October - That time of the year

I dont think anyone reads this blog so I am safe from spoiling one of the best horror films this year. I have watched it a few times now and I am impressed by everything it does (I'll be vague and avoid mentioning a certain word to keep the mystery alive). I can't find a budget for the film so it might have been done 'cheaply' by the streaming service, nonetheless it looks great. Steely blue grey and atmospheric cinematography. The quick cut edits for the action/creature scenes would also support a frugal indie budget.

It's not by any means 'the best film ever made'. It might have pacing issues. Characters might be cliched but the underlying energy is what makes it work. It is horrific and haunting. There are visuals that are disturbing. But it is all done practically which has a charm to it. It looks real, but not hyper real, which is where modern horror films lose me. Christopher Lee's Dracula with strawberry sauce on his chin is just as effective storytelling technique as 4k realism. If there is any CGI then it's very well done and not perceivable - which is the best use of CGI.

There is a movie from 1981 that is held in high esteem by horror fans for its creature transformation scene, that apparently hasn't been surpassed since. I don't agree, I think film special effects have come a long way in the last few years with digital printing and materials. The main transformation scene in The Cycle is a modern well lit scene-for-scene homage to its predecessor. Haunches elongate, hands twist, snouts stretch, hair sprouts. It's glorious because you can see how it is done and still suspend disbelief.

Big sketchbook, brush pens and watercolour

The creature here is more feral and could be a distant cousin to The Autopsy of Jane Doe and features a lore to this particular genre that as far as I know, hasn't been seen before. The title and trailer gives away what everyone suspects, it the best kept secret on YouTube that anyone who knows a smidgen about horror will be glad to see the return of... that is, until January 2027 in the UK when a full supermoon will bring another Lycanthrope home.