The best part of both films is that the protagonist is actually really smart, he can spot traps and thinks on his feet effectively. It makes the cat-and-mouse relationship between Arkin and the Collector so thrilling. Also while the second movie is sillier, it has one of the best endings of any horror movie I've seen this past decade. Truly knows how to shut the door on unnecessary sequels.
While I do like the idea of Arkin turning the tables on the Collector, I HATE giving him a backstory and a cute, sunny house and hearing him sound like someone's divorced dad. No. Just NO. He works better as an unknown.
Bruh, I just left a comment about how similar they are. I wasn't sure if I was just high or if Ryan really DOES look just like the actor, but you've given me the answer I needed! :D
I always loved how Artkin wears the same outfit as the Collector. It sort of adds to the creepiness of the Collector, like he is an imitation of a human, not an actual human. The collector's mask is literally a warped nightmare version of Artkins mask. And Artkin having his skills as a home invader justify and allow him to be the perfect foil to the Collector.
@firstname mclast All burglars are home invaders, not all home invaders are burglars. Burglar is just a more specific way to describe what arkin does, but hlme invader is just as good a description. He literally invaded a home
I’m unsure if you saw, but on the DVD it has an alternate ending where when The Arkon realizes the daughter is in the house, instead turning around for her he just flips off the house and runs away- always made me laugh
I just realised The Collector and The Collection have the same relationship as Alien and Aliens. The first movie is a competent but scared protagonist trying to escape a monster, but the sequel is the same character more experienced and confident, contracted to be brought back and lead a team of soldiers to take the fight to the enemy.
Right, without Arkin this movie would never have been so special. I love the complexity behind the "bad guy" with a heart of gold. The whole redemption arc makes him compelling and the fact that he's just been struck with a case of the "wrong place, wrong times"s makes him sympathetic even if what got him there in the first place was arguably for the wrong reasons - again - arguably, because we also understand why he's there. There's actually layers upon layers here (yes much like ogres) That makes for a surprisingly well told story within this genre of "torture porn" which of course isn't exactly known for subtlety or interesting characters. The Collector himself I think is a good villain particularly in his truly unrelenting nature. He actually comes off as very mean spirited and intimidating BUT, he also likes spiders..? So there's something there... The mask is also iconic if we want to get superficial about it
The only reason I like the The Collection is because of Arkin's character. It's why i'll watch the next sequel, just to see if he lives. To me the franchise is an example of how if you create a complex and likable character you can keep a series going as long as you bring them back. It's why if they kill him or turn him into the Collector in the next one i'll just immediately stop watching. Arkin just deserves a win at this point.
You don’t have to worry because Arkin is once again the main character in the 3rd movie. I want to see how the Collector escapes Arkin’s capture. I have good feelings about the new movie and so I can’t wait for it to drop.
I really agree, I'm in it for Arkin at this point, I love the dynamic between him and the Collector so much, the only other time i've seen this kind of thing is in Halloween with Laurie and Michale
The cinematography in The Collector especially the way they utilize fake walls on sets to pan over rooms and stuff and build tension is fucking brilliant and the movie is highly underrated. The Collection is... schlock... but for its time escalating the ridiculousness was how everyone was competing with Saw, for better or worse... I still really love the end of The Collection and I really enjoy watching a horror movie series that has a persistent protagonist that we can actually care about.
I found the first Collector to be very effective. While I do think you need to suspend your believability I was on the edge of my seat the first time I watched that film. I will never forget the gut punch feeling of Arkin finally escaping only to see the daughter of the household is alive. We have seen how difficult it is to maneuver through this house, and it is SO effective knowing we have to go back through this nightmare with Arkin’s character. It reminds me of the best survival horror games, just great world building and tension.
Fun fact about the opening scene of “The Collection” one of the VFX artists who worked on the film tweeted James A. Janisse a little while ago, and gave him the exact number of body-rigs they used for the opening massacre, so that he would be able to do the movie without dealing with the frame-by-frame number crunching. He’ll probably get to it eventually with that information to make his life easier, but I just thought it was cool to see people in the horror community helping each other out like that!
Calm down Kevin McCallister, you don't have to go that far. I guess the first two Home Alone films really messed you up. No wonder you felt the franchise. So the first 2 Home Alone films were just an origin story....damn. "This is it, no turning back" - Kevin McCallister. Underrated film, wasn't a fan of the ending but hey at least the sequel fixed that cause I like the character of Arkin. And yeah the sequel isnt the greatest but worth a watch.
Apparently John Hughes wanted to do a Home Alone horror film with an older Kevin who'd gone insane and started killing people with traps after his tortures of Harry and Marv gave him a taste for blood. His family would have probably been the first to go because they were assholes.
@@RyanHollinger there’s also a fan “theory” that Kevin goes on to become John Kramer from Saw. It continues the theory that mr McAllister is a mafia bigwig and Kevin is taken away a year or two after home alone 2 and put in foster/witness protection (so name change) but all the trauma screwed him up.
The Collector is such an underrated movie. Arkin’s character is phenomenal. The child actor does a great job. The villain is so dark and evil but then out of nowhere you see his gentleness with spiders leaving the viewer with a lot of questions. Everything just draws the viewers in. I’m excited there’s a third sequel, though I don’t know what I’d think if Arkin doesn’t star in it some way.
While the Third movie “The Collected” was canceled, you noticed the same thing I did. In the first movie, he was a Hispanic exterminator who felt no empathy for humans but sympathized with the bugs he was paid to kill. The Collection abandoned this interesting character motive.
