Popular in the 90s series 'Goosebumps' and 'Are you afraid of the dark?' were on the wave and horror film almanacs, in principle had to come out so that the viewer could see horror stories on the big screen.
'Tales at the campfire' - one of these almanacs, which collected several rather curious and interesting stories, appearing as a good youth (well or teenage) horror.
The film begins with the prologue, which is a short horror story about a couple who decide to retire in a car in the night forest. In this mini-film starred James Marsden and Amy Smart, who, by the way, just three years after ' Fairy tale at the campfire', will play a couple in the film ' Highway 60'.
The main plot revolves around four young people who were in an accident and to pass the time, decided to tell each other scary stories by the fire. The first is about the night monsters that attacked the newlyweds in their motorhome, the second about a maniac who corresponded with a teenage girl and the third about the ghosts of an old house. Each of the stories is interesting and frightening in its own way, but the film does not end there, because something must also happen with the quartet of heroes at the campfire. The ending of the film will be unexpected and to some extent original, because what was shown here, then will be used in the film ' Immortal Souls' with Eliza Dushku, as well as in the film ' Inside Memory' with Ryan Philippe. But since these films came out later 'Fairy tale at the campfire', the originality of the final can be attributed to this film.
All other stories are no different from those in the same 'Goosebumps' or in ' Are you afraid of the dark?' - they are short novels, with a completely complete and complete plot. And if the first (about newlyweds) and the third (about the old house) can be considered standard urban tales or legends, the second - about a girl and a maniac - is frightening because it is quite realistic. In fact, even then, in 1997, when none of the modern social networks was not, people thought that to enter the Internet into a dialogue with an unknown person is a risk, because you do not know whether under a pretty avatar hides the same pretty face or on behalf of a teenager with you corresponds a real psychopath! This, by the way, confirms the cool film directed by David Schwimmer with Clive Owen in the title role - 'Trust'.
Each of the stories develops where its participants are either alone or at most two. And in all cases, these are houses (albeit in one story a motorhome is used), in which, as it turns out, you can not feel safe at all.
Despite the fact that this is a teenage horror movie, it still turns out to be quite creepy - old ways to scare the viewer in the form of noise, sound and visual effects, as well as whipping up the atmosphere due to the fact that one of the characters is on the verge of collapse due to the horror experienced (as it was in the story with the newlyweds). The feeling that the characters are too vulnerable does not leave, because you realize when watching that they are unlikely to be saved by the flimsy doors of the van, which means that everything will definitely end badly.
Like some modern horror almanacs, like 'City of Monsters', 'Tales at the Campfire' you can watch on Halloween: several stories that fit into one feature film are quite suitable to replace just a few paintings.
Despite the average rating, the film in principle is quite good and looks with interest. In addition, the events of the picture are looped in the first story with a couple in love and a man with a hook watching them, and everything that happens with the quartet of heroes at the campfire also has a certain meaning. And the characters of their stories are quite real.
But look at you. I do not impose my opinion on anyone.
In the 1940s, a subgenre of horror anthology was born, combining several scary stories into one film. Anthologies became the hallmark of the Amikus studio in the 60s and 70s, they made my favorite film in this genre - 'Tales from the crypt' (1972). Basically, all such works suffered from one disease, irregularity. It is simply impossible to make 3-5 stories that will be at the same high level for the viewer. This genre fell in love with the producers of television films somewhere in the 70s, but eventually left and from there.
