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Cellar Door (2024)
A woman Scorned
I enjoyed this film; well acted and not a horror, more a mystery who dunnit. It is a relatively slow burn, but I was intrigued by the characters and invested in them. The characters, though few in number, were all fleshed out with their own unique quirks and motivations, adding depth and complexity to the story. A score of 7 may be a little high, but so many reviewers giving this a 3 or 4, in my opinion, is rather mean. It contains some blood and a little violence, which is nothing you won't have seen on a BBC production; it is well crafted and unexpected. I don't think anyone who is a Who Dunnit fan or enjoys a good mystery will believe their time was wasted by watching this. Look elsewhere if you are after blood, gore, and supernatural happenings.
Smile 2 (2024)
Oh another one
Naomi Scott is excellent and must have worked her socks off. It's an outstanding performance. Sadly, this falls into the usual horror platform. There is no natural end and no final girl. What's the point? Also, there are so many scenes that you are led to believe are real, to find out they are imaginary. After a few of these, it's like Cry Wolf. I stopped believing in them, so I didn't trust them when real things happened. What's the point?
Naomi Scott is excellent and must have worked her socks off. It's an outstanding performance. Sadly, this falls into the usual horror platform. There is no natural end and no final girl. What's the point? Also, there are so many scenes that you are led to believe are real, to find out there in your head. After a few of these, it's like Cry Wolf. I stopped believing in them, so I didn't trust them when real things happened. What's the point?
Strange Darling (2023)
Rather silly
I worked out the twist in the first 10 minutes, and I am not that quick. There are so many over-the-top reviews, but it is nothing special, rather long drawn out and silly. It is nicely acted, but beyond that, there is not a lot going for it. I would wait for this to stream; it is very forgettable.
I worked out the twist in the first 10 minutes, and I am not that quick. There are so many over-the-top reviews, but it is nothing special, rather long drawn out and silly. It is nicely acted, but beyond that, there is not a lot going for it. I would wait for this to stream; it is very forgettable. :(
Out Come the Wolves (2024)
Wolves were good
Nothing happens for 40 minutes: three people talking in a cabin, sexual tensions, etc. When the wolves turn up, they are outstanding. The attacks are visceral but they are not in it for long; no one takes a phone or a pistol, just bows and arrows. After a while, I began to not care much for anyone due to stupid actions and was siding with the wolves. I wondered if the wolves were a metaphor for something I was missing...maybe. So I would not recommend this or jump 40 minutes; I felt the slow pace. Shudder films tend to be hit-and-miss, but the good ones stand out. Overall, it has good acting and excellent cinematography in a small scope.
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
Directers cut
I agree that the original Rebel was lacking in many ways, but Zack has used his magic to weave a fun and bloody director's cut of both films, Rebel Moon 1 and 2. This is a real B movie fair, with striking visuals and elements covering Star Wars, The Seven Samurai, and The Magnificent Seven, with a smattering from every science-space opera. As mentioned above, this is a very violent cut, not the sanitised first film. I believe it has added over an hour or more, filling out many of the characters' backstories; I am not sure why it was not released in the first place. I have yet to watch Part 2, but this one is a spectacular, fun, over-the-top action film that looks lovely.
Channel Zero (2016)
To long
These are my thoughts on season one. They could have tightened up the show to four episodes. The last two lost directions and the plot seemed to be a mix of The Midwich Cuckoos and Steven Kings It. There were far too many dream sequences made to appear as happening, but " Oh, another dream." Ultimately, it was like the boy who cried wolf; I didn't trust what was on screen, thus removing much of the tension. By the end, what had started as very intriguing was just the usual horror trope ending. The acting all round was good. A lot of actors I had not seen did a fine job. Many plot points were never explained; they just popped in as MacGuffins. Now to watch season 2 :)
In a Violent Nature (2024)
Over fill
There's a lot of overfill where editing is needed. First, the kills are very effective and seem to be all practical effects, very clever and visceral, also acting not bad from unknown (to me ) actors. A lot of the film is just filler a large amount of time the camera follows behind our aggressor as he shambles along at Zombie like pace, through woodland, along meadows, around houses, etc, you get the picture, this takes up about 15 minutes of the film just following him, then after the last kill we have nearly 20 minutes of a couple sitting in a car chatting as it drives along, then the film credits roll, You will need to be a real lover of slasher films to sit through all this. It only has a 25-minute story, and then it's just stuffing. A shame, as the kills are well done, but I think you are going to have to be a real fan of slasher films to think this is good. There are way better films out there.
Trigger Warning (2024)
What
So first of all, I could not get past the first 20 minutes, so maybe it gets better!!. The opening scene shows three vehicles. Two are pursuing Jessica Alba; one has a mounted sub-machine gun firing over the top of the middle Jeep and at our hero; snipers then arrive on a dune to aid our Jess and think the best course of action is to shoot the driver of the middle Jeep ( they are not shooting just chasing, I think) the shot is taken and the centre vehicle swerves and crashes. This now allows the mounted machine gunner a far better shot and even a missile. Why did the snipers not shoot the only person firing? And standing in full sniper view, It was so ridiculous. Also, with the thousands of rounds, not one hits our hero's colossal van. I was left feeling disappointed and disconnected from the movie due to these unrealistic scenes and plot holes.
