TOPLIST TUESDAY: BEST AND WORST VIEWED OF 2011

It's safe to say that 2011 was the year of television. Apart from being glued to Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Sons of Anarchy and Pan Am (yep, it's a nerd thing and an amazing trip down history lane for us within the aviation industry), my constant followers CSI, Criminal Minds and Bones, my less obsessive past-time activities like Gossip Girl, Revenge, Pretty Little Liars, Grimm, New Girl, The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle, I got to rumble in my three absolute favorite horror shows; True Blood, American Horror Story and The Walking Dead.

TOP 3 HORROR SHOWS OF 2011

3. THE WALKING DEAD
Picking up the pace, AMC's The Walking Dead returned (according to the comic book reading zombie lover I live with) to its roots during the second season, which was notable even to me who haven't read the comic books. Finally moving on from Atlanta the group experienced a member going missing and several being badly wounded during their encountering with both new zombie herds but also another group of survivors. Finally bringing in some raw meat and some character drama in between zombie hunting, The Walking Dead is shaping up for its coming season.

2. TRUE BLOOD
As always, the summer season of HBO's True Blood brings vampire sexy back! Being the vamp lover in this household I'm always rooting for some sassy and mouth watering vampire-human-werewolf-drama. And True Blood never disappoints!

1. AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Completely knocking me off my feet FX's American Horror Story deserves a first place for its remarkable and surprising first season. I had read about it, I had waited for it, I had been anxious for it to start and it completely tickled my fancy! Talk about opening Pandora's box!

What wasn't as amazing in 2011 was the horror movie industry's poor releases. A few good views and even more bad ones were added to my repertoire.

BEST VIEWS IN 2011

10. BAG OF BONES
Based on the 1998 novel by Stephen King, Bag of Bones is a two-part TV miniseries adaption. Although I truly can't feel serious about Pierce Brosnan since his soft and humble appearance in Mamma Mia!, I was surprised at how well he did the part of the best-selling NY author who suddenly looses his wife in a traffic accident. Returning to their summer cabin he soon learns the truth about himself, and the history of the town in a spooky manor. A bit slow at times, as the first of the two parts is a strong atmosphere builder and the second part delivers a rather predictable end, it's definitely worth watching. And even though it resembles Secret Window, the movie adaption of the King's 1990 novel Secret Window, Secret Garden it still holds its own.

9. GRAVE ENCOUNTERS
Having written a previous post on this movie, I'll just state that this is a movie that could have opened into anything it wanted; still it lacks that intrigue and imagination that could have made it completely terrifying. Instead of giving the viewer a genuine experience, this movie gives you rehearsed dialogue and not natural enough performances to make you believe in a ghost hunting show turning real. I had my hopes up for this movie, so I was a bit disappointed at the turn of events, especially the ending. All in all, it's a pretty good movie, though.

8. SCRE4M
What could be a better trip down the adolescent memory lane than a fourth movie in the Scream-installment? Entertaining and twisted. As usual.

7. THE WARD
Definitely not John Carpenter's best, but I still liked the 80's Girl, Interrupted style to it.

6. YELLOW BRICK ROAD
YellowBrickRoad delivers the absolute right atmosphere and leaves room for the viewers imagination to roam free over the subtle but chilling elements; such as the behavior of the group members that develops into disturbing violence. Or the music which plays a vital role in the atmosphere, being somewhat the element that manipulates the story and the reason why the environment of the woods is so dangerous.

5. FRIGHT NIGHT
Although I don't approve of the beige module housing and Las Vegas suburbian life style of Jerry Dandrige in this 2011's remake, I totally adore Colin Farrell as a sociopath vampire-beast. Hunkyliscious!

4. THE THING

There were a few scenes that were strikingly resembling sequences from the 1982 movie (like the human/alien group testing scene and the dog in the kennel, etc.), but for me these contributed more to the a prequel, although déjà vu, kind of feeling than being rip-offs. Most of all the 2011 movie is true to the basic premise; being absurdly sticky and icky. Apart from the computerized monster and digital effects this is a really good movie where the ending scenes intertwine with the opening scene of the 1982 movie in a really smooth and effectual way.

3. TROLLJEGEREN (TROLL HUNTER)
Yet another in the row of Norwegian horror movies. I liked this simply because I could watch it in its original language without disturbing subtitles, and because it's nice to have a break from the somewhat monotone American movies.

