The premise behind Coach vs Client (‘C vs C’) is predicated on one key element of the training sessions that I myself have with Coach Justin Perillo, as the topic of film are a mainstay of the conversations in between sets and for the heavier ones we’d often evoke a film that resonates in that very moment. With each new recommendation, is the obvious exchange in ideas and the very pursuit of new material based on the discussion.
In this iteration of C vs C for FILM COMBAT SYNDICATE, The Coach (Justin) has selected the topic of horror movies and below are his Top 5 followed by that of The Client (myself)
COACH’s TOP 5 HORROR FILMS
5. OCULUS (2013) The basic plot of the movie doesn’t sound that exciting or scary. A woman tries to prove that past murders committed by her brother who is now in an institution for the criminally insane, was committed by a supernatural being and not him. That supernatural being is actually a mirror, or Lasser Glass as it’s called in the film. As the movie plays out however, and you learn about the sinister history of the Lasser Glass, the supernatural nature of it starts to be revealed. As the supernatural entity starts to take over, the movie has you questioning what’s real and what’s an illusion and really has the viewer understand how one’s actions can be controlled and manipulated by this malevolent being. Ghosts and monsters don’t get to me, but demons and demonic possession does, and this movie is a great one for that. There are plenty of great scares and there is a chilling nature to the film, and also a sense of there being no escape for the characters that is disturbing. I watched this movie with absolutely no expectations one night, and watched by myself in a dark room. Big mistake. Although there are no overly terrifying ghosts or monsters or demons, the overall creepiness and terror of this film really gets into your brain and under your skin.
4. HEREDITARY (2018) This is one horror that makes you want to have a shower after watching. Just creepy and disturbing but also brilliant and emotional. The films name comes from the sinister secrets and emotional traumas that have been passed through the family through generations. The film is a deliberate slow-burn that is incredibly atmospheric and unnerving. There are some truly horrific scenes in the film. I do believe it lost a bit of plausibility towards the end, but found it a brilliant horror and perhaps a commentary on the hereditary nature of mental illness.
3. SHUTTER (2004) The original movie Thai version that is so much better than the Hollywood remake. A young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after fleeing the scene of an accident. They, and their friends are being haunted in a similar vein to The Ring and The Grudge. The ghost that is haunting them is less scary and malevolent than in those films, but the film is full of scares and creepy moments, while also exploring love, loss and is an emotional journey. Brilliant film, and one worth watching. Great for the scares, but the visuals and story telling are what sets it apart from others. It’s certainly not Hollywood, and that’s a good thing when it comes to this genre
2. THE ORPHANAGE (2007) This film could be described as a horror/fantasy. The basic premise of a former orphan moving with her family back to the orphanage where she was raised. The son starts to indicate that he has some invisible friends, and as the movie progresses, it appears as though these invisible friends may be real, and also quite terrifying! The mother sees one of these imaginary friends at the same time that every her son goes missing. Every parent’s nightmare occurs. The rest of the film is told through strange clues and creepy scenes that all complete the puzzle. It’s a very intelligent horror that doesn’t rely on cheap thrills and scares, and keeps the viewer engaged in the story while also watching on the edge of your seat. You can feel the influence of executive producer Guillermo del Toro of Pan’s Labrynth. It’s visually beautiful, and extremely disturbing.
1. THE SHINING (1980) Not much needs to be said about this Stanley Kubrick classic that hasn’t been said already. I truly love this film and it was an easy choice as number one on my list. The film is timeless, with an amazing aesthetic, soundtack and incredible performances by Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Some scenes in the film really do stay with you forever. Perhaps not the scariest horror ever made, but certainly one of the most chilling.
