Another Spooky Short Horror

It's nearly Halloween, and what could be better than a good, old-fashioned spooky-house story? In this film, a woman alone in an isolated farmhouse confides to a friend that she is being plagued by disturbing phone calls every morning at 3am - events then take an even more sinister turn.

3:00 AM from Stephen Volk (the writer of Ghost Watch and co-writer of The Guardian)  is extremely creepy, especially the use of sound which reminded me of the black and white classic, The Haunting. So close the door, turn off the lights and enjoy - and that sudden thud from upstairs? Why, I'm sure it's only the pipes, what else could it be?

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

This post should really be entitled 'A Film I Did Not Except to Enjoy'. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is as silly as the title suggests. The basic premise of the story is that not only was Mr Lincoln one of the most famous American presidents, champion of the abolition of slavery, and the tallest US president; he was also involved in a lifelong battle against the forces of the undead. Yes, I know that sounds quite daft, and it is, but daft in a really good way.

If you are prepared to suspend belief and stick your tongue very firmly in your cheek, AB:VH is thoroughly enjoyable. The film is based on the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith (author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), who also wrote the screenplay. Despite the surreal storyline, it has a strong cast - most notably Benjamin Walker who makes a very convincing Lincoln, and Rufus Sewell as a thoroughly evil chief vampire - and never makes the mistake of taking itself too seriously. It's a non-stop roller-coaster of a movie; the action starts almost immediately and continues at a pace throughout. Oh, and not one of the vampires sparkles - I think that's always a plus point!

If you missed it in the cinemas it's now available on dvd, and it's well worth grabbing a copy if you're looking for something that is scary but fun for your Halloween entertainment.