Blog
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Review and Haiku: Freddy vs. Jason
+++++++++ Haiku
Two horror icons
Freddy and Jason battle
One will reign supreme
+++++++++ Mask History
First up, the history of Jason’s Mask used in F vs. J, and this comes from horror.fandom.com,
It states:
In this film, Jason’s mask appears similar to the one in Part III down to the three red triangles, but it now appears to be cream-colored rather than white and it is notably missing it’s signature axe mark.. Throughout the movie the mask goes through some noticeable changes; primarily claw marks from Freddy’s glove and soaked blood.
+++++++++ Review
This movie is better than it has any right to be. Up there with some of the best sequels in either franchise.
Ronny Yu, who directed it, did a great job behind the lens. He kept the movie moving at a good pace and kept the fight scenes cohesive and easy to watch – you could see what was going on the whole time. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, who wrote the script, also deserve a lot of credit, probably the most credit. They found a way to put these two titans together into one film, somehow combining locations, back stories, history, etc., and making it all work like all of that belongs in one film.
Freddy looks amazing. He’s wise cracking and doing his best at being the nasty dream demon we’ve all come to know and love. A little pervier in this one but there’s always been a bit of that in this character. I do wish they would have used that demon thing he turns into when he jumps out of the water a little more. I hate it was only in that one scene. He looked nasty and maybe the most evil he’s ever looked.
Jason, he’s big, he’s hulking, he’s monstrous, and looks great too. I wish Kane Hodder would have been in this role, yes, I am one of those people, but I like what Ken Kirzinger brought to this character.
Fights are top notch. A bit over the top at times but it’s Freddy battling Jason, that’s to be expected, especially when Freddy is involved. Effects are top notch too. Gore is nasty as well. When Freeburg got split in half in that one scene that was an all time kill in either series and so was the bed kill when Tray gets butchered badly and then folded up. Nasty stuff.
Monica Keena, the final girl?. Solid in her role and so is the rest of the cast. No complaints with the acting in this movie.
All in all, this film should not have worked as well as it did but it did and I am glad for that. I always enjoy revisiting it.
What are your thoughts about Freddy vs Jason? Who truly won? Who were you rooting for? Let me know all that in the comments.
See the review here: Freddy vs. Jason
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Review and Haiku: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
Deadly accident
Time to bury the truth
Someone always knows
+++++Spoilers +++++
I liked this movie, more than most it seems, but it does have a heap of problems, and let’s start with what I think is the biggest problem, the third act and the reveal of the killers. Ray being one of them doesn’t make a lick of sense.
I get the trauma aspect, the bad divorce aspect, being close to the other killer aspect, the woman he works with aspect, things like that, but this reveal is terrible for all the past movies.
In the first one he was kind of clueless but likeable, a good guy, and a decent guy, and in the second Freddy put a little more gusto in the role and became kind of a badass, which I liked a lot. So to see him turn into a killer was kind of heart breaking. It really ruined a great likeable character who seemed like a really nice guy.
Julie James wasn’t used enough but I liked seeing Jennifer back again. It sort of works and sort of doesn’t. The rest of the cast is solid too. No standouts but they read their lines very well and don’t distract you with bad acting.
The movie was also about 10 minutes too long. You could have shaved some time off some of these scenes and you wouldn’t have missed that time.
There were stupid character moments even for a Slasher movie, which I can look past most of the time but this one guy going to check the gate and while in the process of checking the gate he walks right past a full on person dressed in a fisherman outfit. Are we supposed to believe they have mannequins in this place dressed like fisherman – bit of a stretch – but the surprise stab in the back was nice and jarring. Stupidity led to a good kill.
The throw away scene at the end of the movie with the two girls on the beach – not sure about that or the lead up to it with that dialogue after the hospital. All of it seemed too casual for the subject matter they are discussing.
And I could go on with even more negatives, but let’s stop the hate train and put some positivity into the episode and dive into one of my favorite parts of the movie.
