House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Original Post Date: 10.23.16

If we’ve ever met, then you already know that my favorite movie is House of 1000 Corpses (2003) by Rob Zombie. But why? Why is House of 1000 Corpses my favorite movie? WHY!? Well my friend, you are in luck because I am here today to tell you exactly that.

But before we get our hands dirty, I need to acknowledge that the only reason why I am writing this post is because I got reminded today about how much I love the movie—yes, sometimes I need to be reminded of the obvious things in my life—thanks to today’s #itshorrorween entry for Oct 23, Movie You’ve Watched Way Too Many Times. So while I was browsing the internet for some cool shots of the movie I’ve seen numerous times—three at the theater, countless at home—I started feeling nostalgia. Nostalgia for the old days and the old me.

The year was 2003 and I was in college, experiencing the best time of my life as a young woman. Oh man, I had so much fun I tell you! Well, getting back to the point… I was already a Rob Zombie fan at that time, but I only knew his work as a musician and had no idea he had released his very first film, House of 1000 Corpses aka La Casa de los Mil Cuerpos. My brother was the one telling me about it (he was the cool one and knew what was trending) so he and I went to the movies together after class.

WE HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME!! It is incredible to me that I still remember that day; we went to the Cinepolis by our house, the movie theater was pretty much empty, I sat to the left and my brother sat to the right and the only reason why I remember that insignificant detail is because when I turned my head (to the right) to see how he was doing I saw him rocking to the opening title music. He was completely in the moment and my heart was joyful for seeing him having fun.

This was the opening title music:

I cannot find the correct words to express my feelings during the movie. It was not just a movie anymore. It was proof that life could be amazing and that there were no limits, no rules. This concept was presented in front of me in the form of a film. A film that was so incredibly fresh that I could feel my brain changing, opening, absorbing, adapting.

The film embraced the bad guys. They were human. They had flaws and attributes. They were ugly and beautiful. And powerful, always powerful and in control.

The artistry of the film was visually captivating, there was such a flow, such a rhythm. Likewise, the score and soundtrack music was so primal and raw, yet, elevated at a new level.

We liked the movie so much that my brother and I went to see the movie again which was, to be honest, a phenomenon on its own as we never hanged out together due to us having our own cliques, his was with the cool kids and mine was with the goths.

I went to see the movie for a third time, but now by myself, and by this point I already knew who my favorite character was, I mean, after three times watching him on the big screen I knew Otis was my homie as I identified with him somehow, just don’t read too much into it, okay?

Months passed before I was able to buy the DVD but once I did, it was me watching it like nobody’s business! I watched it when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was stressed… the movie became my guardian angel; this might sound completely idiotic to you and I get it, but we all have that one thing that grounds us and gives us hope — the movie reminds me of how weird and passionate I am and gives me hope for the future as it inspires me to push forward.

So that is it. That is why House of 1000 Corpses is my favorite movie. That is why I have watched it way too many times. Thank you for reading, friend, I’ll talk to you soon.

In Love and Fear,

—Marath

Hannibal (2013-2015): A Sophisticated And Sadomasochistic Ride

Original Post Date: 07.24.16

This is not a TV Show review but a tale of my experience watching HANNIBAL (2013-2015) Season 1, 2, and 3. There will be spoilers (spoilers!).

My journey with HANNIBAL began by accident in September of last year. I had a good chunk of time to kill before my gym class began and, lucky me, downstairs Crunch Fitness was Barnes & Noble so I went to the bookstore and perused aimlessly until a white book from the New Arrivals section caught my eye. This was the book:

It was a bloodied heart served on a plate. It said The Art and Making of HANNIBAL the Television Series.

I knew about the Hannibal Lecter movie, more specifically, I knew about the 1991 movie Silence of the Lambs, but I had no idea there was a TV show about it. Confused, I opened the book and my eyes got bombarded by excess of color, and elegant food settings, and dead bodies, and death scenes, and what was I looking at!? Still confused, I looked at my watch and realized the class was about to start so I rapidly put the book down and went upstairs and forgot about it… until the next day when I returned to buy it.

I was not interested about the show per se, all I wanted to see was the art juxtaposing life and death, as well as the behind the scenes content. So that was September. December came and as a Christmas present to myself I got the entire dvd collection for the TV series, all three seasons. I was now really interested.

I watched a couple of episodes from Season 1 and my mind was immediately blown away. The whole thing was like a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, I got distracted by ‘life stuff’ and had to put away the dvd’s… until this July when my husband and I sat our asses down and devoured the entire series.  