' Fairy tales at the campfire' the level of the same TV product, for not the most picky audience. For unknown reasons, judging by the KP, this thing was in theaters, although it did not receive success at the box office (and thank God, sequels of not the best film are always failures). But now let's figure out what exactly is wrong with 'Tales at the campfire'
The film opens a good, but very template story, 'Hook'. It tells about a couple in a car and a killer with a hook nearby, the action takes place in the 50s. And from the first seconds, the authors copy ' Night of Creeping Creatures', 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and 'Urban Legends'. 5 out of 10 for a well-transmitted 50x atmosphere
Then comes the first story, about a couple of newlyweds traveling in a house on wheels. That was really good. Terrible atmosphere, good actors, but not without minuses, again not very original, and in many ways resembles ' Urban legends' After such a different story in every aspect, you expect something similar to follow. 9 out of 10
And then the viewer is waiting for a frankly childish horror story about a little girl and a pedophile. Watching is boring, and the story itself seems very far-fetched. The image of a pedophile is not bad, but the cruelty in this story was not enough. 4 out of 10
The next story is even worse than the last one. Personally, I was looking really boring. Such a dull melodrama that unsuccessfully tries to be a horror. The main character, a biker, meets a mute girl in a very old house. It was not interesting to watch the word at all. The duo of heroes is very similar to the couple in the cult 'Say something'. And again, the creators stole something, yes. 3 out of 10, there is atmosphere in places.
This is where the stories end and the line of friends who tell these stories ends. The final twist is not bad, but too predictable.
I will not advise anyone, everything is too simple and template. A lot of stolen plot twists and sometimes the heroes themselves. It is better to review 'Urban legends'.
In general, there is something very interesting and mysterious in gathering at the campfire in the evening, taking food with you and telling terrible stories, the effect of which is amplified by the glimpses of flames and darkness, beyond which nothing is visible at all. It's a kind of friendly romance that not only appeals to me, but also to other people. That’s why we love watching scary stories on TV that are seemingly safe, but also disturbing. In 1997, the film “Tales by the Fire” was released, which just captured the topic under consideration and did it very even atmospheric. The story itself is divided into three chapters, united by a common through story.
Two guys and two girls are driving down a dark road from a concert. They’re having fun and don’t say anything bad could happen to them, but their car is in a ditch. Not having a chance to turn out on the road, the guys sit by the fire and, waiting for the rescue service, begin to share with each other different creepy stories.
History one.
A couple of newlyweds go on their honeymoon in a trailer. Deciding to travel to picturesque American places, they stop in the mystical forest, where once often disappeared people. But our heroes are in no hurry to be frightened and do not see anything wrong with staying here. But it was a mistake, for which we will soon have to answer with all severity.
History two.
The little girl's parents gather for dinner and leave the house, hoping that her older sister will look after her. But it so happened that the girl stays at home alone and has to entertain herself. Meanwhile, someone sinister is watching her from the shadows, preparing for something clearly very bad.
History three.
A young motorcyclist travels across the country and somewhere in an unknown area he is overtaken by a storm, which on wheels will not be easy to endure. Seeing quite a nice house nearby, he decides to stay in it and what was his surprise when he opened the door pretty girl. But here everything is not what it seems and soon the guy will learn what a real horror is.
Despite the fact that the film was shot in a calm, fabulous manner, there is blood and cruelty in it. Remember this when you sit down to watch. Each story tells about individual heroes, nothing is out of the overall concept. Maybe technically, Fairy Tales by the Fire is outdated, but the atmosphere of fear and excellent acting work make it easy to enjoy watching. Of course, the plot is for the most part predictable, but what matters here is how you feel after watching. Honestly, in this style, it would be possible to shoot a lot of great films, making a franchise of Fairy Tales by the Fire, but the producers decided that one anthology would be enough, and I see no sense in blaming them.
If you like stories about monsters, maniacs, ghosts and other evil spirits, then “Tales at the campfire” should please you. I believe that the film undeservedly bypassed the cinemas, but I am glad that we still saw it and it turned out very good.
7 out of 10
Four teenagers at night returned from the concert of their favorite band in high spirits and a little tipsy. Seeing no reason to follow the rules on an empty night winding road, they barely managed to dodge a sudden oncoming car, but crashed into a tree and were forced to wait out somewhere overnight. Just next to the road was a dilapidated old church, where the guys made a fire and, to pass the time and somehow have fun, began to tell terrible stories.
