You can check out any time you like but you can never leave - The Landlady by Roald Dahl

What is more frightening; the fear of when you realise you are in danger or the fear that your aggressor will find out that you know everything they're planning to do to you?

This short story was written by Roald Dahl and subsequently adapted for television and featured on Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Also turned in to an episode of the awesome British television series, Tales of the Unexpected of which I am the biggest fan. If you are not familiar with this take a look at these titles.

Need I say more?!

Young, trusting Billy is only seventeen when he gets two trains from London to Bath to begin his first ever job. Looking for a place to stay he comes upon a bed and breakfast with a vacancy sign that seems to hypnotise him. And when he rings the doorbell, he doesn't even take his finger from the button before the door opens and The Landlady appears. Typical of Dahl and indeed Hitchcock, the unashamedly hammy way of trying to shock and scare that you can't but love.

Our Landlady is suitably creepy. Claustrophobic, motherly and touchy feely. Even the description of her "white hand" patting him comfortingly on the knee is a little uncomfortable to watch.

As soon as Billy enters the B&B, several alarm bells begin to ring for the reader/viewer but not for Billy. The room is very cheap but the interior is very pleasant and all rooms are available. Not to mention the taxidermy. The short story makes only a subtle reference to Billy's fate on the final page yet the Tales of the Unexpected episode goes several steps further and shows us the results. A genuinely creepy little story to scare the kids.

Landlady: "...there wasn't a blemish on his body."

Billy: "A what?"

Landlady: "His skin was just like a baby's."

I've been doing some research & a couple of years ago these kids had a premonition then they all died - The Final Destination (2009)

There is something reassuring about the Final Destination franchise. Just like the Saw series where they are constantly trying to make the killings more and more vomit inducingly elaborate, we have a familiar script and pleasantly surprising death scenes.

By now you can sense it. There is a quietness in the air like everyone has held their breath. You become ultra aware and wide eyed. You know something is coming, and that thing is Fate in the shape of big fat Death.

In the unlikely event you don't know what this is about, this film is based on a series of unfortunate events. With the final installment (we assume) our latest group of kids are watching a car race when Nick has a vision that a car will crash. This will in turn cause other cars to veer off the track and through the barrier in to the crowd of spectators, killing them all in various horrifying ways including fire, decapitation and impalement. Nick snaps out of it but as his premonition begins to come true he tells his friends and gets them out of the stadium, just in time to see a ball of flames explode.

The kids are then very grateful to be alive and become carefree and live each day to the fullest. This is where the bikinis come out when they celebrate at the poolside party. They think they've escaped death but no, you can never escape death, mwa ha ha haaa. We then revisit one of the people who didn't die at the stadium, but should have.

This is where we see fate come in to play. Sharp knives and hooks don't just fall off the side board. Water doesn't just just find its way round corners in to electrical circuits. But in Final Destination land, they do. We've had it all, including speeding buses dashing into view to swipe down a main character. Maybe the most memorable in this instalment is the boy jumping in to the swimming pool after accidentally turning on the pool drainer. He jumps down to the bottom to retrieve a coin and gets sucked by his pants to the bottom. As the suction pressure increases, his internal organs get sucked and spat out through the vent. Nice.

I've been doing some research and a couple of years ago these kids had a premonition then they escaped death and then they all died anyway. That's fate for you.

What hell is. Discuss - Dark Corners (2006)

Thora Birch... Ever since The Hole I've got excited every time I hear of a film she is in. That excitement has begun to diminish as I have frequently been disappointed. I have to be honest here, I'm not entirely sure what I think about this one. I am certain however, that I was entirely confused by this film. Right up until the last 30 seconds, then I was like, Oh yeah, I get it, kinda... I felt it important to include spoilers in this review.

In this film we have 2 Thora Birch's, namely Susan (blonde Birch) and Karen (brunette Birch). We start with Karen. She wakes up in a grotty bedroom, goes to the bathroom and finds she has blood and cuts on her hands and face. She has no recollection of what's happened to her. We quickly realise she has a pretty worthless life, possibly attempting to reinforce the 'blondes have more fun' theory, meh.
Karen arrives late to work at the funeral parlour and we meet her boss, one of the most entertaining characters in the film. He munches through crisps while sewing together some dead guy's mouth, telling the story of how his twin brother died the eve of their 12th birthday and how he was glad to get his presents.