Sphinx (2024)
Amazing
This is an amazing, and very dark drama. The cast is superb in their roles, and the cinematography puts one in mind of the Millierm Trilogy. This is far from an easy watch, but one can't help watching as the layered plot turns and twists. Characters are all full-fledged, so you connect with them, following either their pain or confusion. Wonderfully layered and gripping from the off, the ending, although complete, seemed to open up for another series; sign me up. The review is too short, so ignore what is below. I have come to respect many of these Swedish and European clever, well-acted, and written shows.
Red Right Hand (2024)
Wrong genre
Now, this is a fun, suspension-of-disbelief type film. It is so ludicrous, but I feel it only because of its setting and period. If this had been a modern take on a Spaghetti Western, I think people would take it as such and forgive its stupidity. In my imagination, I watched it as a Western; it seems to be a good story spoiled because of its setting. In the last year, there has been a shortage of good Westerns. Many cheap budget stinkers have been made, but little stands out. It has a good cast going full in and lots of blood, action, and shootouts. If you watch this as a Western (assuming you like them), you will get some satisfaction. It seems to be a recent trend of making modern set westerns in the present.
Shrapnel (2023)
Better then expected
It would be best if you first switched off any expectations of reality. This is a B move, and with that mindset, I enjoyed it. It does take around the half-hour mark to get the action going, and it doesn't spend time introducing the viewer to the victim; Shrapnel expects that we understand and move on. This is well done, with lots of splatter and a little torture. Having watched Equalizer 3 recently, I thought if the script and production had been a little better, you could swap Jason Patric for Denzel Washington, and Shrapnel would have been a better Equalizer 3. But Jason Patric holds his own. Leave any reasoning at the door, and if action revenge is for you, then I expect you will enjoy it.
Das finstere Tal (2014)
Arty
Well, I like a good revenge tale, and in my opinion, this is not one of those. It is too arty, great cinematography, slow dialogue, meaningful stares, and in the last 10 minutes, some action. I enjoyed Pale Rider, High Plains Drifter, Peppermint, The Equaliser films, and the remake of I Spit on Your Grave or very good revenge films. If you have enjoyed any of those, you won't find much in The Dark Valley to like. I watched a dubbed version, which is not a way I like to view foreign films I believe the dubbing process makes the acting seem amateur, when actors act they do so with more than just their body language, so my advice is always to use subtitles.
To Catch a Killer (2023)
No Fincher
A slow by the numbers police procedural drama. Don't expect any over the top action ,car chases or lively moments. You follow two main characters, and not much happens, this is not to say its not well made and acted just lacking somewhere in the direction and writing. The final confrontation was lots of talking and long drawn out, it is a drama you can watch and if in the mood let it wash slowly over you, its not bad just very forgettable and the final is just what one would expect nothing here of much substance, I also felt the little push of wok eery in various scenes and remarks. Could have lost 20 minutes ,but even doing that it would still be just as slow , just felt it unsatisfying.
The Irish Mob (2023)
Suprised
I know none of the acters or writers, but found this very good it managed to have, a beginning middle and satisfying end, a few twists very down to earth sort of feature that had that 1970s feel, nothing fussy with interesting characters. Violent nothing overly gory and I felt it had a certain realism even though the plot was contrived to make a story. I have seen a lot of worse made by the mainstream media and having named acters. I did not feel my time wasted, also at under an hour and half it never outstayed its welcome. If the grimy world of gangsters is your thing I don't think you will be disappointed.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Better dead
The remake of The Evil Dead was a no-nonsense attack of blood and gore; from the very off, it was full of menace and horror, with no whimsical light moments to break up the tension, which started from the off. But this Evil Dead Rise takes a long time to go anywhere, nearly an hour, and only in the last 20/25 minutes does much gore happen. After watching Evil Dead Rise, I watched the remake to cleanse my pallet. Evil Dead Rise is not a bad film even if slow ang most of the gore/ horror happens in dimly lite interiors so you miss a lot but it doesn't need to be part of the franchise; it will get a lot of views because of its connection but a poor connection.
Great Expectations (2023)
Re telling
The important word here is adaptation or re-telling. As many reviewers have pointed out, this is not Dickens, or maybe Dickens in a parallel universe. I have read the book, and it is a wonderful and very funny story. This version is not that, nor does it take away anything from the book; it is seen through a different lens, warped, yes unpredictable, yes the same landscape twisted; as I said, I loved the book, and I have enjoyed this. I did not watch this with any expectation, only the knowledge that it was a drama (I found the book to be a comic drama). The casting is a little woke, but this is the BBC, and it is to be expected. Go into this with no great expectations, and you may find, as I did, an unusual tale oddly interpreted.