Thus, the film is a collection of different stories within the same plot. All these stories in one form or another we were familiar from other films based on various urban legends. They are always of interest to the viewer. And this interest is laid in our childhood, we can say at the level of the subconscious. After all, few of us at least once did not gather in the evenings with friends in the yard, in the ward of a summer camp, in the village on a haywalk or even just by the fire in the forest or by the river to scare each other with popular horror stories.
And although all these stories are familiar to listeners, much depends on the narrator, his imagination and performance. You can always hear new details and versions of what happened. So in this film a lot depended on the ability of the directors to tell the legend, keeping the intrigue to the last frames, and the actors to play and submit their role, so that the audience did not lose interest in what is happening on the screen. And the authors of “Fairy Tales by the Fire” coped with this task “excellently”.
The actors did not hide their skill, which is evidenced by the successful career of each of them in the future. And it is the high level of acting and skillfully created atmosphere of gatherings at the campfire with stories, jokes, and at the same time, a sense of fear of the dark and the unknown that distinguishes this picture from many similar ones.
The first story goes like a prologue. It is stylized for films of the 50s, with black and white pictures and music of those years. It is called “Hook” and tells about a maniac-murderer who escaped from a psychiatric clinic and teenagers who have secluded themselves in a car at the edge of the forest. They were played by Amy Smart and James Marsden. In a few years they will play together again in Route 60. But while the viewer will wonder whether they will escape from a mad killer, and whether he exists at all.
The second episode is called Honeymoon and follows a couple of newlyweds, Valerie and Rick, who rented a trailer and decided to ride it to Las Vegas. But suddenly they got stuck in the woods at night, where they ran out of gas. There they met a local resident who warned them that in this forest there are terrible monsters that hunt people at night. He advised them to leave quickly and never leave the trailer. But who listens to these strange tramps? Who hears their warnings and believes the stories they tell? The young couple didn't believe it. And, as you can see, it is completely in vain.
The third urban legend is that people on the Internet often do not know who they are talking to. You can impersonate anyone and use it. So Amanda, who turns 12 tomorrow, chatting with her virtual girlfriend Jessica, informs her that she will stay home alone today. Mom and Dad will be at school for a meeting, and the older sister, who was left to look after her, secretly runs with friends to a party. Amanda was young and didn't know you couldn't talk to strangers and tell them all the details about yourself. Under Jessica’s avatar was hiding an adult maniac who liked to visit the little defenseless girls who were left at home alone. This story is probably the scariest of all. Perhaps because it is the most real and concerns a child left alone with a maniac. It's called "People Can Lick Too." If someone licks your hand from under the bed, it’s not necessarily your favorite dog. Did that ever scare you as a child? Especially if there is no dog in the house.
The fourth story called “Medalon” is also not shining originality, but very beautiful visually. A young biker named Scott rode the country until one day he broke down in a clear field, not far from a lonely old house, on the door of which he knocked asking for help.
The door was opened by a beautiful woman who was mute. That did not prevent young people to find a common language and imbued with feelings. The girl explained that she lives here with her cowboy father, who drives herds and is rarely home. All was well until about midnight, when the storm began, the girl’s father returned home and the house was filled with cries of horror and pain. The walls stained with blood, and a girl named Heather reported that people were once killed in this house, and since then their ghosts have repeated what happened on that terrible night.
I must say that all legends have to some extent unexpected endings, but the most unexpected ending for that time has a story, with which the film began.
That's how night passed behind the bikes. And the teenagers telling them didn’t even notice how they themselves became one of the frightening and enticing urban legends about how several young people were involved in an accident on a night country road. And how the dawn put everything in its place.
7 out of 10
The film immediately begins with the opening segment ' Hook', which tells about a young couple who decide to retire and indulge in carnal pleasures at a guy in a Cadillac. But, of course, their intimacy is going to be prevented by a very specific observer. The story itself is made in black and white style, paying tribute to the American Grindhouse.
Next, the tape introduces us to the main narrative (segment ' Koster'), from which three separate stories will branch out. A group of young people Lauren, Alex, Eric and Cliff, because of the stupidity of the latter, get into a small accident on a deserted road, where they decide to stop at abandoned in flattering church ruins. Having made a fire, teenagers decide to wait out the night, and to complete the picture, tickling each other's nerves, tell terrible stories.