Oh man, oh man! Season 1 and 2 killed it SO HARD! That was good television! The interactions, the plots, the twists, the characters, the deaths, the feasts, Hannibal Lecter, Will Graham, the whole enchilada! My favorite scene from the last episode of Season 2 was when Hannibal, after having stabbed Will in the stomach, said to him “I have let you know me. See me. I gave you a rare gift… [pause]… but you didn’t want it” to what Will replied while still bleeding on the floor “Didn’t I?”

Season 3 was a bit slow for my taste but the ending was sublime:

When Hannibal, Will, and the Great Red Dragon were fighting at a courtyard overlooking a cliff at nighttime, Hannibal and Will locked eyes [as lovers finally recognizing each other] and proceeded to join forces and together attacked the Great Red Dragon [as lovers finally consummating], and when they killed him Hannibal said to Will “See? This is all I ever wanted for you, Will… [long pause]… for both of us” to what Will replied while looking around “It’s beautiful” and embraced in an honest hug [as lovers finally surrendering to their destructive love], before Will threw himself and Hannibal—while still holding each other—over the cliff [as lovers finally accepting it was not meant to be].

I cried. I cried with big tears coming down my face while holding my husband’s hand. Impossible love stories break my heart. Human emotions are too real for me, even if portrayed by fictional characters.

So, Hannnibal, Will, thank you for the elegant, intellectual, breathtaking, sadomasochistic ride. It will not be forgotten.

—Marath

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN

Original Post Date: 07.08.16

This is not a book review. This is a casual and honest tale on my reading experience of FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley. There will be spoilers, so please proceed at your own discretion.

Here we go.

A few months ago I visited The Last Bookstore in Downtown L.A. as I had heard it was a magical place. Well, I’m not sure about the “magical” part but let me tell you there was a very impressive Horror Vault to which, just like moths to a flame, I was immediately pulled into. Once inside, I made a full 360 and a single item caught my eye – a blue book whose gorgeous art cover was begging to be grabbed. It was the handsome face of the classic Frankenstein’s Monster. I bought the book solely due to its external beauty. I went home and placed the blue book on top of my bookshelf and forgot about it.

Now, this is where it all really begins.

The book FRANKENSTEIN or The Modern Prometheus was written in 1818 by Mary Shelley. Needless to say some of the words used back then are now considered archaic, so for me it was a lot of pausing the reading when I didn’t know the meaning of a word, looking for it on the dictionary, and re-reading the paragraph. Thanks to Mary Shelley now I know fifty-three new words.

What can I tell you man, the book was GRAND! And I strongly think that my feelings towards it got directly affected by my love for the movie Frankenstein (1931), as well as Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Now, having read the book I can tell you, without joking around, that neither movie follows much of Mary Shelley’s text.

Victor Frankenstein broke my heart. He lived his life tormented by his creation, the ‘wretched’ monster. Victor was a fighter and even though he was almost always on the verge of death due to illness (debilitating nerves), he never gave up not even when everyone he loved was getting killed by the monster’s revenge.

And the monster (oh, the monster), believe it or not, had a gentle soul just like us, well, before it was polluted by hatred and revenge after being rejected by his protectees aka the villagers he was inconspicuously looking after, and diligently learning from. This next passage made me misty-eyed while reading it during lunch break at work:

               “I had not a moment to lose, but, seizing the hand of the old man, I cried, “Now is the time! Save and protect me!” – The monster

The monster was so afraid to come out to the world. He had lived in seclusion for so long while he learned how to behave like a human, how to speak like a human, and in the end, he craved to be loved like a human. But he got rejected by the humans, in a very violent way nonetheless, due to his frightful looks. So he went away and searched for his creator, Victor Frankenstein, to request he made him a mate who would not reject him for his looks because she would also be hideous looking. But Victor knew better and refused, deciding to live with the consequences of his denial.

While reading Mary Shelley’s story I could not choose sides. I empathized with both Victor and the monster but for different reasons and each had disadvantages –the former got greedy and lost everything; the latter succumbed to violence and lost as well. I guess I would have to say that after finishing he whole story and reflecting on it, I would choose Victor as my main guy. He never gave up and that I applaud.

Even thought my time with the book has ended I still feel the emotional connection with the characters. I don’t know how to eloquently put it into words, but the raw emotions and the ups and downs took a toll on me. (Wow, I sounded like Victor.)

As for my precious blue book, it is time it goes back to its rightful place on top of my bookshelf, where it will look as pretty as the first time I laid eyes on it at the Horror Vault.

- Marath