The dream sequence with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Might be the movie’s biggest highlight and it actually worked, probably shouldn’t have, but it did. Good use of CGI and the deaging was better than it is in most movies. It probably helps that Sarah still looks young and it didn’t take much to deage her unlike some of these older actors.
Gore was decent. Kills were nothing spectacular but I did like when they hung the father and son up like fish at the dock. That was a nice finish to that double kill but if you are looking for insane amounts of gore this movie isn’t for you.
I also liked how they incorporated old sets and things like that into the set pieces – like the parade float from the original I know what you did last summer. That was a nice touch. Good way to add in some nostalgia.
Fisherman/Fisherwoman looked great. I always liked the look of this killer and the weapon he or she uses. Lots of carnage to be had with that weapon.
Mid credit scene was good too with Brandy and Jennifer – and if there is a movie to be had with them chasing down this killer then sign me up. Don’t care if it doesn’t make a lick of sense I would still watch it and what would the title of it be.
Comment with your titles?
Mine would be this. I know what you did last summer and since you did this thing last summer we are going to kill you for that thing you did last summer – rolls of the tongue, right?
Overall, the first two acts were solid, but it is in the third act where this movie has the biggest problems and that’s where you don’t want to have them. Okay to start slow or slightly off and course correct as you move through the film. But you got to close strong. Leave the audience wanting more.
That’s it. What are your thoughts about I know what you did last summer? Did you enjoy it? Does Ray as the killer work for you? Let me know all that in the comments.
Take care. Have a good one and be safe on those dark roads at night.
See the video for this script:
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Daily Prompt
What do you wish you could do more every day?
Read. Grab my Kindle and just read. I have time to do it but the phone usually distracts me. I am not a phone junky (truly work to limit my screen time) but it still calls to me. Like a siren leading me to the murky technical depths.
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Haiku: Mental Floss
There’s a great Jimmy Buffett song called Mental Floss. Inspired the title. Encourage you to check it out.
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Daily Prompt
What was the best compliment you’ve received?
When I started dating my wife she had only dated guys in her church. They had never really been the best fit for her. She took a chance on me, despite reservations from a few of her friends, and agreed to a first date. I wasn’t regularly going to church at the time so many reservations were given as to why I wasn’t the right fit.
Turns out, plot twist, my wife told me years later that the reason she decided to go on a second date, and eventually marry me, was because none of those church guys ever treated her the way I treated her.
Always thought that was a great compliment.
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Daily Prompt
What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?
I use music mostly when negativity hits. Finding a song that is super aggressive or upbeat and light easily helps change my mood. It always puts my mind into a better place. Jimmy Buffett has been my go to artists for years. Getting lost in his music will easily reset your mind.
Exercise also helps too. A long walk, hike, or bike ride clears the mind. Nature is a healer.
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Review and Haiku: Friday the 13th (2009)
Sister is missing
Brother is on the hunt
Jason roaming free
The History of Jason’s Mask for this remake, according to horror.fandom.com:
In this film, Jason acquires his mask after his burlap sack is removed after a brief fight with Donnie. It appears similar to the one from Part III, although the eye holes are shaped slightly different and are closer together. It is also more dirty and worn-out, and the triangles are peeling off.
There you go. Brief, but that gives you an idea of what the mask looked like in this movie, which is a great remake. This came out at the tail end of the remake boom and it’s a highlight from that time and space. Probably Top Ten Remake, of all the remakes that came out, but I still think, though it needs a revisit, haven’t seen it for a bit, Dawn of the Dead is the best in that remake era. Comment if you agree or not?
Back to this remake, Friday the 13th, simply put, it works from start to finish. Are there flaws? Sure. It’s horny. Is that a flaw? Not sure but the horniness is so abundant that it almost gets annoying at times. Characters are constantly talking about sexual things. Even the sex scenes are probably the most gratuitous we’ve ever gotten in this franchise. Part 9 and 5 also had their fair share, but this one might have the most. Again, comment if you can think of hornier Friday the 13th movies than Parts 9 (jason goes to hell), Part 5 (a new beginning), or this one?