When I see the collector in the dark, my brain doesn’t connect that his eyes are featureless discs, I just see there reflection off the black and my brain is like “oh, he has big, shiny OwO eyes”
Honestly, in that scene where Arkin digs the fish hook out of his eye, if Ryan had placed his own censor face over it I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.
This is one of those films I saw in the cinema with a great audience so will always remember it fondly. Everyone screaming and cheering at the right moments. It was awesome. Love this movie.
Even these movies are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, I can't help but be reminded of the Predator. Both movies take typical action heroes and subject them to the horror genre.
Like Bruce Willis in Die Hard vs a young Hannibal Lector The Collector is my favorite horror after 41 years. I give this movie my official championship
That's the best kind. The number one reason why I dislike horror movies is because the characters are almost always STUPID. Like unbelievably stupid and it takes me out of it. These idiots deserve to die... but the handful of horror movies that show intelligent people who make good decisions and still get outmatched by the killer are spectacular. My favourite of these is the original Terminator.
Can I just say I never ever noticed Ryan's "However" until the comments pointed it out, I can't be the only one, maybe it's worth noting I am from Belfast so that might be a factor
I found this movie years ago while looking for something to watch and I thought I’d give it a chance and I remember being super invested and loving it a lot. I recently rewatched it and I still think it’s a good movie, but I was also like ‘why was I so blown away by this when I first watched it?’. Guess I’ve seen too many horror movies in the meantime I’ve become like ‘eh I’ve seen better’.
This. I saw it in theaters and it holds that special place in my memory but in the moment when I rewatch it, it doesn't line up with my nostalgia nearly as much
I liked the sequel because I liked how it showed Arkin as especially clever. It was obviously an Aliens to the original Alien. But that’s fun on its own
@@celestedivinity2178 yep. A survivor of a harrowing experience barely makes it through based on their own cunning. Then in the sequel is immediately thrown back in to a situation with their own attacker flanked by a bunch of professionals sent to hunt on a rescue mission. Survivor pulls some through with help to find out more about the stalker after mostly casualties and finds a purpose to keep fighting. Is that describing first two Alien or Collector films
@@dragonkyng Chelsea Rebecca from Dead Meat would totally rock Black Widow. She doesn't pop up in the Kill Counts, but she's always there for the podcasts and stuff. I also vote GoodBadFlicks for Thor.
"Ambiguity is king; especially when it comes to killers or creatures that make you question them in any sort of existential way." This needs to be printed at the top of every horror writer's first page on their screenplay, novel, manuscript, etc. This is what made 'It Follows' so effective for me. They never explain what "it" is, where it came from, why it's passed through sex, why it takes different forms, etc. It just was. This is also why Michael Myers stopped being scary in the sequels (save for the 2018 sequel) with all that Cult of Thorn nonsense.
I sometimes wonder if the Terminator would have been better if they never showed the future scenes. If it remained a little more ambiguous about whether the Terminator really was a robot until the end.
"Overexplaining the monster/horror" is often the downfall of many horror stories. I think the worst example I remember is The Silence from Doctor Who, once they explain what they are, they lose all of their horror effect.
Idk I actually don’t mind that much that they did that. In this case if anything, that’s just making The Collector a much more interesting character imo.
The only good thing about the sequel is that Arkin lived and got the collector in the end. I don't want another movie I want him to have his bloody revenge and for the curtain to close on his finally being the one in control.
I remember watching this years ago. I really enjoyed it then and still do now. I think because of how Arkin is such a relatable character, like what would you do in that crazy scenario try to help the family or gtfo. And how he has a brain unlike most main characters in horror movies. How he controls his breathing, or waits for the killer to make his move then play around him. It's smaller details but it makes Arkin more unique and believable. Great review of the Collector and Collection Ryan.
"Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil" would be one I'd like to see you do, Ryan. Saw it on Netflix a few years ago and thought the premise was actually very interesting.
I watched it expecting absolutely nothing from it, and found myself loving it. I clicked on it only because I wanted to watch a film in the Basque language, and thought it would be some Z-Grade ghost story. What I got was more like something by Del Toro, or the Jim Henson Creature Workshop.
I love the first collector so much in the way I love the first strangers movie. The utter “because you were home” aspect. The absolute perversion of what should be your safest/most comfortable place. Doesn’t matter if you’re a good or bad person, what you’ve been through, etc. All that matters is You're there and they wanna play. Fantastic video like always dude ❤️
Legit these two films kinda feel like a sped up version of how the Saw franchise went. Starts off with a well written villain and subtle horror topped with gore that only accentuates scenes and isn't the focus, then in the later sequel(s) the villain makes less sense despite having more information, and gore is the focus over plot etc., shame that :p
You know what...since I've watched them so often...it was the Collector who created the rave... which is why he was able to set it up. Please don't let me continue to nerd out on this bc...😳
@@AudraReinsOfficial Mustve taken him months if not longer. Scouting location, thinking up traps, where to put them, predicting where victims would try to flee to. The crushing trap was genius
I'm just trying to imagine the people he contracted to build all that stuff, setting up a combine harvester above a nightclub dancefloor and thinking "Yeah, this seems fine."
