tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81480776291659413182024-03-05T22:54:15.517-05:00What We FearLiterature, film, and other attempts to bridge the crevasse.MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-9232925172257500922011-10-21T09:49:00.006-04:002012-04-26T14:50:07.517-04:00The Dark<br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wondercabinet.net/images/9_eye.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 426px; height: 292px;" src="http://www.wondercabinet.net/images/9_eye.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-3794305205862291952011-10-17T13:43:00.005-04:002011-10-17T14:56:22.468-04:00Home Invasion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57fH1zx4gaiVAeBTJFVg2NHaj4mYVZgj3ReKrbaq-zoHdbaY6AzIazqwzOH_s05n8ZGhFBBzoEwuUiKs2urrgz13aXU0yqxz1n2rs3-FNF0dYe2RfZ-49sb911qJEuA5MDb-yiHcXSxKv/s1600/8_Home_Invasion.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57fH1zx4gaiVAeBTJFVg2NHaj4mYVZgj3ReKrbaq-zoHdbaY6AzIazqwzOH_s05n8ZGhFBBzoEwuUiKs2urrgz13aXU0yqxz1n2rs3-FNF0dYe2RfZ-49sb911qJEuA5MDb-yiHcXSxKv/s320/8_Home_Invasion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664522292122330546" /></a>I finally got around to watching episode 2 of American Horror Story last night and its title spoonfed me the topic for today's post: Home Invasion. On a day to day basis there is probably no fear that afflicts more people than the idea of a stranger or strangers breaking into their house and causing them or their loved ones bodily harm. You have to wonder just how far back this fear goes, and how deeply ingrained it is in our DNA. When we lived in caves, we had to worry about bears, and wolves, and rival clans. When we settled into huts, it was enemy villagers. Even castles were sieged and sacked. At no point in the history of our species did we live without the fear of our fellow man penetrating whatever shelter we had fashioned for ourselves. When you think about it, we are actually pretty lucky to be living in the present day and age, as every one that preceded it had a higher prevalence and likelihood of in-home violence. Horrible, horrible things happen to people in their homes everyday, but statistically speaking your fear of some random bad guy breaking into your house and killing you is mostly media-driven and phanstasmal. Fully 80 percent of all murder victims know their killers. I don't know anyone that was killed by strangers in their home. As far as I know, I don't even know anyone who knows anyone. Do you? If you do, I am heartily sorry to hear it, but you are in the minority.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUtVFWs1Ngjyuo4_551TaRs03MEzTgWhTVpC6VwxIwkvtrBTHHhXBQ13UDkWVw4rNMkIZNfpnypx8hZK318Rs9iOua50ICRgPHmHje53xNqYgOioPQ5Z5ZWUpZLNdoAhl7yT-g76gAwDR/s1600/8_Home_Invasion2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUtVFWs1Ngjyuo4_551TaRs03MEzTgWhTVpC6VwxIwkvtrBTHHhXBQ13UDkWVw4rNMkIZNfpnypx8hZK318Rs9iOua50ICRgPHmHje53xNqYgOioPQ5Z5ZWUpZLNdoAhl7yT-g76gAwDR/s400/8_Home_Invasion2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664523212606561362" /></a><br /><br />That's not to say I don't suffer mightily from Scelerophobia along with everyone else. I spend an outrageous amount of my sleep hours creeping around my house searching for the sources of strange noises. If I hear voices on the street outside, I peer through my blinds until they pass. If a dog barks or a motion activated light comes on, I assume it has spotted a prowler. I once pulled a knife on my dryer, for christsakes, unaware it was the cause of the sound that was putting me on edge. Personal firearms were once a completely forbidden topic with my wife, but they are inching closer to acceptable the more time I spend alone at a family farmhouse. I am very curious to know whether owning a gun will ease my anxiety or increase it. <br /><br />Logic and statistics aside, I'd probably feel better if everyone exhibited the same degree of vigilance as I do, so just in case you don't share the same home invasion fears as the rest of us, here are a few links to true crime stories that might leave you thinking otherwise:<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villisca_Axe_Murders"><br />Villisca Axe Murders</a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheshire,_Connecticut,_home_invasion_murders">Cheshire, Connecticut Home Invasion Murders</a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Richmond_spree_murders">Richmond Spree Murders</a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichita_Massacre">Wichita Massacre</a>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-36444307756501618012011-10-12T09:50:00.005-04:002011-10-12T10:39:53.624-04:00Acts of God<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJWUNneQ_YHjDHLIwj7uNKfFQCZd6MiuHYoel7ZF00xl9bYuDdrJ8PzAP61_kgwEOJdcAsFFIwBdfl9ggO1bLMu1sFAAW_BO5nAXMYkNBg8QxM4qGjiI6gzxpEZZ9fk9wE1tuPFJhi6Rn/s1600/BLengraving.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJWUNneQ_YHjDHLIwj7uNKfFQCZd6MiuHYoel7ZF00xl9bYuDdrJ8PzAP61_kgwEOJdcAsFFIwBdfl9ggO1bLMu1sFAAW_BO5nAXMYkNBg8QxM4qGjiI6gzxpEZZ9fk9wE1tuPFJhi6Rn/s400/BLengraving.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662612469088195746" /></a><br /><br />No, I'm not talking about a beautiful flower blooming, or cancer going into remission (as an Atheist, I don't believe those things have anything to do with a greater power), but rather those random catastrophic occurrences that not even your insurance company can save you from. Most take the form of weather events -- freak storms, lightning strikes, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc. -- but some are even stranger, like death-by-satellite-debris or spontaneous combustion. And just like the <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-we-fear-contagion.html">germs</a> and <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-we-fear-evil-children.html">evil children</a> I talked about a few days ago, there seem to be more and more Acts of God every day. Global Warming? End of Days? I sure as hell don't know, but here are a few of the weirder entries in the annals of stupendous calamity.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event">The Tunguska Event</a> - An enormous explosion in early 20th-c. Russia. Meteor Impact? Spaceship Landing? Tesla Experiment?<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Thunderstorm%2C_Widecombe"><br />The Great Thunderstorm of Widecombe-in-the-Moor</a> - Ball lightning takes out a church in 17th-c Dartmoor.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_panic"><span style="font-style:italic;">Koro</span>, or Penis Panic</a> - The incredible shrinking genitalia.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_Laughter_Epidemic">The Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic</a> - Mass hysteria forces a school to shut down in Tanzania.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_Accident">The Dyatlov Pass Accident</a> - Nine skiers disappear in the Ural Mountains and their bodies turn up with high radiation levels and a strange brown tan.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moberly-Jourdain_incident">The Moberly-Jourdain Incident</a> - Otherwise sober and respected British academics experience a time slip at a small chateau in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raining_animals"><br />Raining Animals</a> - Old Testament plagues made real, and not just toads and fish, but worms, spiders, and even jellyfish. Oh my.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02VY0tZVp4fbFCGuhxnclMfS9zRhAFdOXkH-TLLC2k4U-UKKk4uxlJZdWDGW5fq83PMMRfpqfZF54DL5KVprMBS80udmxvFOyL9UXmouETQ3Kfp3jDnS-BJ25uESFnPsFs19p5OwgWukS/s1600/climate_change_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02VY0tZVp4fbFCGuhxnclMfS9zRhAFdOXkH-TLLC2k4U-UKKk4uxlJZdWDGW5fq83PMMRfpqfZF54DL5KVprMBS80udmxvFOyL9UXmouETQ3Kfp3jDnS-BJ25uESFnPsFs19p5OwgWukS/s400/climate_change_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662615030629409234" /></a>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-46435698189681405322011-10-10T14:22:00.001-04:002011-10-10T14:22:32.095-04:00Scarecrows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIvCd60KES1u7qN_mkB_Xx3Y9zIe1oSynuVCHH1i6mfu5t1NmCiKbgU1gxCDK1yZLrKgCiBerV_0QDimOBAD4hE15XoZbpzPqERkYUV8SIxNH1EskeGd6gXM00kI4ni3wBl-nQnu4KCdX/s1600/scarecrow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="170" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIvCd60KES1u7qN_mkB_Xx3Y9zIe1oSynuVCHH1i6mfu5t1NmCiKbgU1gxCDK1yZLrKgCiBerV_0QDimOBAD4hE15XoZbpzPqERkYUV8SIxNH1EskeGd6gXM00kI4ni3wBl-nQnu4KCdX/s400/scarecrow2.jpg" /></a></div>
As I sat down to think about the construction of a Halloween scarecrow for my little garden, I was struck by the notion that they seem to frighten humans a lot more than they do crows. The history of their use goes back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, and examples exist in cultures all over the world. For their scarecrows, the Greeks made statues of Priapus, the mythical son of Dionysus and Aphrodite. Said to be exceedingly ugly, Priapus is better known by the huge permanent erection with which he was always depicted. (He gave his name to <i>Priapism</i>, the frightening condition made famous by the Viagra disclaimer.) The Pennsylvania Dutch called their scarecrows "der Butzemann" which is the German equivalent to boogeyman. The Japanese call their scarecrows<i> kakashis</i>, which translates to "smells badly." Apparently, they originally burned animal flesh near or hung fish bones on their scarecrows after discovering that it dissuaded birds from eating nearby. Nowadays, apparently they use super creepy mannequins heads.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAP4DwNAkUYm2u8fC544E0I98pXVzXrL2IHD1SCiQBi7Tl7OrSw5xvhPs1gwruxUcNfZ1OZZEw_E7qMd3z1yiIlUrnTHZQFjdPhW1MDVZv2P5ZX8hGNHt_LOeEI2ANMYhslfd8dNVlaWA/s1600/6_Japan_scarecrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAP4DwNAkUYm2u8fC544E0I98pXVzXrL2IHD1SCiQBi7Tl7OrSw5xvhPs1gwruxUcNfZ1OZZEw_E7qMd3z1yiIlUrnTHZQFjdPhW1MDVZv2P5ZX8hGNHt_LOeEI2ANMYhslfd8dNVlaWA/s400/6_Japan_scarecrow.jpg" /></a></div>
All of which is to say that there are deep subconscious chords struck by a rough human form standing alone and unmoving in a desolate field. Our minds want to invest it with life, or more specifically, <i>the semblance of life</i>, which is much more disturbing.
MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-10248878809197829752011-10-07T10:18:00.000-04:002011-10-07T10:19:08.958-04:00The WoodsLeaking air mattresses. Macaroni and Cheese without butter. No-flush toilets. Meth-head neighbors. $10 bundles of wood containing two viable logs and two more with moss all over them. The horror.... the horror...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrv1FxK_ATSpZCUfYju1vh9k2ztbcTPXxWJCeBVASSZ3IC-zmiUgSKwsfylgBS6D6gJ-HO9EsP15ZUFYs0H4KFfYMYyOZF1QpFBJU5pgzWg1wk4hg3ikrqMGth0BhXcVFn9KTLJJLS2xQ/s1600/5_woods1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrv1FxK_ATSpZCUfYju1vh9k2ztbcTPXxWJCeBVASSZ3IC-zmiUgSKwsfylgBS6D6gJ-HO9EsP15ZUFYs0H4KFfYMYyOZF1QpFBJU5pgzWg1wk4hg3ikrqMGth0BhXcVFn9KTLJJLS2xQ/s400/5_woods1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660748916801887746" /></a><br /><br />In all seriousness, as I begin to pack up all the various and sundry gear needed to pretend we are actually going to rough it camping in the Shenandoah this weekend, I am thinking about our ancient and primal fear of The Woods. When did this fear begin? Were we frightened of the forest as primates, when we actually lived there and slept in the trees? Or was it when our race left that habitat that we began to develop our atavistic terror of the deep, dark woods? Would the dread lift if we spent a week among the arboreal Old Ones? A month? A year? Or are we now such a stranger from Mother Nature that She can only bring us nightmares when the sun goes down and we are left without solid shelter to protect us?<br /><br />A lot of questions this morning and, as usual, no answers. All I know is that my overactive and uncannily powerful ears go into overdrive as I lay awake in my sleeping bag, listening to my damn wife and kids breathing deeply in their easily won slumber. I hear EVERYTHING and all of it COULD BE something DANGEROUS. I don't worry so much about bears, because if one ever did lumber through our campsite, I'd hear it coming a mile away (what to do and where to go are another story, but I've got a pretty good Voice of the Devil I plan to use on it, plus some mean camping breath). On average, it takes me two to three hours to shut down my fight or flight instincts and actually fall asleep, and by then I usually have to pee from the silly number of beers I have consumed in an effort to silence those irrational thoughts in the first place. So I get up and wander a little ways off into the woods to do my business, and that is when the real fear creeps in. The entire campground is dead silent, the witching hour is upon me, and I'm in the most vulnerable position imaginable. Assuming I make it back to my tent alive, sleep is now out of the question.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbldO6QU65bN8J4T4iydvKP24qnA_yuRcpTEbMTUZfwCtJsbYKxWuYFa3lk6FzAUAUCGItU8KYk6SMuCwVWi_HCyDvh8rXhGSaxsgk7XqdPqY3SNdAFCnZmIQvsEkZP6S4rx6lVenAab21/s1600/5_woods2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbldO6QU65bN8J4T4iydvKP24qnA_yuRcpTEbMTUZfwCtJsbYKxWuYFa3lk6FzAUAUCGItU8KYk6SMuCwVWi_HCyDvh8rXhGSaxsgk7XqdPqY3SNdAFCnZmIQvsEkZP6S4rx6lVenAab21/s400/5_woods2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660749881463967122" /></a><br /><br />Ah the rejuvenating effects of a peaceful night in Nature... let me know what that's like when you get a chance, will you?MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-68105803858976264462011-10-06T08:18:00.000-04:002011-10-07T10:17:31.824-04:00Evil Children<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5fPQBaWio_lCKsl84QtklI949C5wsB8Q0NjQoabFhZyxbLpstaqdUKIhKiS1_uhYq3KqCH4pUplXQseoJwedTeW9PHkeOqyDWQeeTtkLUGid49X8gHrPIa1Po_BKG_9KIKCZtFAqv2ES/s1600/4_children1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5fPQBaWio_lCKsl84QtklI949C5wsB8Q0NjQoabFhZyxbLpstaqdUKIhKiS1_uhYq3KqCH4pUplXQseoJwedTeW9PHkeOqyDWQeeTtkLUGid49X8gHrPIa1Po_BKG_9KIKCZtFAqv2ES/s400/4_children1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660362289731537410" /></a><br /><br />Like a ghost in a churchyard, or a malevolent toy (future topic!), there is something particularly unsettling about the juxtaposition of evil and good, sin and innocence. Transmuted by fear, things that once seemed intrinsically benevolent or heartwarming can change in an instant into something Other, something beyond mere wickedness -- a betrayal of whatever Geneva Conventions exist in our hearts and heads governing the proper order of things. Perhaps the most powerful of these inversions is the trope of the Evil Child.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCWoneqM6SgFp1bDG5VM0JFvwLDyJoNNlyU39iGexQxJIu-JePfItw4XvLlWF0Jj0h3nmBmPYGh1v2IEjsMGo4NRugDkckU3Dtli6BzxKxVYcLLE8oa9Ze7ujmumSBSg4pMMjU_8b5W9j/s1600/4_children2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCWoneqM6SgFp1bDG5VM0JFvwLDyJoNNlyU39iGexQxJIu-JePfItw4XvLlWF0Jj0h3nmBmPYGh1v2IEjsMGo4NRugDkckU3Dtli6BzxKxVYcLLE8oa9Ze7ujmumSBSg4pMMjU_8b5W9j/s200/4_children2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660367485571776210" /></a>The first two movies that really terrified me were <span style="font-style:italic;">The Shining</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">The Omen</span>. Not only because I saw them at too young an age, but also because they featured Evil Children. Likewise, the first book I had to stop reading for a while (just as its author had to stop writing) was <span style="font-style:italic;">Pet Sematary</span>. The antichrist is one thing, even ghost twins and a river of blood, but an undead toddler? An unlovable thing seeking out Mommy and Daddy for one last hug? That, my friends, is what I call H-O-R-R-O-R. It's probably a good thing that the film adaptation fell a few loads short of full on brick-shitting scary. **<br /><br />Seems I am not alone. In 1998, a new urban legend was born based on a single online posting by a journalist named Brian Bethel. (The original is available <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20050213181819/http:/www.pinn.net/~royaloak/Stories/black_eyed.htm">here</a>, thanks to the wonders of the Way Back Machine.) Apparently, Bethel encountered a pair of young kids (age undetermined, but estimated at 10-14) who spooked the living hell out of him, partly due the way his mind and body reacted to their presence, and partly due to the fact that their eyes were entirely black -- "no pupil, no iris, just two staring orbs..." Oddly enough, it took Bethel several minutes to notice this detail, as if they were somehow willing him not to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVDu2vom-VsmeBlqAmfgUjAzZUA9AzJmDkUKBIHNpUt5CaESD6SZLf2MdrBHmNAEb3JjF1D06-bymLxpe5U7YCmc-rWcJRcSHYu7fh_RYNGLTexyP9DLpGDi6M0W00eX-S4FQ-7TDCRSQ/s1600/4_children3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVDu2vom-VsmeBlqAmfgUjAzZUA9AzJmDkUKBIHNpUt5CaESD6SZLf2MdrBHmNAEb3JjF1D06-bymLxpe5U7YCmc-rWcJRcSHYu7fh_RYNGLTexyP9DLpGDi6M0W00eX-S4FQ-7TDCRSQ/s200/4_children3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660368885846411250" /></a>Ever since, dozens of similar accounts have popped up online. They even have their own acronym -- BEKs, or Black-Eyed Kids. What they want is still unclear, but like the vampires of old they often seek entry into the narrator's home or car, evoke an amount of fear that is hugely disproportionate to their physical size, and seem to exert a Darth Vader-like ability to influence their victims. Hell, <a href="http://paranormal.about.com/od/demonsandexorcism/a/marine-black-eyed-kids.htm">even the Marines</a> are scared of them.<br /><br />I'm not suggesting that any of this is true, but it does raise some interesting questions about how we feel about our children. Again and again in these What We Fear entries I am going to reiterate the fact that horror films and urban legends are mirrors of what is most unnerving society at any given point in time. After Columbine and countless other cases, it's no great epiphany to recognize that "broken children" now frighten us as much as the escaped convicts of yesteryear. But what are we to do about it?<br /><br />I don't have any answers, I'm afraid, at least not in a blog post, but I <span style="font-style:italic;">can</span> recommend some really good additions to the film genre, if you want to plumb the depths of your own "Evil Child" fears. All of the movies listed below were made in the last decade and are worth a watch. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465203/">Them</a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808331/">Joshua</a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020530/">Eden Lake</a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1148204/">Orphan</a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/">The Orphanage</a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482606/">The Strangers</a><br /><br />And for one, really great non-horror treatment of the subject, check out <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078188/">Boy A</a>.<br /><br />** Given the recent remake trend, you'll probably be unsurprised to hear that Hollywood is having another go at <span style="font-style:italic;">Pet Sematary</span>. Alexandre Aja, of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338095/">Haute Tension</a> fame, has been tapped to direct, so we should probably start baking the clay and filling the molds.MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-25736427929927037832011-10-05T14:18:00.000-04:002011-10-07T10:17:40.786-04:00Contagion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aI4KE7AgkSewSxxclH_oLubCAjM6dCUlmg2HJLbqZY5sUmdYZ-fevfF2BwD6BTS8z_fWlVB1wdZGI9YQvUdFHhCM8MCKY0JpXn5UrDCthmUY9iNeKAGzCSTpG3L0GiI7phZH7HE7kl3N/s1600/3_virus1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aI4KE7AgkSewSxxclH_oLubCAjM6dCUlmg2HJLbqZY5sUmdYZ-fevfF2BwD6BTS8z_fWlVB1wdZGI9YQvUdFHhCM8MCKY0JpXn5UrDCthmUY9iNeKAGzCSTpG3L0GiI7phZH7HE7kl3N/s200/3_virus1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660079919118745442" /></a>Woke up congested this morning and started thinking about germs. I don't suffer from atychiphobia (sometimes called mysophobia), but maybe I should. Maybe we all should. Consider the evidence: Listeria, Salmonella, Botulism, Cholera, E. Coli, Malaria, Meningitis, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Giardia, Hepatitis, HIV, Rotavirus, Mad Cow disease, West Nile Virus, Bird Flu, the list goes on and on. Sometimes it seems like there are more viral or bacterial boogeymen than ever before. All our advances have only made them stronger, more resistant. Why haven't WE become more resistant? Who is winning this battle anyway? And don't get me started about allergies...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHne25ISEFimz1bKzbmxMtzYjzk4drXKSSnJnxtRXva6Fq_Q9EiT-A78L4jyxfaVa6DWwJrGBtaYvUEFeb43DkAkWVXrzYa4DUksrlhy8KTWQ8mNiUUijx2W7-g98FQMl6QYtMIXdyZTSt/s1600/3_virus2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHne25ISEFimz1bKzbmxMtzYjzk4drXKSSnJnxtRXva6Fq_Q9EiT-A78L4jyxfaVa6DWwJrGBtaYvUEFeb43DkAkWVXrzYa4DUksrlhy8KTWQ8mNiUUijx2W7-g98FQMl6QYtMIXdyZTSt/s200/3_virus2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660085277348842290" /></a>Maybe we don't want to win. I'm no fan of Rick Perry, but the way the whole nation jumped all over him for daring to mandate a HPV vaccine that could save thousands of lives suggests we are more comfortable taking our chances than any preemptive protection. Same with the wildfire spread of the Vaccines cause Autism scare. Maybe it's just easier to assign our fear to an arrogant doctor with a big needle than handle the notion that ravenous beasties are all around us all the time, jostling to invade our orifices and set up camp.<br /><br />Are there more germs now than ever? Or are we just paying more attention? Whatever the case, there can be no doubt that our collective fear of contagion is metastasizing. For an easy gauge, look at the explosion in movies, shows, and books about zombies. Forty years ago, George Romero had the entire market cornered and only a few demented souls paid any attention. Now we have worldwide bestsellers like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594743347/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=portecho-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1594743347">Pride and Prejudice and Zombies</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=portecho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594743347&camp=217145&creative=399369" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307888681/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=portecho-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307888681">World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=portecho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307888681&camp=217145&creative=399373" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, hit shows like The Walking Dead, and enough films to demand a campy send-up like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006A9FKA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=portecho-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B0006A9FKA">Shaun of the Dead</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=portecho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0006A9FKA&camp=217145&creative=399369" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. Just last night I watched the latest entry in the genre, and perhaps the most blatantly metaphoric yet. Simply titled, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386925/">The Dead</a>, it sets the action in the hot zone of all our infectious fears: West Africa and instead of supernatural sprinters like the undead in <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/11/night-30-28-days-later.html">28 Days Later</a>, these zombies shuffle like crippled patients, easily outrun and easily ignored, just like all those starving children. Besides, there are prettier things to look at, like that gorgeous sunrise over the savannah. Until you are surrounded. You'll want a vaccine then. But it will be too late.