Big Screen Experience: Beetlejuice (1988)

April 16, 2019

Last week I saw Beetlejuice (1988) on the big screen here at my local movie theater and it was great, no, wait, it was better than great, it was freaking amazing! I was just a little kid when the movie came out in the 80’s so I had of course assumed that that was it, I would never see the movie (now one of my top 10 favorites) like it was meant to be watched, in theaters.

Long story short, fast-forward thirty-one years later and voilà, a miracle happened! Oh dear god, when the room got dark and the movie’s catchy opening title (the one I have watched on my television countless number of times) started playing, I felt overwhelmed with joy and dread… hear me out, joy because duh, but dread because how (how!?) could I ever have a better movie-going experience than this? It was Beetlejuice, people, Beetlejuice on the big screen! AH!

I had a great time at the movies and did not mind embarrassing myself in front of all those strangers; I said out loud in unison the lines I love so much (This is my art, and it is dangerous. Do you think I want to die like this? / I must express myself. If you don't let me gut out this house and make it my own, I will go insane, and I will take you with me! / Go ahead, make my millennium. / Nice fuckin' model! / It's showtime.), I sang and danced on my seat to its iconic songs ("Day O" / "Jump In The Line"), but most importantly, I laughed, I laughed so much and so hard I thought I was going to get kicked out of the place. Put simply, it was the perfect experience.

The storyline of Beetlejuice represents to me the ups and downs of life, all while being told in the most bizarre, cynical, hilarious way possible… hear me out, you have a couple of newlyweds spending their vacation at home with all their plans of relaxation (Adam) and renovation (Barbara), even contemplating trying for a family again. The Maitland’s live a simple happy life. Until they die due to random events. No big plan, no reason why, just dead. The end. Enter the afterlife and all its complicated rules to which you either adapt and learn fast or, well, you have seen the movie. Beetlejuice reminds me that life is short and random and that it is up to me to get on with it and adapt to its craziness, all while having as much fun as possible while I still can.

Closing side note: I have realized that as I type this today Tuesday, April 16, 2019 I, myself, am on vacation just like the Maitland’s were, spending my time off at home with the intention of relaxing and renovating… mmh, I am suddenly feeling a strong aversion from dogs and bridges.

In Love and Fear,

-Marath

THIS FRESH BLOOD: US (2019)

March 28, 2019

Jordan Peele is here to take care of our horror needs. His unique way of approaching social commentary via genre film is not only thought provoking but also a service to the American public. Racism told via body snatching? Check. [GET OUT, 2017] Abandonment and homelessness told via murderous doppelgangers? Check and check. [US, 2019] As Peele told Variety in a 2018 interview, he is “passionate about content that is both elevated and socially meaningful but not at the sacrifice of fun.”

Alright, let’s now get down to business and talk about Peele’s newest movie, US (2019). Just kidding, let’s first remember—or in my case, learn about—Hands Across America. Hands Across America was an 80’s fundraiser stunt which tried to enlist 6 million participants to form a coast-to-coast human chain, all in an effort to raise between $50 million and $100 million dollars for hungry and homeless Americans. The event happened on May 25, 1986 and although 5 million people did show up and held hands for 15 minutes from Manhattan to Long Beach, the calculated netted amount was only $15 million. (Wanna learn more? Go here.)

Okay, okay, enough screwing around, here’s US (2019):

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

I am trusting you are a dedicated Horror fan and already went to see the film on the big screen and know what happened, yada yada yada, the twist at the end was expected but still great! Yes, Adelaide Wilson’s “shadow” was the real Adelaide. Yes, the movie followed the story of “Tethered Red”, the clone, who became Adelaide by kidnapping her in 1986 when she was not being watched by her parents. Yes, that’s why fake Adelaide couldn’t speak after the incident at the beach fair (the “Tethered” don’t speak, just grunt like animals, duh!). Yes, yes, that’s why adult Adelaide was hesitant to go back to the beach with her family in present day – not because she was afraid something bad was going to happen to “her” again, but because she was afraid she was going to get caught, double duh!

