The Dark Half (1993)

Image taken from Wikipedia

Introduction

“The Dark Half” is a 1993 production directed by horror movie legend George A. Romero and based on the novel by Stephen King. The novel was inspired by real events in Stephen King’s life. King used to work under a pseudonym, Richard Bachman, earlier in his career. Bachman’s books were more violent in nature that King’s books. Upon being revealed as Bachman, King wrote “The Dark Half” in response.

Though met with mixed to positive reviews on opening weekend, it was a box office bomb, making back only $10 million of its $15 million budget. It currently holds a 60% rating on the review website “Rotten Tomatos.”

Plot (Spoilers!)

WARNING! This movie contains graphic depictions of violence. If you are disturbed by these sort of images, or do not wish to see them, then do not watch this movie. I believe that you will be ok to read this review though, but exercise caution.

The film starts with a teenaged Thad Beaumont, who is a junior high school student who wishes to be a writer and spends many hours in his room writing violent stories. His mother buys him a typewriter for him to use. Beaumont soon begins to have terrible headaches and hears noises, particularly the sound of birds screeching. One day as he is waiting for the bus, Beaumont collapses and is taken to the hospital. The doctors X-ray him and notice some sort of “mass” in his brain. Assuming it is a tumor, they decide that Beaumont needs surgery. During surgery, it is revealed that the “mass” in his brain is actually an undeveloped fetus that he partially absorbed as a child. The fetus is removed, and one of the nurses runs out of the operating room, unable to handle it. As she is outside, she notices thousands of screeching birds flying around the hospital.

The movie skips forward several years to when Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) is an adult. He is a fairly successful writer who also teaches a fiction writing class at a university. He is married to a woman named Liz (Amy Madigan) and has two twin children. One day, after he has taught his class, a strange man named Fred Clawson, who is a reporter from New York, approaches him and asks him to sign a book by “George Stark.” After trying to say that he is not Stark, Clawson claims that he knows about how Beaumont has been knowing a pseudonym to write his violent thriller novels. He demands blackmail money once a month or he will tell the press. After going home and talking to Liz, Beaumont decides he will come clean and publicly reveal his pseudonym and show the press his lake house where he writes his novels as George Stark. As a joke, they also decide to make a grave for George Stark, even though no one will be in it.

A few days later, the gravedigger calls the police after he discovers a large hole at the George Stark grave. He claims it looks like someone dug itself out. Soon, all of the people who knew about Beaumont’s alias are savagely murdered by an unseen attacker. The photographer, Homer Gamache, is attacked by a hitchhiker and beaten to death with his own prosthetic leg. Sheriff Alan Pangborn calls Beaumont the next day, since he suspects him of being the killer because witness describe the suspect as similarly looking to him, and his fingerprints are found on the scene of the crime. Since Beaumont had an alibi for the time when the murder occurred, the sheriff doesn’t take him in.

Soon after, Beaumont’s headaches start to return. He hears about how Fred Clawson has been found dead in his apartment in New York City. The phrase, “The sparrows are flying again” is written in Clawson’s blood on the wall of his apartment. Beaumont is sure that his pseudonym, George Stark, has come to life and is killing everyone around Beaumont for “killing” him.

Next, “George Stark” breaks into the apartment of Miriam, Beaumont’s publicist. He forces her to call Beaumont and leaves him a message on his answering machine before killing her. Pangborn pays Beaumont another visit, and despite strong evidence saying that Beaumont did it, he still doesn’t arrest him.

“George Stark” goes after Mike Donaldson, the alcoholic reporter, next. He ambushes him in the hallway outside of his apartment and beats him to death. After each death, Stark calls Beaumont to inform him about the killings. Stark sneaks into the apartment of Beaumont’s publisher, Rick Cowley, and kills him along with the two officers protecting him. Stark calls Beaumont once again and tells him he will continue killing unless he starts writing under Stark’s name again. After the call, Stark notices that his body is decomposing, and he realizes if Beaumont doesn’t write with his name soon, he will fade away from existence.

Wanting to investigate Stark’s origins, Beaumont goes and sees the doctor who treated his “tumor.” The doctor tells him that the “tumor” was actually an undeveloped fetus. Stark sneaks in and kills the doctor and leaves before Beaumont notices. Beaumont finds the body of the doctor, and realizes that it looks like he committed the murder. Beaumont flees the scene and from the police. He gets a call from Stark, who claims to have kidnapped Liz and the twins, and threatens to kill them unless Beaumont begins writing again.