Then we meet Susan, whose life is totally different. She is happy and settled. She wakes suddenly as if from a nightmare. And she really was having a nightmare, about Karen's life. And Karen is, about Susan's life, if in a very skewed way. Susan's nightmares are of Karen experiencing a 'monster', visiting her at night, inflicting violence and rape and making her pregnant while she is unconscious. Karen dreams of Susan's IVF treatment but interprets it as her being violated.

Susan visits a hypnotist, Dr Woodleigh, to help her with her nightmares played by our very own Toby Stephens. He is a sinister character and is responsible for one of the more memorable lines in the film while Susan is out of earshot, "you ungrateful fucking cunt" in a terrifying distorted voice. Not the most shocking moment. That goes to Karen enduring an abortion at the hands of the monster. As each of their dreams become more blurred and characters appear in both of their lives we start to see Karen is actually Dr Woodleigh. He kills Susan and her husband walks in, understandably loses it and beats him to a pulp, hence the blood on Karen's face...

The background character really are creepy and exactly the kind of people you have in your nightmares. Big bold features and sideways stares.

"Hell is having your sins served up to you in an endless loop of torture."

£5 an hour & all the food you can eat - Babysitter Wanted Contest!

No, I'm not looking for a babysitter. At the weekend I watched and reviewed the surprisingly amazing film Babysitter Wanted. Also, last week Scare Sarah reached and passed 100 followers! I should be getting a telegram from The Queen or something. I'm so proud about that and above all, that you people bother to post comments here. I really appreciate it.

To celebrate I've decided to give away a copy of Babysitter Wanted on DVD(R2)! Inspired by one of the most popular urban legends but with a twist. Now all you kids can find out what it's like to have a part time job...er, only if you're over 18 though.

All you have to do to enter is follow these god darn rules.

1) Be or become a follower of Scare Sarah.

2) Post a comment on this post stating your favourite urban legend.

3) Mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook or your blog or any other part of the Internet world (tell me where).

4) Provide your email address.

All entries must be 18 or over. The winner consents to having their name mentioned on this blog. Contest closes on the 5th March 2010. Open internationally but remember the DVD is region 2. Just saying.

I'm a Bloggenaire! - Scare Sarah featured on Final Girl

Scare Sarah has been featured on the illustrious Final Girl for her Bloggenaire segment! Boy, she was tough on me. Get over there and check it out!

Thanks, thanks so much.

The butler did it - Spoilers anyone?

"He was dead the whole time!"

"She was a 30-year-old midget!"

Yes, we've all experienced it. The moment someone lets slip, deliberately or by accident, the end of the film, an all encompassing part of the plot. They've ruined the entire experience for you haven't they? Good lord, they've spoiled it. Haven't they?

I recently ran a poll asking what you thought about spoilers. Did you hate them for perhaps obvious reasons or did you like them, even seek them out? I joked that maybe you wanted to seem as though you had worked out who the killer was so that your friends could be in ore of your greatness.

I can understand why people dislike them. The result of the pole made your thoughts quite clear; you didn't want them. Surely the whole point of watching a new film or reading a new book is to experience it for the first time? Have those scares or surprises first hand, as it happens. But really why are spoilers so popular?

I know my poll says different but take a quick look on the Internet and you'll see there are tons of websites dedicated to films, books and soaps, revealing all over the freaking place. I must say I'm in two minds. I want to be surprised. I want that exciting shock of the new in real time. But there is still a part of me that wants all the info right here right now. Maybe just so I can't ever be disappointed?

So, you voted yes or no. Care to elaborate?

I'll have the chicken - Babysitter Wanted (2008)

I got tipped the wink about this film by the Jaded Viewer. He enthused so I just had to take a look!

Angie is one of your meek and mild, good Catholic girls. These types just shouldn't be allowed to leave the bosom of their mother and their small towns and go off to college. They are prime pickings for even your most inexperienced killer. We are led on a bit of a merry-go-round on this point though.

I must say, the beginning of this film wasn't what I had expected. Yes, there was the obligatory body chopping intro scene but it then changed its atmosphere to something more American teen movie. I thought that maybe I'd nodded off, nudged the remote and turned it to Dawson's Creek or something. Even then though, I knew there was something promising about it.

Angie (Sarah Thompson, Cruel Intentions 2) arrives in a new town to start college. She has little money so she takes up a babysitter job just outside of town. She meets the father and mother and little boy Sam. When mum and dad go out and little Sam wakes in the night saying he is hungry. Angie had been told by Sam's mum that Sam is on a special diet and must only eat what is labeled with his name in the fridge. This happens to be diced red meat. Mystery meat, as it shall from now on be known. So the moment Sam starts to tuck in to his mystery meat I knew something was up but I had no idea it would play out quite the way it did.