CLIENT’S TOP 5 HORROR FILMS
5. SUSPIRIA (1977) Already having outed myself as an enthusiastic fan of ‘DEEP RED’ (1975) on more than one occasion, it would be a moot point to include it on this list. That being said, the inclusion of ‘SUSPIRIA’ (1977) replaces ‘DEEP RED’ in this instance, narrowly edging out ‘TENEBRE’ (1982). In this 1977 horror film by the great Dario Argento, a young American student Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) joins a dance school in Germany, with the experience deteriorating into a descent into hell, as mysterious phenomena occur all around her. It is notable Argento’s film given that it is equal parts disturbing and visually provocative. Seemingly drawing on the unsettling tone of German Expressionism, the choice of bright colours (especially red) perhaps serve as a precursor to the surprising amount of blood and gore in this outing. And yet the splendour of the presentation, that includes an art deco element within the context of a dance school provides somewhat of an operatic or theatrical feeling. It was also a pleasure to see a cameo by great German character actor Udo Kier, as well as hearing a soundtrack dominated by Goblin; that progressive rock band and frequent Argento collaborator. Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 remake is ambitious, however it seems this updated version overwhelms with too many thematic elements that reduce the film to excessive academic study rather than cinematic experience.
4. THE STRANGE THING ABOUT THE JOHNSONS (2011) Amongst the list of full features, this may be the oddity given that this run-time categorises this as a short film. Its inclusion here is perhaps a means of elucidating the extent and breadth of how the genre can be fully interpreted – meaning that I would almost consider ‘WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN’ (2011) or ‘BLUE VELVET’ (1986) as much horror as they are thrillers or neo-noir mystery, respectively. This incredibly disturbing short by Ari Aster predated the aforementioned and highly acclaimed ‘HEREDITARY’ (2018) by seven years, and though it proved his Directorial potential it also painted a shocking portion of suburbia that hides family secrets that removes any logic or humanity. Ironically, this is one film that is devoid of any real horror tropes and yet it manages to terrify with an absolute abhorrence that will stay with you long after the credits roll. The entire film is easily accessible for free on YouTube, hence this is perhaps more a warning than it is an actual short review. Highly recommended, but one to view with absolute caution.
3. NOSFERATU (1922) Undeniably the oldest film on this list, but one that still manages to scare despite being close to one hundred years old. Irrespective of its age it proves to undoubtedly be a milestone in horror cinema and one that continues to tighten its grip on audiences. The strength of this work lies within the way abject horror is conveyed, especially in the manner in which Count Orlok (Max Shreck) is shown. He is a chilling and explicit characterisation of evil, complete with a deliberately inhuman face, sharp claws, large fangs and a pale white body that is hard to forget. This is not the stylishly androgynous blood suckers played by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in ‘INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’ (1994), nor the romanticised tragic tyrant of Gary Oldman in ‘BRAM STOKER’s DRACULA’ (1992) nor is it even the charismatic but chilling villain of Bela Lugosi in ‘DRACULA’ (1931). F.W Murnau’s vampire Orlock is quite simply the embodiment of the macabre, lacking any shred of sympathetic or remotely human qualities. Evidently, the movie is not without its flaws and its very simplistic story lacks any sophisticated beats when compared to contemporary horror films. However, it is a cinematic touchstone that always offers something new when it is subject to repeated viewing.
2. COLOUR OUT OF SPACE (2019) What begins as a meteor colliding with the earth quickly regresses into a horrific distortion of reality, causing all manner of devastation to the simple lives of a struggling farmer Nathan (Nicholas Cage) and his young family. With the gross out body horror, there are shades of David Cronenberg’s ‘THE FLY’ (1986) and even John Carpenter’s seminal classic ‘THE THING’ (1982). Director Richard Stanley’s liberal use of bright colours (in particular pink and purple) is indeed a stark contrast to the malicious, otherworldly apocalyptic cataclysm he shows occurring in one small part of rural America. And true to Lovecraftian lore, things go from bad to worse and the extent of the horror is presented with uncompromising brutality. It is no secret that prior attempts to adapt HP Lovecraft’s works have varied in quality over the years; as it would seem that concepts of cosmic horror, extreme nihilism or anti-idealism haven’t been properly understood up to this point. ‘COLOUR OUT OF SPACE’ thankfully becomes the rare exception, proving that a competent Director can bring the horrifying Lovecraftian visions to life. This is definitely one of the best modern horror sci-fi films to date in recent years and again, Cage boasts another excellent performance.