Beaumont speaks to a colleague named Reggie, who tells him that Stark’s embodiment is the result of Beaumont encouraging his “dark half” to help him write. She says that in order to kill him without killing himself, he must confront him. She also mentions that sparrows are the conduits and bringers of life and death. They can either help Beaumont, or kill him.

Beaumont goes to his lake house where he believes Beaumont is. Stark’s body is so decomposed that he has to wear bandages to keep his face intact. They both go into his office, and Stark forces Beaumont to begin writing a new book so he can live again. As Beaumont begin writing, he tells Stark to take over the writing, and attacks him while he is distracted. While they are fighting, Liz, who is tied up in the living room, notices millions of sparrows descending upon the house. Just when it seems that Stark is about to kill on of Beaumont’s children, Beaumont reveals that he doesn’t want Stark around anymore, and the sparrows break in and break apart every piece of Stark and carry him away (supposedly to Hell). Beaumont, Liz, and the twins are saved.

My Opinion

I’m not going to lie, I thought this movie would be a lot better than it actually was. I have been excited for about a month to see this movie, and it wasn’t all that great. Was it worth the watch? Yes, I would like to say that it’s worth the two hour investment. Would I watch it again? Probably not. I have to say that I expected more out of the amazing combination of the writing brilliance of Stephen King and the directing talent of George Romero. I just believed that I let myself get too excited for it, even though I knew it wasn’t all that great.

The acting in the movie isn’t too bad, though in my opinion the story gets a little crazy at the end, especially if you were like my and didn’t read the novel. The movie takes place in the mid-20th century, so it gives the movie a bit of an older feeling. It also uses the Stephen King trope of having every Stephen King novel/movie set in Maine. In fact, I only really had issues with one of the visual aspects. That was the fact that they used both CGI (Computer-generated imagery) birds, along with Cut-throat finches to represent sparrows in the movie. They seemed pretty convincing in the movie, I just thought it was interesting that they didn’t choose one or the other.

Conclusion

If you are interested in Stephen King novels, or just enjoy watching thriller or horror movies, then you will probably like this movie. It isn’t the worst Stephen King movie adaptation (That award goes to Maximum Overdrive). If you’re not a fan of Stephen King movies, then you won’t like this one. It does contain somewhat graphic depictions of violence, so keep that in mind if you are planning to watch it. Other than that, this movie isn’t that bad.

Nosferatu: Original Edition (1922)

image taken from becuo.com

Introduction

Nosferatu is what can be called the “original” vampire movie. It was made in 1922 as a German Expressionist horror film, directed by F. W. Murnau. The film stars Max Schreck has Count Orlok. The film is an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Because the studio couldn’t get the rights to Dracula, they changed some of the names, like “vampire” being replaced with “Nosferatu”, and “Count Dracula” becoming “Count Orlok”. Stoker’s decedents sued over the adaptation, and the court ruled that all copies of the film to be destroyed. Despite this, one print managed to survive, and the film became one of the most influential pieces of cinema in history.

It is important to note that this is a silent film. As a result, all of the information and dialogue is given to us on inter-title cards that are shown periodically throughout the film. It also has an orchestra playing throughout the movie. Personally, I think that this helps set the mood, but if you think you would not like these, then I wouldn’t suggest watching this film.

Plot (Spoilers)

Please note: While the film is separated into five acts, I will review it as if it is one whole movie.

It begins with a man named Hutter picking flowers for his wife Ellen. After giving them to her, he leaves for work. As he is going to work, a passerby tells him, “Do not hurry, my young friend! Nobody can escape destiny.” An inter-title card reveals that Hutter’s employer is man named Knock. He has many rumors surrounding him, the only thing known for certain is that he pays well. Knock is reading a letter I his office covered in strange writing. He calls Hutter into his office and informs him that Count Orlok of Transylvania is looking to purchase a house in their small town. He tells Hutter he could make a lot of money, though it might require a bit of effort, and perhaps a bit of blood. Hutter examines a map of Europe while he considers the proposition, and Knock takes another look at the letter from the Count. After a moment a thought occurs to Knock, he suggests Hutter sell Orlok the nice deserted house opposite Hutter’s own home. Knock tells him to travel quickly to the country of ghosts. Both men laugh as the scene fades to black.

