Classic Horror Story: Movie Review
I'd like to update everyone on my cats, who are consistently terrorizing me, which I understand is normal for cats.
Zerg and Poe, waiting for their moment
However, they are great to cuddle as I watch movies such as the one I'm reviewing today! This movie just came out recently, so I'll be keeping this review completely spoiler-free. I did want to call out something cool, but I put that below my typical spoiler line, so if you haven't seen the movie yet, just avoid it.
The Movie
In this gruesome suspense film, strangers traveling in southern Italy become stranded in the woods, where they must fight desperately to get out alive.
Netflix landing page for A Classic Horror Story
A Classic Horror Story is an Italian horror film that came out this year and was written by Roberto De Feo, Paolo Strippoli, Lucio Besana, David Bellini and Milo Tissone. It was directed by Roberto De Feo and Paolo Strippoli, and it stars Matilda Lutz, Will Merrick, Yuliia Sobol, Justin Korovkin, Peppino Mazzotta, Cristina Donadio, Francesco Russo and Alida Baldari Calabria.
The film follows the terrifying journey of five carpoolers who crash after trying to avoid a dead deer in the road. They wake and they, and their vehicle, have been brought to a clearing in the middle of the woods. Soon it becomes evident that they are at the mercy of a bizarre cult.
The Review
This was such a fun movie! As the film title implies, a viewer can expect some classic tropes: isolated cabin in the woods, masked cult, a last girl, but this film is so much more. I think it's going to be a big hit for many horror fans. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know I've watched a lot of films, read a lot of novels. I've seen -- if not everything -- then a lot. But I am happy to say that I was not expecting the way this movie ended.
In addition to a chilling ending, I found the characters believable, for the most part likeable, and realistic. The gore, the action, the suspense, all keep me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely recommend this movie as a refreshing take on some classic horror tropes.
9/10
x PLM
This is your spoiler warning! If you haven't watched the film, do not read further! You have been warned!
One thing I enjoyed about the A Classic Horror Story, was the attention to details. In the beginning, the final girl -- who is on her way to an abortion her parents have pressured her into getting -- sees a painting of a saint with stigmata. Later in the movie, she is trapped in a wheelchair by having her hands nailed to the arm rests and upon escaping, has the same wounds.
Also, I may have read too much into this, but initially I wondered if the trivia game the carpoolers play at the beginning had any meaning. Particularly when the question, "what does the clown from IT feed on?" comes up. One of ther women answers it wrong by clicking "children." The driver corrects her saying the children are just a tool, Pennywise feeds on fear. Which, of course, ties in to the ending and the twist.
The question after that was "apostle who betrayed Jesus", which is Judas -- which made me wonder if I could expect a traitor among the five.
I thought the message the movie was aiming to convey was also well done. When our final girl makes it out onto the beach, no one tries to help her. Instead, they take out their phones and film her -- tying the fact that the whole movie was a set-up by the local mafia for snuff film material.
Then, we see that, despite the Mafia Mom's son being killed, they still release it and it is on a streaming service called Bloodflix. So the final girl may have escaped, but her pain is commercial and up for everyone to watch.
Anyway, hopefully (assuming you only read this bit after having watched the movie) you liked A Classic Horror Story as much as I did. Until next time!