Jason looks awesome in that burlap sack or in the iconic hockey mask, and he looks like a beast too, nothing to screw around with, tall and muscular, easily could do some permanent bodily damage. Derek Mears did a great job in this role.
Cast is good enough. They read their lines well. Jared Padelecki though did do a fine job as the lead but the cast is mostly there for nudity and kills which are solid. When blonde douche bag dude gets pinned to the back of that truck and driven off to points unknown – series highlight. I was also partial to the boat kill. When the guy driving the boat gets that arrow through his eye. It was unexpected and jarring. And there are plenty of other good kills and lots of gore throughout the movie. If you go into this one for kills or gore you will not be dissapointed.
Movie is also shot good enough by Marcus Nispel. It’s a bit hurky jurky at times, fights are not always cohesive, but direction is mostly on point throughout the film.
Overall, I think this one is up there with some of the best in the series. That’s it. What are your thoughts about the Friday the 13th Remake? One of the best in the remake era? One of the best Friday the 13th movies? Let me know. Take care and have a good one.
See the video for this script.
History of Jason’s Mask, Haiku, and Review for Friday the 13th (2009)
https://youtu.be/Ywd4vTC1LLk -
Review and Haiku: Scream 7
SPOILERS – CHECK OUT NOW IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT
An old foe returns
Casting doubts into the past
Stu, deepfake or not
Neve Campbell. She’s back as Sidney and just as great as always. She slipped easily back into her role. Sydney is a final girl for many reasons and iconic too and Neve is the reason for that. Loved seeing her return and Courtney too and the other two cast members Jasmin and Mason from the last two movies. Nice to see them back even though all three were underused.
Seeing Matthew Lillard return as Stu, even as a deep fake, lots of fun was had with that, and the other couple of quick cameos from past killers too – nice touch. Enjoyed seeing Dewey in those deep facts as well.
The rest of the cast is solid. No issues at all with any of them. Neve’s daughter Tatum (nice callback) played by Isablel May liked her performance. Solid in the final girl role.
Gore and Effects:
Top notch. A Few nasty kills. Never seen someone’s head drove through a bar tap and said tap spills beer and blood onto the floor. Mckeena Grace, who also did a great job, had a nasty kill, very creative, even though spilling guts is almost cliche now. Still works for the desired effect but it might be time to retire that style of kill. Beyond those kills, gore is plentiful, and if you like blood, you get lots of it.
Story, Script, and Directing:
I thought Kevin Williamson did a great job behind the lens. Movie never lagged or dragged. Shots were clean and crisp and you could see the action clearly.
Story and script by Kevin and Guy Busick is the one negative you could glom onto from this one. If you want or need a negative. It’s not the tightest story or script in this franchise, might be one of the weakest, but I don’t tune into these movies for that. Sure, I enjoy great characters, I enjoy the mystery, who’s doing it, things like that, and great reveals, but what I enjoy the most is what this one gave me. Thrills, chills, chase scenes, gore, laughs, jump scares, etc. that’s why you watch these movies and it did a great job with all that.
Score:
Can’t complain about the music it fit where it was needed. Nice to hear Red Right Hand – feels like a scream movie when that song plays.
Last thing, the Killer, Ghostface, Iconic, Roger Jackson was back with his voice, loved that, and the costume never ever fails. Always enjoyed the look of Ghostface.
The killer reveals are not as strong as past killer reveals but I kind of liked the fact that they were sort of just random people and not tied to a family member or a friend group. Anna Camp, solid, as the architect of the killings. I still don’t understand her motives one hundred percent, future watches will clear that up, but even if that part is a tad bit weak that doesn’t bother me.
I do kind of wish it would have been Stu doing the killings. Rising up to be the mastermind. We’re at the point in time in a franchise where that kind of insanity actually would work. And Matthew Lillard hamming it up with the big speech at the end would have elevated this movie a lot.
Also really liked the opening too. Lots of good red herrings with that animatronic Ghostface, liked having it in the background, kept you on edge. Opening kills were brutal too.