1) ' Honeymoon' tells the story of a couple in love, traveling on a rented ' house on wheels' towards Las Vegas. An unexpected encounter with a strange stranger tempers them a bit ' honey' fervor. And soon the newlyweds begin to realize that the nameless forest as a night stand was a very, very unfortunate idea. The story itself is quite simple in the plot elegance, but the finale quite organically ends this narrative.
2) ' People can lick too' This short film has just a magnificent suspense, which very gently and skillfully masters what is happening on the screen. And even though the finale is not as bloody as that of its predecessor, it is still much more frightening. Little girl Amanda is left alone in the house under the care of her older sister. Of course, the sister has much more important plans, and she leaves her youngest to care for herself. In the same case, Amanda conducts email correspondence with her peer and Internet friend 'Jessica'. But who is under the aforementioned name? This story very integrally demonstrates the actual problem of Internet interviewers and dangerous online dating.
3) 'Medalon' This story tells the story of a guy traveling on the roads and caught in a thunderstorm. The beloved motorcycle is floundering and does not go, after which the young man finds the nearest house and asks permission from the charming hostess to wait out the thunderstorm in the warmth. The mute mistress with a beautiful medallion around her neck kindly agrees. But she and her house hold very terrible secrets. In my humble opinion, this is the weakest short film of the entire cycle. The final, although visually tragic, is still ridiculous.
However, the main segment, smoothly passing through all the vicissitudes of the film, was able to really surprise me with its drama, being a kind of instructive message for the younger generation.
For its class, the film is exemplary. Easy, does not clutter your head with unnecessary information and thoughts. Very suitable to relax, sit under it in the evening and something to chew or crunch. All selected actors are pleasant to look, witty ... None of them were antipathetic. And a miracle! This is the first film in my life where a character (Christine Taylor) tells a joke, or rather, allegedly an incident from her own life and I sincerely laugh. Not as usual in the movie supposedly joke and I supposedly laugh, but all for real! The rest of the jokes in the film are so formal, but one joke per film is quite enough.
The plots of all told stories of horror stories near the campfire are quite banal, there is nothing original, but they are shot qualitatively and completely stupid as it happens sometimes in such American films do not seem. There are only three horror stories told by the fire. But I liked the fourth one the most, the one that happened to the guys who were using the bikes. Unlike the others, I felt something for her, the soul came. I was even scared for the guy, and I was afraid as it is not strange that he will stay alive. And friends will stay there... And here he is, because for me they have already turned into a family into something inseparable.
The ghost of his father laughed at the end of the story with his vulgar phrase, running after his daughter with an axe and shouting: 'You are a whore! And I'll treat you like a whore" - that's hilarious, but she's lucky with daddy, and I wouldn't laugh so much if I didn't know that there are such fathers, who are jealous of her daughter to all her guys, just want to be their boyfriends, but they are very disturbed that they are already their fathers and can not be both father and groom. And because they cannot live with them, they do not want to let others. Imposing a moratorium on the personal life of the daughters under the guise of fatherly care, and if something is wrong, they immediately throw rude expressions, inflating an elephant from a fly. These types are also ridiculed by the film.
And throughout the film, the authors ironize over this genre in general - the genre of horror stories, emphasizing that sometimes horror stories turn out more comic than terrible, and if a comedian began to invent horror stories, he would succeed in this genre even more than in his native satirical.