2. THE INNKEEPERS

Sara Paxton does the amazing and quirky role of Claire, on of the front desk employees, who decides to reveal the Yankee Pedlar Inn's haunted past during their last weekend of being open. Playing out very similar to one of Ti West's previous movies, The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers sets the atmosphere right from the first scene and develops into a frightening escape from the hotel's past guests.

1. INSIDIOUS
With probably the sickest dance scene ever, Insidious brings a whole new meaning to the word creepy.
Coming from James Wan and Leigh Whannell who previously kicked off the Saw franchise, this movie brings a different scare to the screen. With effective and spine-tingling scares, Insidious sticks to the traditional 'haunted house' genre of horror and mixes it up with both astral projection, demonic possession and other elements that would have come off as goofy, were it not for for the intelligent dialogues and serious tone of the film, and serves up some really good scares.

WORST VIEWS IN 2011

10. PRIEST
Can Paul Bettany play anything other than a religious albino monk? Freaky!

9. THE RITE
Anthony Hopkins, when it comes to over-analyzed thrillers - I think it's time to leave your acting carrier behind?

 8. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

Haunted houses can be a bit 'been there, done that' theme. They're even worse when they have child actors AND Katie Holmes. (insert heavy sigh here)

7. DREAM HOUSE
Double on the Brits playing the American dream, only this one turns out to be a little different than expected. Soon after moving into their seemingly idyllic new home, the family learns of a brutal crime committed against former residents of the house. Basically a far-fetched Shutter Island twist gone boring.

6. 11-11-11
I couldn't even bring myself to watch more than a couple of minutes.

5. DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT

Just disappointing, as humorous horror will never be my thing. Ever.

4. THE ROOMMATE
Horrible fatal attraction movie starring Leighton Meester, who I'll never be able to see as any other than the prominent Blair Waldorf. She holds the queen throne when it comes to the CW fan club, but for the horror audience? I think not.

3. RED RIDING HOOD
Who on earth took the amazing tale of Red Riding Hood, the wonderful music by Karin Dreijer Andersson and the hotness that is Shiloh Fernandez and turned into some corny wannaba-medieval chic flick? Well, none other than the eminent Catherine Hardwick who forever destroyed the visual stimuli that is a vampire.

2. SEASON OF THE WITCH

Seriously... no. First, I can't stand when they manipulate history into fitting the standards of a Hollywood movie. Secondly, I can't stand Ron Perlman's greedy face since his domestic abuse issues in the fourth season of Sons of Anarchy, and I haven't liked Nicholas Cage since... well, never.

1. RED STATE

I can't even begin to describe who COMPLETELY WORTHLESS this movie was. Sorry. It wasn't horror. It wasn't even some Southern church club gone bad. It was just useless.

MOVIES FROM 2011 I HAVEN'T SEEN YET
Paranormal Activity 3, The Awakening, The Whispering Dead, The Yellow Wallpaper, Mørke sjeler (from 2010), La casa muda


ANTICIPATED IN 2012

DUNDERLAND 

I'm so rooting for my neighboring country Norway in the battle of 'foreign movies'!

THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Yes, Harry Potter, bring us a remake worth watching!

THE RAVEN

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

TOPLIST TUESDAY: 10 ZOMBIE BUMPER STICKERS

Thanks to my wonderful father in law, my boyfriend and I have finally gotten our first car! I've had my license for 5 years now, but since I've been studying the past couple of years and since owning a car in Sweden is waaaaaay expensive, we just haven't come around to buy one. But now we have. And what better to decorate it with, than a zombie bumper stick? 

Found on Nasty.Funny.Weird

Sold at Zazzle and I adore this simply because Sound of Music
has been one of my favorite movies since I was a little girl.

Sold at Zazzle

Sold at Cafepress

Sold at Cafepress

Sold at Cafepress

Sold at Cafepress

Sold at Cafepress

Sold at Cafepress

Sold at Cafepress

TOPLIST TUESDAY: 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH AMERICAN HORROR STORY

Let me start by saying that I've become somewhat obsessed with American Horror Story. Now that this year's True Blood sexiness is over, the first season of Game of Thrones with the overwhelmingly hot Khal Drogo is over, The Vampire Diaries has become too repetitive and hormonal, The Secret Circle lacks hormonal outrages, Glee is too PC, Grimm is just in the line-up, The Walking Dead is somewhat picking up its pace but still haven't gotten quite there yet and my yearly Twin Peaks-marathon is finalized, I really needed something this fall to trigger my senses and satiate my need for the sexiness of horror.

