Zephyrus of the Anemoi

The king of all slasher movies, Halloween is responsible for nearly the entirety of the genre as we know it today. While Psycho may have been the first, John Carpenter’s seminal masterpiece is responsible for taking Hitchcock’s formula and refining it to blade’s edge, creating such iconic moments as seeing through the killer’s eyes as he stalk his prey, mysterious phone calls with no one on the line, and even a lone girl trapped in a house while a relentless killer attempts to butcher her.

Carpenter managed to make a name for himself with this film, leading to a future directing a number of horror and schlock action flicks (including my personal favorite, Big Trouble in Little China [iTunes]). I’ll be revisiting his work this weekend with The Thing (iTunes), and I can’t tell you how excited I am for that. This movie is also responsible for catapulting Jamie Lee Curtis to stardom, and we can’t thank Carpenter enough for that.

Okay, so you guys know I’m always looking for a great deal on iPhone apps. Well, I recently found a great app that I’ve actually started using as a way to get any app I want for free. It’s called App Trailers, and what you do is watch videos of various iPhone apps and you earn points. The points can then be redeemed for gift cards, or you can just dump them directly into PayPal. Every point is worth a penny and there’s no transfer cost. So, earn 108 points, and you can buy any $0.99 app you want (your tax may vary). You can also earn points by inviting others or signing up with a referral code.

Use my bonus code ‘zepfhyr’ to earn 25 extra points when you join.

You can also check out their web app or Android app to earn more points by downloading other apps and rating them.

Child’s Play (iTunes) is one of those movies that is simultaneously scary and hilarious at the same time. The idea of a doll coming to life and murderizing people is terrifying. And yet, it’s also hilarious, because it’s a freaking doll! I mean, just hold the damned thing by its wrists and it can’t do anything. Anyway, this movie is totally worth watching for the great slow-motion shots of Chucky being shot and hurled across the room by the force of the bullets. Oh, and for the fact that Prince Humperdinck plays a cop (also, I bet you didn’t realize that he also played Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas).

The inimitable Brad Dourif makes an excellent Chucky, even though we only actually get his voice for the majority of the movie. Even today, the puppetry for this movie is still excellent, though I am looking forward to seeing the quality of the new Child’s Play that is scheduled for release in 2013 (again, with Dourif returning as the evil, little demon-doll). This is definitely one worth checking out for its fun-factor, even if the scares are a little weak.

Also, you may have noticed that this was not originally on the calendar for today, but due to a mix-up, I did not actually have The Amityville Horror (iTunes) at this time, so I swapped it with this movie. The calendar has since been updated.

The Exorcist (iTunes) is one of those classic movies that is often considered a “must-watch” by those that have seen it and is recommended by many horror fans, because of its importance to the genre. Honestly, I can understand why people feel that way, since the movie was pretty creepy (especially for the time) and the special effects were quite awesome. Unfortunately, the actual script for this movie is not terribly impressive. There is barely any plot at all and (unless I missed it, because I was multitasking) I don’t remember them ever explaining why that specific girl was possessed, what the significance of the medallion found in Iraq at the beginning of the movie was (other than the fact that it seemed to be something related to the priesthood), and even how the old priest died (though it was, at least, implied).

If you’re looking for scares, though, rather than quality storytelling, you’d still do well to see this film. I’ve also read that the Director’s Extended Cut (which I didn’t see, because it’s not on Netflix Instant) has some additional, extra-creepy scenes, so watch that version if you can.

We should have gone to the beach like I told you.
– Roy 

I have two words for you: Nazi zombies. Or zombie Nazis. It doesn’t matter which order you put them in, they are still an awesome combination. Dead Snow (iTunes) is probably the best zombie film I’ve seen from the last 30 years. I don’t care what people say about “slow zombies” vs “fast zombies”. Zombies can be undead or infected or possessed by voodoo. They can be fast, slow, dimwitted, or smart. They don’t necessarily have to be single-minded, though it certainly increases the fear. What I’m saying is, I love zombie movies no matter how the zombies are portrayed, because it’s the simple, unrelenting nature of the beast that inspires fear.

