Vampire in Vegas (2009)

October Challenge Day 11:

I'm back from a trip to Vegas and to decompress from spending days in one of the most insane places I've ever been to, I decided to give this one a whirl. 

Oh lordy. Prepare yourself for:

Vampire in Vegas:

This film felt like my morning after staying at the casino bar until 3:00 AM. Anyone who's hung out at a Vegas bar until 3:00 AM knows what I'm talking about and it's not pretty. Pretty great stories! But not pretty.

This is a terrible film, which made me sad for a minute but then my brain went to that same place it went to after staying at the casino bar until 3:00 AM - and that place is drinking a huge glass of Miller Lite at the Dunkin' Donuts at 10:00 AM. 

Again, it's not pretty - but it has its stories!

Here we have a vampire who wants to get back into the sunlight and take over the world. Starting with Vegas and unsuspecting tourists who became a part of his scientific experiment. 

It's [slowly drags my hands down my face] is a Terrible film, but it has tits. So Many Tiddies! It's almost like this film didn't know what to do, form a coherent plot, or film it properly, so they just threw some breasts in and - admittedly - it actually helped. 

While in Vegas my friends and I got super glammed up before heading out for the evening and the inspirational quote for the night was "Tits Out! Masks On!" We Were All About Our Magical Breasts. And like the film, we even went to a speakeasy and all jumped when the little sliding peek door was shot open so we could say our password. 

So I'm actually going to tip my hat to this film, and it's "Tits Out! Plot Gone!" mantra, because, in the end, who doesn't love a great rack and a day drinking kind of movie. 

I watched this film on Peacock, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can catch this pool side day drunk film. 

PS: In celebration of tiddies and Vegas. Here's your girl in a speakeasy bathroom as my friends and I were starting out on a very adventurous Friday night on Fremont St:

Tits out! Masks On!

Saint Maud (2019)

October Challenge Day 10:

OMG. This film, folks. 

Do not listen to this woman, she is not a saint. Stay far, far, far away from:

Saint Maud

There's a very particular horror that surrounds very real situations. In this case, mental illness. Here we have a very young nurse, Maud, who is tasked with end of life care for a real and raw woman who wants nothing to do with religion. Maud, on the other hand, has other plans. She is going to *save* the soul of this dying woman

All hell breaks loose. 

This film exudes the smell of rot, mold, decay, and salt water. Dingy surroundings, small town drama, and the dying world of a once celebrated woman crawls across your skin like a thick salve. This salve suffocates though, instead of healing. 

I have a behavioral science degree - work in the field of health science - I rather enjoy arm chair diagnosing people on the TV for fun. This one screamed schizophrenia so loudly I was beginning to question my own reality. 

Again, there is a very particular horror that surrounds very real situations. While this is a horror film, it could also be a headline pulled from any town in the world. And that's f*cking scary.

I absolutely agree with some of the reviews calling this film mesmerizing. It most certainly is! Horrifyingly so! While captivating, this film is a slow burn and I know some horror fans will not have the patience to see the bitter end. Keep that in mind. 

In all, I loved this film. Loved this horrifying beauty. Best watched either alone or with one or two people. Keep quiet, and keep an eye on Maud. Pairs with soups.

I watched this film on Paramount+, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this soul sucker. 

Falling for You (1995)

October Challenge Day 9: 

I am a sucker for made-for-TV thriller/horror films, particularly ones from the '90s. I was in my teens then and ATE THIS SH*T UP! I'm still eating. Sometimes too much.

This one, while finally watching it now, is no exception. Let me introduce you to the classic, and my kind of murder trash:

Falling For You

While I'll listen to murder podcasts all day - spicing things up sometimes with a little Snapped or Unsolved Mysteries, I also truly enjoy these stories in made-for-TV version. Don't ask why, just let me lounge in my PJs with my cheese plate and give me the Lifetime Movies!!!!

Here we have a young woman living her best life when she encounters a douche canoe who sweeps her off her feet despite his first words being "I know all about you, I can just tell". Okay those weren't the exact words but, speaking from experience, when a dude comes up to me and starts telling me all the things he *knows* about me, by just looking at me, I just walk away.  Gurrrlll, you should have walked away. 

While a thriller it's also adorably predicable and that's just the way I like'em. Serial killer is on the loose, woman fresh out of a relationship falls for a sketchy man, there's a bunch of who-dun-its, and a survivor who turns the tables. Cheese and cracker crumbs are already falling on my lazy ass chest just talking about.

Obviously not for every horror fan but those who know, know what I'm talking about here. 

Best watched in small group of your favorite friends who love to spill the tea and live in their PJs. Pairs with bottomless mimosas and nothing to do for the rest of the day. 

I watched this film on Peacock, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this soothing slave of sultryness. 

Alleluia (2014)

October Challenge Day 8: 

When I started this film, which has been on my To-Watch list for many years, I wasn't sure what to expect or what the film was even remotely about - but I certainly wasn't expecting to get sucked down the rabbit hole that is the real life murderous couple: Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck.

But I'm skipping ahead a bit - let me introduce you to the horrifying and harrowing: 

Alleluia

This film kicks off in a cold, lonely morgue, with a sad, cold, and lonely woman preparing a body for burial. Life is mundane, even as a single parent, until a friend introduces our tormented Gloria, to online dating. 

... and this is when SH*T BEGINS TO HIT THE FAN!

Folks, this film is a nightmare view into 100% - no question - absolutely - soul crushing look into a wild and dangerous world of an outrageously unhealthy relationship. 

This is when I flew down the rabbit hole, because I couldn't believe this could possibly be based on actual events - or that a "romance" like this one could have possibly existed. Well, the madness is true and not only that, there were four films, including this one, made about this couple - this just happens to be the most recent one. 

And it's great! This film is beautiful! Horrifyingly beautiful! A slow but calculated walk into the rotting stench of obsessive madness and mental illness. 

Like I said, it's beautiful but horrifying and - well - disgusting. It's well worth a look, even if you've seen the other three films (I haven't yet but they are also now on my To-Watch list). If you're familiar with Fabrice du Welz's work, particularly with the mind crushing works such as Vinyan and Calvaire, then you have a good idea of what you're getting involved with, with this feature. 

Probably best watched alone. Not Recommended for first dates with someone you swiped right with... Pairs with farm to table food, Italian wine, and practical clothes. 

I watched this film on Kanopy or use Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can find this extremely distressing Belgian feature. 

The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

October Challenge Day 7:

Folks, I love love love love love these Japanese swinging '60s creature features!!! 

The War of the Gargantuas

Be still my heart.

I'm getting ready for a trip to Vegas with some of my best ladies, and this film is perfect for background packing. Of course not a whole lot of packing is happening as soon as these monsters are loose in the city. 

Here we have a lab grown monster that scientists affectionally call: Frankenstein. He's sweet, cute, and little. But then they think he died for some reason and everyone forgets about him *until* he's somehow alive, grows enormous, comes out of the sea, and battles a giant sea creature. 

The plot thickens though, when a mutated evil double version of Frankenstein is found living in the mountains. They battle it out across Japan like sibling children. It's epic. It's wonderful.

That's about I can share about this film - and about all I have time to write about because I'm heading off!

Best watched anytime, with anyone. Just have fun!

I watched this film on HBO, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this monster smash feature.