Multiple personalities. Behaving inappropriately. Getting into someone else’s bed. Wielding an axe. Watching people from afar. Murderous tendencies. Kidnapping girls. What a bunch of creeps. Here are 5 more films for Halloween to creep you out a little.
Monsieur Hire (1989)
Michel Blanc’s central performance as the Monsieur Hire of the title in Patrice Leconte’s acclaimed drama gives all the vibes of a mysterious, creepy individual. He also portrays the lonely man as a vulnerable, isolated figure. Still, components of a man our perceptions are suspiciously drawn to, especially when he spends spells watching the object of his affection, played by Sandrine Bonnaire, through his apartment window. With a cunning inspector on his case following a local murder, Hire’s life is about to unravel out of the dark somewhat.
Creep (2014)
Mark Duplass is something of an under-rated entity in the film (and TV world), a kind of unorthodox every-man, popping up in all manner of drama-comedies. His more unusual side shines skin-crawlingly brright in 2014’s aptly titled Creep. A found footage horror film of sorts, Creep follows Josef as he hires someone to video him for his unborn son. Or so he claims. The unlucky Aaron finds himself recording someone who is now quite all there – Josef consistently jump scares his guest, also insisting he keep filming while he takes a bath, or demonstrates his werewolf mask named Peachfuzz. Compellingly eerie, more so as the film progress, as revelations come to light, Creep lives up to its simple title without a doubt.
Another Evil (2016)
Another Evil is, simply put, wonderful. Transcending genres efficiently is a marvel to behold, one many world-famous, well-respected directors and writers frequently strive for — only to have the end result crumble within itself under the weight of what they couldn’t, ultimately, achieve in a realistic way. Well. Not in this case, let me tell you that. The comedy progressively darkens, the story organically shifts, morphs, setting a sense of uneasy and upcoming dread so naturally, the viewer would be hard-pressed to notice that they’re actually slowly sliding towards the edge of their seat. A Ghost Story, you say? Nah, not even close. Speaking in “American” terms, the Healeys and the Duplasses, the Batemans and the Kellys, the Kwans and Scheinerts; they’re the ones I want to be looking at, that’s where I want to be. And now, Carson D. Mell, a brand new, exciting addition to have to look forward to. Good times. Good times. I just wish White Knight Os would exist in Lowery’s universe just so he could at least attempt to exorcise Rapey Affleck (That goofball!) and his cloven hoof before the filming of that mess was ever even in the cards. – – – The Greek
Sleep Tight (2011)
Disturbing Spanish drama Sleep Tight is another example of how the Greek and I have soon become a fan of actor Luis Tosar. Voicing a concern to be happy, his character here works at a hotel, wedging a disruption into the happiness of others. His lingering current target, a young woman staying at the hotel, means he has his wok cut out a little – his creepiness comes in the form of tampering with things in her apartment, but more pressingly creeping into her bed (or under it) while she sleeps. I won’t spoil this here, but the escalation of such troubling personal affairs is well worth your viewing time.
Split (2016)
Watching this did not make me think Shyamalan is “back”, or has vastly improved or something along those lines. If anything, it all strikes me as a tad ‘samey’. Even on the back of good cinematography, the movie itself suffers from atmospheric deprivation, ill-timed and unfocused characterization framing, a complete absence of story foundation and cringeworthy, cheap, try-hard attempts at distracting the viewer into the supposed twists instead of purposefully diverting us into them. James McAvoy is superb. As it stands, miraculously and above its many, many shortcomings, Split does work — on the shoulders of its protagonist. That is not to say that Anya Taylor-Joy is not worthy, she also has to be mentioned with praise, however, I found her budding talent severely underused here and her performance caged within the screenwriting confines of a shadowed, mismanaged backstory and character stagnancy. tl;dr: Woman or man, watch this and James McAvoy will get you pregnant. Salud! – – – The Greek
So which films depict weirdos so well? Which films truly creep you out? Comments always welcome.
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