Horror

Rating:
Summary: Frustratingly close to greatness
Review: (Note: my four-star rating above is really closer to three-and-a-half.)

Independent filmmaker Dante Tomaselli is a talented visual stylist who loves to conjure up macabre, grotesque visions and hallucinations. He's primarlily interested in the feelings and moods evoked by classic horror films and irrational childhood fears, and narrative takes a very definite backseat to all of this. What little plot there is involves the escape of four teenagers from a drug rehab clinic and their subsequent nightmarish encounters in some sort of supernatural netherworld. It's basically a reality vs. illusion puzzle. Some of what goes on seems to be paranormal, but you have to take into account the fact that some (but not all) of the characters are high on magic mushrooms. In a manner reminiscent of David Lynch's recent films, past and present become confused, the ending dovetails with the beginning, and the characters seem to be caught in a nightmarish loop. If you can't do without a conventional storyline no matter how enthralling the imagery or intriguing the narrative puzzle, you'd best give Tomaselli's films a pass. As with Tomaselli's first feature, Desecration, Horror veers awfully close to pure surrealism; if you enjoy films like Un Chien Andalou or Eraserhead, you'll likely enjoy Horror. Not that Horror is in the same league. Although a better film than his first in almost every respect, Horror suffers from some weak acting and bad dialogue (though Lizzy Mahon and Kreskin do turn in solid performances). Also, Tomaselli has an unfortunate tendency to oversell his scares, occasionally resorting to overemphatic, in-your-face camerawork, and his busy, incessant, wailing-banshee soundtrack--which he obviously put a lot of work into-- tends to contribute to the problem. Less is almost always more in this genre, and a quieter, subtler approach would have been more effective.
All in all, Horror is a step up from the flawed but promising Desecration. For his next film, I'd love to see Tomaselli collaborate with a good screenwriter, someone who could help shape his ideas and provide strong dialogue and a better sense of character. He's not there yet, but Tomaselli just might be creeping toward greatness.

Rating:
Summary: Another Ace
Review: After watching Dante Tomaselli's first movie DESECRATION, I was awe struck at the raw talent of first time producer Tomaselli. When I found out that he was releasing his second film I ordered it right away, hoping that HORROR would be half as good as DESECRATION. Tomaselli has once again proven himself a master of a compelling puzzle of psychological horror and gore. Another familiar face in HORROR is the star Danny Lopes (Bobby in Desecration). Lopes gives an amazing performance, sharpening his acting skills and drawing in the viewer. This is one of the summers hottest movies, that you will be sorry you missed.

Rating:
Summary: The film horror fans have been clamoring for!
Review: Apropriately, Dante Tomaselli's new scarefest,HORROR, has three "R's" in its title. Its a pulse pounding 77 minutes that deals with Religion,Rehabilitation and Redemption.
Structured like a chinese puzzle box, the director immediately puts the viewer on edge with an outrageous attack from a sinister black goat. Your immediately plunged into the world that Dante Tomaselli has created , one of a seemingly picture perfect, idyllic, snow covered small town that isnt all it seems from its look. Its like peering at a Currier and Ives snow globe depiction of a quaint town, only its glass boundaries encase a sea of blood with particles of drugs, not glistening snowflakes, floating about. The inhabitants include a teen girl, Grace, her wicked parents, her paternal grandfather, the Reverend Salo, and a group of wayward, drug addled teens, led by a boy named Luck.
Grace is force fed drugs by her offkilter parents and searches for and finds momentary solace with her paternal Grandfather, the Reverend Salo. Luck and a group of inmates kill a guard and escape from their rehabilitation center and find themselves in this small town. They unwittingly try a bagful of hallucinogens given to them by Salo, Jr, and trip out . Soon after they break into Grace's home, as bleak and hermetically clean as anything in an Ingmar Bergman film, and bludgeons her mother and the Reverend, Jr. The Chinese puzzle feel of thefilm beautifully intertwines with its colorful cast of characters and horrific sequences all leading to a mouth gaping denoument.
This film is non linear in structure and plot but more than makes up for it in visual pizzaz that bewilders , beffudles and blinds you with its brilliance. Its an artichoke of a film that has so many layers that when peeled away reveals a pounding heart of excitement in a genre that usually produces lima beans of blandness, sameness and no depth. It can be enjoyed on so many levels-as a frightening journey, a psychological thriller ripe with meanings or as a encyclopedia of 70s/80s horror film references. There are setpieces in this film that are not easily shaken from memory. Tomaselli doesnt resort to cheap thrills-there is artistry at work here that often chills to the bone simply by his use of camera placement, lighting and music. Its so densely populated in its compact running time that its bursting at its seams. The goat attacks are horrific but thats only the surface of much more scarring images as torture chambers, crimson robed clergyman , and shadowy figures that percolates the eye as it burrows into the psyche. Every viewer can relate to the films themes of religuous misfortune, parental deception, drug and child abuse. You become disturbed by these vivid reenactments of our inert fears and don't know quite why until you realize its a very unreal reality under its core that overwhelms you.
The acting by mostly unknowns(but not for long) is quite expressive. Lizzy Mahon is innocence reborn as Grace-a radiant actress who elicits compassion very easily. Danny Lopes-a major discovery in a Tomaselli's last film, DESECRATION(a companion piece to this film that demands to be seen in tandem)-has wordless scenes that convey beautifully to the audience his betwixtness in life; Christie Sanford, also continuing her Tomaselli relationship, is Karen Black reincarnated as the daffy mom. Two surprises are the Seventies mentalist, The Amazing Kreskin, as Reverend Salo who gives a performance very insync to the films discombulated rhythms. Never once does the viewer know who Salo really is and what his true purpose with Grace is-its keeps you guessing and on your toes. In a cameo is Felissa Rose as an art therapist . Forever etched in the stone of horror film history as Angela from SLEEPAWAY CAMP, she has such presence in one sequence(of which I wont reveal) that has people wanting to see more of her-its that good.
HORROR is the film horror fans have been clamoring for. Its scary as Hell without resorting to cgi effects or whimsy. There is a climactic zombie scene unlike any you've seen that will thrill horror audiences in its reference to the DEAD films but non genre audiences can as easily channel SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER . HORROR is a multi tiered masterpiece that you will find yourself immersed inmany times and coming out of its 77 minutes with something newly siscovered each time. Dante Tomaselli is a name to be reckoned with soon his portrait will hang in the gallery of horror director greats. HORROR s three "R's" can also stand foe Revisionary, Reverberating and Remarkable. Its one to savor.