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSnhIzKBVdf_lOsHSXiEllc3aZQiP-yG7-mjmmI0uLhF6TYIj751go6Eh3hEi2WFRB2-TSo559p0hXV_D0t0QNCNsaqkS1yp3E-a277T9STVDqI-q_k2kF0szv_bKc46qpXeEf4Z8WCD4/s1600/3_virus4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSnhIzKBVdf_lOsHSXiEllc3aZQiP-yG7-mjmmI0uLhF6TYIj751go6Eh3hEi2WFRB2-TSo559p0hXV_D0t0QNCNsaqkS1yp3E-a277T9STVDqI-q_k2kF0szv_bKc46qpXeEf4Z8WCD4/s400/3_virus4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660096725202625810" /></a>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-8883579964446522062011-10-04T09:07:00.000-04:002011-10-07T10:17:46.903-04:00Abandoned BuildingsYesterday I talked about the fear of premature burial, which is an offshoot of claustrophobia or the fear of small, enclosed spaces. Today we move on to the polar opposite of that -- the fear of large abandoned structures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq3YwDM3s_ZIGem1zdTGA1xtS0RYos1KTfD6yf6vSBF9Wxc2QBYhpwFUUZlYeUuwN-8FmSlDoIxH4Rya3zP0uXoLkUodh_5XOYyTDJM7okmSOtadQWZC-UaMABrIVPYx75kWdZ552h5aS/s1600/2_abaondoned3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq3YwDM3s_ZIGem1zdTGA1xtS0RYos1KTfD6yf6vSBF9Wxc2QBYhpwFUUZlYeUuwN-8FmSlDoIxH4Rya3zP0uXoLkUodh_5XOYyTDJM7okmSOtadQWZC-UaMABrIVPYx75kWdZ552h5aS/s200/2_abaondoned3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659636919953386386" /></a>Tales of haunted buildings are as old as civilization, but there is something especially modern about this particular fear, something connected to the unease evoked by industrial decay. Nowadays, traditional ghosts can't hold a candle to the more visceral terrors of the Nameless Things that lurk in toxic ruins. There's an icky quotient, certainly, and a basic fear of the unknown, but I believe abandoned buildings derive the bulk of their power to frighten from a kind of collective subconscious guilt -- an unspoken feeling that we, as a race, perhaps <span style="font-style:italic;">deserve</span> to be punished for what we have wrought, the desecration and the devastation, the hubris to build and then desert, to enclose and then vacate. A walled-in space is built to be inhabited, to be used or worked in. If we leave it empty, the Universe will populate it with <span style="font-style:italic;">something</span> and god help us when come back and disturb it. Popular game franchises like Doom and Silent Hill freely tap into this poisoned well, to the point where they barely need any back story at all -- you find yourself in an ill-lit basement, there are monsters trying to eat you, now fight your way out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHBJ7f_OAxn1GFZSXlcxtfCHqxCbQjLNqCJXRzzZYYSbwyR-R-8r2nB0si0wGxn6ICGXaYFYaYeHwoW8rrHpmP_xGSfU-2BYXbEUj7f5fPs7BAq5l0FNbcGmvf-90UCNXfrw7ilnL4NN1/s1600/2_abaondoned4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHBJ7f_OAxn1GFZSXlcxtfCHqxCbQjLNqCJXRzzZYYSbwyR-R-8r2nB0si0wGxn6ICGXaYFYaYeHwoW8rrHpmP_xGSfU-2BYXbEUj7f5fPs7BAq5l0FNbcGmvf-90UCNXfrw7ilnL4NN1/s200/2_abaondoned4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659645708212457266" /></a>In recent years, a new kind of hobby has been gaining in popularity called<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_exploration"> Urban Exploration</a> or UrbEx. The title is a bit of a misnomer, as "urban explorers" don't limit their activities to cityscapes, but it is often in cities where they find their most atmospheric locations. The really nice thing about this subculture is that it strictly adheres to a self-created code of ethics most easily summarized in the motto: take only photos, leave only footprints. Though, strictly speaking, they are trespassers, Urban Explorers are not vandals or thieves, and will in fact police their own. And the photos they bring back from their adventures are truly amazing. Instead of arousing aversion or apprehension, they reveal an undeniable attractiveness, or as the title of one notable coffee table books dubs it, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584234202/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=portecho-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1584234202">Beauty in Decay</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=portecho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1584234202&camp=217145&creative=399369" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, born not only of a hearkening back to past grandeur, but also the lush colors and textures and odd juxtapositions that ruin can engender.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BMwqFdrZWG6XB9ZU1Jo6W1dCb0Nj1F8ITUkPExt-gAqH_T7hwfyNLDyY3NwJ_tweLp74UURSmrWKfJXAgPPNIZWtB8kcjCMhNDl8JMw4blO-Qlcv9-2fNvfvZV2DulcQZt-iFS5_uEJU/s1600/beauty-in-decay_i1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BMwqFdrZWG6XB9ZU1Jo6W1dCb0Nj1F8ITUkPExt-gAqH_T7hwfyNLDyY3NwJ_tweLp74UURSmrWKfJXAgPPNIZWtB8kcjCMhNDl8JMw4blO-Qlcv9-2fNvfvZV2DulcQZt-iFS5_uEJU/s400/beauty-in-decay_i1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659652414800618770" /></a><br /><br />Fortunately, you don't have to risk life, limb, and lung to find this beauty, as there as many talented brave souls willing to do the leg work for you. Two of my favorite places to hang out during the lonely, late hours are <a href="http://kingstonlounge.blogspot.com/">The Kingston Lounge</a> and <a href="http://www.opacity.us/">Opacity</a>. Getting lost among their photography is the next best thing to packing a flashlight and a crowbar and UrbExing it yourself.<br /><br />For further exploration into this subject, I recommend the documentaries: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EBDHIW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=portecho-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B000EBDHIW">Echoes of Forgotten Places</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=portecho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000EBDHIW&camp=217145&creative=399373" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;"/>, <a href="http://www.urbanexplorersfilm.com/">Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness</a>, and the most excellent <a href="http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Dark-Days/60001871">Dark Days</a>, available for streaming on Netflix (and which, while not strictly about Urban Exploring, investigates the history of homeless living underground in abandoned tunnels). I also recently watched a newish and quite effective Australian horror film called <a href="http://extratorrent.com/article/1317/horror+movie+released+on+tv+dvd+and+bittorrent+at+the+same+time.html">The Tunnel</a>, that is taking the unique distribution model of a legal torrent. Follow that link for more info, but use Google for an actual torrent link.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1584234202" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-49845067427082652112011-10-03T09:15:00.000-04:002011-10-07T10:17:54.958-04:00Premature BurialInspired by an <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/09/thirty-days-of-nightmares.html">October project of yesteryear</a>, and once more feeling a strong cold wind at my back (thanks in large part to the still-wet-ink release of <a href="http://www.richmondmacabre.com/">Richmond Macabre</a>, a horror anthology to which I had the honor of contributing), I will endeavor to devote a small portion of each day this month to a specific fear or phobia. Entries will be relatively short (but definitely not sweet) and will be largely compromised of signposts or rabbit holes to certain stories, sites, and images that dwell on the dark side of the web.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYlc_QV357TgZ42ubbQLt4OePq4wbRfrnQqTpfIiE0DEgDfJuTJwT46ITXNLmLp5BuKQ6HoywsREyiS_mfHnQVaJCCdzeRLS1Rd4vQhZ3Z3iqjXTYFL4bVlrGOU1UV2-hyrun4yjyq3K0/s1600/1_Premature+Burial.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYlc_QV357TgZ42ubbQLt4OePq4wbRfrnQqTpfIiE0DEgDfJuTJwT46ITXNLmLp5BuKQ6HoywsREyiS_mfHnQVaJCCdzeRLS1Rd4vQhZ3Z3iqjXTYFL4bVlrGOU1UV2-hyrun4yjyq3K0/s400/1_Premature+Burial.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659274925864794818" /></a><br /><br />First up is an oldie but goodie: Premature Burial.<br /><br />I'll admit to not suffering much from taphophobia myself, as I have left express instructions to be cremated (resuscitating in a crematorium oven would not be fun, but at least it would be short lived) and while I have a healthy distrust of the medical profession, I am fairly confident even the most incompetent of today's doctors will be able to determine whether or not I have actually expired.<br /><br />Or at least I was, until I read <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/woman-morgue-alive-living_n_983726.html">a story</a> just this morning about a woman in Brazil who woke up a few days ago in a morgue fridge. It could be worse, I guess. <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-24/news/29719457_1_kazan-russian-woman-hospital">You could wake up at your own funeral and die of fright/heart attack</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TtJB91qKoSjR_43e096x2W19TgmLqK2afO2X202rytj4GldlhLyo4I1YdkhSN_8FB7_5amyhKcKa8OeRMW6-cMvKzAbWXjnJ4SeP4h3kuCxdoshuFU_NbY3W2gNYfA9CZQJbVlnzidEl/s1600/Safetycoffin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 167px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TtJB91qKoSjR_43e096x2W19TgmLqK2afO2X202rytj4GldlhLyo4I1YdkhSN_8FB7_5amyhKcKa8OeRMW6-cMvKzAbWXjnJ4SeP4h3kuCxdoshuFU_NbY3W2gNYfA9CZQJbVlnzidEl/s320/Safetycoffin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659269645927884194" /></a>Interesting historical note: The fear of premature burial was so widespread in the 19th century (thanks to a not insignificant number of widely publicized cases) that it led not only to the formation of the Society for the Prevention of People Being Buried Alive, but also the invention (and healthy sales) of the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_coffin">Safety Coffin</a>." At least 22 different patents exist for these dread-safe boxes, which incorporated various design features that allowed for breathing and communication, the simplest of which was a bell attached to a rope that was left in the hand of the deceased. Though there are no documented cases of anyone actually being saved by a safety coffin, it's a safe bet some entrepreneur is exporting several thousand modern variations to Brazil and Russia at this very moment...<br /><br />Should you find yourself wishing to more deeply explore this particular fear, there are no shortage of books, stories, and films to indulge you. For stories, turn to the tale that helped start the Safety Coffin craze: Poe's "Premature Burial". For film, I recommend you spend 95 min. in a pine box with Ryan Reynolds by watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462758/">Buried</a>, an under appreciated recent release.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B003L20IFQ" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-10329894577304889752008-11-01T08:02:00.000-04:002012-08-13T08:42:53.589-04:00Night 30: 28 Days Later<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aYtY4TvjKacFhne_7h0FPACK6jwjouZwlBulFVjyuAUeEJ169Dk7MlrDXTQpxtrDtsnbhyU7AkcjGUcWuD96wuAxhfuZ4FrbLGECRon9VWxzzxeveN960vMuk9-deWQBEHDUEsF9dLwy/s1600-h/28+Days+Later.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aYtY4TvjKacFhne_7h0FPACK6jwjouZwlBulFVjyuAUeEJ169Dk7MlrDXTQpxtrDtsnbhyU7AkcjGUcWuD96wuAxhfuZ4FrbLGECRon9VWxzzxeveN960vMuk9-deWQBEHDUEsF9dLwy/s320/28+Days+Later.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263658552824530930" border="0" /></a>Every generation gets the Zombie it deserves.<br /><br />Say goodbye to the lumbering, slack-jawed meat puppets of yesteryear, with their quaint but crude methods of ingestion and transmission. No longer must we suffer the indignity of being partially eaten or even killed before we turn to the Dark Side. The Undead have become The Infected. Zombies have gone viral, baby, and they attack with the quickness of Usain Bolt. All it takes is a drop of their blood in an unprotected orifice and then no coctail of drugs in the world can save you.