So I accidentally saw The Collection in theaters first (my friends and I had no clue it was a sequel) and were so confused by it starting off with Arken getting out and the insane bloodbath. Because of that I kind of loved how ridiculous and campy it was, I also adored Arken and find him incredibly compelling. Then when I went back to The Collector I loved it even more and the ending, knowing he’d end up in the box, chilled me. I totally agree The Collector is much better, but, probably because I watched it incorrectly, I really enjoy both! They’re just good times. Arken is such a great lead we don’t get likable horror leads nowadays so I just loved them.
The first half before the spoilers - you made the protagonist seem so compelling. Every scene he was in, his acting was compelling too. He looked like he was harrowed by regrets and experiencing some sincere conflict and discomfort at being back into his burglar mode. Really cool. Plus the collector being gormless glowy eye stare is very scary!
The Collector was one of the first horror movies I genuinely loved as a child. When I was a kid I would generally avoid horror movies, but when I saw this, I remember being obsessed with it. It was so freaking good.
I actually felt sorry for the family in the original and wanted Arkin to save them which I think he tried to do not only because their daughter reminded her of his and because he felt guilty about planning to rob them even though he was only doing that so the loan shark wouldn't hurt or kill his wife and daughter. But the team he leads into The Collector's hideout in The Collection were generic and I didn't care when any of them died.
I always loved The Collector, such a surreal and stylish movie with a lot of self aware attitude and what might be my favorite slasher villain ever. I tapped out of The Collection shortly after the nightclub scene thinking man, they fucked up FAST, sad to see the rest of the movie isn't much better. Hopefully The Collected recaptures what made that first movie and even elements of the second so great.
Ryan letting his frustration get the better of himself and shouting whenever he thinks something is dumb is something that can actually be so personal, Seriously though Ryan yelling about something being "FUCKING RIDICULOUS" is my favorite part of any video, it sparks so much joy for me 😂
Its a shame The Collected (third film) will likely never see the light of day as (according to Marcus Dunstan) the producers shot down production when COVID happened and then the props and set pieces were stolen with the producers essentially ghosting the remaining cast and crew about it. That said I don’t mind the origin story so much as the retcon of the urgency of Arkin’s escape. They go from him having until midnight or else harm comes to his family and then suddenly its way after and they’re just fine. The Collection could’ve opened with him narrowly escaping the Collector’s van and making it back with the diamond before the deadline but instead its just a plot line that falls by the wayside to make room for the night club set piece that reintroduces Arkin.
I appreciate your insight and dedication, Mr. Hollinger. The best part of The Collection is the ending. I wonder where the next movie will start from. Cheers!
I saw The Collection in theatres purely because it came out on my birthday and I liked the first one. I didn't think it was that bad. More action oriented, more grindhouse-y. It was solid as far as ending a series that could've exhausted itself like Wrong Turn.
I always thought the Collector was setting them up as Arken went through the house, that he missed on or two by luck and then when he went to leave they were all up.
One clever detail I love about the Collectors mask, is that when he pulls the cords tight on it, there are two buttons that look like eyes. The whole eyes in the back of the head concept fits really well with the Collectors borderline omnipotence
The first movie was relatively believable. The Collector might have caught the main couple of the house during the day, giving him hours to set all the traps by night. But the sequel. Are we really supposed to believe he was able to build those extra ass traps in the club? Traps designed to kill hundreds of people in a couple minutes. It completely goes against his established M.O. from the first movie. Methodically torture a couple people for hours before deciding who’s worthy of collection. To just instantly murdering hundreds of people and grabbing whoever might happen to survive.
Thank you for covering these movies! I stumbled across them a few years back and they became something of a guilty pleasure. I think the main reason I got into them was because of Arkin - his character really feels more fleshed out than we tend to get in these sorts of movies, and that's a really welcome change. I also didn't know that there was a third movie coming this year, but now that I do I'm hoping they'll make it more like the first movie rather than the second, or maybe even go for something completely different.
I loved both of these movies, and the night club scene in the beginning of The Collection is absolutely one of my favorite scenes of all time! Great video! You always do a great job.
I thoroughly enjoy listening to your reviews and thoughts on all sorts of films. Your dives into the emotional/philosophical aspects of movies are incredibly thoughtful, and always a delight. Rock on.
I actually watched the collection blind in movies and absolutely adored it, it left a huge impact on me as I hadn't seen the first and found it refreshing to see overall smart characters working around horror movie traps
You're definitely right about ambiguity being paramount to horror! You can make your own head-canon and share theories with other people, it lingers in your head and you think about it later.. and can always fall back on simply not answering every question! Silent Hill 1-4 did a great job with that, as did the game The Forest. I also loved the silly into and hearing about your head-canon for how the Collector sets his traps hahah
Loved this video! Felt like I was totally alone in thinking this weird ass movie actually has a lot of strengths. I think when the sequel was written, they totally missed the symbolism behind him being an exterminator that collects bugs! he is like the personification of the animal impulse to own, control, and destroy the things you love or desire. That's literally all the motive he needs and the audience should know about, in my opinion. having his collection be a mad scientist lab instead of being similar to how one keeps a bug collection was a really weird misstep.
It is also noteworthy how bad “The Collection”’s continuity was. In “The Collector,” the Collector was a Hispanic exterminator who felt no empathy with humans but sympathized with the bugs he had to kill. In “The Collection,” he is some Blonde guy who is recreating his father’s homicidal streak. The Collector goes from a sadistic sociopath into a dumb Freddy Kruger clone who is tapping at metal bars with his knife giggling while constantly being out smarted by Arkin. Also why weren’t Arkin’s girlfriend and daughter killed by the loan sharks? That destroys Arkin’s motivations and story ark if he didn’t actually have to steal the money. Also how did Arkin escape from the Collector? The Collector is a good movie while The Collection is garbage. It’s probably for the best that “The Collected” was canceled.
