Darkness falls across the land. As seven movies fell into my hands. Movies where monsters crawl in search for blood. Where power hungry men terrorize the neighborhood. Tales where tension can be found. Shows with sorrow that will bring you down. Movies with demons straight from hell. Movies that will bring you straight out of your shells. I, the Video Game Doomsayer, present the seven movies I saw in October 2024.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
My loyal followers, gather round. For I have a confession to proclaim. I feel a little lost when I try to compose my thoughts on No Country for Old Men. I dare not stand atop this soapbox and claim it to be a bad film. The Cohen brothers were able to masterfully craft this novel into a bleak and gut-wrenching film about how expecting a happy ending is a fool’s errand. The couple trying to scrape by don’t get the money, the aging cop doesn’t prove he still has it, and the outlaw isn’t brought to justice. You would think, as someone who revels in Lovecraft’s nihilistic cosmic horror, I would resonate with the film, but I walked away from No Country for Old Men unable to swallow the bleakness of it all. Maybe it is due to the film being a modern western, a genre famous for the hero walking off into the sunset, rather than a horror film where it is common for the hero not to survive. Although I often shout to the heavens proclaiming the art of video games, movies and entertainment, in general, is marching towards its own demise, I often find media that reminds me of the futility of it all difficult to endure. How could I do what I do if it is all for nothing? Despite these mixed feelings, I urge you all to give this film a watch. I, for one, will certainly be giving this film another shot in the hope to gain the appreciation it certainly deserves. Let it comes down to that infamous coin flip.
Goodfellas (1990)
Worry not, my followers. I will not sear your senses with another controversial take, especially when it comes to the Goodfellas. To simply say it is one of the best mobster movies would be an understatement. Scorsese is so easily able to take us back to the days when if you snitched, you simply got wacked. I walked away from Goodfellas nostalgic for the days when if someone was acting out and making the family look bad, they simply go missing like Billy Bates. Maybe if we had men like Henry Hill and Tommy DeVito around, we wouldn’t need to be taking out healthcare executives in the streets. Just saying.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Step forth, my followers, and heed my transgressions against the horror genre: I hadn’t seen the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre until the year of 2024. It had occupied a spot on my pile of shame for far too long, and with it being the month of October, I felt it was time to watch this classic. So, what opinion of this film do I wish to share with you all? I certainly respect it for creating this southern cannibalistic slasher aesthetic. Previous horror films would take place in the dark of night, but here is Leatherface chasing around teens under the bright Texas sun. No doubt, Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a game changer. Without this fifty-year-old slasher, we would never have the likes of House of 1000 Corpses, Wrong Turn, or The Hills Have Eyes. While I respect the groundwork the film has laid, I think both Jaws and Alien have aged better than this schlocky slasher, and Resident Evil 7 is the new master of this dark southern subgenre. Yet, I have not an ounce of doubt in my mind, that we wouldn’t have gotten The Baker family without the help of the Sawyer family.
Speak No Evil
Another confession for you, my followers: I initially wrote off Speak No Evil as Blumhouse’s pathetic attempt to claw back the goodwill they have eroded throughout the years. An American remake of a Danish-Dutch thriller about a family going to spend a week with this mysterious family they just met on vacation? Truly another sign that the end is nigh. However, through good word of mouth and solid recommendations from YouTube film critics, I gave the film a chance. I walked out of Speak No Evil surprisingly shocked at how well the movie was able to escalate and deescalate the tension in moments through strong writing and acting. It’s a rollercoaster of a thriller as you go from panic and unease to awkward laughter as James McAvoy’s character is able to convince everyone it was just a misunderstanding. I SAY ONTO THEE, DON’T DO AS I DO. DO NOT PASS JUDGMENT ON THIS FILM BY THE TRAILERS ALONE. GIVE THIS FILM THE FORTUITY TO SHOW IT IS NOT A LAZY AMERICAN REMAKE.
My Old Ass
My loyal followers, I hear it every day from the hordes of movie goers who stop by my soapbox when I rant about movies. Doomsayer, there are just no more good movies anymore. No movies that make me laugh or cry like I used to. They are all the same as though they are produced in a factory line. NAY, I SAY UNTO THEE! Yes, I agree that the likes of Disney, Warner Brothers and many others are turning out the same slop as always, but I urge you to look beyond the big studio releases and look towards the independents. A prime example is the comedy My Old Ass, produced by Indian Paintbrush and LuckyChap Entertainment.
For those unaware, My Old Ass is a coming-of-age comedy about Elliot, a young teen itching to leave her small town life behind. However, during a mushroom trip, she is able to meet her 39-year-old self, who attempts to give her some advice to help better their lives. Along with some classic teenage gags, I found the film message that both younger and older generations could learn from each other: older generations could stand to be less jaded and younger generations don’t need to sprint towards the future. Along with some sharp comedy gags, the film’s ending brought me to a sobering message with a beautiful final moment that had me in tears my entire walk back to my soapbox. My Old Ass is no doubt one of the best films of the year, and it would be a cardinal sin, if you, my loyal followers, passed on this film.
Saturday Night
Saturday Night is a testament to the old adage that all you need for a good story is some drama. This film is a tale about the hour leading up to the debut of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. The film is a boiling pot as the actors, executives and even series creator Lorne Michaels are unsure if they can actually pull this off. Just as the crew think they have everything pinned down, another wrench is tossed in to gum up the works. I am sure, like all period dramas, this might not be an accurate depiction of how the night went down, but the steady stream of drama and wild cast of characters kept my eyes glued to the screen, a feat that many films fail to do. If you are a writer looking for a masterclass in slowly bring the tension to a boil, then Saturday Night is the film for calling to you.
Violett
My followers, one last confession for you all. As the final hour of October drew close to the end, I felt I had failed the eldritch lords that drew their power from this month. A fifty-year-old film and a remake? What pathetic offerings during the month of Halloween. So I dug deep to find a film that would sate the God’s and my own hunger for horror and found Violett, an Australian indie psychological horror about a mother worried the world is out to take her daughter from her. The film takes cues straight out of Silent Hill’s playbook as Sonya, the mother, is constantly seeing gruesome and horrific scenes designed to play on her fears, such as neighbors giving her rotten fruit or painting gruesome scenes. I dare not say more in fear of spoiling the movie, but I do promise that this film is not heading in the direction you think it’s going. Like many films that take inspiration from Silent Hill, I found Violett to be a worthy tribute to the dark, eerie nights of Halloween.