<br /><br />We have 2002's <span style="font-style: italic;">28 Days Later</span> to thank for this shift in the zombie paradigm. Sure, other films contributed to the movement, but nothing codified on quite the same scale or budget. This is also due to the generational cred the film's creators carried with them into its making. Director Danny Boyle could have stopped at <span style="font-style: italic;">Trainspotting</span> and earned himself mention in any survey of postmodern cultural touchstones. The same could be said for writer Alex Garland, whose first novel <span style="font-style: italic;">The Beach</span> (subsequently filmed by Danny Boyle) was <span style="font-style: italic;">the</span> cult book of 1996. The pair has gone on to collaborate twice more--on the aforementioned <span style="font-style: italic;">Beach</span> and an underrated sci-fi thinker called <span style="font-style: italic;">Sunshine</span>--but nothing so far has cohered quite as well as their first.<br /><br />I'm actually not a very big fan of zombie movies. Very few of them frighten me, and so most fail to meet my criteria for quality horror. With that said, I think <span style="font-style: italic;">28 Days Later</span> is about as good as a zombie film can hope to be. Thanks to a talented cast headed up by the ice-eyed Cillian Murphy, the characters are sympathetic and believable. They are also quite savvy and make blessedly few of the stupid mistakes that plague so many of these movies. Boyle's trendsetting choice to shoot the film with digital cameras gives <span style="font-style: italic;">28 Days</span> the grainy and aptly blown-out look of war footage. The final third loses focus, and turns a bit gung-ho, but all in all I was about as satisfied with this film last night as I was when I first saw it in the theater.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00005JMA8&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=000000&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Well, folks, here endeth the official term on my <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/09/thirty-days-of-nightmares.html">30 Days of Night(mares)</a>, though I'm sure I'll be feeling its effects for weeks to come. Thanks to those that bothered to read along. I'm sure I missed a few horror films worth watching (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Others</span>, in particular, probably deserved a spot on this list) and would love to hear from anybody who has one in mind. Should you care to continue sampling my bloggerel, you can continue to check back here at Hinterzone where, from time to time, I'll continue to add reviews of films, books, and music. Also, please visit me over at <a href="http://www.portecho.net/">Portecho</a>, my other blog, where (Halloween fixations aside) I will focus on computers, electronics, and and bits of home entertainment technology.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Finished</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-4077726236310249842008-10-31T07:55:00.001-04:002008-11-04T08:44:07.510-05:00Night 29: The Devil's Backbone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQfRGmY8ldKRXaMSbYsqaDX8q25d0SaZcOb5gX_miEdtF5sFWYWyrYAi2L59wozlt3CSUuqAVNwr05vDcK0cD9SeFeDfdn_giVyW6t5YGsj9kQwICKmL-8FozCVXxuR-bnhjCX1SACw83/s1600-h/devilsbackbone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQfRGmY8ldKRXaMSbYsqaDX8q25d0SaZcOb5gX_miEdtF5sFWYWyrYAi2L59wozlt3CSUuqAVNwr05vDcK0cD9SeFeDfdn_giVyW6t5YGsj9kQwICKmL-8FozCVXxuR-bnhjCX1SACw83/s320/devilsbackbone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263285562899623074" border="0" /></a>Tired of more misses than hits, I've decided to close out my selections with two known quantities. First up is Guillermo Del Toro's best film so far, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Devil's Backbone</span>. Many will question that designation, citing <span style="font-style: italic;">Pan's Labyrinth</span>, but I personally feel this earlier film is much tighter, more affecting, and better acted. There's no question it is more frightening.<br /><br />Set during the closing years of the Spanish Civil War, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Devil's Backbone</span> tells the story of a little boy named Carlos who enters an orphanage under the assumption that he is merely waiting there until his father returns from the front lines. We know better, of course, giving Carlos a poignance and a pathos that immediately connects him to the viewer. Inside the orphanage, a Gothic mystery unfolds and envelops Carlos, inexorably forcing upon him an encounter with the ghost of a fellow orphan. Though the war is mostly a distant backdrop, an unexploded bomb in the courtyard serves as an ominous and ever present reminder. It's these types of details that make Del Toro's films so memorable. Raised by a devout Catholic grandmother (who twice tried exorcism as a means of banishing his fascination with all things dark and monstrous), and obsessed with comic books, Del Toro developed a keen appreciation for the power of culturally-loaded iconography. His films tap the deep well of myth and history that flows beneath every story ever told, enriching what might otherwise come off as melodrama with the elan of allegory. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Devil's Backbone</span> is a film almost completely devoid of the usual horror tricks. Much of it is filmed in broad daylight and once the ghost is sighted, the camera does not turn away and try to sneak up on us from behind. We are forced to face our fears head on. The longer the camera lingers on the ghost, the more our simple aversion turns to a strange and morbid attraction. Through Carlos, we become participants in the story and vested in the outcome. As with only the best of all horror films, fear becomes less of desired side-effect and more of a transformative rite of passage, through which we reach a more vivid understanding of the world.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000274TLW&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=F9EFEF&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=000000&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Engrossed</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-72647688914651765402008-10-30T07:58:00.000-04:002008-10-31T09:39:29.835-04:00Night 28: Frontière(s)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcTpUH22bzP_1GnOORriM2dtxYZKYyxnx7YgaDKBkColSZYAFXdxMeviFMqltQV6M7s1O_z9ss-geDX6UkMB8JAMF3WW7AL0DhzRf8Ev2OLIN5Fsh6zU9gnvGXQHm0goKKQCwBMrPiRXF/s1600-h/frontiersdvd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcTpUH22bzP_1GnOORriM2dtxYZKYyxnx7YgaDKBkColSZYAFXdxMeviFMqltQV6M7s1O_z9ss-geDX6UkMB8JAMF3WW7AL0DhzRf8Ev2OLIN5Fsh6zU9gnvGXQHm0goKKQCwBMrPiRXF/s320/frontiersdvd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262915637336159234" border="0" /></a>The larder of modern French horror is not quite as well-stocked as I thought. After <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/10/night-25-malefique.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Malefique</span></a> left a sour taste in my mouth, I figured I should give our Gallic chefs one more chance to serve up something really sumptuous. Alas, <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Frontière(s)</span> is nothing but a flaky pastry with no filling that crumbles away to dust when you touch it.<br /><br />The by-now familiar ingredients are all there: massive riots in Paris, unsympathetic characters fleeing a troubled past, the country villa from hell, even the obligatory camcorder to give the proceedings a proper air of "reality." Toss in a decidedly non-Aryan band of Nazi cannibals, a mine shaft full of deformed "children" (who all look about as old as the woman who apparently birthed them), and a charming pantry full of enough corpses to feed the Fourth Reich. Shoot the whole thing with frantic shaky-cam and cobble it together with quick cuts. Season with liberal amounts of gratuitous gore and mud. Voila! Instant horror movie!<br /><br />That this overhyped mess is supposed to be a reaction to France's recent turn towards George Bush-style fascism is obvious enough, but just in case viewers are too clueless to get it, writer/director Xavier Gens has one of his characters actually say as much ("Bush" sounds so kinky coming from the mouth of a Frenchman). But if there is a message here, it's mumbled and muddled, like the anarchy tattoo on a teenager's ass.<br /><br />I'm not going to waste any more time or words on this movie, and I recommend that no else does either. I would, however, like to thank the Philadephia Phillies for cleansing its putrescence from my palate and replacing it with a warm reminder of how it tasted the last (and only other) time they won it all. I was seven years old and I raced downstairs in my pajamas after my bath, just in time to see Tug McGraw pick up my hometown and carry it to victory. Most Philadelphians believe that Tug's ghost was in attendance last night. And for good reason. His son Tim (the country singer) surreptitiously <a href="http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/pages/landing/?Finger-Tim-McGraw-Scatters-Tugs-Ashes-on=1&blockID=16452&feedID=717">sprinkled some of his ashes</a> on the mound while throwing out the opening pitch of Game 3. Now that's a ghost story I can believe in.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Elated yet bummed (that I'm missing the parade)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-31824968857861988062008-10-29T07:57:00.001-04:002008-11-04T08:48:10.709-05:00Night 27: The Descent<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHITBrB7SwxffY3GSJsXLciiB4WH0avpydKXwVvXJxtj8FmOeVKcl_v3YwybSK92ts5XSo5pVvDWNrGifzXF05d6fuGTIW1VAlWurovfLDEXjFj7R6VCGtGasW57sc-2rv1FTOuc9-ooFI/s1600-h/thedescentposter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHITBrB7SwxffY3GSJsXLciiB4WH0avpydKXwVvXJxtj8FmOeVKcl_v3YwybSK92ts5XSo5pVvDWNrGifzXF05d6fuGTIW1VAlWurovfLDEXjFj7R6VCGtGasW57sc-2rv1FTOuc9-ooFI/s320/thedescentposter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262543915095163314" border="0" /></a>In honor of the <a href="http://www.fwfr.com/">Four Word Film Review</a>, which is celebrating its nine-year anniversary this week, I will make this one particularly brief: Six chicks with picks.<br /><br />On second thought, that wasn't very satisfying. How about, cave mouth swallows hope. Nah, that ain't cutting it either. Underground regressive therapy ordeal? Whatever length, any description of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Descent</span> is going to carry the same b-movie connotations. The film's brilliance is in how it takes those low expectations, and the implicit inability to sucker you in, and then still proceeds to scare the living daylights out of you.<br /><br />Neil Marshall has made a career of exceeding expectations. His first film, <span style="font-style: italic;">Dog Soldiers</span>, was a low-budget update of the werewolf mythos that eschewed CGI and made the most of good acting and an original premise. It was a decent film, but <span style="font-style: italic;">The Descent</span> marks a definite evolution as a filmmaker. He wisely chose to shoot most of the scenes with natural lighting (headlamps, flashlights, flares, etc.), giving the cave itself a truly claustrophobic feel. Although perhaps a bit too homogenous (read: attractive), the actresses all acquit themselves admirably and managed to convince me they were real thrill seekers and not just prima donnas who had spent a week on a climbing wall. One scene in particular is right out of an "extreme sports" documentary and I never doubted for a second that these chicks could kick my ass. With that said, the real stars here are the "crawlers." I don't want to say too much about them, other than that they are very realistic and very frightening. Marshall chose to use real actors, instead of stuntmen or dancers, and they bring to their roles an authenticity that rivals <span style="font-style: italic;">Alien</span> in its ability to evoke atavistic fear of the Other. Though the gore is modest by the standards of some other films I have discussed, the icky quotient is high enough to keep most viewers out of caves forever.