This movie does so many things right, it’s difficult to believe that there is a compelling reason to watch any other zombie movie. The protagonists find so many awesome ways to kill zombies that this movie is now the gold standard for new zombie movies to aspire to. There is plenty of awesome gore, but it never gets repetitive. Also, brains on the floor. I don’t need to say anything more about that. If you’ve already seen the movie, then you just had a brief moment of hilarity as you remembered the scene to which I am referring. But even beyond that, there are so many more amazing moments: “entrail-feasting grenade surprise”, “chaingun snowmobile”, “two-versus-the-horde showdown of epic violence”, and more.

There are even some awesome tributes to Sam Raimi with several series of quick cuts and big, clear sound effects (the first being when one of the characters tears a strip of cloth, wraps it around a stick, dips it in gas, lights it, and pulls it up to his face to see inside a cave). This is a direct reference to both Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness, when Ash uses his inventiveness to replace his missing hand with a chainsaw and gauntlet, though he has used the same trademark in other films, as well. Hell, there’s even a self-inflicted chainsaw amputation scene.

Honestly, if the director had shot the entire film in English, this movie would probably be at the top of the list of great movies for nearly every horror fan. And even though it’s all in Norwegian and you have to read subtitles to understand the conversations, it’s still fantastic. Please see this movie and share it with your friends.

Best of all, it’s on Netflix Instant, in HD.

So now that the iPhone 4S is in your hot, grubby little hands, what do you do with it? Well, obviously, you load it up with games and apps and spend all day, every day, playing with it. I’ve compiled a list of the absolute best premium games on the App Store, to make it easier for you to find them, although the hard part will be deciding which to play first.

MONSTER HUNTER Dynamic Hunting – This one is at the top of the list simply because it’s on sale for $0.99 through the weekend. Monster Hunter is a series of fantasy action role-playing games from Capcom that started with a release for Playstation 2. The latest iteration for iOS is similar to Infinity Blade in that you take on monsters in one-0n-one combat using a series of taps and swipes. Combat focuses on learning each monster’s patterns and weaknesses to take ‘em down. While the graphics are not amazing, the gameplay is. For its current sale price, I highly recommend it.

Infinity Blade – This is one of my favorite iOS games, and one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever seen on any mobile device. And it looks even better on the iPhone 4S, thanks to the A5 processor. Utilizing the Unreal engine, Infinity Blade takes you on an action-RPG romp through a castle filled with baddies while seeking out the God King. Gameplay is simple: dodge, block, or parry incoming attacks and when the enemy opens up, swipe and tap to settle the score. This game was the first to truly showcase the power of the A4 processor and with the upgrades available for A5 devices, it is even better. Even more exciting is the information that a sequel will be coming this holiday season, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Dead Space™ – If you’ve played the Xbox 360 or PS3 title of the same name, then you already know what to expect from this game. If you haven’t, then it’s truly one of the scariest over-the-shoulder shooters you’ll ever play on the iPhone. Invest in a nice pair of headphones, find a dark room to play, and don’t be surprised if you feel just a little creeped out 30 minutes later. While it’s not a very long game, it is a lot of fun and is another game that looks gorgeous on the iPhone.

Aralon: Sword & Shadow HD – This is a HUGE action-RPG with an enormous world to explore, lots and lots of quests and treasures, and so many hours of gameplay, you’ll wonder how it fit in your pocket. I have never been a big fan of the combat from Elder Scrolls titles like Oblivion, but Crescent Moon Games does an excellent job of creating a combat system that is fun and easy to use on a touch-screen device. These are the same people that also created Ravensword: The Fallen King, but you can clearly see where stepping out and publishing their own titles had a significant improvement on their work, as Aralon is far-and-away the better experience.

Dungeon Hunter 2 – Do you like Diablo? I love it. Gameloft is the App Store’s most prolific copycat developer. The sad thing is, they’re really good at it. Dungeon Hunter 2 is miles above the original, with better graphics, better treasure, a better story, and much improved gameplay. The original suffered from staleness toward the end of the game, but the sequel presents you with plenty of ways to keep the game interesting, primarily the ability to play cooperatively through GameCenter or over your local network with up to 4 total players. This is the biggest selling point for the game, in my opinion and is the reason that my family loves it so much.

