The Bray Road Beast (2018)

October Challenge Day 6

Happy Harvest Moon!!

In celebration, I dove into a collection of werewolf films, recently. I'm picking this one to post a review about, for a couple of reasons. 

But first! Please do not mistake this one for The Beast of Bray Road (2005). I talked about that one already and and still find it hilariously entertaining. There also appears to be a new film, released recently, as a horror comedy.  

No, I want to talk about this one:

The Bray Road Beast

This is a documentary! It's the story of how the beast rather became a legend - how the flames of rumor and evidence stoked publications and made locals take a second look over their shoulder.

As a werewolf story fan I can't turn any away from any of them, even the cringe ones, which makes this one refreshing because it's just a respectfully made look into the lore. 

I'm a believer that people really saw *something*. It's hard to wrap my mind around creatures such as these actually existing but you know, there's some strange ass shit out there. 

So if you're settling into a chill evening and not in the mood for a slasher or haunted house, check this one out. 

And or alternatively, some other werewolf films I've seen recently:

Werewolves (2024): a nice go at recreating the practical effects of Dog Soldiers (which I LOVE), but overall a meh from me. This story follows a disease outbreak where people, on one night of the year, turn into werewolves if they are in the moonlight. So hunker down or get slaughtered. BUT, there are scientists out there frighting for the cure and from the devil hounds.

Again, a win for me for the effects. The rest .... entertaining.

Scream of the Wolf (1974): This is for all those who are looking to settle into some classic '70s made-for-TV delicious trash. Do not expect to see transformations or bloody conflict. Do expect to smell the cigarette smoke and polyester from your screen. 

Werewolf of London (1935): This one is fun!! With some very hilarious moments, which I shared on my TikTok. Cute, quirky, classic, this is a perfect film for the non-Very scary fans and recommended for a crisp night in. The story follows a scientist who scienced too much and ended up turning himself into a werewolf. 

I watched these films through various platforms. Use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else can find all these howling good time features. 

Dog Soldiers (2002)

This movie, Dog Soldiers, is one of my all time favorites.

FAVORITES!

I could just eat it up I love it so much!

I first saw the film in a small community theater, shortly after the film's initial release. I saw it with my brother, Matt, on a dark and rather nasty night (much like tonight). The movie was his idea. We have a bit of a werewolf "joke" in our family. And by "joke" I mean we laugh at them because we are totally and completely terrified of them.

Even as kids, traveling down rural South Dakota highways, if we saw an abandoned house or shack along side the road, one of us would state: "werewolf shack", just as matter-of-factly as one would state, "bathroom is down the hall and to the right".

Because, naturally, abandoned places is where werewolves lived. We didn't stay away from scary buildings because of ghost stories - it was because of werewolves.

I have no idea where this came from but it's still ingrained in my head. If I should seemingly randomly shout out "werewolf shack" while on road trips, now you know why.

Years ago I was on a train, coming back from Portland, OR. There was a young man sitting next to me - perhaps 10-15 years younger than me. The train passed a classic "werewolf shack" and I instinctively tapped the kid on the shoulder, pointed out the building, and said "werewolf shack".

I suspect to this day, he still wonders what in the world a 'werewolf shack' is. Google will never answer his questions, and I will always be that weird lady on the train.

Okay, back to the movie!

So there I was in the theater, jaw dropped - HORRIFIED. I've never been so scared in a movie theater - except that time I saw Gremlins as a very very young child - but then, otherwise, never.

These were the scariest werewolves I've ever seen. After the film, I had to have my brother wait with me at the bus stop to be my witness and back-up when the werewolves were going to bust out of the bus windows and attack us (which I was Certain was going to happen). I was 24 years old. Yup. This movie got me pretty good.

Ever since, this movie is my good-to for some awesome horror.

Dog Soldiers is scary, dark, humorous, gory, fun, thrilling, silly, well done, and, in my opinion, a classic.

I love this movie - every single time I watch it I see and hear something new. And I was so happy to introduce my husband to this personal favorite tonight. Even though I've seen the film before, many times, he hadn't seen it once, and I'm happy to announce that he really enjoyed it. He was On The Edge Of His Seat, people!

This is a great film for action horror fans, those who don't mind a little gore with their laughter, and anyone looking for a good, scary, horror film.

I absolutely love this movie.  LOVE IT.

Should you ever ask me what my top 10 horror movies are - this one is absolutely at the top of the list.

I. Love. This Film.

Boo (2005)

Good evening, horror movie fans... [insert evil laugh].

Tonight's spooky tale is brought to us from the producers of Dog Soldiers. I love Dog Soldiers, I believe it is one of the best werewolf films ever made, period. I rented this movie because it had the words Dog Soldiers on the cover.

Speaking of a cover, unfortunately the DVD cover of this film is absurdly spooky. I've found that when movies have absurdly spooky covers, the cover is the spookiest element of the movie.

But I'm holding out hope for this one though (see also: Dog Soldiers), even though the tagline says: "You don't have a ghost of a chance" [groan].