<br /><br />To borrow a metaphor from another extreme sport,<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>The Descent</span> flows along at a brisk but still leisurely pace, like a Class 3 river. Though there are a few shock scares here and there, nearly a hour of the film is spent building dread as the team of spelunkers descend further and further into an unmapped cave system. Once the action kicks in, though, it's a sheer drop straight down into Class 5 hell water. Careful of the rocks, folks. They're real killers.<br /><br />p.s. if the image on the poster looks familiar, that's because it copies <a href="http://www.poster.net/halsman-philippe/halsman-philippe-in-volupate-mors-salvador-dali-7200018.jpg">a famous portrait of Dali</a> by Philippe Halsman called <span style="font-style: italic;">In Voluptate Mors</span>. The same iconography was used, though less obviously, on some posters for <span style="font-style: italic;">The Silence of the Lambs</span>.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000IHY9TS&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=000000&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Claustrophobic</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-21020191815805821312008-10-28T07:45:00.000-04:002008-10-31T09:39:07.909-04:00Night 26: Malefique<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO35YfQWDKMlGNKUUsSv-sk166gOp4RBzyQhffdPw0TKxFSVpVUDftAuJSuMMLb0GvSqa_2PscRg3kN50rC_OU4Le3Hr-EPybrStoZSYwTHjwM4XfmZfcr-YEKaOks-NgTUM_SZRVpxkK/s1600-h/Malefique.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO35YfQWDKMlGNKUUsSv-sk166gOp4RBzyQhffdPw0TKxFSVpVUDftAuJSuMMLb0GvSqa_2PscRg3kN50rC_OU4Le3Hr-EPybrStoZSYwTHjwM4XfmZfcr-YEKaOks-NgTUM_SZRVpxkK/s320/Malefique.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262169922106350290" border="0" /></a>I don't know whether it was the anticlimactic rainout of what should have been a riotous celebration in Philly, or the disappointment over what purported to be a quality movie, but either way I'm feeling deeply unsatisfied this morning. By all accounts, <span style="font-style: italic;">Malefique</span> was supposed to be another stylish bit of French horror, but I personally thought it was a complete pile of merde.<br /><br />Three men and a burly transexual share a jail cell in an unnamed prison, in an unnamed part of France. Wherever it is, if I ever get pinched I want to do my time there. Prisoners call for their own exercise periods, have civilized dinners of tinned comestibles and wine, and wear the same clothes they would on the outside. Sure, they cut off each other's fingers to spend some time in the sick ward and bunk four to a cell, but hey, there's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimoire">grimoire</a> in the wall that will help them pass the time. Does it matter that the story behind said book is more murky than mysterious? Or that the film's liberal cribbing from Lovecraft's fabled Necronomicon feels more like plagiarism than homage? Well, it did to me. Within the first five minutes I could already tell that <span style="font-style: italic;">Malefique</span> lacked whatever alchemy transmutes a film from pointless make believe to escapist experience. I continued to give it the benefit of the doubt though, all the way up to and including the hackneyed ending. If only so that I can recommend, without hesitation, that nobody else does the same.<br /><br />I <span style="font-style: italic;">would</span> like to the thank the filmmakers though for introducing a new word to my personal lexicon. "Malefic" means "having or exerting a malignant influence." Given my proclivities, I'm not sure how I survived this long without knowing that word, but I'm glad I won't have to anymore.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Malefic</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-16614556590380509312008-10-26T15:44:00.000-04:002008-10-31T09:41:47.789-04:00Nights 24 & 25Sorry folks, but I'm abandoning my post(s) over the weekend. The Phillies have a chance to bring the first championship title to my home town in twenty five years, and I just can't justify watching another horror film instead.<br /><br />For those who cry foul, keep in mind that I have two double features under my belt, so I'm still on track to hit 30 films in October.MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-6799603192774750902008-10-24T07:52:00.000-04:002008-10-24T09:10:21.777-04:00Night 23: Calvaire / The Ordeal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1f2p5IlZG2mKlnl0b-j0LqqWvKXL55AK95CawcOomJW2aEiredQDXmt96Sugckvz2Vj2cvTMOM3mZ6gPP5arysuk3ipTIcf3zyeOCDIjk9mzIzHq_MRC_TA7aMXFUF7_6C0B5dLETQSN/s1600-h/calviare.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1f2p5IlZG2mKlnl0b-j0LqqWvKXL55AK95CawcOomJW2aEiredQDXmt96Sugckvz2Vj2cvTMOM3mZ6gPP5arysuk3ipTIcf3zyeOCDIjk9mzIzHq_MRC_TA7aMXFUF7_6C0B5dLETQSN/s320/calviare.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260687260078265970" border="0" /></a>Last night I dreamed I was asleep and having a nightmare that I cannot recall. I awoke with a start, and found my wife cleaning the room in the dark. She dumped a pile of clothes on my head. When I lifted my head a little girl with long dark hair and devil eyes was staring at me from the doorway. I tried to shout at her but the only thing that came out was a series of moans and gurgles, as if someone had cut out my tongue. My wife began to say "no, no, no" over and over again, until I finally awoke for real. She fell asleep again almost immediately, but it took me much longer. Eventually I drifted off, with my face away from the door. Sometime later I was awakened by the sound of someone entering the room. I rolled over and froze at the sight of a small dark silhouette standing soundless and still in the doorway.<br /><br />One of my daughters wanted me to accompany her to the bathroom.<br /><br />Until that happened, I wasn't entirely convinced the double nightmare, dream within a dream, sequence really happened to people outside of the movies. Emerging from two nightmares into a synchronous reality is not exactly the best way to get a restful night's sleep.<br /><br />The irony is that last night's selection was not exceptionally frightening and had nothing to do with little girls. <span style="font-style: italic;">Calvaire</span>, or <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ordeal</span>, is a Belgian film by Fabrice Du Welz about a struggling lounge singer who detours into a village straight out of the Middle Ages en route to his next gig. There he meets a quirky innkeeper named Bartel who turns out to be quite insane over the loss of his wife, and unwilling to let his new guest leave. At this point, the film descends into a <span style="font-style: italic;">Deliverance</span>-style story of survival, as it might have been conceived by Samuel Beckett. The performances are all first rate, and Du Welz gives rural Belgium a muddy, almost-cthonic malevolence, but the action is <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> plodding and the surrealism <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> self-conscious that the end result is not fear or horror but befuddlement and frustration. <span style="font-style: italic;">Calvaire</span> includes scenes of rape and bestiality, torture and crucifixion, but none of them are particularly shocking or effective. There is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1owrlQlLExY">one segment, involving inbred villagers dancing in a bar</a>, that nearly lifts the film from its soggy mire, but alas no. You get the sense that everyone involved in this film is talented and dedicated, and that some very "deep thoughts" about loneliness and despair are trying to be expressed but, ultimately, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ordeal </span>is exactly that, and nothing more.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Sodden</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-72179447616899708412008-10-23T08:11:00.000-04:002008-11-04T08:49:56.637-05:00Night 22: Shutter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdASuFebZ_sq13hpRahWcMTrm22KQMzQV2od8myUlClEnVaYn-s5RGtrBNF1jaHJaU2NkfpCOEZkgdd87na31s98AgQCCaeo2UlIKEBkgz4Pi72f-ZlQ_2fa9C9PBHWQ7iGPFWXhyphenhypheni-Hm/s1600-h/Shutter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdASuFebZ_sq13hpRahWcMTrm22KQMzQV2od8myUlClEnVaYn-s5RGtrBNF1jaHJaU2NkfpCOEZkgdd87na31s98AgQCCaeo2UlIKEBkgz4Pi72f-ZlQ_2fa9C9PBHWQ7iGPFWXhyphenhypheni-Hm/s320/Shutter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260321371894810674" border="0" /></a>After <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, I needed a little break before tackling the next Grand Guignol on my list, so I headed </span>east to Thailand and checked out its most celebrated contribution to the genre. <span style="font-style: italic;">Shutter</span> is yet another take on the potent theme of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onry%C5%8D" title="Onryō">Onryō</a>, or vengeful ghost. Using a Japanese word to describe a Thai film isn't quite the misnomer it might seem, as <span style="font-style: italic;">Shutter</span>--like many Asian horror films made this millennium--borrows much of its inspiration from <span style="font-style: italic;">Ringu</span>, up to and including the way it saves its most effective scares for a devastating anti-dénouement. As its name suggests, <span style="font-style: italic;">Shutter</span> goes much deeper into the realm of "spirit photographs" and actually has a more coherent plot than <span style="font-style: italic;">Ringu</span>. As a result, the characters feel much more grounded in the action. That is to say, they are more than just unwitting witnesses to an incident already in progress, and I'll just leave it at that.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Shutter</span> delivers some genuinely frightening jolts on a modest budget and once again proves that good camera work and atmospheric storytelling will always trump special effects in the scare department. In fact, there are no real "effects" in this film at all, just good makeup, imaginative use of photography, and a fiendish performance from it resident ghost, Achita Sikamana, who gives a whole new meaning to the word "creepy." It's kind of unfortunate that I watched this movie on the heels of <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. </span>Still in shock from that film's unprecedented assault, I found myself a bit numb to what might have otherwise induced a full-blown freakout. Nonetheless, <span style="font-style: italic;">Shutter</span> gets an unequivocal thumbs up from me.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000LPS3B2&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=000000&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />By now I should not even have to mention that the American remake of this film is not worth your time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Go Phillies!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-70031598234979074802008-10-22T07:49:00.000-04:002008-11-04T08:51:36.329-05:00Night 21: À l'intérieur / Inside<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc7OWlnuVDWfonxeY90cXIFkLKSXofQE4ZlioDbcSbYqj4sfbkLwZDdUtwAW8_bwPDyx-thCHmYCGXPQyzZ4Uqe-YXUUghy5D52w8lVgWwq-W2ESwMNhDLH7wNOpA7d8dG2tV8qfdIU__/s1600-h/inside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc7OWlnuVDWfonxeY90cXIFkLKSXofQE4ZlioDbcSbYqj4sfbkLwZDdUtwAW8_bwPDyx-thCHmYCGXPQyzZ4Uqe-YXUUghy5D52w8lVgWwq-W2ESwMNhDLH7wNOpA7d8dG2tV8qfdIU__/s320/inside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259795340314900402" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:100%;">Although it would take but a sentence or two to effectively summarize the entire plot of last night's selection, nothing I could write could prepare someone for what awaits them within </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. With their very first offering, </span><span><span><span class="text"><span class="text">co-directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo have instantly entered the pantheon of horror's all-time best. </span></span></span></span>The directing, the acting, the cinematography, and the editing of this film <span style="font-size:100%;">are all first rate</span>. <span style="font-size:100%;">The visual effects </span><span style="font-size:100%;">are flawless; the sounds effects are nonpareil. Every aspect of</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> À l'intérieur</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> is artfully designed to terrify and and traumatize the audience, from the unsettling opening credits to the haunting final reel.