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Terrifier 2 2022 ★★★★★
Terrifier 2, answering the question: what would a gorefest be like with the warped creativeness of Mortal Kombat and the hilarious genius of Braindead? Don't foster illusions about plot, this is just a two hour splatstick rollercoaster ride. And it's awesome. My personal favorite is Art and the trick or treaters. Why is mine so sticky? Holy shit, is that hilarious. Jurassic Punk 2022 ★★★★ Jurassic Punk is the kind of documentary you want to root for. Steven Williams looks authentic. He does not come across as this slick storyteller that wants to manipulate you. It's more like: Here's my story, think of it what you will. You don't like it? Alright... I don't give a fuck. It tells the whole story. How two artists came together over their love for Alice Cooper. How they developed a collaboration that changed the history of cinema. Through movies like The Abyss and T2. My goodness, how many amazing people were involved in T2. Also nice to see how they got Robert Patrick to discuss his time with Williams and Hape and how they shaped the liquid T2. Because for all the famous people that are namedropped through the course of the film, not many of them seemed willing to talk to them. Afraid of peer pressure? Who's to say? But most of all, it's an ode to the unsung hero (credit where credit is due: he is mentioned in the jurassic park-episode in The movies that made us). The rebel that went against the grain to prove his point and make his name. With the moment with Spielberg's producer as a culmination. Only to be followed by a neary complete lack of recognition. Spaz does not get the spot on the Oscar stage, Spaz and Hape do not get the recognition. Who does? Some jerk who does not understand their craft. They are/were too rough around the edges for the mainstream and the A-listers. The weirdoes who did not know how to poltic themselves into the spotlight. Instead of constantly craning their necks to see if somebody more interesting comes by, they went wandering around and ended up in the forbidden room. Oh... my... god. And surprise surprise, George Lucas is a bit of a dick. Jurassic Punk is a two chord punk rock documentary for movie buffs. Are always complaining about Netflix documentaries being too slick? Check this one out then. Let's see if you can walk the walk. |
Capsules 2023 ★★½
Capsules is a Gen Z Cronenberg about 3 students tripping on, for lack, ExTacy. ET trip home, indeed. Luke Momo presents an overall entertaining ode to college life. All about the joys of both learning and getting laid and baked. Not necessarily in that order. Managing to write college kids as likable is already a feat in my book. Apart from that, the autopsy scene and the break in in the old man's house show potential. Makes me want to see more of Luke Momo and Kate Pittard (Maya). A movie that shows potential, but the underwhelming ending keeps it from getting a third star. Also, just one thing: you worked in a “that's what she said”-joke, but no that's a paddlin'-joke? In spite of having a character named Jasper? Oh boy. That's a paddlin'. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai 1999 ★★★★ I must have seen Ghost Dog at least ten times. It's one of those flicks that still keep their edge after so many rewatches. There's always something new to find in this absurd mix of styles. There's the crime element with the mobsters vying for power in the organisation. It also had me counting down to the first fuhget about it. Spoiler: it comes about ten minutes in. Or the comedy bits. The mob bosses all look a bit cartoonish, the scene with the names of the rappers and mobsters got a laugh out of me,... and the bit with Cliff Gorman rapping along with Flavor Flav is pretty funny too. In the middle of all this, we find Forest Whittaker delivering one of the better performances of his career. In a way, he is one of those consumate professionals who, not unlike Harry Dean Stanton, should have got more recognition from mainstream crowds. Yes, the role was written for him, but he still manages to give Ghost Dog this misterious vibe, while at the same time being believable as the super organised and efficient professional hitman. Like the scene where he whacks Valerio. Guy never saw it coming. At the same time, Ghost Dog's character has something warm and gentle to him. Like in his scenes with Pearline or with the ice cream salesman. A perfect example of the type of oddball characters that somehow always seem to inhabit Jarmusch's universe. It never fails to entertain and/or intrigue. This time wondering about the cartoons Vargo's daughter watches. From Betty Boop at the start to Itchy and Scratchy at the end. Wonder if there is a metaphor in there. Until the next rewatch. |
Watcher 2022 ★★★½
Watched Jun 11, 2023 TommyJarvis’s review published on Letterboxd: Chloe Okuno brings us Watcher, a slow burn thriller/horror about a young lady who moves to Romania when her husband gets a job opportunity there. And, wouldn't you know it, a serial killer lurks around in Bucharest at the same time. Oh, rats. In a way, this movie reminded me of Spencer. Not just that it is more about setting mood and building up atmosphere, but also in the amount of time that our main character spends alone. Making the movie rely heavily on Maika Monroe's performance. And she delivers. Often just relying on facial expressions and body language to convey her dread. Over here, Netflix decided to not subtitle the Romanian spoken parts, which does enhance the sense of loneliness. And of course the growing paranoia. That feel when everyone is out to get you, making for easy parallels with Rosemary's baby or The Game. With a finale that is part predictable and partly has a good twist to it. Also, a nice little eerie shot of a plastic bag. Well done. At this point, I can safely you can blind buy/rent any horror that Maika Monroe is in. Other than that, this is for fans of slow burns. |
The Strange Thing About the Johnsons 2011 ★★