First of all Sam goes AWOL playing hide & seek. Next the silent phone calls. Then a man with a knife breaks in to the house. I'm at pains to not reveal too much here but let's just say, the boy ain't called Sam for nothin'.

This film is such a gem. At times I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be serious and nod in an appreciative way. And Bruce Thomas' performance as the father is brilliant.

Now, what's that? You're hungry? Hold on, I've got something for that...

Is he or isn't he? - Martin (1977)

We meet Martin on a night train on his way to Pennsylvania to see his uncle. After dark he sneaks to the door of a lone travelling woman, picks the lock and lets himself in, armed with a syringe. The woman is in the toilet so he hides behind the door, surprising her when she emerges and jumps on her. He injects her and tells her not to be afraid and that she will just fall asleep. "I'm always careful with the needles."

She falls asleep like he said she would, he gets undressed and takes off her bathrobe. The scene is almost beautiful if you forget what he is doing. He takes out a razor blade from his bag, cuts her wrist and drinks her blood.

Martin is a vampire.

Or is he? The next morning Martin (John Amplas, Creepshow) gets off the train in bright sunlight and doesn't seem at all phased by it. Amplas' general physique is that of a geeky, awkward teenager, with an amusing "leggy" walk. Although facially he has the features of the romantic vampire vision; full lips, predominant teeth (not fangs) and wavy hair. Put him in a frilly shirt and he would not look out of place. He has black & white visions, or maybe they're flash backs, of him in another time, seducing female victims, drinking their blood and being chased by the torch carrying yokels.
When we get to his uncle's house it is apparent he knows all about Martin. He warns him not to take from the village. He does though, but he is almost always very careful.

I found myself hoping Martin would succeed. He was quite innocent and yet in other ways profound. He thought that the fact he had not had sex with someone awake, meant he had not really had sex. So when he is propositioned by a bored housewife he is too shy to accept... at first anyway. This relationship becomes his downfall. This is one of those vampire films that links the drinking of blood to sex and sexuality and does it very convincingly. Acting impulsively and completely free is quite sexy and attractive.

Martin dismisses his uncle's garlic and crucifixes and violent attempts at exorcism, insisting there is no such thing as real magic. It is quite a fascinating idea that there could be vampires and that they are not effected by such things because there is no higher power, no God. They just exist. They just are there along side the rest of us.

It's my CSQ day & I'll cheer if I want to - Cyber Scream Queen of the Day

My turn as Cyber Scream Queen of the Day has arrived over at Dollar Bin Horror! Very exciting moment. Such a great blog Rhonny has so if by some small chance you've not stopped by there yet, why not take a look now!

Scream 4 if you wanna go faster - Hello Sidney...

I still feel excited every time I think about the fact Scream 4 is on its way. I know they haven't even started filming the thing yet but I can't help but hope that it will be a thing of beauty and with Wes Craven rumoured it be seriously considering the big job, I'm quietly confident.

I was sweet 16 when Scream first appeared in our world. I can't actually believe it was fourteen years ago. Smart, sexy, glossy and scary, it unleashed a new era of the teen slasher flick. They were always there of course; Prom Night, Sleepaway Camp, Nightmare on Elm Street, but this was so very different. So aware of its own horror routes it reflected popular culture in a brave new way.

From the time I saw the shiny iconic Dimension Films logo on screen I was pulled in. First we met Casey (Drew Barrymore) in what is now the trademark opening pre titles sequence where the doomed cameo is stalked by Ghostface until they meet their end. We then meet Sidney, (Neve Campbell), an already tormented young girl since the death of her mother. Then all her friends start dropping dead.

Hot on its heals came the sequel, Scream 2, a year or so later. This time it's Jada Pinkett Smith's turn to die in the pre titles. On a date with her boyfriend at the cinema to see Stab, which is a film based on the "true" events of Scream, she discovers that the man sitting next to her with a ghost mask on isn't actually her boyfriend... It's quite emotional when she is standing in the cinema, screaming for someone to help her, but they all think it's part of the show. Oh yeah, and Sarah Michelle Gellar is in it! Hurray! But she gets killed. Boo!

I saw Scream 3 at the cinema and the ushers were all dressed up as ghostface! As people walked in to take their seats they jumped out in front of them! How cool is that?