So apparently in this film a bunch of kids break into an abandoned hospital on Halloween night. I have yet to see where, in a horror movie, this ever turns out good for anyone. But we'll see what happens tonight in, Boo.

Tonight's movie pairing: left overs. See you all after the show!

Update:

And the movie was not that bad. There were scenes that gave me the creeps, and there is one scene in particular that I'll likely have nightmares about (and I suspect the producers of Dog Soldiers came up with it).

Very gruesome. Very.
.
Of course there were the stock characters:

The blonde ingenue
The dark haired temptress
The dirt bag boyfriend
The nice guy
The comedian

But I didn't expect Dynamite Jones. My favorite character in the film. In the film this character, a retired 1970's movie star turned cop, apparently starred in the following (fake) movies:

• Meet Dynamite Jones
• Dynamite Ignited
• Dynamite Jones vs. The Dope Pope
• Dynamite Jones vs Count Pimpula
• Dynamite Jones vs Fankenfro

This character made the film very entertaining. I didn't see enough of him.

Story line was alright, but I just kept seeing a mix between Scream, The Thing (1982), and Cabin Fever. Watch with friends who have a strong stomach, and wait at least 45 minutes after eating before watching.

The Incubus (1982)

I pulled the latest Maxim magazine out of my bag and my husband said "I don't know what part of this magazine is so compelling that you chose to bring it into our home..." He's right, the only reason this magazine would even make it past the entry hallway is due to some life altering item therein.

I attended a birthday party last night, mentioned that I'm blogging about horror movies, and the birthday girl quickly handed over this magazine. Besides a half naked woman, on the cover was "66 Best Horror Flicks You've Never Seen".

HAHAhA. Bah humbug. I've seen them all, I said to her. To my shock, there were several movies listed that I've never seen. Additionally, I counted only 34 movies in their list. 63 if you count the movies that horror movie directors (Maxim interviewed) liked and were inspired by. Either Maxim has a math problem or we've  fallen pray to an advertising gimmick. My vote is: Math Problem.

Movies on this list that I've seen and highly recommend:

(1) The Innocents: hands down, one of the best ghost stories ever. The movie is from 1961, and is based on a 1898 novella by Henry James titled "The Turn Of The Screw". I read the story after watching the movie. Both are works of art in character development, scenery, and suspense. Either you read the story or watch the movie - know they will be time well spent. Highly recommended.

(2): Dog Soldiers: I do not have enough wonderful things to say about this movie. After watching this film is the only time I've walked out of the theater and was honest-to-god-scared to be by myself. I made my brother walk me to the bus stop and I still was convinced that a werewolf would bust through the window and tear me to shreds. Fantastic film, with a hint of dark humor, and a whole lotta screams.

(3) Black Christmas: I began this film with the attitude that it would be yet another piece of trashy art, and I love trashy, campy art. Especially if it's from 1974. No, this was not heart warming trash, this work was a piece of bone chilling gold. Women in college doing their own thing, having [gasp] their own opinions - apparently the killer in this film did not like it. A thesis could be written about this piece and I've considered doing it.


(4) High Tension, and Martyrs: Why! Why must the French make movies portraying the most screwed up people!?! I recommend keeping plenty of water around when watching these films, you'll want to feel clean. Gore, Gore, Gore. Horrible people doing horrible things in such a clever way. Watch these and I suspect you'll walk away not looking at the world in the same way.

(5) The Pit: Yes. Yes please. More "The Pit" - a  feel good family flick. Not really. This is any family's real life adventure with demons in the backyard if we all grew up with demons in the backyard. Delightful. If you're new to horror movies, start here. If horror movies are old hat and you've not see this movie: What Is Wrong With You? Watch it. Watch it now.

Okay - there be my reviews of Maxim's list. I'll watch their other suggested movies in the not-to-distant future. But now on to today's movie:

The mystery movie that the Rain City Video employee would not let me see the back cover of: The Incubus. Tonight's movie pairing: Beer and Pizza

Update:

The beginning of this film was a fine demonstration on how to not build strong, healthy, stable relationships. As the film continued the feminist in me was laughing uncontrollably - to the point of not breathing. And then the feminist in me died of asphyxiation. There was a great deal of focus on the female reproductive system, an uncomfortable, and Todd Akin-logic amount of focus.

Also, one scene has a reference to the Rocky Horror Picture Show - fans, you are welcome to cry here. I did.

I felt compelled to get a little political on this one because of the comical amount time this movie spent on the reproductive systems of both men and women, which I find parallel today's political environment  Although, I really shouldn't be surprised, considering the title of the movie is The Incubus, it was made in 1982, and perfect timing can be hilarious. If you don't know what an Incubus is then Wikipedia has some entertaining information for you. If you don't know what 1982 is then, well...I just don't know what to say.

Good film to watch with beer, pizza, friends, and plenty of distractions. My husband was a fantastic Mystery Science Theater 3000 contributor to this movie.