House Of Darkness (2022)

After they met in a bar, Hap brings Mina home, and his wishes seem they're about to come true when she invites him inside, in what appears to be a mansion.

'House Of Darkness' is what they call a textbook slowburn horror. With a theme worthy of the Hammer films of the 70s, the style is completely modernized, and the author takes a few risks when they choose a story progress based solely on dialogue and innuendos. Fresh and welcome in a creative environment that often seems to use only copycats.

Director:  Neil LaBute     

With: Kate Bosworth, Justin Long, Gia Crovatin, Lucy Walters

Rating: 7.6/10

Barbarian (2022)

Two travelers are accidentally accommodated in the same Airbnb villa, but the location hides old secrets.

"Barbarian" is a horror film that mixes elements of slasher, mystery and monster feature. The mystery and plot are interesting, the suspense is decent, the acting is acceptable, but the story has some far-fetched elements, but in general it works as it's meant to be.

Director:  Zach Cregger     

With: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake

Rating: 7/10

Creepshow (2019– )

An anthology series that tells horror stories as if they were articles in a magazine called Creepshow, all introduced by the Creepshow ghoul.

The Creepshow TV show is a revival of the 80's movie series, with new scripts, way more modern special effects, and the irreplaceable dark humor. Each episode has 2 separate halfs, each a horror short film on effect. The subjects are varied, original and imbibed with new and modern blood, the guest stars are surprising, the quality varies, but the entertainment is guaranteed.

Director:  Greg Nicotero and others   

Production:  Shudder      

Duration:  3 seasons of 5-6 episodes (44 minutes each)   

With: Justin Long, Ryan Kwanten, Ali Larter, Ethan Embry, Bruce Davison, Anna Camp, Adrienne Barbeau, Hannah Fierman

Rating: 8/10

Lavender (2016)

A car accident forces Jane to start getting memories back from her long lost tragic childhood.

Lavender is a drama film labeled a horror for its light use of the supernatural, but it's far too melodramatic to have such an effect. The story is not particularly new, but it is pleasant enough in its dramatic construction to help fill the time in a pleasant way.

Director:  Ed Gass-Donnelly   

With: Dermot Mulroney, Abbie Cornish, Justin Long, Lola Flanery

Rating: 6/10

Drag Me To Hell (2009)

O angajata la sectia de imprumuturi intr-o banca refuza sa acorde ajutorul unei batrane de origine rroma si asta declanseaza o serie de evenimente negative datorita blestemului acesteia.

Dupa ce a cochetat cu alte genuri, incercari mai mult (vezi A Simple Plan) sau mai putin (seria Spiderman) reusite, iata ca Sam Raimi se intoarce la genul care l-a lansat si care l-a propulsat pentru totdeauna in seria autorilor cult. Cu gustul sau pentru gore dus la extrem pana la prost gust, dar genial combinat cu ironie si umor sec incat uiti asta(sau nu, but you still love it:D), cu suspans bine dozat si neasteptat, cu elemente fantastice grotesti si oarecum caricaturale, aduse la viata prin intermediul unor efecte speciale ce ar putea parea ceva mai rudimentare dar nu sunt caci tocmai in asta consta ironia si spectacolul, Sam Raimi a facut uz de armele sale cele mai puternice si a reusit un horror/comedy demn de renumele sau. Astept cu nerabdare The Evil Dead in 2010 daca tot am vazut ca si-a reintrat in mana.

Cat despre interpreti, Justin Long e un obisnuit al genului comic, desi aici mai mult sta pe tusa, dar mai surprinzatoare imi pare alegerea si mai ales acordul lui Alison Lohman de a ocupa pozitia principala, intr-un rol nu mereu flatant, alegere riscanta care s-a dovedit loz castigator, deoarece s-a descurcat onorabil.

Regia: Sam Raimi
Scenariu: Sam si Ivan Raimi
Cu: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Adriana Barraza