Hutter rushes home to inform his wife of the exciting news. Ellen is disappointed her husband is leaving, but he is anxious to begin his journey. Before he leaves, he takes his wife over to stay with friends of the family, a rich shipowner, named Harding, and his sister. Hutter kisses his wife to reassure her that he will be fine, then leaves for Transylvania. A title card tells us that Hutter travels many dusty roads to the Karpathen Mountains. He arrives at a tavern, still excited by his trip. He asks for dinner before he continues on to Count Orlok’s castle. Upon hearing this, the crowd in the tavern react with shock and fear. They tell him that he can’t continue due to the werewolf stalking the forests at night. A wolf like creature scares many horses into bolting into the wilderness, so Hutter stays the night at the inn. After being led to his room, Hutter closes the window and gets ready for bed. He notices a book sitting on his nightstand. It’s a book about vampires, ghosts, and sins. He reads a section on Nosferatu, terrible creatures that live in caves filled with soil from the fields of Black Death. Thinking nothing of it, Hutter goes to sleep. The next morning Hutter wakes up as shepherds are returning horses to their corrals. He again notices the book, but he still ignores it and continues on his journey.

After traveling all day by carriage, Hutter is yelling to the driver to hurry before the sun sets. The driver pulls over, telling Hutter he refuses to go any further, no matter how much Hutter offers to pay him. Undisturbed by the driver’s cowardice, Hutter takes his gear and continues on foot. A moment later another carriage arrives with a sinister looking driver. The driver says nothing, but motions for Hutter to get in. After a cautious moment, Hutter gets in, and the carriage heads back towards the castle. They soon arrive at a ruined castle, and the driver motions for Hutter to go inside. Hutter walks toward the castle when the door appears to open by itself. With a bit of apprehension, Hutter enters the castle. He is met by the same sinister figure, now revealed to be Count Orlok. Orlok informs him that he has waited too long, and all the servants have already gone to bed, so he leads Hutter inside himself.

A moment later the two men are sitting at a table. Hutter is eating as Orlok studies papers concerning his new real estate. Hutter is watching Orlok so intently that he accidentally cuts his thumb while slicing bread, drawing blood. Orlok reacts immediately, mentioning the blood. Hutter begins to back away in fear, when Orlok proposes the two spend some time together talking, as it is several hours until dawn and Orlok must sleep during the day. Hutter awakens the next morning to find the castle empty but a meal waiting for him. He takes a mirror out of his pocket and examines his neck where he can see two small marks. After breakfast he examines the castle grounds, stopping to write a letter to his wife Ellen. He tells her not to be mad that her love is away, and attributes the marks on his neck to mosquitoes. He flags down a passerby to deliver his letter. (Which seems a bit strange that there would be somebody passing by this castle, when the carriage driver earlier wouldn’t come near it)

That night Hutter is seen sitting with Count Orlok again. The Count is going over paperwork when he notices portrait of Hutter’s wife, which instantly catches his attention. He holds the picture, and remarks that she has such a beautiful neck. He then tells Hutter that he will buy the house that is across from Hutter’s. Later Hutter is in his room where he is reading more from the book. He reads an article concerning how the Nosferatu hunt and a warning to not let their shadow burden your sleep. His bedroom door opens by itself to reveal Orlok, who menacingly enters the room. As he does, Ellen begins sleepwalking back in their hometown. She wanders out onto her balcony where she almost falls off. When Orlok finally leaves Hutter, the door again moving on its own behind him, Ellen falls back to sleep.

The next morning, Hutter decides to investigate the horrors of the castle. He finds a coffin in the basement, and further investigation reveals Orlok sleeping inside. Hutter leaves the basement in a state of horror. That night he looks out his window to see Orlok loading a wagon with several coffins. After stacking the coffins he climbs into the last one, with the lid lifting onto the coffin by itself, before the carriage drives itself away. Hutter, worried about his wife, ties several sheets together in an effort to escape out his window. He falls from his makeshift rope before reaching the bottom, and is knocked unconscious. Orlok continues his journey down the river via raft, the raftsmen unaware of what is in the coffins. Hutter is found by a farmer and is brought to a hospital, where he is slowly recovering. Orlok’s coffins arrive at a seaport where they are being loaded onto a ship. The sailors are curious as the contents of the boxes, so the tip over to find nothing but soil and rats.

Professor Bulwer is presenting a lecture to his class about unusual predators in nature. He shows his class meat-eating plants, remarking how similar they are to vampires. Back in Wisborg, Knock has been admitted to an insane asylum. He attacks his doctor, yelling, “Blood is life!” He is soon knocked (haha get it?) unconscious, and the screen fades to black.

