Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Dread, the new Clive Barker adaptation hits select theaters tomorrow as part of the After Dark Horrorfest. While Horrorfest has a spotty reputation (the other movies in this year's lineup look god awful), there have been some winners in there (like Mulberry Street and the Tripper). Dread has been getting rave reviews since its premiere at Fantastic Fest and Mr. Barker himself has said he's very pleased with the film (which he produced as well).

If its even half as good as Kitamura's excellent Midnight Meat Train, it should be a real winner. I'm glad we are getting quality Barker adaptations again. I wasn't a big fan of Book of Blood though (and I don't think anyone here even saw it since the topic about it that I posted here didn't even get ONE single reply). So come out of hiding, Barker fans!

I'm really looking forward to this. I wonder how it will turn out, considering its the only Barker story that doesn't involve the supernatural. Unfortunately I won't be able to see it till Wednesday night.

For the synopsis, the trailer, and a list of theaters, go here: http://www.horrorfestonline.com/

i have a copy of the plague that a friend with a dvd recorder gave me but havent watched it yet

This movie was brilliant. Clive Barker is the man. Anthony DiBlasi is definitely a director to watch for. Can't wait to pick this up on DVD. I'll elaborate a little later tonight or some time tomorrow.

Ok, I realize I'm one of the only people on this board that seem to care about this flick (no love for Clive? ), but here are my final thoughts anyway. I dug the hell out of this movie! Its a real slow burn with an ending about as bleak as they come. It takes its time to build and build its suspense to a breaking point. The acting is pretty much great across the board, especially by the guy playing the villain. I was also impressed with Jackson Rathbone of Twilight, who gave a really good performance (wasn't expecting much out of him). If the trailer gave anyone a vibe of "teen" horror, throw that out the window. This is gutsy, balls to the wall suspense. It benefits from its slow pace and I was honestly on the edge of my seat, probably the most I have been since seeing the Dark Knight. First time director Anthony DiBlasi really knocks this out of the park. A guy to watch for, for sure. The cinematography makes a lot of use out of shadows. In almost every scene, much of the frame is just in darkness, almost like a Val Lewton movie (only in color). This really helps to lay the atmosphere on thick, and never comes off as an eyesore.

Also, if you haven't yet, DO NOT watch the trailer as I feel it gives away WAY too much. The ending is great (probably the bleakest ending I've seen since the Mist) and the slow build up to it is handled very well. It shouldn't be spoiled. This is a film that starts out rather normal and mundane and slowly builds to a truly tense final third that just makes you just feel filthy just like when you saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Cronenberg's Shivers for the first time. There are two rather short sequences that, in the hands of a lesser director, could have veered off into torture porn territory, but Dread never exploits these sequences in such a manner. They are unsettling, but not in the exploitative sense that Eli Roth has become known for. This movie uses its few gorey scenes and its torture scenes to their full advantage and knows better than to linger on them and exploit it. There is a real story with real characters going on here. My only complaint is that there is a lot of use of contemporary music and it sometimes doesn't fit the scene (but more often than not, it works).

This stacks up well with Hellraiser, Candyman and Midnight Meat Train as one of the best Barker adaptations to date. I'll be picking up the DVD for sure. I'm so happy that Clive has been able to step outside the studio system and be involved with killer modestly budgeted adaptations of his work. Its great to finally have a Clive Barker section on my wall of DVDs and this will be a welcome addition. This one MORE than makes up for the disappointment that was Book of Blood.

Keep in mind that its a bit different as Dread is one of Barker's only stories that doesn't deal with any kind of supernatural element, but even so its still unmistakably Barker. If you're a fan of Clive Barker or just enjoy gutsy, bleak horror films, this is one to check out.