I pointlessly waited for Devil's Night this #Shocktober to watch this remake and it has nothing to do with it nor did it do justice to the 1994 cult classic. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 4.5/10. This was one movie I had prayed they would just leave alone and not remake but here it is. I was fine with sequels and reimagines for this but didn't want a remake so I watched apprehensively. I have been holding off on watching this until Devil's Night for my tradition. Here is my review of The Crow from 1994 for reference and I hope this one does it some justice. This remake takes the beloved tale of Eric Draven's vengeance and love and reimagines it with a darker, more mystic twist—but, unfortunately, it misses the mark on what made the original so compelling. This version opens with a longer buildup of Eric and Shelly’s (FKA Twigs) relationship, yet ironically fails to develop the romance as powerfully as the original’s fleeting flashbacks. The added screen time barely gives depth to their love, making the eventual tragedy feel less impactful, even mechanical. Once Eric crosses into the afterlife, he awakens in an eerie limbo, where he’s introduced to Kronos, played by Sami Bouajila. Here, the iconic crow’s role is explained with a heavy dose of black magic shit—a new, forced addition to the story. Rather than embarking on a passionate quest for Shelly’s memory, Eric turns into more of a supernatural detective hunting down his killers. This change sidesteps the raw emotional pull of vengeance for love, focusing instead on grim mysticism that feels disconnected from the heart of the story. I don't know if James O'Barr had anything to do with this story or if other graphic novels he penned were anything like this but I doubt it and don't believe he would be a fan of this. Bill Skarsgård as Draven brings the brutal violence expected in the action scenes, but instead of feeling like an unstoppable force of retribution, his character seems more like a target in a shooting gallery. The visceral fight scenes are well done, adding brutal touches, but they lack emotional payoff when the story itself doesn’t anchor them in anything memorable or meaningful. Visually, Rupert Sanders delivers some beautiful scenes, and the cinematography deserves credit, offering moments of style and atmospheric richness. But that can only go so far when the story’s foundation is flawed. The guitar-playing artist that defined Draven in the 1994 version is notably absent here, making the character feel almost entirely new but not in a way that serves the story. It’s almost as if Eric and Shelly could have been removed without changing much at all. In the end, this version suffers from a story that misses the essence of its own legacy. This retelling feels more like a miss than a tribute, making it hard to understand why they even called it The Crow if they weren’t going to honor the spirit of Eric and Shelly’s tragic, passionate bond. As my initial worry pointed out, I just wish they left this one alone and I am not going to be "that guy" and give this a 1 out of 10 just because I am so disappointed in what they did with this film. RIP Brandon Lee.

There are a few streaming options for this one including Amazon.

https://jackmeat.wixsite.com/jackmeat/post/the-crow-2024

I wanted to get at least a "Halloween" flick reviewed on the #Shocktober day (here) and since I hadn't ever posted this review, that will do. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 6,5/10. Rob Zombie has proven himself as an astute admirer of the horror genre and takes a legit classic down a slightly different path. More a film of two parts, this tells the whole story of Michael Myers with a bit more to the story part. Some find that as a drawback, I just see it as different storytelling. Instead of a complete mystery as to why Michael is who he is, part one of this movie explores his upbringing and road to becoming the ominous killer. In the second part, Zombie also gives reflection to his obsession with his sister and even makes sense to why it continues further down the road. I won't give spoilers, since I never do, but it is worth watching for sure. As Zombie does, the characters are vivid and well-portrayed. Malcolm McDowell is a superb choice as Loomis and Daeg Faerch is a great young Michael. The things fans of the original don't like is also what makes it good. Don't be closed-minded and you will enjoy.

You can basically pick your streamer to check this one out.

