Rear Window and Wrong Turn
Alright spooky buds, last night was the first night of Horror Bound’s Anxiety Movie Marathon and it continues today. I have suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember. As I’ve gotten older it has become very debilitating. I struggle with leaving the house for anything other than work, and I really can’t leave the comfort of downtown. It’s caused food issues, relationship issues, and a myriad of health issues. I have finally found the right combination of medicine that has helped a lot, but now I need to learn the coping mechanisms to get through this. Anxiety causes you to live inside a very isolated bubble and I don’t want to do that anymore. I previously saw a food therapist that helped me with my food issues but next Thursday I will be seeing an anxiety therapist for the first time.
In honor of that, and to get myself through this long weekend, I have set up a movie marathon. And I’m calling it the Anxiety Marathon because living with anxiety honestly feels like running a never-ending marathon. And horror movies have always been one of my coping mechanisms.
Last night I watched Rear Window and Wrong Turn. A strange combination I will admit. But let’s jump right in:
REAR WINDOW (1954)
"Why would a man leave his apartment three times on a rainy night with a suitcase and come back three times?"
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 thriller written by John Michael Hayes and based on a short story written by Cornell Woolrich. The film stars the ever-entrancing Grace Kelly and James Stewart. It received four Academy Award nominations and was included in the United States National Film Registry.
Jeff is recovering from a broken leg in his apartment. The only entertainment he has is the other apartment buildings around him, Stella his nurse visiting him, and his girlfriend Lisa bringing him dinner and keeping him company. One of the neighbors he is watching is named Thorwald. One night during a thunderstorm he hears a scream and breaking glass and then witnesses Thorwald leave. But Thorwald’s wife has disappeared. Stuck in his apartment in a wheelchair he attempts to prove that Thorwald killed his wife while using all the evidence he has in front of him.
Rear Window is a beautifully made film. The entire film was shot on one set where they built the apartment courtyard consisting of 31 apartments, and was 98 ft wide and 40 ft high. Eight of the apartments were fully furnished and had electricity and running water. This of course makes the film feel so completely realistic and squared in. You are in the same boat as Jeff, everything he can see, you can see.
All the sound in the film comes from within the film, the background noise is usually filled with talking and glasses clinking and piano playing. It allows you to really focus on all the minute details and dialogue.
It’s a near perfect film, and one that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. The performances are incredible, and the story is so unique. A classic must watch for anyone in the genre.
WRONG TURN (2003)
Released in 2003, Wrong Turn is directed by Rob Schmidt. It stars Eliza Dushku, Desmond Harrington, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jeremy Sisto, Lindy Booth and Kevin Zegers. It has since spawned two sequels and three prequels.
Wrong Turn is your typical backwoods slasher flick. Chris is driving by himself and finds a group of teens on the side of the road. Their car has been ruined by barbed wire left on the road. When the group split up to look for help, two are promptly killed and the rest stumble upon a cabin in the woods. Inside is a lot of strange junk, bubbling pots of meat, and fridges filled with body parts. As the teens are searching, they hear a truck pull up and hide inside somewhere. Three backwoods human monsters come in carrying their two dead friends. The group must then fight to survive while promptly getting lost in the woods.
First off – there’s not a lot of logic in this film. Which you should be used to because it’s a slasher. So just blank your mind and go with the flow. The characters are actually really well acted and developed in this flick. You instantly feel attached for them and find them very easy to root for.
The creature, hick, men things are super creepy but they also kind of look like Orcs? The special effects makeup is so well done though. You instantly believe these freaks live in the middle of the woods and eat people. It’s a typical slasher in the sense that most of the film is the group slowing dying and being chased. The fun part though is that they’re in the middle of the woods. So the choices to hide and the situations they find themselves in are vastly different.
One of my favorite scenes is when three of them find themselves trapped in a watch tower as the creatures circle below with torches.
It’s not jump scary, it’s more creepy and gory. I haven’t watched this film since it originally came out but it holds up really well. Mostly thanks to the pretty stellar acting from all those involved and the practical effects.
I haven’t seen any of the other Wrong Turn flicks but now I’m curious to try them out!
