Hooptober 7.0

36/39 - Film Featuring A Movie Theater
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I’d originally earmarked one of my all time favorites American Werewolf In London for a rewatch for this category, and then when I decided to eliminate rewatches, I chose Popcorn but when that wasn’t available to stream anywhere I chose this one.

Well, two anthologies in two days wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.  This one featured a few international directors and had some decent entries but overall felt crammed and lackluster.  The wraparound with the changing marquee and haunted theater would have been fine, but once Mickey Rourke arrived, it turned cheesy and cringey.

The first segment was pretty good, turning the masked killer hunting teens trope on its head.  I actually enjoyed it a fair amount.  The second segment - directed by Joe Dante - was a twilight zone retread and not at all interesting or well done.  The third was a bit more interesting featuring some gnarly gore and demon effects.  The fourth - another b&w mood piece from David Slade was short and not so sweet and not really coherent.  But at least it looked good and featured Elizabeth Reaser and was over quickly.  The final entry - the second one set in a hospital - was directed by mediocre horror stalwart Mick Garris.  He’s done a lot for the genre, but as a writer/director has never turned out anything I’ve particularly loved.  His segment was just meh and ends with the cringiest Rourke moment too when he tells the kid to run away.

Well, I think I’ve had my fill of horror anthologies for a while....