Telling stories, the characters seem to tell us about themselves, their character, everyone shows their sense of humor, stories even you can understand what each hero dreams about or is inclined to identify with whom. The guy who foolishly crashed the car and - because of which all the characters gathered at night in the woods by the fire - such is the head ripping, loving quirky deeds, cheerful, friendly and not cowardly - wants to live cheerfully and carefree, he is drawn to adventure travel, he wants to endlessly make love with girls, somewhere to move forever and not keep it in place ... The second girl who made me laugh with his friend. As I understood on myself, she can always lift everyone’s mood in a difficult moment with a kind joke and in the blink of an eye relieve fear and tension. Probably also very courageous, not afraid of changing circumstances and when the car crashed and friends were stuck on the road she did not complain, did not whine accepted everything as it is and immediately began to console another girl who began to be slightly capricious and outraged that her boyfriend is so frivolous. At the same time, judging by the story, she feels like the same little girl she talks about, still wants to meet someone like that girl on the Internet, not against even a risky acquaintance with someone she knows nothing, and judging by the horror story she understands how this can end, from that she tells such a story about a girl and her new friend Jessica, and again it was funny that the most terrible thing that happened to the girl is that she licked her hand ... she thought it was a dog, and this is her casual acquaintance ... I don't think she chose the guy who crashed the car, he's not a good fit for her. Perhaps she is still in search, looking for a new acquaintance and ready to consider other options, and yet just remain good friends. With the third girl in general, everything is simple - she is one of those who does not have a boyfriend, and if she is unlikely to get along with him, there is hardly a man with whom she will get along except that the prince from the fairy tale she told - a beautiful biker on an iron horse in search of freedom ... And there she is. But we all know how such nonsense ends and will remain alone, although he dreams of getting married. She was rightly kicked by the guy who crashed the car. About the honeymoon... Like what you were so worried about, you're not gonna have him anyway, so he probably knew exactly what she was. That’s all the characters, the truth was the fourth boy brother of one of the girls, but he was rather just for extras.
It's a great movie. I'm fine. Two hours wasted in the wind. If only you could throw something to the wind for good. It turns out that it is possible and I am convinced of this today. Fun time spent - not considered lost!
I remember very well how at one time it was considered a great luck to catch the broadcast of this film or get it on record. Over the years, nostalgic emotions for the VHS era and inexpensive but memorable films are still able to overwhelm with head, giving a half hour of enthusiastic viewing. After a variety of high-budget horror films of recent years, urban legends told by the campfire may seem boring and unexpressive. However, do not jump to conclusions - with proper attention to the film, you will definitely be satisfied.
As in certain circles, the cult series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, the plot of the film is based on a simple to ugliness, but intriguing and, most importantly, understandable concept. A group of young people are forced to spend the night in a flattering room more often by the road, and they decide to spend hours waiting by the fire, telling atmospheric mystical stories. Uncomplicated in its essence and performance of scenes with storytellers, add the necessary sharpness - agree, there is a difference under what circumstances to perceive such "entertainment". In addition, this part of the story attracts an interesting denouement.
The three legends told by the fire are expressively different from each other, bringing a certain variety. Two of them are frankly mystical overtones, but the story of little Amanda, in a good sense for the genre, can make your blood freeze in your veins. None of the novels at the campfire can not be called scary - the film attracts not so much adrenaline bursts, as the general intriguing atmosphere. Even the quality of the production of the traditional level of “B films” can be called a positive feature of the picture. The film does not claim the laurels of a bright representative of the horror and thriller genres, and therefore is perceived as an excellent entertainment film without ambition.
How often in childhood or adolescence did you gather around a campfire or someone else’s house and tell each other scary stories? Usually these stories were stupid and counterintuitive, but we didn’t care, because the main thing was that we were in the campaign of friends and we were scared/fun. And our today’s guest is a great opportunity to return to a distant childhood and, together with the heroes of the picture, poison “bikes by the fire.”
A group of teenagers breaks down a car and being in the center of nowhere, they decide to spend an evening in the cemetery telling each other horror stories. Subsequently, the viewer will learn why the “kids” broke down the car and who these mysterious figures that are wandering around the forest, but this will be later, but for now we are waiting for three “heartbreaking” stories about monsters, maniacs and other crazy people. Let's go.
The first story follows a young couple who decide to spend their honeymoon in Las Vegas, but their car breaks down on the way. Subsequently, young people meet with a strange stranger warning about the evil that lives in these forests, but naturally the heroes do not listen to the old hunter and soon they will have to regret it. In other words, before us a classic of the genre – a couple of people lost in the woods and the evil that awaits them at the turn.
