Register  |  Sign In
View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:28 pm



Reply to topic  [ 83 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus/More movie reviews! 
Author Message
Post 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus/More movie reviews!
Welcome to the last 50 years in creature features!

Image

Why creature features, you say?

All kinds of reasons, but here you go: they’re largely free of magic/faith-based resolutions in that characters must do or die based on choices/luck, the casts are often a variety of people from all walks of life, they can be the expensive highest grossing movie of all time or an extremely low-budget group effort labor of love, the endless creature options available enable creative effects work, and that’s probably enough.

I suppose they also tap into a base “What would I do? Could I survive that?” set of emotions in addition to just being a good fun time at the movies. What qualifies as “creature feature”? In pursuing this I’ve learned everyone has all kinds of definitions, to the surprise of nobody.

I decided on including films revolving around people having to survive/defend/endure/whathaveyou against creatures or die trying with “creatures” being considered as animals, aliens, mutations, science experiments gone haywire, perhaps a being from another dimension--as long as it doesn’t speak and has no qualms with eating you should the opportunity arise.

A loose definition, yes, but sometimes going with the gut is simplest.

Image

Films like Night of the Creeps and Shivers feel more zombie-esque than creature-based even though slugs are monsters, too (maybe I’m slug racist) while Bird Box et al are far more psychological and human oriented--often with no creatures at all or bare-bones versions--so those things won’t be included.

I’ll stick with US theatrical releases, for the most part, until we get to ~2000 when straight to DVD & streaming releases become players in their own right so I will include as many notables as possible. Turns out there are more than a few of these movies, so I’ve broken things up by decade to perhaps become a bit more manageable.

Anyway, in addition to the title watch out for the Rotten Tomato score & box office (domestic ie North America as well as worldwide using *only* Box Office Mojo as reference--no Mojo no box office). These inclusions are to act as a barometer of the film’s critical & financial results for trivial purposes--don’t take a beloved film’s low receipts or harsh reviews personally. Also my personal favorites have their titles bolded as such because why not!

I’m sure there are movies I’ve left off others will find essential, but I’m only human and that’s what comment sections are for (besides calling people names and links to home business lies).

Example entry:

Day of the Animals - Humans damage the ozone layer to the extent that nature fights back in the form of animals attacking at random instead of plants releasing a chemical like The Happening.

Image

Get ready to loathe the words “hot shot” as well as wish a deeply annoying mother to a young man some ill-will while Leslie Nielson takes his shirt off and descends into rapey madness. Also be prepared to watch lots of animals sit or stand around, menacingly of course. Again, have a buddy around for maximum mock-based humor.

Box office: /
RottenTomatoes: /, 30% aud

This is all simply the pre-amble to the meat of things which can be found here:

https://glasshalfcracked.com/

I had every intention of simply having this be here on the forum or maybe an article on the main site (apologies if this is against the rules), but it turns out a journey through 50 years of movies takes a bit of space and a few photos so I believe this is easier overall for both a reader and myself ;) Personally, I don't mind a long article to peruse at my leisure and I'm quite certain this falls into that category so enjoy!

EDIT: A website picked this up, so here's part one:

https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/05/03/creature-feature/


Last edited by Malcolm on Wed Jul 15, 2020 1:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.



Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:45 am
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Nice. I love creature features. Creatures that live in the water are my favorite, and most terrifying, but I'm here for it all.


Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:31 pm
Profile
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Looking forward to it Malcolm :thumbsup:


Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:00 pm
Profile
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Jack Sparrow wrote:
Looking forward to it Malcolm :thumbsup:


Look no further! - https://glasshalfcracked.com/

That's all of it, right there. It's a long read but 50 years of movies can be a lot ;) I would've been okay making it a regular series of main site articles, but between the length of it & all the visuals we encountered some difficulty (title of your sex tape). Let me know what you think--I might have some free time right now and love talking movies (or Better Call Saul!).

Flava'd vs The World wrote:
Nice. I love creature features. Creatures that live in the water are my favorite, and most terrifying, but I'm here for it all.


Well, it's all ready and waiting for you at your leisure whenever you feel like it :)

https://glasshalfcracked.com/

I enjoy the water-based creatures as well, they have an added value horror element in that humans are *immediately* handicapped in multiple ways simply by the hostile environment where something as basic as breathing can't even be taken for granted. Deep Rising, while not exactly underwater, is one of my favorites. I think it captures the whole spirit of a 90's creature feature B-movie kind of perfectly--what did you think of Underwater with Kristen Stewart from earlier this year?


Tue Apr 21, 2020 7:11 am
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Oh crap I thought you'll do a series of posts here so that we can discuss one after another ;)

I'll go through the list. Thanks.


Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:25 am
Profile
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
A website picked this up, so here's part one:

https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/05/03/creature-feature/


Sun May 03, 2020 12:54 pm
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Grats! And I haven't seen Underwater yet. Is it a true creature feature though? The previews made it seem more like a Sphere type story.


Sun May 03, 2020 1:21 pm
Profile
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Flava'd vs The World wrote:
Grats! And I haven't seen Underwater yet. Is it a true creature feature though? The previews made it seem more like a Sphere type story.


Yes Underwater is a under sea creature feature.


Mon May 04, 2020 1:12 am
Profile
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
I can see Jack Sparrow beat me to it, but yeah--Underwater is no Sphere, I promise it counts as a creature feature :thumbsup:

I thought it was pretty okay and off the top of my head two changes would have done wonders, but it was still better than I thought it'd be. Go in with low expectations, a safe bet!


Mon May 04, 2020 3:04 am
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/05/10/welco ... 1980-1984/

Part Two, we begin the 80's!


Mon May 11, 2020 12:56 pm
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/05/17/welco ... nial-pt-3/

Part Three, the 80's wraps up with some classics!


Mon May 18, 2020 3:51 am
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/05/25/welco ... nial-pt-4/

Part 4, the 90's and its army of CG monsters descend on the unsuspecting populace!


Mon May 25, 2020 4:55 pm
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/05/25/welco ... nial-pt-4/

Part 4, the 90's and its army of CG monsters descend on the unsuspecting populace!


Mon May 25, 2020 4:55 pm
Cream of the Crop

Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:19 pm
Posts: 2221
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
I love creature features. Really great read, thanks!


Sun May 31, 2020 6:38 am
Profile
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/06/01/welco ... 5-the-00s/

Take a break from the dumpster fire that is 2020 with a walk down creature feature memory lane of 20 years ago!

Mr. R wrote:
I love creature features. Really great read, thanks!


Thanks! One more decade incoming ;)


Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:24 pm
Cream of the Crop

Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:19 pm
Posts: 2221
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
I just wish I haven't seen most of those...so much fun.
No Reign of Fire? It's been a great theatrical experience for me back then.


Fri Jun 05, 2020 5:41 am
Profile
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
I went back and forth re: Reign of Fire a little bit, as yes it has dragons but it feels more sci-fantasy/action than creature feature to me. An arbitrary distinction for sure, but oh well :mer:

And I agree, I wish I hadn't seen far and away most of these before this little project but the fun ones were still a good time and some others were bizarrely amusing (Cat People jumps to mind).


Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:29 am
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
https://horrorbuzz.com/2020/06/08/welco ... nial-pt-6/

The end is here!


Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:34 pm
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
You’ve added many movies to my watchlist. I think I’ll start with Ginger Snaps.


Wed Jun 10, 2020 6:55 pm
Profile
Cream of the Crop

Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:19 pm
Posts: 2221
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Malcolm wrote:
I went back and forth re: Reign of Fire a little bit, as yes it has dragons but it feels more sci-fantasy/action than creature feature to me.

You should do fantasy next for sure. Great work, man, I really appreciate it. I've done a fair share of "research" (let's call it that) into creature feature genre, and you've done the most comprehensive study guide (no less) I've seen anywhere. :thumbsup:

I'd keep that last part for later.


Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:55 pm
Profile
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Thanks! I'm currently working on a *much* shorter article for them, but who knows what the future holds :mer:

So, after your research into the genre what would you say your favorites are?


Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:33 pm
Cream of the Crop

Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:19 pm
Posts: 2221
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Malcolm wrote:
Thanks! I'm currently working on a *much* shorter article for them, but who knows what the future holds :mer:

So, after your research into the genre what would you say your favorites are?

I grew up during the dinosaur craze in the 90s, so Jurassic Park is a huge influence.
Alien, The Thing, The Fly, Coppola's Dracula, Starship Troopers, Pitch Black stuck with me for years, I rewatch them often, and it never gets boring. The Descent is one of the greatest horrors ever made. Of the more recent fare, The Ritual and The Hallow are surprisingly good. I'd call Deep Rising, Virus and Reign of Fire my guilty pleasures.

And from the early period I really enjoy the things Ray Harryhausen did (Mighty Joe Young and One Million Years B.C. still look amazing).


Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:28 pm
Profile
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
I finally went through the list. Awesome work Malcolm. I haven't seen a lot of these but I can see how much research went into this. Great job :thumbsup:


Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:08 am
Profile
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Sea Fever is $1 rental. Does that count as a creature feature?


Tue Jun 23, 2020 2:03 am
Profile
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: 50 Year Creature Feature Retrospecticus
Technically yes. But don't have high hopes on creature feature action. It's more about building the fear.


Tue Jun 23, 2020 2:32 am
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 83 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware for PTF.