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The Roost

post #1 of 29
10/19/06 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
Watched this last night and it gave me the willies. It's directed by newcomer, Ti West. I loved the Midnight Creature Feature bookends (with Tom Noonan), the crappy 70-80's home video vibe, and thought that he created an effectively atmospheric sense of isolation. The special effects are surprisingly good for something that seemed to not have a budget beyond calling in favors.

It's not revolutionary, but Ti's got a good eye for composition and tension, despite the "home video" restrictions. His short student film, Prey, showed alot of promise as well. I'll be following this guy.

I'm going to try to watch the dvd special features tonight to find out more.

Anyone else catch this one?

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post #2 of 29
10/19/06 at 4:48pm
Haven't seen it, but you (and the poster "caution" line) have sold me. I'll check it out.
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post #3 of 29
10/19/06 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 
Do it. Turn out the lights and grab some popcorn to set the mood. It's one of those. Definitely a throwback to the drive-in era. It has a simultaneous amateurish/masterful vibe that I can't put my finger on.
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post #4 of 29
10/19/06 at 5:07pm
I saw this one a year or two ago as some festival. I thought it started off great. I loved the use of of the audio, and felt the video added to the tension. I was really liking it until the bats showed up. Then I kept waiting for Lou Diamond Phillips to show up. I couldn't wait for it to end.
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post #5 of 29
10/19/06 at 5:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalyn
I saw this one a year or two ago as some festival. I thought it started off great. I loved the use of of the audio, and felt the video added to the tension. I was really liking it until the bats showed up. Then I kept waiting for Lou Diamond Phillips to show up. I couldn't wait for it to end.
Sorry it wasn't your cup o' blood.

You're right: The sound design and music (just 3 violins) went a long way in creating an eerie tone.
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post #6 of 29
10/20/06 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
No commentary on the disc... boo.

But I did find out this movie was mostly filmed near where I used to live and where my wife went to college:
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (Brandywine, near Westchester)... that's a weird coincidence.
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post #7 of 29
10/22/06 at 5:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (Brandywine, near Westchester)... that's a weird coincidence.
Is the story specifically set there too? If so, I might need to get a copy just so I can run it as a double-feature with the Blob.
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post #8 of 29
10/22/06 at 5:30am
Oh, I forgot about this... I kept meaning to see it when it was released earlier this year. Killer poster.
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post #9 of 29
10/22/06 at 10:46am
Thought I'd stop by to say this movie sucked whale snot through a straw. Tom Noonan was the only thing it had going for it.

Carry on.
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post #10 of 29
2/1/07 at 2:50pm
Thread Starter 
http://www.creature-corner.com/?type=reviews&id=2132

Thought it might be best to update this thread instead of starting a new one (since there's already info & discussion here).

Anybody else check this out yet?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Showvillain
Is the story specifically set there too? If so, I might need to get a copy just so I can run it as a double-feature with the Blob.
Don't recall if it was mentioned in the movie itself or in the featurette... leading me to dig on imdb.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Death Surge
Thought I'd stop by to say this movie sucked whale snot through a straw. Tom Noonan was the only thing it had going for it.
Sorry you didn't care for it, Death Surge. What was yer main complaint?
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post #11 of 29
2/1/07 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
Sorry you didn't care for it, Death Surge. What was yer main complaint?
Pure pacing. It was low budget (forgivable) but spent way too much time on build up, and not enough on saying "we don't have a studio over our head - so let's go for broke" ala "Feast". I'm also old enough to have lived in the days of the late night horror show they spoofed/homaged and it unfortunatly just didn't live up to my fond memories of "Sir Graves Ghastly", "The Ghoul" and some weird fat guy talking out of a coffin at my grandmother's house in northern Michigan.
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post #12 of 29
2/1/07 at 9:34pm
The Roost is friggin great. Can't wait to see what Ti West does next.
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post #13 of 29
2/11/07 at 3:20am
I sort of liked what they tried to do but this movie was a waste of time. I associate so many horror movies with watching them in my room on a 20 inch tv or smaller on a shitty vhs copy from the video store thats probably out of print so the concept behind the roost's direction was interesting. the whole "you're watching a vhs" type style was cool for about 5 minutes until the novelty wears off and all you've got is a rediculous story with some of the crappiest acting and characters you can imagine. its got one of the worst teenager groups ever in a horror movie. i was dozing off every now and then so maybe i missed the part that explains why there are some bats in a barn and nobody's noticed before? whatever, I guess I dont care even if they did explain anything about the story. the characters were so annoying it wouldnt have mattered if the plot did make sense. I'd rather watch look who's talking 3.
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post #14 of 29
2/11/07 at 3:23am
yeah i cant wait to see cabin fever 2, that oughta be great as long as it comes out direct to video and it only costs a buck to rent. otherwise you'll probably be over paying for a bunch of "homages."
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post #15 of 29
2/11/07 at 11:39pm
I trust Darkmite8 implicitly. This, too was added to my netflix queue on the strength of DM's recommendation.
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post #16 of 29
2/12/07 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by IggytheBorg
I trust Darkmite8 implicitly. This, too was added to my netflix queue on the strength of DM's recommendation.
Appreciated...