And American Horror Story definitely has!

I loved it from the first minutes in the pilot and I'll probably love all 13 episodes. It's all a bit over-the-top, but that's obviously what you get when you let Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck (co-creators of Glee) go bananas! You need to have a thing for stylized cliches, a fondness of B-horror, a humorous approach to cinematic homages, a special love reserved for Twin Peaks aesthetics and no PC ethics to dig this. Well, since I'm raised in probably the world's most liberal country (Sweden) outside any politic, religious or other traditional condemnation and have a life long love affair with all things horror related, it's in my nature to love this! So here are three reasons why you should watch American Horror Story.

OBS! THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS! 

#1. The underlying mystery of the 'murder house'
Fueled by the use of adorable 30's to 50's songs during perverted and gory scenes, the underlying mystery of American Horror Story is accompanied by a series of juicy jingles and mood setting tunes. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm a huge advocate for using the effect of music as a mood setter. With hints dropping everywhere, the storyline changes with each episode's flashback to previous house owners' life stories and brutal deaths. New and interesting characters are introduced as the timeline and history of the house is laid out piece by piece. It also becomes more and more evident that the next door neighbor Constance is pulling the strings, having the Harmon family at her mercy. The question is how and why. Each episode development also leaves me wondering which character will turn out to be dead despite their full on staging.

#2. The cinematic homages
Homage paying or rip-offs? Without being shy about its influences, American Horror Story acknowledges and blazes through every horror movie reference that they could possibly come up with in a bloody blur. A horror nerd fan base for a show like this a given, although I bet half of them think American Horror Story might be knocking out one too many references, as they get piled up in each episode. I, however, think it's a ballsy move and I love all the hat tipping. Some references are full on homages where as others are more subconscious absorptions by personal reference. Here are a number of my personal favorites:

The shapeshifting, ghostly seductress: The Shining 

The home invasion: The Strangers

Creepy twins: The Shining

Mentally unstable mother trying to up-bring an even more unstable daughter: Carrie

Whichever party being ghosts: The Others

Abortion clinic doctor sewing together his dead baby with animal body parts: The Human Centipide  

The housekeeper with too much inside information: The Others

Father turned mad by potential haunted house: The Amityville Horror

A potential supernatural rape resulting in pregnancy: Rosemary's Baby

 And last but not least - taking an adorable song (or a nursery rhyme) and pervert it in a horror sequence: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Insidious... amongst others.

  
#3. The characters
Going on its sixth episode American Horror Story has finally let horror mythology take a back seat to the characters.

The creepy next door neighbor

Straddling the genre line between drama and horror extremely well, Jessica Lange plays the role of next door neighbor Constance; who makes Ipecac cupcakes, has a cleptomaniac behavior going on when it comes to silverware and refers to her daughter as the not so PC term 'mongoloid'. This aggressively sassy woman, who had to put her acting dreams on the hold to give birth to previously mentioned mongoloid daughter, has a define cruel streak that is evident in her history of killing the housekeeper (Moira) after finding out she had an affair with her husband. Constance also seems to be pulling the strings of the haunting drama with her growing number of ghost accquaintances.  



The mongoloid girl next door

First seen in the pilot episode as the little girl back in the 70's who warns the twin brothers Troy and Brian ("You're going to die in there") when they're vandalizing the 'murder house', the next door neighbor girl Adelaide plays a short but impressive role in the first four episodes. Born with Downs syndrome she (in a Carrie-Margaret kind of relationship) has been resented by Constance since birth; a condition that makes me love her character. The resentment from her mother's side is so strong that Addie undergoes less ethical methods of up-bringing. Her (lack of) intelligence is also constantly undermined as her mother even sees her as a threat towards her (alarmingly) younger lovers. 