N.O.V.A. 2 - Another Gameloft title, this one is directly inspired by Halo. And again, this time the sequel is far superior to the original. The first game was an excellent multiplayer title for family gatherings, but the campaign could get fairly boring. The sequel has much more going for it in both departments. First-person shooters can take a little getting used to on iOS, but the N.O.V.A. series stands out as having better controls and excellent use of the gyroscope for fine-tuned aiming.

Warm Gun – I haven’t played Warm Gun yet, but I have played the “lite” version, Carnival of Bullets, which has the best graphics I’ve personally experience on any mobile device. Unfortunately, Carnival of Bullets has very little in the way of gameplay, and the controls were a little awkward, though I’ll admit I didn’t spend much time playing around with the settings to see if I could improve them. If, however, you are able to comfortably play the free version, then I’m sure you’ll find Warm Gun to be a singular experience.

Shadowgun – Some consider this game to have the best graphics on iOS, though I can see where Warm Gun would give it a run for its money. Even still, the gameplay here is similar to the Gears of War series, so if you’re a fan, give it a download. I don’t know much else about this game, as I haven’t played it, yet. Give it a shot, and let me know what you think.

Order and Chaos Online – Hello, my name is Jared, and I’m a World of Warcraft addict. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true, but I certainly have spent my share of time making Blizzard rich. So, imagine how excited I was when I discovered that Gameloft was making a WoW-inspired MMO for iOS. Needless to say, this is my favorite Gameloft title and the one I’ve spent the absolute most time with. There are still some improvements that could be made (say, for example, a matchmaking system for people looking to quest together), but you can’t beat the price. $6.99 nets you the game and 3 months of gameplay. After that, you can pre-pay for play time: 1 month for $0.99, 3 months for $1.99, and 6 months for $2.99. The only drawback is that it requires a Wi-Fi connection to play, but if you don’t have an unlimited data plan like me, you’re probably thankful for that. No need to blow all your bandwidth on one game. If you decide to pick this one up, then please please leave me a comment so I can you to my friend’s list so we can quest together.

Rimelands – Here’s another Crescent Moon Games title, and this one is one of my favorite games on the entire App Store. It plays a bit like a tactical board game, with dice used for combat, but has gorgeous graphics and an awesome story. I can only hope that Crescent Moon Games makes a sequel or a spiritual successor to the game, as I can’t wait to play more in the future.

Starfront: Collision – Gameloft is at it again, this time going after Blizzard’s Starcraft series. While this title benefits from the larger screen of the iPad, the iPhone version is no slouch in the gameplay department. While it may not unseat Starcraft or Warcraft as the kings of the RTS throne, it is easily the best RTS on iOS, and I’ve played nearly all of them. There’s a free version you can download if you want to give it a shot and the full game can be unlocked via in-app purchase. But, I think it’s cleaner to simply download the full title up front.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – This is the same game as what you may have already played on Nintendo DS, however that shouldn’t preclude you from buying it for iOS. This is the best Grand Theft Auto title I’ve played since the original and its sequel on PC. The only downside is that it struggles a bit with saving your progress mid-mission if you leave the app. However, since most missions are short, it’s only truly irritating if the mission is difficult and you just passed the rough part only to be interrupted and having to start the mission over.

Sacred Odyssey: Rise of Ayden – This is Gameloft’s take on the Zelda series. Not as awesome as Order & Chaos, but they can’t all be home runs. Try out the free version of this, as well, and if you like it, pick it up. But I won’t blame you if you wait until the next time it’s on sale.

Final Fantasy III – There are three Final Fantasy titles on the App Store, but this one is the best. It is a port of the Nintendo DS remake of Final Fantasy III, but the graphics look much better on iOS. It’s also available for the iPad, if you feel like you simply need the larger screen. If you’re looking for something more classic or retro, check out Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II, which are the best versions of both games I’ve ever played.

