CUJO (1983)

Featuring: Dee Wallace; Daniel Hugh-Kelly; Danny Pintauro

Director: Lewis Teague

Every time I watch this movie (and it has been quite a few times now) it scares the heebie-jeebies out of me. No wonder it became a real cult classic amongst horror flick aficionados.

Again the main story contains a number of sub-plots but eventually everything work towards the main event. A mother (Dee Wallace) and her young son (Danny Pintauro) get trapped in their broken-down car on a desolate farm while a giant rabid dog is trying his best to get at them. How will they survive the ordeal?

Based on another Stephen King bestseller, the movie starts off happily enough in small-town America with nothing but wide open spaces only to climax into one of the most frightening claustrophobic and bloody film finales ever. Young Danny Pintauro's outstanding performance needs special mentioning though. It got him nominated for a Young Artist Award in 1984.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45vzCiU01O4

Mom and son shortly before the ordeal began...

 

DREAMCATCHER (2003)

Featuring: Morgan Freeman; Thomas Jane; Damian Lewis

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

A "dreamcatcher" is a device used by the indigenous peoples of North America to ward off bad dreams. Exactly how that fits into the story is not made very clear in the movie. For that you have to look at the trailer.

Four childhood friends who share extrasensory powers head off to their remote cabin in the woods for a boys only weekend. However, no sooner did they arrive there or things start to go horribly wrong. At the same time the military is on secret maneuvers to seek and destroy an alien base in the same area. And of course this goes awry as well. So it is up to our friends to jump in and save the world from total annihilation.

Like so many Stephen King stories this one has so many sub-plots, each with its own weird twists and turns that it becomes difficult to keep your head about it. Unfortunately this movie doesn't succeed in doing it and therefor become rather muddled and confusing towards the middle. However, the ending does tie some strings together. The special effects are great though. It might be worth watching it for the scary stuff alone if you are in the mood.

I rate it at 2 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBSoQEQrLE

The four friends looking up at the title object

CARRIE (2013)

Featuring: Chloe Grace Moretz; Julianne Moore; Ansel Elgort

Director: Kimberly Pierce

"Carrie" was Stephen King's first commercially successful book. It was made into film initially in 1975, starring Sissy Spacek in the title roll and directed by Brian De Palma. This 2013 remake is basically a updated version of that movie.

Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz) is the daughter of a religious nut who believes the first and original sin was intercourse. The poor girl therefor never got told any of the facts of life. So when she has her first period, it comes as a complete surprise. To make matters worse, it happens in the school showers in front of all her female classmates who, of course, makes fun of it all. At the same time she also discovers that she possesses over immense kinetic powers. From thereon one thing leads to another which could eventually only spell disaster.

As this is a more technological updated version to the original it is easier for modern audiences to relate to. And even though the story might be familiar, director Kimberly Pierce presents it in such a way that it feels fresh. The special effects, although not as many as you might expect, are quite good. However, it is the performances of the entire cast that stands out and makes this one a cut above other horror movies of this era.

I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSn7JyijA8k

Scary girl!