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Teleplay by Based on a story by Clive Barker Starring Presented by Series created by 58 minutes |
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MASTERS OF HORROR SEASON TWO:
For his first outing as writer/director of his MASTERS OF HORROR episode, creator Mick Garris based it on his own short story about a lonely food laboratory worker. Having a relative who works in the field, I found it interesting. For the second season however, Garris, who has long adapted several of Stephen King’s stories for TV, decided to adapt an original story by Clive Barker about a writer checking into a mysterious hotel where he encounters what may seem a ghost, but finds a unique setting in which the line between a writer’s creativity and the real world are heavily blurred. VALERIE ON THE STAIRS is the story of Rob (Tyron Leitso), a struggling writer dealing with a personal tragedy who checks into an old fashioned hotel where writers go to work without any distractions. It is a safe haven for unpublished writers looking to find that creative high to complete their works of fiction. Upon entering his room, he encounters a mysterious woman named Valerie (Claire Grant) who pleads for his help before being whisked away by an unseen force. Rob believes that the woman is a ghost haunting the hotel, but soon he comes into the secret of the hotel that the other residents, also unpublished writers, are holding: that Valerie is a combined creation of the writers that keeps a demon (Tony Todd) living within the confines of the hotel at bay. I think one needs to understand the creative process of writing to fully appreciate the script by Clive Barker, which is excellent and in his true form, provides a mixture of sex and graphic violence. The character of Valerie, played by the beautiful Claire Grant, spends most of her time on screen nude but it fits well with the story, as her sexuality is used as a weapon against the sinister beast, played to perfection by Tony Todd. Tyron Leitso is a good lead as Rob, slowly learning the truth about Valerie. In a supporting role, the great Christopher Lloyd commands presence with a low key performance as Neely, the eldest resident who claims to know about Valerie more than anyone else. Mick Garris over the past decade has been one of horror’s most underrated filmmakers, certainly one of the most unappreciated due to his TV work. His Stephen King adaptations have been excellent and Garris shows, when given freedom to do as he wishes, can let the gore fly with the best of them while still showing a touch of elegance. He proves with this film that he is one of the best at adapting stories to the screen, whether it be King or Barker, with sharp cinematography by Jon Joflin. The hotel itself is a great character, and both Joflin and Garris provide low and high angles to give space and life to the hotel as its residents react to the circumstances around them. The film’s editing is also brilliantly done, with great use of both practical and CGI effects. KNB FX once again are here to supply the gore and show yet again why they are currently the best in the genre. A spine ripping moment will provide happiness for gore fans, as well as some other unexpected moments of splatter. Being this is from the mind of Clive Barker, would you expect any less? The only reservation I have with the film is the conclusion, where the story seems to have an abrupt end after some very nice scenes of development. The film’s final moment however does make up for some of it with a nice denouement, but the whole effort seems rushed to fit into the guidelines of the hour long length given to all episodes of MASTERS OF HORROR. The DVD again is a must have for horror fans and students of the genre, as an insightful commentary by Garris provides some good lessons in putting this project together. A mini doc on the editing of the film is a highlight, with a detailed view of how both the practical and CGI effects were put together. In all, VALERIE ON THE STAIRS is the seminal formula for MASTERS OF HORROR done right, and provides something for all horror fans: an intelligent story, interesting characters, plenty of gore and sex done tastefully, and for students of the genre, great lessons from Garris and Barker on how to construct a great horror film. MASTERS OF HORROR: VALERIE ON THE STAIRS: 4 Out Of 5 Maggots
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