Chaos Rings Ω – I spent a rather lot of time on the original and consider it to be one of the best RPG experiences on iOS, despite its relative ease and repetitive nature. However, the prequel is both more of the same and something new. No more are you playing through the game with each couple trying to find all the endings. Now, instead, you play as Vieg throughout the entire title. This prequel also has a lot more gameplay due to the fact that Square-Enix has continued to raise the level cap and add new content through free updates since its initial release.

This is by no means a complete list of games I recommend for the iPhone, but it’s currently the best of the best if you are looking for a more robust gaming experience. If, however, you just want a great casual game, go download Tiny Wings and kiss your productivity goodbye. Also, if you want a fun “toy”, check out iPredict Plus (or the free Lite version) for a humorous and entertaining fortune teller from the guys over at Room 12 Studios (disclaimer: I’m one of them).

While 28 Days Later may not be a zombie movie the likes of Dawn of the Dead or [REC] (iTunes), it’s still a fantastic commentary on humanity and what would happen to society if social mores went out the window. On top of that, it’s bloody terrifying. Jim’s transition from recovering hospital patient to unwitting survivor to rage-filled protector is phenomenal and has more than a few thrills for the viewer.

Danny Boyle is one of my favorite directors. I liked Trainspotting (iTunes), loved Slumdog Millionaire (iTunes) and Sunshine (iTunes), and even enjoyed The Beach (iTunes). So you can understand why this movie is in my top 5 list for “zombie” movies and top 10 for scary movies. But it’s not just the pedigree that makes it fantastic. The story draws excellent parallels between the RAGE-virus victims and an uninfected human filled with rage and taking the fight to his or her enemies. This is where the movie really shines.

I also love the music from this film. The “theme” during the climactic showdown at the end of the movie is a simply beautiful piece and I love to listen to it, even when I’m just chilling at home or work. And, unlike most horror stories, this one has a (somewhat) happy ending. Plus, it’s a significantly better movie than 28 Weeks Later (iTunes).

The original, 1978 release of Dawn of the Dead is the best zombie horror movie I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong, I love Shaun of the Dead (iTunes), Zombieland (iTunes), 28 Days Later, and even the 2004 remake. Part of what makes this movie so fantastic is its originality and sense of humor. The number of times Romero tries to find humor in an apocalypse borders on the ludicrous. From our heroes running through the mall making a game of looting stores while zombies try to catch them to the motorcycle gang throwing pies in the faces of the zombies rather than killing them, there are plenty of opportunities to laugh.

Romero also does an awesome job of showing how the experience of surviving a zombie apocalypse can easily lead to insanity, as two characters in the movie come unhinged during the course of the film. It’s also a gore-fest, despite being an older movie. While some of the effects are nowhere near as realistic as what we see today, there are still some cringe-worthy moments when zombies claim their victims.

However, perhaps the best part of this movie is how effectively it teaches you to survive a zombocalypse. A mall may not be at the top of my list of places to hole up in, but it’s certainly in my top 5. And now that you know how it all goes wrong, you can make better decisions than the characters to survive even longer.

This is a conversation that I just had with my wife via text message.

Me: Sold X copies of iPredict Plus yesterday.

Her: That’s because you make amazing things.

Me: I know! You should see what I put in your uterus! Don’t peek, though, because it’s a Christmas surprise.

(She’s due on Christmas Day, thus the funny.)

The mother of all zombie movies, Night of the Living Dead (iTunes) is an excellent film and, due to the way it is lit and filmed in black-and-white, it’s rather frightening. While zombies from later films will be much scarier and more realistic, Romero does an excellent job of bringing this favorite villain of cinemaphiles everywhere to the big screen in one of the most iconic films of all time.

The ending is typical of most early horror films, in that it ends in tragedy, just when it seems as though the protagonists will survive. Of course, there is some excellent humor in the ending of the film, as well. I also quite loved the way that the zombies were referred to as ghouls. In fact, it’s a name I wish they continued to use.

If you love zombie movies, and you still haven’t seen this one, you should watch it and all the Romero films. You won’t regret it.