The film I chose to do my film review on is Silver Bullet, released in 1985 and directed by Daniel Attias. This film was based on a book by Stephen King and features Gary Busey and Corey Haim as the lead actors. This is one of my favorite films for many reasons. First of all, I grew up watching this film frequently as a child. I’ve always been a fan of horror movies and this film is the perfect blend of comedy and horror. Gary Busey does a fantastic job of portraying the alcoholic uncle of the handicapped and easily impressionable nephew Corey Haim. This film is worth watching just to see Busey and Haim’s performances. In fact, Gary Busey’s performance in this movie is one of my all-time favorite performances.
This is a very character-driven movie. The characters literally make the movie. Every character brings something different to the table and the majority of them are hilarious. This is a horror movie but it was released in 1985, so there is more than enough cheesiness to go around. At one point in the film, Gary Busey constructs Corey Haim a new wheelchair/motorcycle. Corey Haim rides around on Busey’s present, appropriately titled “Silver Bullet” during the rest of the film as he avoids the town werewolf. There are many other smaller characters throughout the film that make their mark as well. All in all, the cast is perfect for this film.
Like many other favorite films of mine, this film offers an awesome soundtrack with original music by Jay Chattaway. I like the soundtrack because it goes so well with the different scenes. There is creepy music during the scary scenes where the werewolf is present. On the other hand, there are playful/upbeat songs in the scenes where young Corey Haim is cruising around on his wheelchair/motorcycle. I’m a big fan of original soundtracks so this is just another reason why Silver Bullet is one of my favorite films.
In addition to having a great story and phenomenal acting, Silver Bullet has a few genuinely scary moments. Silver Bullet has a fair portion of blood and gore but that’s not what makes it scary. It’s the fear of the unknown that makes this film a thriller. During the majority of the film we don’t see the werewolf and don’t know of its whereabouts. The audience expects the werewolf to emerge from the darkness at any point, which leaves us on the edge of our seats!
While this film may seem cheesy to a 2011 audience it still remains one of my favorite films to this day. It offers a great original soundtrack, great acting by Gary Busey, Corey Haim, and several other actors and actresses, a great story, and it has a nice combination of horror and comedy. I think everybody should watch this film at least once because it offers something for everyone. You don’t have to be a horror fan to appreciate this film!