Rating:
Summary: Your damnation draweth nigh.
Review: Dante Tomaselli's "Horror" is a chilling portrait of five damned souls standing before Hell's open gates and gaping at the terrors that are stretched out before them. Logic is swept in a flood of bizarre and frightening imagery (a sinister black goat, leering, demonic jack 'o lanterns, legions of the undead), leaving the viewer just as frightened and confused as the characters. The film is a puzzle. Those seeking an easy answer, or any answer for that matter, will be sorely disappointed. Tomaselli exhibits great courage as a filmmaker in this age of happy endings and by-the-numbers scripts with easy to comprehend themes. Those willing to take this hellish journey will find much to like, and be frightened by, in "Horror." It is a scary little film that will get under your skin and haunt you long after it has ended. See this film... if you dare!

Rating:
Summary: a BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE !
Review: Dante Tomaselli's "HORROR" is one of the most original pieces of artwork that i have ever seen! this is a perfect example of creativity,imagination & natureal skill crushing any budget problems. "HORROR" is like a creeeeeeeeepy painting come to life! its very hard to explain , its definetly one of those movies that you have to see for your self just like a FULCI,ARGENTO or a BAVA film!!!! im also very sick & tired of listening to mainstream conditioned so-called horror fans rant & rave about horror movies that don't make perfect sense! i mean whats your problem people? does everything have to be spelled out in big black & white letters & sitting firmly on the straight line for you to enjoy it????! can nothing be left unexplained? i mean god forbid if you have to read between the lines every once in a while or draw your own conclutions for a scene by useing your own imagination, OH MY LORDY LORD NOT THAT!!!!!!!!!!forget you true horror fan wannabe's! for people who actually enjoy GREAT original horror movies loaded with beautifully creeeeeepy atmosphere then this movie is right up your ally. Dante Tomaselli is a definite breath of fresh air, i believe he is carrying along a traditional style & the legacy of great italian horror maesto's that came before him & i am now a huge fan of this new maestro! i see nothing but great things coming in the future from this guy! this man did his horror home work & i have to completely disagree with the editorial reviewer! movies don't have to make perfect sense to be scary as hell & there also isn't a set way to make horror movies! a horror movie can make all the sense in the world & still sukkk! as well as a horror movie can make no sense at all & still be a masterpiece like Dante Tomaselli's "HORROR" !!! THIS IS WHAT NIGHTMARE'S ARE MADE OF !!! if you scare easy then DON'T watch this flick alone!!! you have been warned!!! now enjoy fellow horror fanz!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: Dont bother wasting your money on this low budget movie. Besides Kreskin the acting was terrible. The story line is hard to follow, and isn't really that good to begin with. I have no idea why people are hyping Tomaselli, his work is cr*p. I wish I could get my money back.