1. KWAIDAN (1964) Though the title translates to ‘weird tales’ or ‘ghost stories’, this slow burn horror film is an anthology by Masaki Kobayashi that manages to completely disarm and unsettle – despite its masterful exotic elegance. Although the stories are purely folk tales that are Oriental in design, Kobayashi’s ravishing tapestry is crafted with striking thematic elements that are potent in any era and easily recognised by any culture. Weaving in themes including (but not limited to) love, hate, betrayal, greed, infidelity and regret; each story is compelling, seemingly self-contained and eerily effective. Unlike other traditional anthology horror films, there is a clear moral device within the narrative. Similar to the parting lessons learned in Aesop’s Fables that conclude each literary piece, although this 1964 horror film creates more palpable dread in its deliberately slow pacing. One could consider the tone to be almost so politely restrained, if not for the bone chilling and ghastly revelations in each of the four stories.
JUSTIN PERILLO BIO: JUSTIN PERILLO is a Melbourne based Personal Trainer with 13 years experience in the fitness industry and a university education in Psychology. Justin aims to achieve significant body transformations with all of his clients along with the aim of educating on how to achieve fantastic results with sustainable, efficient and enjoyable methods. The belief being, there’s no point achieving a great result if you don’t know how to keep it. Along with this passion for health and physique, Justin enjoyed a short football career at the amateur level before focusing more on opening a Personal Training studio and physique development. Since early childhood, thanks to the influence of two older siblings who incidentally introduced him to the horror genre from around the age of six years old, Justin has long been an avid film watcher. Relaxing and watching a movie is one of Justin’s favourite things to do after a tough gym session. IG: @justin_lean365
Vance Ang has primarily been professionally published in bodybuilding and fitness since 2005, having written extensively for hardcopy publications such as Australian IRONMAN and FLEX; but also for e-publications such as RAW Muscle and more recently the media platform, The Evolution of Bodybuilding. He is a Melbourne based policy and strategy consultant currently undertaking his post graduate study in Law. In addition to bodybuilding, conservative politics and Savate (French Kickboxing), he has long been a fan of movies and cinema of all genres – subsequently prompting an interest in modern story telling, that being script writing. He is in the process of writing his first horror novel ‘Providence’
‘COACH VS CLIENT: On the topic of Horror Films’
November 11, 2021
The premise behind Coach vs Client (‘C vs C’) is predicated on one key element of the training sessions that I myself have with Coach Justin Perillo, as the topic of film are a mainstay of the conversations in between sets and for the heavier ones we’d often evoke a film that resonates in that very moment. With each new recommendation, is the obvious exchange in ideas and the very pursuit of new material based on the discussion.
In this iteration of C vs C for FILM COMBAT SYNDICATE, The Coach (Justin) has selected the topic of horror movies and below are his Top 5 followed by that of The Client (myself)
COACH’s TOP 5 HORROR FILMS
5. OCULUS (2013)
The basic plot of the movie doesn’t sound that exciting or scary. A woman tries to prove that past murders committed by her brother who is now in an institution for the criminally insane, was committed by a supernatural being and not him. That supernatural being is actually a mirror, or Lasser Glass as it’s called in the film. As the movie plays out however, and you learn about the sinister history of the Lasser Glass, the supernatural nature of it starts to be revealed. As the supernatural entity starts to take over, the movie has you questioning what’s real and what’s an illusion and really has the viewer understand how one’s actions can be controlled and manipulated by this malevolent being. Ghosts and monsters don’t get to me, but demons and demonic possession does, and this movie is a great one for that. There are plenty of great scares and there is a chilling nature to the film, and also a sense of there being no escape for the characters that is disturbing. I watched this movie with absolutely no expectations one night, and watched by myself in a dark room. Big mistake. Although there are no overly terrifying ghosts or monsters or demons, the overall creepiness and terror of this film really gets into your brain and under your skin.
4. HEREDITARY (2018)
This is one horror that makes you want to have a shower after watching. Just creepy and disturbing but also brilliant and emotional. The films name comes from the sinister secrets and emotional traumas that have been passed through the family through generations. The film is a deliberate slow-burn that is incredibly atmospheric and unnerving. There are some truly horrific scenes in the film. I do believe it lost a bit of plausibility towards the end, but found it a brilliant horror and perhaps a commentary on the hereditary nature of mental illness.