This segment revolves around the set of Stab 3 and we meet properly the "actors" who are playing the Scream characters. This is when the trilogy becomes a real parody of itself and all horror films, yet it still manages to be classy and a real social comment without being poncy. And Jenny McCarthy is in it! Hurray! But... yeah, you know the rest.

So, if you haven't seen these, why the hell not? You sure are missing out. Now, lets all wait for the 4th with baited breath...

Ring ring, ring ring - Phone (2002)

I love horror films with phones in them; the stalked babysitter, the threatened wife, the Asian actress screaming down her mobile at some supernatural voice on the other end.

Phone is an interesting one, set in South Korea. Journalist, Ji-won is being plagued with nightmares or flashbacks of the usual mysterious girl with long black hair over her face, ever since she uncovered an underage sex scandal. When she goes in to hiding at her sister's second home, she is pestered by a male caller who seems to be watching her.

One day her sister's little daughter, Yeong-ju answers her phone and begins to scream hysterically. Little Yeong-ju starts to lose the plot a little here and begins to show signs of the rather uncomfortable condition, the Electra complex, where a daughter becomes sexually attached to her father becoming increasingly hostile towards her mother.

This little girl manages to deliver one of the most mesmerising scenes I've ever seen from a child. During one of her "turns" she locks out her mother and aunt and stands at the top of the stairs wildly gesticulating and screaming, suddenly spitting out the haunting question, "Which one of you two will die for me?!" Or, "어느 날 두 사람은 죽을 것이다?!" She then proceeds to throw herself down the stairs, landing on the floor in a bloody mess. We discover that she has been possessed and the real reasons for her obsessions which are more sinister.

This is a pretty good example of a girl-with-long-dark-hair-over-her-face film. Who doesn't like those? An American remake is a possibility this year.

Contact (2009) - Just say no, kids!

Jeremiah Kipp over the years has become the one to watch for your low budget shocker shorts. They are striking, pass the 'near the knuckle' mark and are not for the faint of heart. I say low budget but they are really professional and often leave you feeling a little freaked out.

This latest offering, Contact, is a dreamy ten minute film of a young couple going to buy drugs in quite a cute bonding kind of way. You really do get that sharing something feeling. They buy the drugs from the campest drug dealer I have ever seen.

From the opening scene of the old couple's table being laid, I was hooked. Beautifully lit and directed. Along with the perfectly interspersed music; when they flick the lighter, the sound echos. It's pretty awesome. It manages to maintain that authentic feeling of the drug induced visions seeming completely real, no matter how weired it gets. And it can get pretty damn freaky.

Many thanks to Mr Kipp for sending me his film. It is being shown as part of the online film festival, Indie Roar. Well worth a look! Don't take my word for it. If you are after a surreal experience with some tension and nudity, follow this link to view it for yourself!

Girls! Girls! Girls!

So, February is Women in Horror Recognition Month! According to the website, it's February because of the 28 days in the menstrual cycle! Cool. Lots of great things happening in the horror blogging world this month and I hope my two penneth-worth will interest you. I'll be taking part in Dollar Bin Horror's Cyber Scream Queen Month feature which is underway now and you should get over there and check it out.

For me women are an essential part of the horror genre. They are many of the main characters of our favourite all time classics. Would Halloween be the same without Jamie Lee Curtis or Scream be any good without Neve Campbell? The idea of the Final Girl is wonderfully symbolic and perfectly broken down in Behind the Mask the Rise of Leslie Vernon. Vernon's victim was chosen for her virginality, to then be forced into life threatening choices and ultimately, womanhood. She then rises victorious, reborn, after emasculating our killer.

We also have been blessed with a plethora of female killers. Kathy Bates in Misery is all woman. Maybe not in your traditional sense but she is sensitive and obsessive in a way only a woman can be in films. And Cecile De France in Switchblade Romance, you can only feel for her. She's in love with her best friend. Hell, we've all been there.

It is not uncommon for people to be put off reading books by female writers but we are never put off by a female lead, certainly a female horror lead. Perhaps because these roles are normally taken up by easy-on-the-eye actresses and you won't hear me complaining. These characters can be enjoyed by men and women, straight or gay because they are strong, positive female role models and of course, they are hot, hot, hot.

So let's hear it for Women in Horror Month and long may the Lady Scares continue.

If you are doing something for Women in Horror Month let me know and I'll plug it shamelessly.