Rating:
Summary: a filmmaker to watch out for!
Review: Having seen Dante Tomaselli's first feature film, Desecration, his latest, Horror, demonstrates that this up-and-coming filmmaker is perfecting his own style of filmmaking. While he does harken back to Italian horror maestros like Mario Bava and Dario Argento, the complex soundscapes Tomaselli creates for his movies are quite reminiscent of David Lynch's movies. And like John Carpenter, he also composes much of the soundtrack for his movies. This puts Tomaselli in good company indeed.

Horror is a creepy, waking nightmare a la Lost Highway where the protagonist is eternally damned. There are some truly striking images in Horror that linger in the brain long after the film ends. This is a truly unsettling, old school horror movie that is a breath of fresh air after the self-reflexive cycle of Scream films.

The DVD is packed with some nice extras. The real stand-out is the audio commentary by Tomaselli. He provides many fascinating insights into what inspires and influences him and unravels a bit of the ambiguity that the film creates.

Along with Larry Fessenden's Wendigo and the low budget Canadian werewolf film, Ginger Snaps, Tomaselli's Horror heralds a new wave of horror films that echo the no-holds-barred aesthetics of the '70s generation. Horror is definitely worth a look and remember the name Dante Tomaselli -- he's a filmmaker who's going places.

Rating:
Summary: The film horror fans have been clamoring for!
Review: Horror geeks like to justify an unmotivated storyline by throwing David Lynch at you and making a comparison. Comparing Tomaselli's Horror to Lynch would require David to defend himself, and I don't think someone with his talent needs to do that. Dante Tomaselli shows an eye for stylistic filmmaking, an ear for sound, but not much for storytelling. One thing must be understood, just because you spend some time and/or money on a particular scene, doesn't mean you should carry the shots beyond human patience.

This film wanders and detaches itself from any clarity or flow. Even if you don't understand a David Lynch film, you can still respect his ability to deliver clarity and flow within the cinematic elements and character interaction. I see a bit of arrogance here. In the behind the scenes section of the dvd, Tomaselli seems so aloof, distant from the crew, a pretentious swagger to his walk and mannerisms. Come on, you're not that good.

Horror seems to base itself on the Tarantino/Shyamalan type twist in filmmaking (loosely and poorly), throwing everything else in just to fill in that pesky little time standard required to call a film a FEATURE.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: Horror geeks like to justify an unmotivated storyline by throwing David Lynch at you and making a comparison. Comparing Tomaselli's Horror to Lynch would require David to defend himself, and I don't think someone with his talent needs to do that. Dante Tomaselli shows an eye for stylistic filmmaking, an ear for sound, but not much for storytelling. One thing must be understood, just because you spend some time and/or money on a particular scene, doesn't mean you should carry the shots beyond human patience.

This film wanders and detaches itself from any clarity or flow. Even if you don't understand a David Lynch film, you can still respect his ability to deliver clarity and flow within the cinematic elements and character interaction. I see a bit of arrogance here. In the behind the scenes section of the dvd, Tomaselli seems so aloof, distant from the crew, a pretentious swagger to his walk and mannerisms. Come on, you're not that good.

Horror seems to base itself on the Tarantino/Shyamalan type twist in filmmaking (loosely and poorly), throwing everything else in just to fill in that pesky little time standard required to call a film a FEATURE.

Rating:
Summary: A chilling mood piece
Review: HORROR is a dream come true for fans of offbeat horror movies. This movie is not for everyone but if you like dreamlike sets and demonic music you're in for a nice treat. Lots of crazy, deeply creepy imagery and sounds here. What did it all mean? You Are Going to Hell, which I gather was the premise since the director talks about it during his commentary. I also read the article in Fangoria Magazine - Alice in Wonderland on Acid. I liked HORROR better than DESECRATION, the director's first devil-movie effort. I thought the acting was actually quite good for a film of this budget (only $200, 000 and House of 1000 Corpses was about 7 million!!!!). Tomaselli works wonders with such a low budget. Lizzy Mahon as the Reverend's daughter was definitely the stand-out here. Some of the other actors were questionable. I have to mention there is a scene on a torture rack that will make you squirm. Kreskin is demented and sometimes funny as Grace's grandfather (who may be alive or dead?). The cinematography is gorgeous. Even if you have no idea what's happening, Tomaselli's usage of colors and sounds to paint his landscape of eerie nightmares is impressive. Now I hear that there is a remake of SUSPIRIA coming out. I'm upset and ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE!!!!!!! that Hollywood will ruin it (Isn't this happening to Texas Chainsaw Massacre as well?). I'd only want to see the Suspiria remake if Dante Tomaselli is directing. Is he? If he's not - somebody should get him because he really REALLY should. It would be fascinating to see the results. I know the director has got to be a fan of DARIO ARGENTO. Argento's influence is all over this movie (and DESECRATION). All in all, HORROR is an interesting little treat, from an underrated horror director we will hopefully be seeing a lot more from in the future. I dig his freaky satanic-themed movies and I can't wait for the next. Keep them coming.