3. SHUTTER (2004)
The original movie Thai version that is so much better than the Hollywood remake. A young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after fleeing the scene of an accident. They, and their friends are being haunted in a similar vein to The Ring and The Grudge. The ghost that is haunting them is less scary and malevolent than in those films, but the film is full of scares and creepy moments, while also exploring love, loss and is an emotional journey. Brilliant film, and one worth watching. Great for the scares, but the visuals and story telling are what sets it apart from others. It’s certainly not Hollywood, and that’s a good thing when it comes to this genre
2. THE ORPHANAGE (2007)
This film could be described as a horror/fantasy. The basic premise of a former orphan moving with her family back to the orphanage where she was raised. The son starts to indicate that he has some invisible friends, and as the movie progresses, it appears as though these invisible friends may be real, and also quite terrifying! The mother sees one of these imaginary friends at the same time that every her son goes missing. Every parent’s nightmare occurs. The rest of the film is told through strange clues and creepy scenes that all complete the puzzle. It’s a very intelligent horror that doesn’t rely on cheap thrills and scares, and keeps the viewer engaged in the story while also watching on the edge of your seat. You can feel the influence of executive producer Guillermo del Toro of Pan’s Labrynth. It’s visually beautiful, and extremely disturbing.
1. THE SHINING (1980)
Not much needs to be said about this Stanley Kubrick classic that hasn’t been said already. I truly love this film and it was an easy choice as number one on my list. The film is timeless, with an amazing aesthetic, soundtack and incredible performances by Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Some scenes in the film really do stay with you forever. Perhaps not the scariest horror ever made, but certainly one of the most chilling.
CLIENT’S TOP 5 HORROR FILMS
5. SUSPIRIA (1977)
Already having outed myself as an enthusiastic fan of ‘DEEP RED’ (1975) on more than one occasion, it would be a moot point to include it on this list. That being said, the inclusion of ‘SUSPIRIA’ (1977) replaces ‘DEEP RED’ in this instance, narrowly edging out ‘TENEBRE’ (1982). In this 1977 horror film by the great Dario Argento, a young American student Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) joins a dance school in Germany, with the experience deteriorating into a descent into hell, as mysterious phenomena occur all around her. It is notable Argento’s film given that it is equal parts disturbing and visually provocative. Seemingly drawing on the unsettling tone of German Expressionism, the choice of bright colours (especially red) perhaps serve as a precursor to the surprising amount of blood and gore in this outing. And yet the splendour of the presentation, that includes an art deco element within the context of a dance school provides somewhat of an operatic or theatrical feeling. It was also a pleasure to see a cameo by great German character actor Udo Kier, as well as hearing a soundtrack dominated by Goblin; that progressive rock band and frequent Argento collaborator. Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 remake is ambitious, however it seems this updated version overwhelms with too many thematic elements that reduce the film to excessive academic study rather than cinematic experience.
4. THE STRANGE THING ABOUT THE JOHNSONS (2011)
Amongst the list of full features, this may be the oddity given that this run-time categorises this as a short film. Its inclusion here is perhaps a means of elucidating the extent and breadth of how the genre can be fully interpreted – meaning that I would almost consider ‘WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN’ (2011) or ‘BLUE VELVET’ (1986) as much horror as they are thrillers or neo-noir mystery, respectively. This incredibly disturbing short by Ari Aster predated the aforementioned and highly acclaimed ‘HEREDITARY’ (2018) by seven years, and though it proved his Directorial potential it also painted a shocking portion of suburbia that hides family secrets that removes any logic or humanity. Ironically, this is one film that is devoid of any real horror tropes and yet it manages to terrify with an absolute abhorrence that will stay with you long after the credits roll. The entire film is easily accessible for free on YouTube, hence this is perhaps more a warning than it is an actual short review. Highly recommended, but one to view with absolute caution.
