The B-Masters Cabal

10 Comments

• #1 by Jason Farrell on August 25, 2016 - 10:24 am

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  As usual, Liz, there’s so little for me to say after one of your reviews, because you’ve really said anything relevant.

  I got here culturally-speaking late (very similar to you) and I got appropriately creeped out (very similar to you), and like you I have very few bad things to say.

  I have seen the second and, even though it was a step down, it was kind of interesting, not so much a sequel as
  a companion piece.

  • #2 by lyzard on August 25, 2016 - 5:59 pm

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    Thanks, Jason! I anticipate that I’ll be taking a look at the sequel sooner rather than later, also the Japanese pseudo-sequel—it’s always interesting to see how these things translate into a different context.

• #3 by The Rev. on August 25, 2016 - 8:53 pm

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  I actually came in on the ground floor for this one, seeing it in the theater. I really enjoyed it; it had some great creepy moments, some nice character stuff, and one very well-done jump scare. I only wish they’d stopped the movie about two seconds sooner; we could have really had a disturbing, lingering ending, instead of, as Steven Spielberg once put it, going for “one last scare.”

  I haven’t seen any of the sequels, though. I’m not opposed to seeing them at some point; I just haven’t made it a priority, as I assume that particular bolt of lightning didn’t strike twice.

  • #4 by lyzard on August 25, 2016 - 10:12 pm

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    Yeah, well—you’ve read it, so you know where *I* think it should have stopped. Agree totally about the last two seconds, but it did occur to me that not doing that, and just manipulating the camera instead, might have been felt to be too overtly Blair Witch-y.

    • #5 by The Rev. on August 27, 2016 - 11:19 am

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      I guess just in case someone’s not seen it yet, a bit of a spoiler alert.

      Ending it where you think would not be a bad idea, but then we lose the effective jump scare (which got the whole audience at my viewing, and no doubt many others) and where I think it should’ve ended, which is basically how it ends sans, as you delightfully put it, the “booga-booga.” I suppose you could either have the camera damaged (which considering what happens to it isn’t a stretch) and have it go out as we end, or maybe have her just reach out and turn it off. Which leads me to ask: how would you close things if the ending came where you wished? Fade to black? Fast-forwarding time stamps until the camera runs out of juice (assuming it wasn’t plugged in)?

      • #6 by lyzard on August 27, 2016 - 6:17 pm

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        More spoilerish stuff

        Honestly, I would simply have had the camera flicker out and then the end-title, leaving EVERYTHING to the imagination.

        Failing that, and keeping the jump-scare, I would have staged it differently, perhaps having the camera knocked over in a way that gives a fleeting glimpse of his terrified / dead face, with her standing in the doorway in the background, ending with a shorting out of the camera. To me it would be scarier if we *didn’t* get a clear look at her (still less an overt booga-booga).

        • #7 by The Rev. on August 29, 2016 - 1:42 pm

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          Yes, more spoiler-ish stuff.

          See, I actually like her staring, calm and serene, with a slight smile on her face, into the camera at the end there. However, I do like your version of the jump scare with her in the doorway briefly before ending things. I also like your preferred version of where to end, and wouldn’t have a problem with it, but damn do I like that jump scare. Since I can only say that in regards to, oh, about four or five of them overall (with approximately half of them from Jaws) I’m sure you understand my position.

• #8 by lyzard on August 29, 2016 - 6:01 pm

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  Still more spoilers!

  For me her expression in the preceding scene, where she refuses to leave the house / get out of bed, is one of the creepiest touches in the film—and makes that last smile redundant, because we already know what’s happened…

  Anyway—I think we all agree the ending could have been handled better; but by all means keep your jump scare! 🙂

  • #9 by The Rev. on August 30, 2016 - 2:08 am

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    I have to admit I’m not recalling that expression. I’ve only seen it the once. Well, I guess when I have a chance (whenever that is, considering how many things I really should watch before rewatching anything) I’ll have to see it again and make a note to check for that.

    And thanks for letting me keep my scare! Have I told you lately that I adore you? 😉

    • #10 by lyzard on August 31, 2016 - 1:57 am

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      I didn’t mean to add yet another one to The List, I swear! 🙂

      Welllll…not lately…