I actually prefer the sequel a lot more than the first movie, which is funny because I'm of the same opinion that explaining everything about the horror icon can ruin what makes it scary. HOWEVER What I like about the sequel more is how we see a killer actually have his own lair that he is treating as his own museum. They're his art pieces, and I loved the set design. Plus the main thing I enjoyed was Arkin and The Collector having that Nancy/Freddy or Laurie/Michael dynamic, especially since the Collector himself is a twisted man that Arkin gets one of the most satisfying turn around on.
*Ok, so what are your thoughts on The Collector films and... what do you think about the SAW series?*
Get 15% off your order at www.buyraycon.com/ryan
There pretty decent imo, 1st Saw was the best tho
SAW 1 & 2 were the bomb, dropped off after 3 imo
Not that familiar with the SAW movies, so I have nothing to say.
Saw is one of my favorite movies, Saw 2 was very entertaining.
I like all of them, although the novelty sets after the third one pretty much, still one of my favs
The best part of both films is that the protagonist is actually really smart, he can spot traps and thinks on his feet effectively. It makes the cat-and-mouse relationship between Arkin and the Collector so thrilling. Also while the second movie is sillier, it has one of the best endings of any horror movie I've seen this past decade. Truly knows how to shut the door on unnecessary sequels.
Yes yes yes! Very well put
I also like the fact that the protagonist is not a good guy as he's doing something that would normally make him a villain.
There is a third one coming, since The Collector was always planned as a trilogy. It is named 'The Coll3cted'
And yet... sequel en route!
@@etwregh6676 Ah shit you're right. Oh well, I'm excited to see it.
The worst thing about giving the Collector a definitive origin, is that it ruins the theory that he's secretly a grown up Kevin from 'Home Alone'
This is a thing?
@@moodyfingers7301 yeah was a fan theory lol
If you watch the first episode of the web series DRYVRS he's actually a ptsd ridden killer wrapped in a christmas motif
But I thought Jigsaw from the saw movies was supposed to be Kevin grown up? Atleast that was a theory. So how did it switch to the Collector?
While I do like the idea of Arkin turning the tables on the Collector, I HATE giving him a backstory and a cute, sunny house and hearing him sound like someone's divorced dad. No. Just NO. He works better as an unknown.
Ryan: *invents new way of saying “however”*
Audience: “He can’t keep getting away with it!”
BUT I WILL
Is that a reference to breaking bad?
@@ArkaeaFCL3 yeah
@@NastierNate nice. ✌😁
Damn I didn't know Ryan invented Ireland
"This first film has a very relatable protagonist"
*shows man identical to Ryan*
Bruh, I just left a comment about how similar they are. I wasn't sure if I was just high or if Ryan really DOES look just like the actor, but you've given me the answer I needed! :D
@@justinkroboth360 The best of both worlds: high AND right. Lawl.
So we aren’t gonna talk about how arkin looks like Ryan’s older brother?
Came looking for this comment ✊
Maybe Ryan can get a small part in the 3rd film as the estranged brother
Thank god other people are agree with me
Imagine I posted that old thoughtful velociraptor meme...
Haha, YES
I always loved how Artkin wears the same outfit as the Collector. It sort of adds to the creepiness of the Collector, like he is an imitation of a human, not an actual human. The collector's mask is literally a warped nightmare version of Artkins mask. And Artkin having his skills as a home invader justify and allow him to be the perfect foil to the Collector.
@firstname mclast
All burglars are home invaders, not all home invaders are burglars. Burglar is just a more specific way to describe what arkin does, but hlme invader is just as good a description. He literally invaded a home
@firstname mclast Yes according to law ye daft mimsy
There is also the connection where Artkin works to avoid being caught by people and the Collector works to catch people.
The longer he continues, the more ways of saying "however" he creates 😂
One day I will rule the world
@@RyanHollinger yes yes... HOWEVER!
Höwever
Howlnever?
And his power increases tenfold!
I’m unsure if you saw, but on the DVD it has an alternate ending where when The Arkon realizes the daughter is in the house, instead turning around for her he just flips off the house and runs away- always made me laugh
That's fucking amazing.
Tbh I feel like as much guilt as I'd have afterwards, running away is the better option
Ryan: *says "however" instead of "hoyever"*
Me: I-Impossible!
Glad you noticed hahaha!
@@RyanHollinger we need our Hoyevers!
@@RyanHollinger where are the hoyevers Ryan we really need em
Timestamp?
I just realised The Collector and The Collection have the same relationship as Alien and Aliens.
The first movie is a competent but scared protagonist trying to escape a monster, but the sequel is the same character more experienced and confident, contracted to be brought back and lead a team of soldiers to take the fight to the enemy.
Exactly 👍🏻 bro 😎
Right, without Arkin this movie would never have been so special. I love the complexity behind the "bad guy" with a heart of gold. The whole redemption arc makes him compelling and the fact that he's just been struck with a case of the "wrong place, wrong times"s makes him sympathetic even if what got him there in the first place was arguably for the wrong reasons - again - arguably, because we also understand why he's there. There's actually layers upon layers here (yes much like ogres) That makes for a surprisingly well told story within this genre of "torture porn" which of course isn't exactly known for subtlety or interesting characters.
