YOU Decide What I Review Next! - Poll 1 of 2: Film Series

It's that time again!

A long while back I made a poll allowing anyone who even casually checks out my blog to decide what series of movies I would review, either because you think I should check it out or because you'd be interested to read my views (or both). The majority of votes went for the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movies (and I do have a review for the very latest one on the way soon) and I'm not sure that everyone appreciated my decision to review every single Tobe Hooper movie on top of that. In joint second place were the "Omen" and "Child's Play" franchises which I reviewed recently. (Soon to be cross-posted from Halloween Candy.)

To stop things getting carried away this time I've decided to make very clear precisely how many movies will be reviewed in each case. There are two polls here. One for film series (with the opportunity to make up to three different selections) and one for director filmographies.

Poll 1 - Film Series - Seven choices (pick up to three).

1. Final Destination - 5 titles

Bizarrely the only one of the Final Destination films I've seen is the second one. I found it a lot of fun though and so I'm quite interested to see what the rest are like. I remember there being a lot of positive buzz for the first one when it was released, but I was convinced that I didn't like horror movies back then. (Certainly not ones where a bunch of attactive teenagers get killed off one by one.) Having seen all the Friday the 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street movies now, it feels like a good time to see what I missed.

2. Grave Encounters - 2 titles

A found footage series recommended by at least one of the hosts of Horror Etc. Just two titles and from what I can see, it looks a bit like the REC series (which I love).

3. Halloween - 10 titles

I've seen just the first Halloween movie from John Carpenter so far. The plan is to review every single Halloween movie. So on top of the original that I've already seen, that's all seven original sequels and the two Rob Zombie reboot movies.

4. Phantasm - 4 titles

Don Coscarelli (director of Bubba Ho-Tep) directed all four of these films and while I was a bit iffy on the first one, I hear that the budget becomes a bit more reasonable for the sequels. A combination of sci-fi and horror, so I'm pretty keen to see what this involves. The first Phantasm movie was nothing if not inventive and original.

5. Psycho - 4 titles

Hitchcock's "Psycho" was my second favourite when I reviewed the last 20 movies of Hitchcock's career. "Psycho II" initially sounded utterly ridiculous, but what makes me take a second look is the realisation that Anthony Perkins (from the original Hitchcock movie) continues to play the role of Norman Bates in all four films. There are three sequels in all and I can assure you that there's no way I'm watching the shot-for-shot remake with Vince Vaughn.

6. Universal Soldier - 4 titles

Roland Emmerich, director of "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Independence Day" started off by making a sci-fi/zombie film called "Universal Soldier" which, to my mind, represents his best work. I also think it represents Jean-Claude Van-Damme's best work too and it features a pretty awesome performance from Dolph Lundgren. Anyway there've been several sequels (and perhaps fortunately the two made-for-TV movies that were initially filmed as sequels seem to have disappeared into the ether) and Gabe Toro (LJ movie reviewer fabfunk) went as far as to say of the latest one ("Universal Solidier - Day of Reckoning"): "It may very well be the best action movie of the year." So if this one is picked I'll be watching all three sequels featuring Jean Claude Van Damme (two of which also include Dolph Lundgren).

7. Child Phobia Movies - 9 titles

At the end of my review of "The Omen" I mentioned a number of movies about child phobia. I made the mistake of including "The Exorcist" as one I haven't seen. More accurately, I haven't seen it in a long time. However, the others will all be brand new titles for me.

- The Bad Seed (1956)
- The Exorcist (1973)
- It's Alive (1974)
- Who Can Kill A Child? (aka "Death is Child's Play") (1976)
- Children Of The Corn (1984)
- The Good Son (1993)
- The Children (2008)
- Orphan (2009)
- Mama (2013)

A wide selection of titles with just a theme tying them together, but a fascinating them all the same!

Click here to vote on this poll! (Make up to three choices.)

Second poll (for director filmographies) on the way!

OMG WOW! - New REC 4 Teaser Poster...

(click here or on the poster for an even larger image)

(video link)

YOU Decide What I Review Next! - Poll 2 of 2: Director Filmographies

For the description of the first poll click here. To vote on the first poll click here.

Poll 2 - Director filmographies - Four choices (pick one).


Alexandre Aja - 7 titles?

Sadly doesn't look like I can get hold of his debut film "Furia" which is a pity since it starred Marion Cotillard. Thankfully though, the rest of his films are available.


Alexandre Aja has so far directed two original films "Mirrors" and "Switchblade Romance" (sometimes known as "High Tension") and two remakes "Piranha" and "The Hills Have Eyes". (I will also be checking out Wes Craven's original movie of "The Hills Have Eyes". I've already reviewed the original "Piranha" in my collection of Joe Dante reviews.)
( Some more examples of Alexandre Aja's movies under the cut... )

Jaume Balaguero - 6 titles

Jaume Balaguero is currently working on REC4:Apocalypse with a couple of teaser posters already out, but asides from the first two REC films which I love, I'm rather unfamiliar with his work. Asides from the first two REC films he's made four other titles, the most recent of which was "Sleep Tight".


( Some more examples of Jaume Balaguero's movies under the cut... )

Alfred Hitchcock - between 10-20 titles

The last Hitchcock retrospective I did took up 20 titles. I don't know if I'll do that many this time. I think I'd be better off playing it by ear. I think I'll say at least 10 and then we'll see how it shapes up from there. Naturally Hitchcock's last 20 movies of his career are off limits, seeing as I've reviewed them all already. I might go for some of Hitchcock's earlier movies this time.


John Hughes - 8 titles

Believe it or not, I've only seen "Weird Science" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" out of John Hughes' filmography. I'll be sticking to films he directed rather than including films he wrote, so don't expect to see "Home Alone" or "Flubber" reviews. John Hughes directed a total of 8 films, 6 of which will be entirely new to me.

Click here to vote on this poll! (Pick one!)