</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span>The film</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>is only 83 minutes long and not a second of it is wasted or extraneous. </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Barring the first ten, the entire thing takes place in a small suburban flat. The sense of entrapment is so palpable, and the bloodlettings so abrupt and dreadful, that I could not help but leak an anguished cry or bark an order at the heroine at each new peak in terror. This is simply not something that I do as a viewer. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ever</span>. </span>On more than one occasion, I literally had to stand up and retreat to the back of the room. My wife says she heard me moaning as well, though I cannot confirm. I was too entranced to notice.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The French have always been good at creating strong and memorable female characters, but the villainess in </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span></span> is in a league of her own.<span style="font-size:100%;"> Forget Leatherface. Forget Jason. Forget Michael Myers. They are all ineffectual pansies compared to the La Femme.</span> What makes her so frightening is the credibility of her motive, and the relentless intensity that Béatrice Dalle brings to the role.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>I still have nine films left to watch before I conclude this little survey of modern horror, but I am supremely confident that nothing yet made can top what I saw last night. Never, and I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span>, have I been so viscerally affected by a movie. In my opinion, <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span> now stands at the vanguard of horror cinema, daring anyone to come take its crown.<br /><br />One last note: although there are gorier films out there, for most people </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> will be the nastiest thing they have ever seen. Many women, particularly those who have given birth, will find it unwatchable. With that said, if you do decide to watch </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">À l'intérieur</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, make sure you get the unrated edition. Anything less is a cop-out.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00125WATQ&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=000000&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Style:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Gore:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scare Factor:</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Annihilated.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-73302053789915718742008-10-21T07:33:00.001-04:002008-11-04T08:53:32.776-05:00Night 20: Ils/ Them<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2gJjRvWjaTxxVaUqwWIHVFqrBH5bwel_khdcDVoS8V-BzO1SUx30nrav1UOQsfDkfeFvRlT1uK_gTeF_kcQLuvO29-Ma7jCvEJc2MRaU3pDHT-w4XHj7Hg4h1MpaEy20SLn-LwQCInig/s1600-h/them.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2gJjRvWjaTxxVaUqwWIHVFqrBH5bwel_khdcDVoS8V-BzO1SUx30nrav1UOQsfDkfeFvRlT1uK_gTeF_kcQLuvO29-Ma7jCvEJc2MRaU3pDHT-w4XHj7Hg4h1MpaEy20SLn-LwQCInig/s320/them.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259569039238695202" border="0" /></a>I'm feeling a bit redundant this morning. Not because last night's selection failed to introduce anything new. That is true enough, but thanks to a very tight focus and short running time, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ils/Them</span> still managed to generate more tension and suspense than the vast majority of horror films coming out of Hollywood these days.<br /><br />No, I'm feeling redundant because I stumbled across <a href="http://horror-movie-a-day.blogspot.com/">another blog</a>, called "Horror Movie a Day," that makes my little October marathon seem like a potato-sack race in comparison. Daily horror viewings for nearly two years? Multiple entries per day? What the hell is wrong with that guy? Doesn't he have a life? Is he being monitored by the authorities? Well, maybe he should be.<br /><br />Fortunately, <span style="font-style: italic;">his </span>page takes a really long time to load. Like at least 10 seconds. Plus, he includes stuff he catches on, like, the Sci-Fi channel and stuff. So I'm much more hardcore. Really. I am.<br /><br />Back to <span style="font-style: italic;">Them</span>. And by them, I mean the French, who seem to be a bit obsessed with the notion of getting terrorized in their country villas. Evidently, the riots and other recent acts of underclass upheaval in France have generated quite a bit of bourgeois fear and guilt. In yet another iteration of the trope I discussed in my <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/10/night-13-blair-witch-project.html">post on the Blair Witch Project</a>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Them</span> purports to be based on actual events. I have to admit that little tidbit always elevates interest for me. As with most cases, though, "based" should be replaced with "inspired" or perhaps even "suggested." I can't discuss those real events without spoiling the ending of <span style="font-style: italic;">Them</span>, so instead I'll pause to tell a story that is not just based but actually comprised of real events.<br /><br />A few days ago, someone rummaged around in my wife's car as it was parked in our driveway, looking for something of value. Not exactly life threatening, but unsettling nonetheless. A few minutes ago, I heard a sound I couldn't identify in my empty home. I must be learning something from my nightly activities, because I immediately grabbed a screwdriver. I crept down my hallway--I shit you not--while <span style="font-style: italic;">hugging</span> the wall. I sneaked upstairs, towards the source of the sound. Halfway up I realized that I was stalking our unbalanced dryer.<br /><br />I tell this embarrassing but swear-on-my-grave-true tale to illustrate two points. One, I very well could be losing my mind. And two, just as memory is apparently hardwired to our sense of smell, I think fear is equally yoked to our sense of hearing. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Only those stoneage ancestors frightened enough to flee from from the footfalls of the sabre tooth lived to tell the tale and pass those nervous ears on to us.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Them</span> makes fantastic use of this fight-or-flight reaction, using simple noises to ratchet up the tension to a very respectable level. I wouldn't say it "nears perfection in almost every aspect," as some guy over at bloodydigusting.com rather breathlessly exclaimed, but it does throw more weight behind the notion that the French are kicking our asses on at least one battlefield.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=portecho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000X1RYEQ&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&fc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=000000&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Paranoid.</span></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-21960767831867015622008-10-20T07:13:00.000-04:002008-10-20T11:11:10.644-04:00Night 19: May<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQScVcLZr6-Xyf0K-Sy5gbrGI_LJXZK1uGcHytO11RdppgQu2nD10i-ndjY9rCEWdkVZieln5EEb0pPCAOFKTr44eUceq7ryfhYyN3xxf8s3WSYfbwYnADDijwNrzdDpBvx9DIn-xfi4sN/s1600-h/may-movie-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQScVcLZr6-Xyf0K-Sy5gbrGI_LJXZK1uGcHytO11RdppgQu2nD10i-ndjY9rCEWdkVZieln5EEb0pPCAOFKTr44eUceq7ryfhYyN3xxf8s3WSYfbwYnADDijwNrzdDpBvx9DIn-xfi4sN/s320/may-movie-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259193099166331314" border="0" /></a>All of us have chinks in our armor. Places left undefended by the system of filters we use to protect ourselves from the truth of our own squishy mortality. Most manifest as phobias or odd fixations we cannot really explain.<br /><br />I have two. One is the idea of getting a catheter. The word alone has induced at least one near faint (I'm not kidding). The other involves my eyeballs. I think it began when I first saw <a href="http://iamyouasheisme.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/un-chien-andalou4.jpg">the razor scene</a> in Bunuel's <span style="font-style: italic;">Un Chien Andalou</span>, though I can't be sure. There was a time not too long ago when I became obsessed with the idea of getting a paper cut on one of my eyes. I came very close to doing it myself several times, just to end the cycle of "what if." Nowadays, pretty much anything involving eyes makes me queasy. Lasik surgery. Contacts. <a href="http://dokhey.blogspot.com/2008/01/true-urban-legend.html">Botfly larvae</a>. (Don't click that link. Really. Don't do it.)<br /><br />So when last night's selection opened with multiple close-ups of a little girl's lazy eye, I knew I was in for an hour and a half of discomfort and dismay. <span style="font-style: italic;">May</span> is the story of a misfit, played with jawdropping perfection by Angela Bettis, who is ostracized as much by her ocular oddity as by the way her perfectionist mother teaches her to turn away and inward. May's only friend is a homemade doll that could teach the <span style="font-style: italic;">Saw</span> manikin a thing or two about creepiness. As an adult, May has spent so long detached from the feedback loop of human companionship that her every word, every instinct, every mannerism is a study in weirdness. And yet, May <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> achieved a kind of equilibrium. She works at an animal hospital, performing disgusting procedures. She makes her own clothes. She keeps to herself. But when she decides to act upon her infatuation with a car mechanic (Jeremy Sisto, in a very good performance), May sets herself up for a classic breakdown.