Honeymoon (2014)
Not a date movie
A small cast does a very good job in this body horror sciences fiction tale. Small budget and good production, but certainly not a date film. These are not my type of films; the ending is very depressing, I don't think that is a spoiler. If I had known that before, I would not have bothered watching, but it may be for you if you enjoy that style. It reminded me of a stage play, with not much in the way of location.
A small cast does a very good job in this body horror sciences fiction tale. Small budget and good production, but certainly not a date film. These are not my type of films; the ending is very depressing, I don't think that is a spoiler. If I had known that before, I would not have bothered watching, but it may be for you if you enjoy that style. It reminded me of a stage play, with not much in the way of location.
The Outsider (2020)
To long
I will no doubt be in the majority with this review. Interesting premise, is well acted, and for the most part, well produced, but in my opinion, it could have been edited into a tight five exciting episodes. Unfortunately, the last episode took me completely out of the story due to a ridiculous act. In a scene where our heroes are shooting at a sniper, one of our heroes decides to make a break for a car. For the whole duration of his attempt, we see through the sight of the sniper slowly following him all the way, taking a shot a few times and finally fatally hitting him, but during this whole piece of the action, the other 5/6 hero's just stop shooting, no covering distraction is given for the whole scene. This stupid act prevented me from suspending disbelief and spoiled the last episode. But the last episode was slow, with little tension and a plodding climax. Oh, and if, as I was, you were drawn to the series because Jason Bateman is in it, he is dead by ( I think ) episode 2.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)
Interesting
I will be in the minority with this; as a piece of stop motion art, it is lovely to see, but I found it lacking somehow; it is not quite a children's film, but the conveniences of the plot seem contrived and out of sync with an adult tail. Indeed it is in a different realm to the inferior Disney remake, but it isn't better, in story or art form than the 1940 Pinocchio Disney animation. The voice of Pinochle was a bit condescending; the original film had the benefit of being watchable by the whole family and contained a dark core that gave some moral teaching. Like the Disney remake, this film shows that lying can get you out of trouble, so what is that supposed to be telling any young viewers? I found the ending very touching. When I was 10, I started to read the book, which is undoubtedly a dark tale; I would rather rewatch the original story.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Awful
Maybe because I came to this as an adult, but I found it awful, lame acting, poor kid acting, and slapstick; I have tried to watch this on three separate occasions over the past Christmases, but I can't get past the first 40 minutes. I love the setting; I have my favourite Christmas films, One Magic Christmas, Its a wonderful life, the original Prancer, most of the Polar Express, both the Miracle on 4 st, recently Mel Gibson's Fatman and a few more. I have to reach another 131 words, OK. I can't put my finger on why I find the film so unamusing, but I gave it another try as a sequel has now arrived; I am very much in the minority on this one; I think I should have seen it when a child, rose-tinted glasses etc.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
High production
Unfortunately, I found all except two somewhat lacking. Great actors are doing sterling work, with fantastic production and effects, but I need more story. When I was younger, I read many short stories, and what they all had in common was half an hour/ hour to read fast character development and, if not a twist in the tail, then at least an unexpected turn. The stories here are cheaply written; it's as if they decided to have coffee and didn't come back. The Autopsy and The Murmuring being the exception, both had something to offer and were very different. For me, the rest had little except to wrap up.
Smile (2022)
Same old hash
Well-acted good production standards, but the same old ending as so many of these horrors do; cop out as if the writers give up. Far too many jumps, scares, and those moments when you think something is happening and it is just dreaming sequences. It is a copy of "It Follows", but that film had a proper ending, "you know where someone at least lives or gets the lousy guy etc. The best film for me this last year has been Malignant; if you didn't like that, then Smile, maybe your film. At least Malignant had a twist and a "proper ending" I put Barbarian as the same as Smile waste of time. I'm filling in now as I have yet to reach 600 words; I Thought the cast did a good job; I didn't know the leading actress or most of the actors, so well done to them.
Nope (2022)
No No Nope
It was 1 hour 15 minutes before anything happened of interest; unfortunately for a black cast, so many scenes during the first hour were at night and very dark. Add black actors into the mix; I couldn't see anything.
It reminded me of an inferior take on Close Encounters, but it spirals downhill very fast. Nothing new here; I enjoyed "Us" and "Get Out"; this is a pointless waste of anybody's time, with no tension, not very likeable characters, and is just a drag.
Orphan (2009)
One of the best
I would put this into the top 10 thrillers of the last decade. I have watched it three times, and it always surprises me. (I never remember all the plot) usually two or three-year gap. Watching the new prequel made me re-watch-great acting, especially by the children. Well written does all the tropes well. The prequel is great fun, if a little silly, but well worth a watch; if you love a taut thriller, this is a fun ride, highly recommended.
Gwledd (2021)
Oh dear
Yet another pretentious avant-garde horror, if you enjoyed Men or The Green Knight, Mandy or St Maude, this may be up your street. I long for a good traditional, well-written, twist (maybe) horror. I enjoyed Malignant if you did, then give this amiss.