The future high school massacre kid
Being Ben Harmon's first patient in LA, Tate Langdon reveals his dreams of going on a killing spree at his high school, constantly speaking in a provocative way in order to upset Ben. Your average revolting teenager gone pervert, sort of. Masturbating to keep his high school massacre thoughts at bay, Tate starts secretly visiting Ben's daughter Violet in her bedroom at night. Having some dark evil friend hidden in the Harmon's basement and being the (bastard?) son of Constance, Tate would have his share of PTSD-syndromes. And it turns out that his dreams are based on his subconscious memories of him already having gone on a murder spree at his old high school in the 90's (Bowling for Columbine, much?). Current ghost-Tate doesn't seem to be aware of this fact, though. And despite his verbal perverseness he's unable to perform sexually with Violet. If this is due to him being a ghost or his unstable mental health in general; we don't know yet. 

The teenaged, self-harming daughter  

The typical teenager; resenting her parents because her father is a liar and her mother is weak. Add being a cutter to the equation, and we've heard the story before. But the petulant side of Violet Harmon was over shadowed by her strong will and courage during 'Home Invasion' (S01E02) and she's the only one who's actually willing to stay in the house as she sees it as a place of triumph, where she and her mother survived the attackers. Even though she's a bit annoying and immature for her age, I would have to agree that Violet grows with each new episode, much due to her emotionally struggling the fact that her boyfriend is a ghost.  



The all-time horny father

Ben Harmon; the all American dad, the handsome therapist, the uninterested father, the douche bag husband. The list can be made long. After Vivien had a miscarriage, Ben couldn't accept the fact that she was no longer interested in sex, and being horny as he was, he decided to have an affair with Hayden. The event of Vivien walking in on the two of them is what led the family to move to LA, making their relationship strained in the start of the series. The new house immediately starts to play tricks with Ben. It makes him sleepwalk and perform violent actions which he forgets about due to constant black outs. It makes him see the housekeeper Moira as her young 80's seductive self instead of the 60 year old woman she portrays herself as in front of the rest of the living. Topping that off with Ben walking in on her as she's masturbating with her legs sprawling in the air. Poor guy. As if that wasn't enough, he gets stalked by a pregnant Hayden who claims he's the love of her life and he really can't seem to get his hormones under control, as he lashes out and kills Hayden in a rage. 

The dependent and rock solid mother

It's still taking some personal adjustment to see Connie Britton in any other role than Tammy Taylor in Friday Night Lights. However, she does a fantastic job as the betrayed but strong mother of Vivien Harmon. Vivien has developed a strange biological tie with the house (like all pregnant women on the Island in LOST) after having sex with the rubber man (which she thought was her all-time horny husband being S&M playful) and becoming pregnant. With a fast growing baby in her belly, Vivien puts all her awakened time and energy into trying to sell the house after falling out of love with it due to not only the home invasion, but some very persistent ghost visits.


The scorned ex-mistress

Following Ben to LA and stalking him in his home, Hayden can't seem to get over the thought of Ben having another family apart from her and the pre-born baby that he left her with and which she never had aborted. Killed by Larry in a rage after terrorizing Ben in his home and pissing off Larry, Hayden's body is buried underneath the gazebo in the garden. It doesn't take long for Hayden to return, making Vivien believe she's still alive and Ben to believe that she faked her death in a conspiracy with Larry.


The stalking psycho

Larry seems to be the only actual living person who knows the secrets and evil of the house. Being the previous torment victim of the house's mental games, Larry burned his wife and daughters to death and became left behind covered in second degree burns. Having been recently released from a mental institution, Larry claims he has inoperable brain cancer and not much long to live. In an attempt to be either a pain in the ass or actually trying to help Ben to become free of the house's power, Larry starts terrorizing Ben, taking advantage of Ben's dire situation. After having killed Hayden with a shovel, Larry starts to blackmail Ben to pay him off or he'll tell the cops about Hayden's body being buried in the back yard.

The seducing housekeeper

Being one of the ghosts of the house, housekeeper Moira, was shot in the eye and killed by Constance during the 80's after Constance caught Moira and her husband Hugo having what she believed was an affair. When the Harmons move in to the house, Moira shows up on their doorstep revealing herself as an old woman to Vivien, asking to be taken on as their maid. While Vivien sees the older version of Moira, Ben sees the young seductive version that is stuck in a seducing-her-employer-loop. One thumb up for young Moira constantly trying to seduce Ben and two thumbs up for Violet walking in on the old version of Moira straddling her dad.