<br /><br />But is <span style="font-style: italic;">May</span> really a horror movie? It certainly ends as one. Of all nineteen films so far, <span style="font-style: italic;">May</span> is the only one that kept me on edge and uneasy for its entire duration. The only one that evoked a verbal reaction (as in, "No! Fuck no! Please don't do that!"). And the only one that forced me to cover my eyes. For that alone it gets my recommendation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Traumatized</span></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-67315428274606488292008-10-19T17:49:00.000-04:002008-10-19T19:32:01.851-04:00Night 18: The Mist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf56fGljjCUZTNz0j-IqSD7M9bZnCeNIAEeI_tgCd7ZemjX13KfuLuqzgjoHi8gOzEp91KdsR7E2GRCUQN8qFB8kCeh6tWfk7Qf4zC0yY_ObfTcb9Sp8WW8SD_Z_dI7Ypa81-o7TgjasN-/s1600-h/the_mist_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf56fGljjCUZTNz0j-IqSD7M9bZnCeNIAEeI_tgCd7ZemjX13KfuLuqzgjoHi8gOzEp91KdsR7E2GRCUQN8qFB8kCeh6tWfk7Qf4zC0yY_ObfTcb9Sp8WW8SD_Z_dI7Ypa81-o7TgjasN-/s320/the_mist_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258987121589254402" border="0" /></a>There's no escaping the fact that "Based on the Book (or Story) by Stephen King" has heralded far more stinkbombs than blockbusters on the big screen. If you exclude non-horror fare like <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shawshank Redemption</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Stand By Me</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Green Mile</span>, you can literally count on one hand the number of quality films his work has inspired. And no, I don't consider <span style="font-style: italic;">Children of the Corn</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Creepshow</span> a quality film. Who to blame for this is a curious question. Without a doubt, the vast majority of his adapters have been hacks at best, content to whore his name and criminally heedless of whether they defile it in the process. In a court of artistic integrity, the makers of <span style="font-style: italic;">Lawnmower Man</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Graveyeard Shift</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mangler</span> would all be hanged for treason. But the brutal truth is that King himself is responsible for many of the his biggest embarrassments, from the horrifically stupid <span style="font-style: italic;">Maximum Overdrive</span> (his one and only directorial contribution) to the bug-eyed insanity of remaking <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shining</span> for television.<br /><br />All of this has led King fans--me included--to develop pathetically low expectations. Keep this in mind if you ever find yourself in an argument over whether <span style="font-style: italic;">The Stand</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">IT</span> made for good miniseries, or whether <span style="font-style: italic;">Dreamcatcher</span> is worth renting (it's not).<br /><br />Fortunately, every now and again, somebody gets it just right. Not only that, they sometimes manage to add a little touch of their own that makes an already good story even better. Such is the case with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mist</span>, Frank Darabont's third successful King adaptation in a row (following the aforementioned <span style="font-style: italic;">Shawshank</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Green Mile</span>). Sure, the CGI effects are a bit cheesy, the characters are a little cliched, and the scare quotient is low enough to watch with your grandmother, but all of that makes perfect sense in this atomic-era throwback, where Big Science is to blame for what goes bump in the night and small towns still serve as microcosms of the world at large. It's all in good fun, but be careful though. A genuine shock of Darabont's own creation lies waiting to ambush you at the end of this movie and you might be surprised to find yourself a little more disturbed than you bargained for.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>entertained</span></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-89617061307293178702008-10-19T15:50:00.000-04:002008-10-19T17:39:34.245-04:00Night 17: El Orfanato / The Orphanage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYkpPQ3VIjJkWox4laJWRV-qK3JStqSlvEX18HzXHOcn9RgcPnEnzuv2DCf_06jAcp46lq2a__L7m_T7wJ5uO2-BLRnFwGlVzTFKFv9oQKhHCv-ZiNiO6rJ6X86nQO9mkiLsPxuyENBIB/s1600-h/orfanatoposter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYkpPQ3VIjJkWox4laJWRV-qK3JStqSlvEX18HzXHOcn9RgcPnEnzuv2DCf_06jAcp46lq2a__L7m_T7wJ5uO2-BLRnFwGlVzTFKFv9oQKhHCv-ZiNiO6rJ6X86nQO9mkiLsPxuyENBIB/s320/orfanatoposter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258955036391832674" border="0" /></a>Guillermo Del Toro is a busy man these days. When he isn't directing his own visionary horror-fantasies like <span style="font-style: italic;">Pan's Labyrinth</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">The Devil's Backbone</span>, or taking on the thankless task of following up Peter Jackson's triumph with the <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings</span> trilogy by agreeing to direct <span style="font-style: italic;">The Hobbit</span>, he is throwing his weight and substantial creative energy behind younger proteges.<br /><br />One recent beneficiary of Del Toro's influence is Juan Antonio Bayona, a baby-faced Barcelona native who first met and impressed his Mexican mentor as a teenage journalist. Bayona's debut film, <span style="font-style: italic;">El Orfanato</span> (The Orphanage), is a rare blend of horror and drama that succeeds magnificently on both levels. Apparently, it was exactly this crossbred quality that kept the script by Sergio G. Sanchez languishing for several years, unable to secure financing from genre-fixated studios until Bayona read it and Del Toro stepped in to produce.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">El Orfanato</span> was Spain's official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2008 Oscars, to give some sense of its pedigree and extraordinary production values. It tells the story of a woman who returns with her husband and young son to renovate and re-open the very orphanage in which she was raised. Needless to say, everything does not go according to plan. More than that, I don't care to reveal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS3DLkvs0BRSwnVSw3jALlsbvo2A1IeTYzaag64_12bpljRo7DjZif4QbWNGpaRWGke5nDJBCejBtI2sB2zJGjrthsf75NkhI7KuXzrYCA9HQerDr3mHcE17ItvK6N_NNXd3tjGPlE6xn/s1600-h/The_Orphanage_01-741647.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS3DLkvs0BRSwnVSw3jALlsbvo2A1IeTYzaag64_12bpljRo7DjZif4QbWNGpaRWGke5nDJBCejBtI2sB2zJGjrthsf75NkhI7KuXzrYCA9HQerDr3mHcE17ItvK6N_NNXd3tjGPlE6xn/s200/The_Orphanage_01-741647.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258981601904244114" border="0" /></a>Most, if not all, of my previous selections would hold little appeal for those who are not fans of being frightened (or disturbed). Though <span style="font-style: italic;">El Orfanato</span> has several sudden scares and a fair share of spinetingling suspense, I think it is mild enough for general consumption. Anyone who saw and enjoyed Alejandro Amenabar's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Others</span> will not only find <span style="font-style: italic;">El Orfanato</span> equally palatable, they might also recognize a common influence in Henry James's classic ghost story, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Turn of the Screw. </span>Yet while Amenabar was content to mine atmosphere and a few scares from such a celebrated source, en route to a Shyamalan-style trick-door escape, Bayona and Sanchez--like James--ultimately lock viewers deep within the heart of their haunted mansion and force them to find their own way out. That's not to say <span style="font-style: italic;">El Orfanato</span> does not hide a surprise or two, just that its power to haunt and entertain is based on more than sleight of hand. A common refrain in this blog has been, does this movie reward multiple viewings? <span style="font-style: italic;">El Orfanato</span> not only rewards. It actually demands.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>embrujado</span></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-81617718343085220732008-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:002008-10-20T18:16:13.289-04:00Night 16: Rogue<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26FiUZyzbBfoIDVVku37ucD2gkMW9JA0RChtDIiJzGzwk1EP48GQn4AxkAgjon5zWFwV7gEMjfEtoq2boj6rSDErB3yQchrEkk0A0Qmd8zWD0-2aNeq6PXxOX-rbvjzT6opJLegvytA-k/s1600-h/rogue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26FiUZyzbBfoIDVVku37ucD2gkMW9JA0RChtDIiJzGzwk1EP48GQn4AxkAgjon5zWFwV7gEMjfEtoq2boj6rSDErB3yQchrEkk0A0Qmd8zWD0-2aNeq6PXxOX-rbvjzT6opJLegvytA-k/s320/rogue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258101610345215746" border="0" /></a>I needed a little psychic cleansing after Wednesday night's slog through the cesspool of human depravity, so I switched gears a bit and settled on a monster movie by Aussie horror auteur Greg Mclean. You would be forgiven for thinking that the killer gator movie was a carcass picked clean. I mean, we already have <span style="font-style: italic;">Crocodile</span> (1 and 2), <span style="font-style: italic;">Killer Crocodile</span> (1 & 2), <span style="font-style: italic;">Alligator</span> (1 & 2), <span style="font-style: italic;">Big Alligator</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">River</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Eaten Alive,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Age</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Krokodylus</span> (aka <span style="font-style: italic;">Blood Surf</span>), and <span style="font-style: italic;">Lake Placid</span>. I'm sure I missed one or two, but you get the point. Well, it turns out there is a little life yet left in the genre, because 2007 was a banner year, bringing us three (count 'em... three!) more examples, including <span style="font-style: italic;">Primevil</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Black Water</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Rogue</span>. The last is far the best of the bunch. It is also the biggest budget Australian horror movie to date.<br /><br />Mclean first carved a name for himself with 2005's <span style="font-style: italic;">Wolf Creek</span>, an outback slasher flick that was supposed to "do for backpacking what <span style="font-style: italic;">Jaws</span> did to swimming in the ocean." Ironically, the number of backpacking visitors to Australia <a href="http://www.altfg.com/blog/online-news/rogue-crocodile-horror-australia/">increased 9% in 2006</a>, so there you have it. Some humans not only like to be scared--we might actually have a death wish.<br /><br />What lifts <span style="font-style: italic;">Rogue</span> above the low-water mark of most killer croc movies, and monster movies in general, is that it is well-acted and full of realistic, compelling characters. Mclean spends as much time introducing us to these people as he does putting them in peril, so that when the monster does arrive, we actually care whether they escape or not. He also keeps the setup simple and believable. The surprises arrive not only in the form of giant snapping jaws but also in how the film shifts gears for the final third. At first I found myself thinking <span style="font-style: italic;">Rogue</span> had jumped the gator, so to speak, and I'll admit to groaning a bit when the setting for the final showdown was revealed. Unlike most monster movies, though, the monster itself was fairly realistic so that it didn't spoil the tension to see too much of it.<br /><br />All in all, <span style="font-style: italic;">Rogue</span> is an enjoyable, if lightweight, thrill ride and I recommend it without reservations.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>recuperating </span></span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-30647240461935770592008-10-16T08:29:00.000-04:002008-10-22T14:53:09.053-04:00Night 15: Snuff 102 & August Underground: Mordum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHvFIJ4hOAHzSjXSC3-Linfrq1Nsx88uPLsTYHPyIz_xZd5lUXgJUdukqV1OzzC2pTAFdg_MzkYyFAXFpJfv_HApmLeVR9tYDGOXGnTfEOiKzmcCwQ2aWnPjbl-biU2TXT0Ufs7f-1zr8/s1600-h/snuff102_mordem.