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Reviews
Down in New Orleans (2006)
Why the negativity?
I don't understand all of the negativity in the few reviews of this movie. I concur with the preceding review, i.e., the acting was iffy in parts, especially the supporting cast. However, I thought that it was, overall, a decent film and that it was worth watching. Mr. Grubbs' acting was very genuine and so was that of his on-screen wife.
While some of the supporting cast didn't measure up, none was particularly dreadful. The mother wasn't too believable, though.
I did think that the longshoreman who helped the protagonist was particularly good, and the twist with respect to the pregnancy added a very sad touch to an already sad movie. I'm glad that I did watch the movie.
Black Christmas (1974)
Oft overlooked and undercredited, Black Christmas is the granddaddy of the North American slasher film
This is one of those rare, little-known horror films that deserves to be recognized for its inventiveness. Though the story might seem like a terrible horror movie cliché today, Bob Clark's Black Christmas set the bar, and the mold, for the American slasher movie, and it set it extremely high. Released a full 4 years before Halloween, its impact on contemporary North American horror films cannot be overstated.
The story, that of a psychotic madman terrorizing a sorority house, is simple, straightforward, and terrifiying. The twist ending has been criticized by some for its ambiguity, but I think that the final 15 minutes of this movie are superbly done and rank as some of the most frightening ever committed to celluloid.
To quote a reviewer whom I think got it right, BC is "cold, classy, and straightforward." It is an absolute must for fans of horror thrillers, as it definitely is THE prototypical slasher pic.
10/10
Paul Voorhies