https://jackmeat.wixsite.com/jackmeat/post/halloween-2007

This is a damn good #Shocktober showcase for fans of psychological horror and Nicolas Cage’s unique brand of creepiness. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 6.5/10. The good news for myself is I went in without dealing with the marketing onslaught that apparently the USA had for this flick so I more or less went in blind. This movie takes us on a dark journey through the lens of rookie FBI Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), who’s assigned to track down a twisted serial killer with ties to occult practices. As Harker delves deeper, she finds herself caught in an unexpected personal connection to the killer. Osgood Perkins, as writer and director, brings a haunting vision to the screen with atmospheric cinematography and a chilling performance from Nicolas Cage as the eerie, enigmatic Longlegs. I read some people called Cage unrecognizable in this flick, I had no problem picking him out in a heartbeat without knowing firsthand he was in it. I agree the makeup hides his appearance but his acting and voice are a dead giveaway. While the film nails the unsettling, indie aesthetic and teases a tantalizing twist worthy of #Shocktober, it unfortunately stops short of delivering the gut-punch tension it sets up. It doesn't lean fully into either the supernatural or the raw intensity of serial killer horror, which leaves it somewhat diluted in both departments. The kills themselves, while appropriately dark in implication, are tame in execution, and there’s a surprising lack of urgency driving the story, making it feel more like a slow-burn mystery than the nail-biting thriller it aspires to be. The flick still remains an interesting watch, especially for fans of psychological horror and Cage’s unique brand of creepiness, but it ultimately falls short of its full potential. The haunting visuals and promising setup are there, but it may leave you wanting a bit more intensity and impact by the end. That was my opinion since as entertaining as it was, I really wanted more out of it.

Amazon and a few other streamers have this one for you.

https://jackmeat.wixsite.com/jackmeat/post/longlegs-2024

I review this annually but it has never made it here. The Crow (1994) and my published review from back then plus additions since. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 9,1/10. A masterpiece.

My review from 1994: It is only about 4 hours removed from the theater as I find myself at my computer to type up this weekends Flick Pick. Unfortunately for this night, it is more in memoriam. I'll give a slight bit of background to this. As many of you may know, this is Brandon Lee's final film, as he was accidentally shot during the filming. This is a gut-wrenching loss to many, especially the Lee family. It was only a little over 10 years ago, I realized that the amazing martial artist my grandfather had shown me movies of as a kid, Bruce Lee, had mysteriously died as well. Now some 10 years later, I sit and write this review in hopes that as you read the newspaper today, you may come to see this is much more than an entertainer that has passed away, but a family that is cursed. The task at hand is to review the movie without reflecting much on the fact that this is likely to be another finale to a career cut far too short.

The story begins with the resurrection of a dead rock star named Eric Draven (Lee) after being murdered, along with his fiancee, on the eve of their wedding. His soul is transported to the next world (according to the narration) by a crow; but when a spirit is unhappy there because of unsettled business on earth, sometimes the crow will bring him back again. And so a year later, on All Hallows Eve, Eric reappears on earth, vowing vengeance on those who committed the murders - and the evil kingpin who ordered them. This basically sums up what storywise you need to know. What you see though is a stunning work of visual style (the best version of a comic book universe I've seen) and Brandon Lee clearly demonstrates in it that he was well on his way to being the next big action star. All of this merely exists to allow Alex Proyas to delve headfirst into a surreal and gothic world rarely seen or imagined to this stunning extent.

The visual style is top notch full of miniatures, the camera swoops high above the city or dips low for extreme-angle shots. Shadows cast fearsome daggers into the light. Buildings are exaggerated in their architectural detail of film noir. "The Crow," with its fast pace and its countless camera set-ups, evokes comics much more than the more good-looking but allows the actors to be adapted in appearance to this graphic noir vision; their appearances are as exaggerated as the shots they appear in. The breasts of women in comic books always seem improbably perfect but sketched in and the villainess Myca (Bai Ling) in this story has the same look. As the half-sister of the villain, she represents a drawn image, not a person, and so do many of the other characters, including a thin Brandon Lee as the hero appearing somewhat like the anime vampires in manga. The cast itself was perfectly chosen to fit the ragtag mold of thugs in this fictional world. Rochelle Davis as Sarah, a neighbor of the Dravens, often steals the show with her piercing eyes and believable dialogue. At times the film looks like a violent music video, all images and action, no content with a soundtrack is wall-to-wall hard rock including NIN, Pantera, and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. The action scenes are choreographed to near perfection often leaving you in awe of what you are seeing evoking a world where the bizarre reality, not the story, is the point. Even a scene with a nod to John Woo gets its own dark take with its intense double-handed flair.

I left the theater sad, knowing what his father had accomplished and never was able to see his son accomplish as well. Both careers seemed cut short just as early potential was being realized. As both Bruce and Brandon Lee's legacies will continue on after death, for now, their works have been preserved on film for us to enjoy. In irony, the whole movie is about a hero who is resurrected to take care of unfinished business. If any form of the supernatural exists, I, for one, would love to see Brandon return. But for now, RIP

If you have never seen this flick, check these streamers since it is that good.

Not a bad deal for the 10-disk Saw franchise set. #jackmeatsflix. Here is the article that prompted me to bring it up.