The Collector himself I think is a good villain particularly in his truly unrelenting nature. He actually comes off as very mean spirited and intimidating BUT, he also likes spiders..? So there's something there... The mask is also iconic if we want to get superficial about it
Each "However" is an angelic choir 😇
I'm surprised no one's made a remix of it yet. 😆
Y E S
“Hyowyever” 😂
👼👼👼👼👼
Love the profile pic and name
The only reason I like the The Collection is because of Arkin's character. It's why i'll watch the next sequel, just to see if he lives. To me the franchise is an example of how if you create a complex and likable character you can keep a series going as long as you bring them back. It's why if they kill him or turn him into the Collector in the next one i'll just immediately stop watching. Arkin just deserves a win at this point.
You don’t have to worry because Arkin is once again the main character in the 3rd movie. I want to see how the Collector escapes Arkin’s capture. I have good feelings about the new movie and so I can’t wait for it to drop.
I really agree, I'm in it for Arkin at this point, I love the dynamic between him and the Collector so much, the only other time i've seen this kind of thing is in Halloween with Laurie and Michale
The cinematography in The Collector especially the way they utilize fake walls on sets to pan over rooms and stuff and build tension is fucking brilliant and the movie is highly underrated. The Collection is... schlock... but for its time escalating the ridiculousness was how everyone was competing with Saw, for better or worse... I still really love the end of The Collection and I really enjoy watching a horror movie series that has a persistent protagonist that we can actually care about.
I found the first Collector to be very effective. While I do think you need to suspend your believability I was on the edge of my seat the first time I watched that film. I will never forget the gut punch feeling of Arkin finally escaping only to see the daughter of the household is alive. We have seen how difficult it is to maneuver through this house, and it is SO effective knowing we have to go back through this nightmare with Arkin’s character. It reminds me of the best survival horror games, just great world building and tension.
Well said
Reminds me of Grave Encounters 2 when they got out of the asylum but the ghosts Uno reverse card's their asses.
@@greggaygayakutami1402 i totally forgot about that movie one of my fav pov paranormal movies
Fun fact about the opening scene of “The Collection” one of the VFX artists who worked on the film tweeted James A. Janisse a little while ago, and gave him the exact number of body-rigs they used for the opening massacre, so that he would be able to do the movie without dealing with the frame-by-frame number crunching.
He’ll probably get to it eventually with that information to make his life easier, but I just thought it was cool to see people in the horror community helping each other out like that!
Ya’ll thought Kevin McAllister grew up to be Jigaw, but he’s clearly the collector.
Mind officially blown!
Calm down Kevin McCallister, you don't have to go that far. I guess the first two Home Alone films really messed you up. No wonder you felt the franchise. So the first 2 Home Alone films were just an origin story....damn.
"This is it, no turning back" - Kevin McCallister.
Underrated film, wasn't a fan of the ending but hey at least the sequel fixed that cause I like the character of Arkin. And yeah the sequel isnt the greatest but worth a watch.
You know... not once did that come to mind, but I’m now treating this as canon
@@RyanHollinger That should have been the twist.
Apparently John Hughes wanted to do a Home Alone horror film with an older Kevin who'd gone insane and started killing people with traps after his tortures of Harry and Marv gave him a taste for blood. His family would have probably been the first to go because they were assholes.
@@RyanHollinger there’s also a fan “theory” that Kevin goes on to become John Kramer from Saw. It continues the theory that mr McAllister is a mafia bigwig and Kevin is taken away a year or two after home alone 2 and put in foster/witness protection (so name change) but all the trauma screwed him up.
It would also make sense why he was an orphan
The Collector is such an underrated movie. Arkin’s character is phenomenal. The child actor does a great job. The villain is so dark and evil but then out of nowhere you see his gentleness with spiders leaving the viewer with a lot of questions. Everything just draws the viewers in.
I’m excited there’s a third sequel, though I don’t know what I’d think if Arkin doesn’t star in it some way.
While the Third movie “The Collected” was canceled, you noticed the same thing I did. In the first movie, he was a Hispanic exterminator who felt no empathy for humans but sympathized with the bugs he was paid to kill. The Collection abandoned this interesting character motive.
When I see the collector in the dark, my brain doesn’t connect that his eyes are featureless discs, I just see there reflection off the black and my brain is like “oh, he has big, shiny OwO eyes”
I thought he actually had anime eyes for the first like 5 minutes
Honestly, in that scene where Arkin digs the fish hook out of his eye, if Ryan had placed his own censor face over it I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.
“But if you get hooked on the atmosphere...”
*Show’s main character trying to avoid a bunch of hanging hooks*
I see what you did there. Well played...
This is one of those films I saw in the cinema with a great audience so will always remember it fondly. Everyone screaming and cheering at the right moments. It was awesome. Love this movie.
Arkin is one of my favorite protagonists, no matter what genre. He's like an anti-hero from an action movie placed in a horror movie setting.
Even these movies are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, I can't help but be reminded of the Predator. Both movies take typical action heroes and subject them to the horror genre.
Like Bruce Willis in Die Hard vs a young Hannibal Lector
The Collector is my favorite horror after 41 years. I give this movie my official championship
Arkin is one of my favorite horror movie protagonists. He's smart, clever and becomes a badass.