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHvFIJ4hOAHzSjXSC3-Linfrq1Nsx88uPLsTYHPyIz_xZd5lUXgJUdukqV1OzzC2pTAFdg_MzkYyFAXFpJfv_HApmLeVR9tYDGOXGnTfEOiKzmcCwQ2aWnPjbl-biU2TXT0Ufs7f-1zr8/s320/snuff102_mordem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257730496858007250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you missed it, I made it clear <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/09/ground-rules.html">at the outset</a> that I would not be including any of the so-called "torture porn" (a.k.a. "gorno") flicks that style themselves as the cutting edge of Hollywood horror these days. I've seen those films (The <span style="font-style: italic;">Saw</span>s, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Hostel</span>s, etc.) and I find them to be aesthetically dishonest and thoroughly unfrightening. The fanboys behind their creation like to think they are pushing the envelope, while also paying homage to the films and the directors that originally brought horror to the mainstream--John Carpenter's <span style="font-style: italic;">Halloween</span>, Wes Craven's <span style="font-style: italic;">Last House on the Left</span>, Tobe Hooper's <span style="font-style: italic;">Texas Chainsaw Massacre</span>. What made those films so powerful, and so unsettling, was the nihilism that underlied their inversion of standard Hollywood storytelling. The killers have no motive in any of these classics. The villains are not captured or killed, with the exception of Craven's film, in which the innocent victims <span style="font-style: italic;">become</span> the villains. The films are not trying to convey a message. There is no redemption. No happy endings. No escape. That, my friends, is what is really meant by the word "horror." Not inflicting pain on pretty people in clever ways. Not rationalizing violence with half-witted attempts at social commentary. Honest films don't depict evil with a droll wink. They reveal its true face, with a cold, unblinking stare.<br /><br />You have to dig deep to find the real razor's edge of horror these days. And perhaps that is how it should be. I remember renting <span style="font-style: italic;">Faces of Death</span> from my corner video store when I was about fifteen and feeling utterly amazed that I was <span style="font-style: italic;">allowed</span> to do so. Fortunately, it's a bit more difficult to get your hands on either of last night's selections, both of which have been blacklisted from typical distribution channels.<br /><br />The first comes from Argentina, and the mind of <span style="font-style: italic;">Super Mondo Trasho</span> director Mariano Peralta. Peralta apparently conceived of <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> while waiting to receive care at his local hospital, and feeling more like a number than a human being. The film opens with a montage of scenes depicting real animal slaughter and medical torture, ostensibly to contexualize what is to follow. We then watch a masked man dismember a body in a bathtub. Then the opening credits roll and things get really disturbing.<br /><br />The plot of <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> is thin, but existent, which is a critical distinction between <span>it</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and the second film I'll be discussing. A female reporter investigating the existence of snuff films interviews a so-called expert on the subject. Spliced inbetween segments of the interview are scenes shot in a hellhole basement, where three women are being tortured with sadistic abandon. The interviewer finds something she isn't supposed to see in the apartment of the expert, and we eventually come to realize that she is among the victims in the basement, and that they are subjects 100, 101, and 102 in a collection of snuff films. There is a small twist at the end. Fade to black.<br /><br />The violence in <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> is ultra realistic and very hard core--enough so to convince several audience members at the 2007 Mar Del Plata International Film Festival that what they were seeing was genuine, one of whom famously left his seat and proceeded to assault the director. With that said, the worst examples (involving a pregnant woman) are more suggested than shown. Again, I make this distinction not to praise <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> but to distinguish it from <span style="font-style: italic;">August Underground: Mordem</span>. What <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> made explicit is the film's philosophy, as espoused by the snuff expert. Morality is a construct. There are no boundaries to human depravity. There is no need to buy a snuff film, when to do so would cost more than buying a human being and making one yourself.<br /><br />Pretty bleak stuff, made even bleaker by the film's visual style, which deadens every color but red and captures everything with the emotional neutrality of a lobotomy victim. The only legal way to acquire <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> is to order it from Argentina through <a href="http://www.snuff102.com.ar/">the official website</a>. The DVD promises extras, including a gallery of necrophilia photos. Oh joy.<br /><br />Let me be perfectly clear. <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> should never been seen by anyone involuntarily and without full awareness of what is in store for them. It left even this hardened viewer feeling soiled and shellshocked. As disturbing as it was, though, <span style="font-style: italic;">Snuff 102</span> is a walk in the park compared to Fred Vogel's <span style="font-style: italic;">August Underground: Mordum</span>.<br /><br />Vogel first made a name for himself with the original <span style="font-style: italic;">August Underground</span>, which he directed while he was teaching makeup and visual effects in the Tom Savini program at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Unlike most other horror films, the <span style="font-style: italic;">AU</span> series have no plots and no characters. They are not meant to entertain and they are most definitely not meant for consumption by the general public. Shot on digital cameras, and then intentionally degraded to look even more amateur, they amount to nothing more than the brutally authentic film diaries of a serial killer and his sociopathic cohorts. Had Vogel decided to launch his creations with a viral ad campaign, and simply released them anonymously on the internet, they most certainly would have passed for actual snuff films. Vogel intends to use them as fundraisers and advertisments for his talents as a director and a make-up artist, but I wonder whether the authenticity of these abominations might in fact backfire on him. Vogel casts himself as the main killer, and the atrocities he commits on film, whether faked or not, will make most humans averse to even be in the same room with him, let alone collaborate. With regards to <span style="font-style: italic;">Mordum</span>, we are talking about the holy grail of exploitation films here--what is probably the single most depraved, disgusting, and demented collection of images ever committed to film.<br /><br />The biggest criticisms I see from the few people who have actually seen <span style="font-style: italic;">Mordum</span> is that it has no plot, that its repetitious brutality is boring and "over-the-top," that its "characters" are foul-mouthed, immature, and annoying. These people seem to be missing the point. Vogel was tired of Hollywood depicting sociopaths as charismatic masterminds with compelling motives and lessons to teach society. He was tired of murder made glamorous. While I do not recommend his films (I never want to see another one, myself) I do applaud the merciless honesty with which he dispels those myths. As much as I enjoy a good scary story, every now and again maybe it is helpful to see the real face of evil, in all its banality and filth. Lest I get too comfortable with its simulacrum.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br />soiled and never to be the same</span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148077629165941318.post-90947026444583986182008-10-15T08:16:00.000-04:002008-10-15T11:53:27.076-04:00Night 14: Quarantine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoIflOv098pHV-S5FU_HbNJ3Sk8hFsO0BgtXe09mX_PItA1V-6IXTnVQlXoyB3cZDDagLFOxd9E1Is1nP2QWbJOUQU1KBBQUaJu_AWmSKUDtOIZYS7QueQ2gcuaEi39LE9lQPt31CGLyt/s1600-h/Quarantine_Poster_hr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoIflOv098pHV-S5FU_HbNJ3Sk8hFsO0BgtXe09mX_PItA1V-6IXTnVQlXoyB3cZDDagLFOxd9E1Is1nP2QWbJOUQU1KBBQUaJu_AWmSKUDtOIZYS7QueQ2gcuaEi39LE9lQPt31CGLyt/s320/Quarantine_Poster_hr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257353635022229138" border="0" /></a>My wife surprised me for my birthday last night with the news that our babysitter was on the way and we were headed out for dinner and a movie. If you don't have young children, you simply can't understand the joy this evoked. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm waned a bit after checking the listings at nearby theaters. The only thing even remotely worth seeing was <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span>--sure, I typically dislike remakes but it would fulfill my blog duties and allow me to compare notes against <a href="http://hinterzone.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-from-now-american-film-called.html">the original</a>. But my wife hates horror movies and I knew better than to suggest it. Turns out I didn't have to. She already knew the times it was playing and had pretty much made the choice on her own.<br /><br />The surprises ended there. As expected (and predicted) <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span> had more gore, more jokes, a higher body count, slicker production values, and additional plot details. If less is more, then more is certainly less. It is not possible to explain exactly why <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span> is infinitely less scary than <span style="font-style: italic;">[•REC]</span> without spoiling both films, but I will try to do it metaphorically.<br /><br />Maintaining a state of fear is a delicate, high-wire act, more difficult than inducing pathos or even laughter. The audience's role is small but critical--they must mentally vanish the safety netting. For their part, the storytellers have to erect the big top, hire the clowns, train the elephants, etc., etc. But most of all, they have to sell the peril of the wire walker. One false step and the illusion is broken. <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span> was full of small false steps, and several big ones. The small ones involved simple things like inauthentic set design, artificially flavored popcorn, a certain lack of ferocity in the lion. The big ones were giving a familiar name and basis in fact to the proceedings, and blowing each and every critical scene.<br /><br />The makers of <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine </span>were like the carnival barker who oversells the big reveal. I don't want to know the medical term for what ails Lobster Boy<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span>I just want to gawk at his freakishness. Don't show me the headless chicken running around erupting blood. The white of the geek's eyes gone wide and wacked after he bites off the head is much more haunting.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[•REC] </span>only has three or four big scares, but each of them ratchets up the tension and builds inexorably towards a terrifying climax. The placement and composition of these scenes allows the viewer to see just enough, but no more. <span style="font-style: italic;">Quarantine</span>, on the other hand, had no choreography, no pacing. The scares seemed to arrive pell mell and the acting was far less naturalistic. Aesthetically, it was like the difference between a clown routine at Barnum and Bailey and a palm reading in a gypsy caravan.<br /><br />In short, I want a refund.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scorecard (out of ten skulls):</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Style: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gore: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Scare Factor: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span>Overall:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s1600-h/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQxcuS00kKZ3lD2o8Vi51ZGi1MaE4MH20yexX-mqbYKPgzPel6cES3Iv5m1iIkh1W5gWUunIV3Urb3JxqjYLU5nYiJzJ1barwU0m0ymG4pfIklR2SLXnBGvFdQp5Pi9MyQ9c-UqKXMzZg/s320/400px-Skull_and_crossbones_svg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252185876392249970" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">My psychological status:</span><br />a year older</span>MGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01310941961249976777noreply@blogger.com0