When we think of long-running horror franchises, traditionally we're talking about strings of movies that don't have much to do with each other beyond the ongoing premise. This stuff is supposed to be cheap, disposable thrills that never makes you think too hard about anything--or at least this is how movie studios have usually treated them. But that's not the case with Saw--which, despite being known mostly as "torture porn," sent us down an incredibly intricate seven-movie rabbit hole with its story during its original run. Saw isn't just horrifying and gross--it's smart, too. And now, at 20 years old, it deserves to be revisited. Read on....

https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/why-saw-is-the-greatest-horror-movie-franchise-ever/2900-5893/

https://amzn.to/3C4INRO

This film may scratch the itch if you crave Halloween-themed content during #Shocktober involving a mutated killer pumpkin. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 4.0/10. This flick, aptly named Carved, is a #Huluween entry set on Halloween night in 1993, spinning a bizarre and somewhat entertaining tale of a monstrous killer pumpkin wreaking havoc on the staff of a historic pioneer village. The premise is as wacky as it sounds: a revenge-fueled pumpkin comes to life two years after a deadly nuclear spill, aiming to unleash chaos. The film feels confused about its identity, teetering between a family-friendly Halloween movie and a gore-filled horror. The plot seems aimed at a younger audience with its lighthearted and absurd tone, yet the gory deaths throw off that balance. Some kills are surprisingly brutal, making it feel out of place for a more kid-appropriate flick. While it is far from a cinematic masterpiece, it has its own quirky charm. The absurdity keeps things interesting, and this film may scratch the itch for those who crave Halloween-themed content during #Shocktober. However, its inconsistent tone and lackluster execution keep it from being anything more than a quick, seasonal distraction.

As you see, this one is currently on Hulu

https://jackmeat.wixsite.com/jackmeat/post/carved-2024

I am always leery when Bigfoot shows up for #Shocktober but this is a scenic view of the Northwest with a nice touch of mystery. #jackmeatsflix

My quick rating - 4.2/10. This flick kicks off in true retro style, setting an 80s vibe with its synth score that plays in the background. This atmospheric beginning really sells the premise that we’re about to dive into something unique. Despite its modest $15,000 budget, this film manages to deliver a visual quality that exceeds expectations. Rather than leaning on shaky handheld camerawork, director James Chick uses steady, scenic shots to set the mood, capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with sweeping views of lush forests and looming mountains—Mount St. Helens even makes a cameo, a nice touch for a movie that builds on local folklore. The story follows Jason Esterly, a USFS ranger played by Andrew Jacob Brown, who has to snap out of his grief after his wife’s passing to face an unsettling possibility: could Bigfoot actually be real? He’s forced to consider this after a paranormal social media influencer, Chris Dixon (Eric Berger), winds up dead near Mount St. Helens under mysterious circumstances. It's a classic horror trope, yet the storyline refrains from adding any of the usual comedy or gimmicks you might expect in a Bigfoot flick, and instead opts for a straight-up murder mystery tone. While the cinematography feels refined, the acting is serviceable. The cast, though unknown, does a solid job within the film’s somewhat limited dialogue and predictable horror scenarios. Their choices, however, stretch believability. Time and again, the characters fall into the classic horror traps: splitting up to search the dense, dark forest in pairs, even with a supposed deadly creature lurking. It’s one of those head-scratching moments where you question if anyone on set has ever actually watched a horror movie. That said, the movie’s creature reveal is skillfully restrained. Instead of the typical bigfoot jump scares, Chick wisely uses tight editing and strategic camera angles, allowing just enough mystery to keep you intrigued without giving too much away. There’s a notable campfire scene that pays subtle homage to The Thing, creating a tense atmosphere that makes you appreciate the effort put into the film’s mood-setting. However, the title Feet of Death remains a bit of a puzzle. With a bare-footed character in the end scene, it feels like an attempt to tie things together, though it’s unclear whether it’s meant to hint at a potential sequel, playing off what we already know or just a nod to Bigfoot’s legendary footprint. And yes, there’s a post-credit scene, so if you're still hoping for more clarity or a final scare, stick around. Overall, this isn’t your typical Bigfoot horror. It’s more of a love letter to the eerie beauty of the outdoors with a hint of myth, rather than a full-on creature feature. It may not give you the scares or laughs, but for those who appreciate a scenic thriller with a tinge of mystery, it's worth a watch. Thanks go out to James Chick for providing me with this flick for our #Shocktober entertainment.

It seems you'll need to check Amazon for this one, if there are others, add in comments.

https://jackmeat.wixsite.com/jackmeat/post/feet-of-death-2024