All in all, no complaints with this one. I enjoyed it. It gave me what I wanted from a Scream movie and that’s all you can ask of it. Future viewings may change my thoughts but for now that’s where I stand.
If there is a Scream 8 – my idea for it – comment with yours. I want to see Ghostface running through the woods, chasing camp counselors, and slaughtering them beside a lake. Easy enough to do. Counselor goes wrong, loves the Stab movies and Friday the 13th, and decides to combine them. One killer. No ties to anyone in the previous entries. Just a straight up Slasher movie. Very similar to Friday the 13th Part 5. That’s what I want to see in Part 8 and maybe going forward just make each one not tie into the other 7. New cast, no legacy characters. Just find a way to put Ghostface into a movie and get him or her doing what he or she does best.
And that’s it. What are your thoughts about Scream 7? Don’t just say it sucks or say I suck for enjoy it. Just give me good reasons why you did or didn’t enjoy it. Keep it civil.
If you want to see the video to this script you can find it here. Disembodied Screams
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Daily Prompt
You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?
Sunshine, Jimmy Buffett, and palm trees that has defined me and shaped me into the man I am today.
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Daily Prompt
What are three objects you couldn’t live without?
AirPods. Allows me not to annoy my family.
Kindle. Love getting lost in a great story. I just finished Fairy Tale by Stephen King and really enjoyed it.
I hate to admit this one – my phone. It’s a creative tool, a connection to the world, entertainment, etc. Hard to not have it.
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Daily Prompt
What experiences in life helped you grow the most?
Kids.
When you become a parent it changes you – in a good way.
Plus, I stay home with them so it’s helped me change and grow in ways that are very positive.
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Review and Haiku: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
A contest is won
Secluded island awaits
Fisherman returns
Solid.
That’s the word that kept coming to mind while watching this sequel to I know what you did last summer and I realized while watching it that I haven’t visited this sequel nearly enough throughout the years
Gore is 90’s horror movie gore, Post Scream gore, just enough splatter to let you know somebody died but not enough to desensitize you, which may not be a bad thing. You get the point and you know that person is dead. Time to move on to the next victim.
Even with the minimal gore though, there are still some solid kills throughout. Jack Black, his character, had one of the toughest to watch because he seemed like a nice enough easy going guy, a bit annoying, but he just liked his weed and wanted others to enjoy that vibe too. Nothing wrong with that. His death was tough because Jack really sold it.
Fisherman looked great, again. I always liked the look of this serial killer with the slicker, the hat, the hook, the thing covering his or her face. A good costume to keep the villain disguised and to keep you guessing.
Story, script, directing is good too. I like what they did with this story and putting them up on the island during a storm. Works well for a slasher movie. No where to run. No where to hide. And I liked the twist at the end with father and son tag teaming the kills. Made a lot of sense. This series has lived in the shadow of Scream for many years so why not take a page from it and have two killers. Worked extremely well.
The score was what you’d expect from a movie like this. Good enough. Plenty of late nineties sounding music sprinkled throughout
And finally, acting, honestly, better than a movie like this needs to be. Jennifer Love Hewitt. Solid in her role as the final girl, question mark. Great screaming once again. Up there with Mark Patton from A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 for best horror screamers. Brandy was good in her role and so was Freddy. Played the tough guy better than I thought he could and the rest of the cast is solid too. No complaints.
All in all, I am glad I dove back into this sequel, and it’s one I will revisit from time to time.
That’s it. What are your thoughts about I still know what you did last summer? Did you enjoy it or not? Let me know all that in the comments below.
See the video here: Disembodied Screams
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Daily Prompt
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
“Stay focused”
I wasted a lot of time when I was young. Looking back now, at 53, I see so much unused space – space that should have been filled with more creative projects or long hikes or running or traveling, etc.
I don’t have regrets but I do have a few redos in my past.
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Daily Prompt
If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?
Does he ever wear pants?
I push shorts season deep into fall almost to the edge of winter and if winter is mild I still wear them. I do not like pants, especially blue jeans, and only wear them when it’s just too cold not to.
A Poetry Journey 
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