I won't bother with the spoiler reminder because they made a sequel and it is just as awesome.  I do warn however that just because you seen Kevin succeed does not mean you should try to booby-trap your own home.  Real burglars are not as stupid in real life, well maybe they are, but that doesn’t mean you should test their patience.

By Nichole