That's the best kind. The number one reason why I dislike horror movies is because the characters are almost always STUPID. Like unbelievably stupid and it takes me out of it. These idiots deserve to die... but the handful of horror movies that show intelligent people who make good decisions and still get outmatched by the killer are spectacular.
My favourite of these is the original Terminator.
Can I just say I never ever noticed Ryan's "However" until the comments pointed it out, I can't be the only one, maybe it's worth noting I am from Belfast so that might be a factor
We say it correctly, it’s just our thick accents
Yep sounds normal to me too lol
I found this movie years ago while looking for something to watch and I thought I’d give it a chance and I remember being super invested and loving it a lot. I recently rewatched it and I still think it’s a good movie, but I was also like ‘why was I so blown away by this when I first watched it?’. Guess I’ve seen too many horror movies in the meantime I’ve become like ‘eh I’ve seen better’.
This. I saw it in theaters and it holds that special place in my memory but in the moment when I rewatch it, it doesn't line up with my nostalgia nearly as much
I liked the sequel because I liked how it showed Arkin as especially clever. It was obviously an Aliens to the original Alien. But that’s fun on its own
Plus he looks like a young Liam Neeson, which is badass in its own way
Oh my gosh.... and the third film takes place in a prison......
@@celestedivinity2178 yep. A survivor of a harrowing experience barely makes it through based on their own cunning. Then in the sequel is immediately thrown back in to a situation with their own attacker flanked by a bunch of professionals sent to hunt on a rescue mission. Survivor pulls some through with help to find out more about the stalker after mostly casualties and finds a purpose to keep fighting.
Is that describing first two Alien or Collector films
I love the Dead Meat reference
When do we get the Horror Channel Cinematic Universe?
Dead Meat: Iron Man
Foundflix: Capt America
Ryan Hollinger: Hawkeye
CZWorld: Hulk
I don’t know any female horror channel hosts for black widow
@@dragonkyng either spookyastronauts or possessed by horror!
@@dragonkyng Chelsea Rebecca from Dead Meat would totally rock Black Widow. She doesn't pop up in the Kill Counts, but she's always there for the podcasts and stuff. I also vote GoodBadFlicks for Thor.
@@dragonkyng don't forget spookyrice he's brave enough to do the movies that NO ONE else will talk about
@@zero_foxpants I was going for direct hosts, but I forgot she hosts the Dead Meat podcast.
Also Cecil from GoodBadFlicks is Nick Fury.
josh stewart is such an under rated actor. he’s great in almost everything he is in and in this one he carries it with his morals clashing
"Ambiguity is king; especially when it comes to killers or creatures that make you question them in any sort of existential way."
This needs to be printed at the top of every horror writer's first page on their screenplay, novel, manuscript, etc. This is what made 'It Follows' so effective for me. They never explain what "it" is, where it came from, why it's passed through sex, why it takes different forms, etc. It just was. This is also why Michael Myers stopped being scary in the sequels (save for the 2018 sequel) with all that Cult of Thorn nonsense.
I sometimes wonder if the Terminator would have been better if they never showed the future scenes. If it remained a little more ambiguous about whether the Terminator really was a robot until the end.
"...but, if you get hooked on the atmosphere..."
*Shows scene of the protagonist picking a fish hook out of his eyelid.*
I see what you did there.
9:08 Yeah with the bug eyes and his obsession with them he's like some insectoid thing with a human form.
this is the only horror movie that left me terrified for days. i could never put a finger on why.
"a kill count so staggeringly high it's no surprise why James A. Janisse hasn't covered it yet"
that's why Zoran is covering it instead of him ;)
"Overexplaining the monster/horror" is often the downfall of many horror stories. I think the worst example I remember is The Silence from Doctor Who, once they explain what they are, they lose all of their horror effect.
oh look another problem with Moffat's time running the show. wouldja lookit that
Idk I actually don’t mind that much that they did that. In this case if anything, that’s just making The Collector a much more interesting character imo.
@@HadalStreetlights Better than Chibnall
The only good thing about the sequel is that Arkin lived and got the collector in the end. I don't want another movie I want him to have his bloody revenge and for the curtain to close on his finally being the one in control.
17:05 James actually said that the director said how many people died in the club on Twitter so he will count it eventually
Yay!
I remember watching this years ago. I really enjoyed it then and still do now. I think because of how Arkin is such a relatable character, like what would you do in that crazy scenario try to help the family or gtfo. And how he has a brain unlike most main characters in horror movies. How he controls his breathing, or waits for the killer to make his move then play around him. It's smaller details but it makes Arkin more unique and believable. Great review of the Collector and Collection Ryan.
At 16:47
Well there is a Dead Meat Kill Count on The Collection... But Ryan is still right it wasn't James that cover it, it was a guy named Zoran
"Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil" would be one I'd like to see you do, Ryan. Saw it on Netflix a few years ago and thought the premise was actually very interesting.
I watched it expecting absolutely nothing from it, and found myself loving it. I clicked on it only because I wanted to watch a film in the Basque language, and thought it would be some Z-Grade ghost story. What I got was more like something by Del Toro, or the Jim Henson Creature Workshop.
@@henryglennon3864
You’re absolutely right, brother! Very, very surprised. And what an interesting concept.