According to the mixed responses in this thread, Roost is definitely not for everybody. I can't explain it, it really clicked for me. Wasn't expecting it's approach at all (may be the key), watched it alone late at night, and really let the atmosphere/editing/composition/music manipulate me.

IggytheBorg: Hopefully you won't lose faith in my opinion due to dissappointment.
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post #17 of 29
2/12/07 at 6:32pm
Worth buying?
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post #18 of 29
2/12/07 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 
I bought it. I got it used at Blockbuster (4 for $20).
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post #19 of 29
2/12/07 at 9:40pm
Right.I wasn't interested when my friend told me he saw this,but that poster changed my mind.I hate cabin fever though,this isn't a throwback like that is it?
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post #20 of 29
2/13/07 at 3:01am
no, cabin fever is actually entertaining. and for the record, the boondock saints.....really sucks.
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post #21 of 29
2/13/07 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
I bought it. I got it used at Blockbuster (4 for $20).
To clarify, I rented it 1st, watched it and reviewed it of my own volition, then having enjoyed it, picked it up for a great price ($5).

I don't own Cabin Fever, but from what I can remember... it was just "alright". On that note, watched Hostel last night and that didn't do a lot for me either (take that for what it's worth).

The Roost is a throwback, has a very small budget (conjures up certain values), was Ti West's 1st film outta school, tries to do something different with presentation, and succeeds (IMO) in creating an ambience similar to (eerie & hokey) old school creature features (which are my favorite cup of tea).

Opinions round these parts differ to the extreme and Roost doesn't re-invent the wheel, but I think it shows great promise. Can't please all the horror fans all the time.
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post #22 of 29
2/13/07 at 8:04pm
Promise is good enough for me.I'll check it out and return to this thread.
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post #23 of 29
2/13/07 at 10:30pm
yeah if you like sci fi channel original pictures you'll definately like the roost.
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post #24 of 29
2/14/07 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 
Ouch. I watch quite a few Sci-Fi originals (where else can I get my regular fix of mutant-animal-monster carnage?) and I can say that the Roost is directed with a more artistic eye than those flicks.
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post #25 of 29
2/15/07 at 5:20am
Yeah, I liked this one. Two for two lately, Darkmite8, with turning me on to horror flicks that I didn't immediately regret viewing. Thanks.

It's nice to have braver folks than myself to weed out the horror titles, I applaud you fellas. I used to rent every horror movie on the shelves when I was a bit younger, but after getting burned about a million times, I lost my balls.
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post #26 of 29
2/15/07 at 11:54am
Thread Starter 
Glad to hear you took the plunge based on my word. I have a distinct (and sometimes quirky) taste in horror flicks that may not jive with the "mainstream" gore-hound crowd... But when I find something with merit, I like to let people know. Forget the Hills Have Eyes Remake debate, the Roost is the new litmus test.

Not really.
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post #27 of 29
4/10/08 at 10:31am
Just saw this. I was really impressed how it seemed like an experiment of a film, with a consistent tone and a desire to genuinely frighten that ignored the low budget roots. Yes, the acting was off- thanks for the favors, guys- but Tom Noonan was really fun. Wouldn't it be awesome if he hosted every horror movie?

I am eager to see West's next, "Trigger Man" and I understand "Cabin Fever 2" is coming soon. Anyone seen "Trigger Man"?
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post #28 of 29
4/10/08 at 3:14pm
I really wanted to see Trigger Man but someone else had rented it out last time I was at Blockbuster. I'll try again in the next few days.
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post #29 of 29
4/14/08 at 6:17pm
Trigger Man is a pretty bad film, and not a patch on The Roost. I like when a filmmaker takes his/her time with a slow yet confident build to something good, but the long uneventful stretches in this one are just taking the piss. Too bad because it was a cool, simple concept. Not sure if I want to see the next Ti West job.
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