3. NOSFERATU (1922)
Undeniably the oldest film on this list, but one that still manages to scare despite being close to one hundred years old. Irrespective of its age it proves to undoubtedly be a milestone in horror cinema and one that continues to tighten its grip on audiences. The strength of this work lies within the way abject horror is conveyed, especially in the manner in which Count Orlok (Max Shreck) is shown. He is a chilling and explicit characterisation of evil, complete with a deliberately inhuman face, sharp claws, large fangs and a pale white body that is hard to forget. This is not the stylishly androgynous blood suckers played by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in ‘INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE’ (1994), nor the romanticised tragic tyrant of Gary Oldman in ‘BRAM STOKER’s DRACULA’ (1992) nor is it even the charismatic but chilling villain of Bela Lugosi in ‘DRACULA’ (1931). F.W Murnau’s vampire Orlock is quite simply the embodiment of the macabre, lacking any shred of sympathetic or remotely human qualities. Evidently, the movie is not without its flaws and its very simplistic story lacks any sophisticated beats when compared to contemporary horror films. However, it is a cinematic touchstone that always offers something new when it is subject to repeated viewing.
2. COLOUR OUT OF SPACE (2019)
What begins as a meteor colliding with the earth quickly regresses into a horrific distortion of reality, causing all manner of devastation to the simple lives of a struggling farmer Nathan (Nicholas Cage) and his young family. With the gross out body horror, there are shades of David Cronenberg’s ‘THE FLY’ (1986) and even John Carpenter’s seminal classic ‘THE THING’ (1982). Director Richard Stanley’s liberal use of bright colours (in particular pink and purple) is indeed a stark contrast to the malicious, otherworldly apocalyptic cataclysm he shows occurring in one small part of rural America. And true to Lovecraftian lore, things go from bad to worse and the extent of the horror is presented with uncompromising brutality. It is no secret that prior attempts to adapt HP Lovecraft’s works have varied in quality over the years; as it would seem that concepts of cosmic horror, extreme nihilism or anti-idealism haven’t been properly understood up to this point. ‘COLOUR OUT OF SPACE’ thankfully becomes the rare exception, proving that a competent Director can bring the horrifying Lovecraftian visions to life. This is definitely one of the best modern horror sci-fi films to date in recent years and again, Cage boasts another excellent performance.
1. KWAIDAN (1964)
Though the title translates to ‘weird tales’ or ‘ghost stories’, this slow burn horror film is an anthology by Masaki Kobayashi that manages to completely disarm and unsettle – despite its masterful exotic elegance. Although the stories are purely folk tales that are Oriental in design, Kobayashi’s ravishing tapestry is crafted with striking thematic elements that are potent in any era and easily recognised by any culture. Weaving in themes including (but not limited to) love, hate, betrayal, greed, infidelity and regret; each story is compelling, seemingly self-contained and eerily effective. Unlike other traditional anthology horror films, there is a clear moral device within the narrative. Similar to the parting lessons learned in Aesop’s Fables that conclude each literary piece, although this 1964 horror film creates more palpable dread in its deliberately slow pacing. One could consider the tone to be almost so politely restrained, if not for the bone chilling and ghastly revelations in each of the four stories.
JUSTIN PERILLO BIO: JUSTIN PERILLO is a Melbourne based Personal Trainer with 13 years experience in the fitness industry and a university education in Psychology. Justin aims to achieve significant body transformations with all of his clients along with the aim of educating on how to achieve fantastic results with sustainable, efficient and enjoyable methods. The belief being, there’s no point achieving a great result if you don’t know how to keep it. Along with this passion for health and physique, Justin enjoyed a short football career at the amateur level before focusing more on opening a Personal Training studio and physique development. Since early childhood, thanks to the influence of two older siblings who incidentally introduced him to the horror genre from around the age of six years old, Justin has long been an avid film watcher. Relaxing and watching a movie is one of Justin’s favourite things to do after a tough gym session. IG: @justin_lean365
Vance Ang
Vance Ang has primarily been professionally published in bodybuilding and fitness since 2005, having written extensively for hardcopy publications such as Australian IRONMAN and FLEX; but also for e-publications such as RAW Muscle and more recently the media platform, The Evolution of Bodybuilding. He is a Melbourne based policy and strategy consultant currently undertaking his post graduate study in Law. In addition to bodybuilding, conservative politics and Savate (French Kickboxing), he has long been a fan of movies and cinema of all genres – subsequently prompting an interest in modern story telling, that being script writing. He is in the process of writing his first horror novel ‘Providence’
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