[Fake Adelaide & Adelaide – the clone about to kidnap the real one]

[Adelaide & Fake Adelaide – the real one about to try to take revenge on the clone]

As I see it, the movie was a Yin and Yang of sorts and it was only scary because violence occurred and information was withheld making everyone uneasy, plus, let’s be honest, Peele’s sophisticated eye is what made this tale of survival of the strongest so beautiful and worth watching. Here, let me list all the things I loved about US:

80’s home decor
The VHS tapes by the TV when it was playing the ad for Hands Across America
The ominous reflection of kid Adelaide on the TV with the ad and the map of the United States
The uncomfortable mom and dad interaction at the beach fair
Adelaide exploring/getting lost at the fair at night
All the creepy background characters
The house of mirrors
The terror on Adelaide’s face when she encounters her clone
On present day: Adelaide’s family
All the small little details in the nice family interactions (car/dinner/boat/beach)
Adelaide’s husband (yum! #sorrynotsorry)
Adelaide’s subdued gestures hinting to the audience that something odd was going on in her head
When the clone family arrives
“If you wanna get crazy, we can get crazy.”
Red (real Adelaide) introducing her family & explaining who they are
“We are Americans.”
Red’s raspy voice
Umbrae’s demented stare! OMG SO CREEPY!!
When we learn that there are more killer clones in the town
The clone twins! OMG I DIED!!
Dahlia crying/evil-laughing! OMG SO SINISTER I ALMOST CRIED HAPPY TEARS!!
The hundreds of clones dressed in red, holding hands just like in Hands Across America
The final battle between Red and Adelaide in the tunnels (fight + backstory showing the clones controlling the ‘above ones’ like puppets)
When Adelaide realizes, after killing Red, that her son, who was hidden, might have listened to them talking, thus might know that she is the clone! And then, back in the car, he looking at her stone-faced and she almost, but not really, but kind of, giving him a look that said, And what are you going to do about it?

I cannot wait to rewatch US and pick up on all the other details I know I missed. Peele was so meticulous with this film that each scene, each word, each object had a purpose. There was nothing gratuitous in US and that, my horror friend, is elevated content. Hear, hear!

In Love and Fear,

-Marath

The Indisputable Elegance of THE EYE (2002)

March 23, 2019

Hi, hello, how are ya? It’s raining again in sunny California, but other than that things are pretty good here on my side of the world.

If you read my last post then you know I developed a healthy crush on Sydney from THE EYE (2008) thanks to her gorgeous looks but, honey, would I say the American remake version was my favorite when compared to the original version from Hong Kong? Mmmmh, no, not really, but I would say that thanks to it I was incredibly curious about the story line and it made me want to find and watch the original version as soon as possible, and so I did.

Introducing, THE EYE (2002):

I was lucky enough to find the movie on YouTube two days after watching the American one, so you know the info was fresh on my mind and could not stop myself from comparing the remake with this, the 2002 original.

I would not say the remake was better, even though its production value was superior because ‘Merica. I would not say the original was better either, even though its characters had more soul and life in them, and the story… the story unraveled little by little like an opening flower where the audience learned about the events along with their leading lady, Wong Mun (Lee Sin-Je), and was not cheated by ‘disrespectful’ or ‘painfully obvious’ clues *cough ‘Merica cough* and where the shadow of Death was a comforting image and where the dead seemed to be soothed by it, where the reason why Wong was able to see ghosts after her cornea transplant was because of unresolved issues from the donor whose sad and tragic story was, mind you, beautifully explained and showed in a black and white flashback, where you wholeheartedly sympathized for her even though Wong was suffering because of her, and Dr. Lo, oh Dr. Lo, thanks to him Wong was able to keep herself grounded even when things looked dire for her, oh, and the ending, the—SPOILER ALERT—violent and gory ending where dozens of people died on a meaningless accident which was not prevented by Wong because where do you think we are? ‘Merica? NO! Accidents happen and people die and it’s sad and unfair and also sometimes people get cornea transplants and start seeing ghost and after all their struggles nothing matters in the end because LIFE! Oh wait, wait a second, l would say the original 2002 version from Hong Kong was indeed the better movie.

Exactly two months after watching THE EYE (2002) for the very first time ever, and after having rewatched it a couple other times since then, I still get overwhelmed by its simple clean elegance. Brava!

In Love and Fear,

- Marath