Original Post Date: 11.05.16
Hi, welcome to my new Series titled THIS FRESH BLOOD where I write reviews and/or opinions of horror movies I have just watched a few moments ago. Emphasis on a few moments ago – I want my reviewing process to be as fresh as possible, so fresh it still feels warm and slippery on my hands.
The new movies I bring into my life are meant to revitalize my love for horror by opening new possibilities in scenarios, characters, stories, social commentaries, and fairness (as in, more women and minorities playing the lead roles). Because as us Horror Lovers know, horror movies are – when done well – as rich, complex, and entertaining as any award-wining film. There is so much more than just the basic ‘scary’ approach to it.
I got the idea of doing this new Series thanks to my 13 Horror Movies post from a couple of months ago, and from the fact that I so humbly acknowledge my need for new horror horizons. I want to discover that one more movie that is going to shake me to the core just like “House of 1000 Corpses” (2003), “Saw” (2004), “Martyrs” (2008), “Human Centipede 2” (2011), and most recently “Naked Blood” (1996) did.
NOTE: I WILL NOT RANK ANY MOVIES. ART SHOULD NOT BE QUANTIFIED AND MOST CERTAINLY IT SHOULD NOT BE DISCREDITED. I WILL BE OBJECTIVE AND RESPECTFUL. ALSO, ALL REVIEWS WILL BE SPOILER FREE.
Well my weirdos, without further ado, I give you THIS FRESH BLOOD:
Megan Is Missing (2011) – 11.05.16 (9:39pm PT)
Megan Stewart and Amy Herman are two teenage best friends whose homelives seem so painfully opposite at first sight, and yet so unnervingly similar at second glance. One comes from a lower-middle class dysfunctional family, and the other from a middle-upper class overachieving family. Both suffer from neglect and loneliness. The characters showed us raw teenage emotions, and they were executed very well. They were awkward, honest, dangerous, tender, and heartbreaking.
The movie made me think of “Kids”, “Unfriended”, “The Blair Witch Project”, and another one I cannot tell you (if I did I would spoil “Megan Is Missing” for you). And even thought the entire film relied on the so called found footage, video diaries, and web chats, it did not feel overdone and it certainly did not make me dizzy with all the unwelcomed camera movement.
The whole premise of the movie – as you can tell from the title – is that Megan goes missing. But why? And how? And what happens next? This you will have to find out on your own.
There is something I will tell you. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the movie turned out to be. Granted, the beginning made me roll my eyes a couple of times because of all the cheesy teenage situations (I am an adult in my thirties), but those were needed to set the story for the girls. Now, when Megan went missing I was actually upset by it, and when Amy was all worried asking everyone about her friend it made me more upset. Also, I felt shocked, and disgusted, and scared after that (I wish I could tell you the reasons why but I do not want to spoil the movie).
If you decide to watch “Megan Is Missing” know that it is really violent, and that it was inspired by seven actual events. (more about this on the official website under the Message From The Director section)
This fresh blood made me feel a bit paranoid.
- Marath