Triple Bill Mini Musings: Klowns, Zombies, and Coffins...

Killer Klowns From Outer Space:
What's it about?
Bonkers horror comedy from the Chiodo Brothers (who created the Crites for the Critters movies) about clown-lookalike space aliens who invade a small American town in search of sustenance.
Who would I recognise in it?
Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Goofy fun from the get go, Killer Klowns is a bizarre laugh riot complimented by wonderful practical effects, in-camera visual effects, and a charming sense of mischief. Self aware and deliberately cheesy, it's a perfect summation of a bygone era of filmmaking that has rightly continued to receive love, respect, and obsession from movie fans the world over. There's even a rumour of a sequel titled "The Return of the Killer Klowns from Outer Space in 3D". Good.

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ParaNorman:
What's it about?
From stop-motion animation studio Laika (Coraline), Norman is an outsider kid who can speak to the dead, but when a witch's curse is unleashed upon his town he must save the day.
Who would I recognise in it?
Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Christoper Mintz-Plasse (voices).
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
While there is something hard-to-define about why the script is occasionally lacking, ParaNorman is nonetheless a very enjoyable family-horror, and is a great way to get kids interested in the genre. Laika once again do a breath-takingly beautiful job of injecting life and humour into the stop-motion animation, and in spite of the aforementioned hard-to-pin-down wobbles along the way, there's a surprisingly dark streak to the proceedings - but never at the expense of a bloody good joke, and ultimately it all serves to provide a genuinely emotional climax. Grown up horror fans will also find some nice winks here and there - such as Norman's ringtone (John Carpenter's "Halloween" theme). Zombie fans of all ages will find something to enjoy, although it might be a bit much for very young viewers. Good.


Buried:
What's it about?
An American truck driver working in the Middle East wakes up to discover he's being held hostage - in a buried coffin. With not much more than a mobile phone with dwindling battery power, a lighter, and a pen, he must try to save his own life.
Who would I recognise in it?
Ryan Reynolds.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
The entire film takes place within the cramped confines of a coffin, so it's not ideal viewing for claustrophobes, but it's amazing how the film remains fresh within such a cramped location; new information and new challenges keep the pace moving swiftly, the tension always ratcheting up. With each passing minute meaning the difference between life and death, being put on hold, or those annoying psyche-out answering machine messages, become extremely frustrating and perilous roadblocks for Ryan Reynolds' kidnapped truck driver. With the entire movie on his shoulders (bar a handful of disembodied voices over the phone), Reynolds does a bang-up job of conveying the panic and anger that such a terrifying situation would create. With a dark and seething undercurrent, Buried isn't what you'd call a feel good film by any stretch of the imagination - but it'll haunt your memory for a good while after the credits roll. Good.