Ellen passes the time waiting for her husband sitting on the beach. One day, Harding and his sister bring her the letter Hutter wrote while at the castle. Ellen still longs for her husband. Hutter has recovered enough that he decides to head home. He is still visibly weak, but he can’t wait any longer. As he leaves for home, Orlok is traveling towards Wisborg via ship. Back in the asylum, Knock steals a newspaper from one of the guards where he reads an article about plague victims in the ports along the Black Sea. All the plague victims have strange marks on their neck, and Knock realizes his master is coming. On the ship where Orlok is, sailors are falling ill. The first mate and the captain come to check on their sickened crew, where the ghostly image of Orlok is watching him. Soon only the first mate and captain remain alive. As they heave another body overboard, the first mate decides to finish things once and for all, and takes a hatchet into the cargo hold. He begins to break up the boxes of soil, but as he does the lid lifts off of a coffin, and Orlok arises. Stricken with fear, the first mate drops his hatchet, runs to the top deck and throws himself overboard. The captain lashes himself to the wheel, but he is soon attacked and killed by Orlok. A title card exclaims the death ship has a new captain, implying that Orlok has taken control of the ship.

Hutter travels night and day to get home as quickly as possible. In Wisborg, Ellen is again sleepwalking, now speaking in her sleep, seemingly in anticipation of Orlok’s arrival. She says, “I have to go to him he is coming!” Knock also seems to sense the arrival of the ship, becoming anxious as Orlok gets closer. The ship docks itself and the door to the cargo hold opens. Orlok immerges, carrying one of his coffins. As Orlok makes his way through town with his coffin, Hutter arrives home where he and his wife greet each other enthusiastically.

Back at the dock Harding is investigating the ship, finding the dead captain and a log of the journey. He reads about how illness gradually killed the eight crewman. The captain wrote of a rat infestation and the possibility of a plague threat. Upon reading this, Harding tells everyone to return to their homes and keep their windows and doors closed. Later the town crier announces that plague victims must stay within their homes. White crosses mark the doors of plague victims as coffins are being carried out of several houses.

Hutter tells his wife not to read the horrible book he has brought back with him, but some force compels her to read it. He tries to comfort her, but they both sense the presence of Orlok watching them from his new home. Harding’s sister falls ill, and Ellen watches as a funeral procession is led by her house. This leads her to read from the book, where she reads that the only way to defeat the Nosferatu is if a sinless maiden gives her blood to it willingly, making it forget about the coming dawn until it is too late.

Meanwhile, the fear stricken town is searching for a scapegoat to blame for the plague, and they blame the recently escaped Knock. They chase him throughout the city, but he eludes them, mocking the townspeople from rooftops before running into the woods.

That night Ellen can sense Orlok watching her from his building. She opens the window, in a sense inviting him to her. She pretends to fall ill, telling Hutter to go get Bulwer, leaving her alone to face Orlok. Hutter rushes off, leaving Ellen alone in bed. She cowers in bed as the shadow of Orlok creeps ever closer to her, soon enveloping her completely. As Orlok sucks her blood he suddenly hears a rooster crow, and realizes that he has mistakenly stayed out until dawn. He rushes to leave, but as he crosses in front of the window he walks into the beams of the rising sun. He is instantly burned, vanishing in a puff of smoke. Knock, who has finally be captured and returned to the asylum, senses that his master is dead. Ellen is found by Hutter the next morning, the two embracing as the horror is finally over.

My opinion

Personally, I feel like this movie was ok. It wasn’t the greatest movie that I have ever seen, but there are many worse. I feel as this movie has become a bit dated. Many people, myself included, have been spoiled by modern horror media. This made me feel as if this movie was not scary at all. When it was first released, I’m sure it was a terrifying movie. But this would have been because the people who saw this movie had never seen a horror movie before, or if so very few. The most fighting form of horror media they would have been exposed to would have been Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. There is also the fact that the effects used in the movie are pretty bad. For the time, they were probably pretty frightening, but they just don’t hold up to today’s standards.

The silent movie aspect of it wasn’t that bad. It was a unique experience, and I’m glad I can say that I have now seen a silent movie. I don’t feel as if it took away from the mood of the movie, but rather added an eerie feeling to it. If you don’t like reading subtitles on movies today, then I can’t really suggest this to you, since it is a very similar experience. Overall, I can’t really say that I would suggest this movie, unless you like horror or vampire movies. If you not a huge fan of either of those, you would be better off watching a different movie.