I love the first collector so much in the way I love the first strangers movie. The utter “because you were home” aspect. The absolute perversion of what should be your safest/most comfortable place. Doesn’t matter if you’re a good or bad person, what you’ve been through, etc. All that matters is You're there and they wanna play. Fantastic video like always dude ❤️
Legit these two films kinda feel like a sped up version of how the Saw franchise went. Starts off with a well written villain and subtle horror topped with gore that only accentuates scenes and isn't the focus, then in the later sequel(s) the villain makes less sense despite having more information, and gore is the focus over plot etc., shame that :p
The collector sequel beginning is awesome
I’m surprised that he was able to set that up
You know what...since I've watched them so often...it was the Collector who created the rave... which is why he was able to set it up. Please don't let me continue to nerd out on this bc...😳
@@AudraReinsOfficial Mustve taken him months if not longer. Scouting location, thinking up traps, where to put them, predicting where victims would try to flee to. The crushing trap was genius
I always assumed he owned that place. Like it was pretending to be a pop up club.
I'm just trying to imagine the people he contracted to build all that stuff, setting up a combine harvester above a nightclub dancefloor and thinking "Yeah, this seems fine."
@@asskicker4000 Possibly but i think that would make it way too easy to find out who he is after the club massacre
So I accidentally saw The Collection in theaters first (my friends and I had no clue it was a sequel) and were so confused by it starting off with Arken getting out and the insane bloodbath. Because of that I kind of loved how ridiculous and campy it was, I also adored Arken and find him incredibly compelling. Then when I went back to The Collector I loved it even more and the ending, knowing he’d end up in the box, chilled me. I totally agree The Collector is much better, but, probably because I watched it incorrectly, I really enjoy both! They’re just good times. Arken is such a great lead we don’t get likable horror leads nowadays so I just loved them.
"If you get hooked by the atmosphere..."
*Shows Arkin gets fish hooks on his face*
Possibly one of my favourite horror franchises. Its so simple yet so good, Really hoping the third film keeps that trend.
The sequel reminds me of movie that were made in the late 90s where everything is like a Michael Bay explosion
You are seriously one of my favorite people on UA-cam and you've been on fire lately with these analysis, keep up the great work man!
The first half before the spoilers - you made the protagonist seem so compelling. Every scene he was in, his acting was compelling too. He looked like he was harrowed by regrets and experiencing some sincere conflict and discomfort at being back into his burglar mode. Really cool. Plus the collector being gormless glowy eye stare is very scary!
The comments: "He said 'however'! Hoyever! Hoyever!"
Me: "...I miss when he said 'So let's talk about it' at the beginning of each episode."
The Collector was one of the first horror movies I genuinely loved as a child. When I was a kid I would generally avoid horror movies, but when I saw this, I remember being obsessed with it. It was so freaking good.
I love love love these. Tbh, I usually watch both of them at least once a week. I've literally been waiting for you to cover them. 🖤🖤🖤
I really appreciate how you manage to put out high quality content at such a fast rate.
Josh Stewart is an amazing actor, he deserves a lot more success.
This video will make a fine addition to my COLLECTION, thanks Horror Daddy!
I actually felt sorry for the family in the original and wanted Arkin to save them which I think he tried to do not only because their daughter reminded her of his and because he felt guilty about planning to rob them even though he was only doing that so the loan shark wouldn't hurt or kill his wife and daughter. But the team he leads into The Collector's hideout in The Collection were generic and I didn't care when any of them died.
I can't watch horror movies, but I can definitely binge Ryan's analyses of them. Thanks, Ryan!
I always loved The Collector, such a surreal and stylish movie with a lot of self aware attitude and what might be my favorite slasher villain ever.
I tapped out of The Collection shortly after the nightclub scene thinking man, they fucked up FAST, sad to see the rest of the movie isn't much better.
Hopefully The Collected recaptures what made that first movie and even elements of the second so great.
You made Raycons sound like a halloween chocolates commerical at first 😂😂😂
These films are so underrated. Simple story, solid performances and perfect hangover film.
Dennis is The Collector confirmed
I was thinking the exact same thing!
you haven't thought of the smell!!
"If you get hooked on the atmosphere" he says while the clip shows a fishhook going into dude's eye.
Now THAT is good writing, Ryan. Kudos.
Aah. I remember this from my Saw fanboy years. Good stuff!
Ryan letting his frustration get the better of himself and shouting whenever he thinks something is dumb is something that can actually be so personal,
Seriously though Ryan yelling about something being "FUCKING RIDICULOUS" is my favorite part of any video, it sparks so much joy for me 😂
Still won’t hire an exterminator At my house.
After Breaking Bad, I never will
James talking about Ryan in the Lake Mungo Podcast and Ryan talking about James here, the horror youtube circle is complete !
Ryan gave us a great "COLLECTION" of films on a weekday? On my birthday none the less! Thanks Ryan :)
Its a shame The Collected (third film) will likely never see the light of day as (according to Marcus Dunstan) the producers shot down production when COVID happened and then the props and set pieces were stolen with the producers essentially ghosting the remaining cast and crew about it. That said I don’t mind the origin story so much as the retcon of the urgency of Arkin’s escape. They go from him having until midnight or else harm comes to his family and then suddenly its way after and they’re just fine. The Collection could’ve opened with him narrowly escaping the Collector’s van and making it back with the diamond before the deadline but instead its just a plot line that falls by the wayside to make room for the night club set piece that reintroduces Arkin.
that opening though
"My name is not important. Hoyever, what is important is today's sponsor"
I appreciate your insight and dedication, Mr. Hollinger.
The best part of The Collection is the ending.
I wonder where the next movie will start from.
Cheers!
I come for the spooky. I stay for the "hoyevers".