The second story tells the story of a little girl who is about to turn twelve. The girl is very happy with this circumstance and tells everyone about the upcoming holiday. But the parents forgot to warn the girl that there are many different people on the Internet, and not everyone wishes the young woman well. In other words, before us is a story about a maniac who penetrates into a large house and begins to create all sorts of obscenities.
The third story tells the story of a man who decided to give up all the benefits of civilization and simply travel around the country in search of... and he does not really know what he is looking for. But one day his bike dies, and the man finds himself at the old house, where a girl lives, deprived of the opportunity to speak. And then the man realizes that he finally found what he was looking for, but the girl’s father stands in his way. In other words, before us is a romantic love story of two young hearts, and about an evil poltergeist trying to destroy the happiness of people.
Of course, there's a story about a guy with a hook instead of a hand, but it doesn't play much of a role in the story, so I'm gonna let it go. So, what do we have? And we have before us horror stories, which are clearly reminiscent of “Tales from the crypt”, by the way, closed in the same year. Fortunately, there are quite good actors who successfully cope with their roles, and stories imbued with mystical overtones, as well as a simple morality at the end of each story. So if you liked “Tales from the Crypt” or you went hiking and told each other “nightmare” stories in the evenings, then I absolutely recommend this film to watch. A good mood and feeling of nostalgia are provided to you.
Tales by the fire... Ah, one title already attracts attention, evoking nostalgia for childhood, when stories of various coffins on wheels and red hands were very much in use. According to the plot of the same film, four teenagers crashed a car in the woods and to somehow pass the night by the campfire, begin to tell terrible stories.
The first story, which is called "Honeymoon", that if a strange stranger strictly advises to go away and in any case not to get out of the car, sometimes it is worth listening. But, of course, the main characters, a young couple on a wedding trip on a trailer, he was not heard, whether the oddballs really... The story contains a bit of black humor and, despite the general predictability, delights with the ending.
The second story, which is called "People can also lick", that even at home in a warm cot can lie in wait for danger. What the girl learned on the eve of her twelfth birthday, which her parents left under the care of her older sister. However, she quickly escaped on business, and the child stayed at home with his dog, and outside the window already someone is stealing. This segment is measured, the situation is inflated for a long time, there is no joke and all this results in a bright finale.
The third story, titled "Medalon", is that not every house welcomes uninvited guests. She will tell about a young guy who travels the expanses of the country and after breaking the iron horse knocked on the nearest house, where he was met by a charming, albeit mute, young lady. But the building was a surprise in the form of not friendly ghosts. This story came out tense, throughout exciting and, of course, does not end corny.
As you can see, each story has a good ending. So the film itself ends very original at its time and, I am sure, many of it can still impress. In general, this almanac not only has a nostalgic function, but even now is able to scare, interest and surprise, and what else is needed?
7.5 out of 10
There's a movie called "Tales by the Fire." He's little known and very sorry. On first viewing, I expected it to be a second-rate nineties, remnants of the classic slashers. And for some reason, the poster has been associated with the movie “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. But it turned out to be a completely different movie. More like City Legends, but with a less eccentric plot. So the plot is simple. Two pairs of M+D break down and decide to stop in the woods. And in the atmosphere of a dark “lonely” forest, they make a fire and begin to poison stories, stories from local urban legends.
Three bright stories were told. I will not retell them to keep the intrigue. But I have to admit that all three have strong points. These moments are not so terrible, but they bring fear to the viewer. It's horror stories. And if there was such a genre as “scary”, then this film was its main representative.
The value of the film is that you don't see the brutal murders in it, and you don't feel some kind of panicked horror. You will like the serving of portions of horror stories. There is also a place for empathy with heroes. It's kind of a movie. The finale was also very original.
By the way, one of the directors is David Semel ("Tales by the Fire" - his first feature film), who also directed "American Horror Story", "Dawson's Bay", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "House Doctor" and other interesting things.
9 out of 10