I saw The Collection in theatres purely because it came out on my birthday and I liked the first one. I didn't think it was that bad. More action oriented, more grindhouse-y. It was solid as far as ending a series that could've exhausted itself like Wrong Turn.
I always thought the Collector was setting them up as Arken went through the house, that he missed on or two by luck and then when he went to leave they were all up.
One clever detail I love about the Collectors mask, is that when he pulls the cords tight on it, there are two buttons that look like eyes. The whole eyes in the back of the head concept fits really well with the Collectors borderline omnipotence
The closest I'll ever get to my "Jigsaw vs Ant-Man" screenplay seeing the light of day.
The first movie was relatively believable. The Collector might have caught the main couple of the house during the day, giving him hours to set all the traps by night.
But the sequel. Are we really supposed to believe he was able to build those extra ass traps in the club? Traps designed to kill hundreds of people in a couple minutes.
It completely goes against his established M.O. from the first movie. Methodically torture a couple people for hours before deciding who’s worthy of collection. To just instantly murdering hundreds of people and grabbing whoever might happen to survive.
An obscure, and unrecognized film is "Stephen Kings: The Night Flier" would love to see a video on it, man.
aw man im glad i saw this comment. Night Flier slaps and is a strange window into a world where vampires are very unsexy
I’m going to start spam posting this comment on all of his videos just so he makes a video about it lol.
Thank you for covering these movies! I stumbled across them a few years back and they became something of a guilty pleasure. I think the main reason I got into them was because of Arkin - his character really feels more fleshed out than we tend to get in these sorts of movies, and that's a really welcome change. I also didn't know that there was a third movie coming this year, but now that I do I'm hoping they'll make it more like the first movie rather than the second, or maybe even go for something completely different.
Ryan changing how he says "however" is like a mission impossible movie when they take off that mask. IDK who you are anymore bro
I loved both of these movies, and the night club scene in the beginning of The Collection is absolutely one of my favorite scenes of all time! Great video! You always do a great job.
Didn't even get a notification yet, I just felt a tremor in my horror senses.
I love the theory that Kevin took the Serial Killer path after his encounter with the wet Bandits
Whenever someone brought up The Collector I immediately think of The Simpsons Comic Book Guy.
"If you get hooked on the atmosphere".
*Protagonist gets hook stuck in his eye*
That was beautiful editing, Ryan. Haha.
Calling out James like that now means he HAS to do it
I thoroughly enjoy listening to your reviews and thoughts on all sorts of films. Your dives into the emotional/philosophical aspects of movies are incredibly thoughtful, and always a delight. Rock on.
Hooked. As though you’re in a room filled with hanging fish hooks
Thank you for talking about the Collector! It's one of my favorite horror movies.
YES THE COLLECTOR ! It's my favorite horror movie... Not the greatest but I love it so much.
I actually watched the collection blind in movies and absolutely adored it, it left a huge impact on me as I hadn't seen the first and found it refreshing to see overall smart characters working around horror movie traps
1:23 to skip ad.
You're definitely right about ambiguity being paramount to horror! You can make your own head-canon and share theories with other people, it lingers in your head and you think about it later.. and can always fall back on simply not answering every question! Silent Hill 1-4 did a great job with that, as did the game The Forest.
I also loved the silly into and hearing about your head-canon for how the Collector sets his traps hahah
I'm still traumatized by what happened to the cat in the first movie.
Loved this video! Felt like I was totally alone in thinking this weird ass movie actually has a lot of strengths.
I think when the sequel was written, they totally missed the symbolism behind him being an exterminator that collects bugs! he is like the personification of the animal impulse to own, control, and destroy the things you love or desire. That's literally all the motive he needs and the audience should know about, in my opinion.
having his collection be a mad scientist lab instead of being similar to how one keeps a bug collection was a really weird misstep.
Ok Ryan, could you stop making my day?!?!? Much appreciated 🙏
@@maurabewsmedia1688 I'm dowm for this hahaha
ua-cam.com/video/pDcNDVgss24/v-deo.html
It is also noteworthy how bad “The Collection”’s continuity was. In “The Collector,” the Collector was a Hispanic exterminator who felt no empathy with humans but sympathized with the bugs he had to kill. In “The Collection,” he is some Blonde guy who is recreating his father’s homicidal streak. The Collector goes from a sadistic sociopath into a dumb Freddy Kruger clone who is tapping at metal bars with his knife giggling while constantly being out smarted by Arkin. Also why weren’t Arkin’s girlfriend and daughter killed by the loan sharks? That destroys Arkin’s motivations and story ark if he didn’t actually have to steal the money. Also how did Arkin escape from the Collector? The Collector is a good movie while The Collection is garbage. It’s probably for the best that “The Collected” was canceled.
The Collector is just Will LaMontagne trying to one-up JJ’s serial killer hunting skills smh
Finally! I was searching the comments for someone to point out the Criminal Minds connection xD Thank you!
I actually prefer the sequel a lot more than the first movie, which is funny because I'm of the same opinion that explaining everything about the horror icon can ruin what makes it scary.
HOWEVER
What I like about the sequel more is how we see a killer actually have his own lair that he is treating as his own museum. They're his art pieces, and I loved the set design. Plus the main thing I enjoyed was Arkin and The Collector having that Nancy/Freddy or Laurie/Michael dynamic, especially since the Collector himself is a twisted man that Arkin gets one of the most satisfying turn around on.