A comedy more messed up than a lot of horror movies. For the people who think Lars Von Trier and Happiness are too cheery and sunny. Holy shit, Ari. The Burial 2023 ★★★ The Burial is one of those movies with some interesting ideas. The kind of good sounding stuff that has you say: with a bigger budget, this could be really great. A young man named Brian gets a call from his estranged brother Keith who's apparently in deep trouble somehow. Along with his girlfriend Molly – I will not be ignored, Brian! – he drives up to the place where Keith – aka discount Daniel Radcliffe – spends his days. And then of course things go south. That's where this movie's qualities kick in. How little by little, the secrets are revealed. What happened in the past between the brothers and how it's affecting them now, making this movie a good metaphor for toxic (family) relationships. What's now haunting them. A ghost? First looks more a stalker, to be honest. How they still team up in these difficult days. The reveal and the ending is something that you can easily make to look very silly, and I totally understand how some people would think that it does. But the fact that I was still engaged in the dramatics though the actors were not always that great... to me, that does also prove my point that there's potential in there. Maybe five or ten years, someone will do a great remake that lifts this one to its full potential. Right now, it's only for you if you are the kind of movie (who) very persistently see the glass as half full. |
Hounded 2022 ★★★
Like many movies in the genre, this has a few titles flying around: Hounded, Hunted,... The story? A few burglars/robbers get caught on the one gig after one of them explicitly states he wants to quit. Guess who dies first? Uhu. The plot is your typical generic action horror thriller. A bit of class warfare, a bit of hinting at abuse, a bit about tradition,... The baddies are dressed like fox hunters. Which is kind of logical, but mostly makes for a cool movie poster. No great shakes, but still entertaining and Samantha Bond makes for a good villain. The kind of stuff you would come across and afterwards go: hmm, that was better/less bad than I thought it would be. Come to think of it: this would be great for Netflix, actually. Sleepless in Seattle 1993 ★★ Sam Baldwin: Didn't you see "Fatal Attraction"? Jonah Baldwin: You wouldn't let me! Not going to lie. This movie got a few laughs out of me and Tom Hanks can be genuinely funny. Oh yeah, and Bill Pullman is totally fucking underrated. That said, it's still a rom com, so I was closer to yawning when I should have been fawning. Also, the secondary story lines (like Victoria and her cackle) were annoying and boring. So what did make my heart melt, were the shots of Pike. What does that say about me? #therapist #curiousquestions |
The Unholy 2021 ★★
In The Unholy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays the type of down on his luck reporter that, up until a few years ago, would have Fox News go: When can you start? He ends up in a small town named Banfield where a little girl named Alice (sweet Alice) is supposedly healed by the virgin Mary. He lets go of his initial scoff and starts investigating. And then we get the same old unimaginative tripe we've seen before. Demons, a change of heart, false hope, a dramatic finish, every so often we get a reminder that a demon is involved... There is nothing wrong with religious horror as such, but when you're doing a religious horror... Wether you want to or not, you're competing with classics like The Omen and The Exorcist. So by default, you've set the bar pretty fucking high for yourself. Then you have to do better than a cookie cutter story or a cast that does not grab you. Not saying that the girl playing Alice did a terrible job, but it does not help that seeing makes you think of other horror movies or wonder what Imogen Poots or Maika Monroe could have done with this character. It's not all bad. We sometimes get some nice imagery, Jeffrey Dean Morgan does what he can with the material he's given and I can see how the character arc he goes through attracted him. It's just that the whole thing did not do much for me. Carnosaur 2 1995 ★★★★ If anything, this came right on time. Just the type of stupid I needed to unwind after a stressful day. Seeing Miguel Nunez made me smile. I used to love Tour of duty, so I was already familiar with him (kinda, sorta) but seeing him in this type of cheesy bullshit just warms the cockles of my heart. Especially with how he hams it up in this one. Pity he did not get more screentime in this one. The story is tremendous B-movie schlock with a rag tag group of mercenaries, a last minute escape and, of course, nuclear weapons popping up somewhere. And this gang? They are something. Cliff Deyoung plays a major with as much authority as Frank Burns in a Schwarzenegger-movie. Burns: I'm giving you an order. Hawkeye: Please do, Frank. We've never ignored one of those. The rest of the group? There's Miguel Nunez, a bearded dude that looks like an attitude era-wrestler, a woman who seems to be channeling a different personality in pretty much every scene she is in, a macho who looks like he should be in a hair metal band. And the kid they find reminded me of Randy Quaid's son in Independence Day. Roger Corman is going tease on us here, keeping the gore until the very end. The result of that is that the opening carnage looks like a fight scene from either the A-Team or a Bud Spencer movie. And it was glorious. Have you sat through all of this and not seen this gem yet? Then haul ass over to the joetoebs and do so. You know you want to. |
BRUSH 2020 ★★
A horror short about a woman who gets a brush that she most assuredly did not order. Too many flaws to really be entertaining. After all, there's only so much you can do with a brush. Also, was that supposed to be ghost? Or maybe a clone of this Lauren character? Is she supposed to kill her? Take over her body? I don't need everything explained to me in tons of exposition, but this story raises more questions than it answers. Tunnel 2021 ★★★★ Good stuff, this. I really liked the way they worked out the hallucinations and the score showing the mounting sense of dread and despair on the part of the main character. Props to the actor here. I can imagine that there must at least be a teensy bit of temptation there to either overact or ham it up. This actor does neither, but uses his body language and movements very well. Making sure that, together with the score, instills a mounting sense of dread in you. So go on over to Youtube and check it out. |
Blaze 2022 ★★★½
One of the downsides to not always knowing the plot going in: you get blindsided by something you did not expect. Based on the cover, I expected a main character creating a dragon as a venging angel, wiping out those who wronged her. And in a way, it still was. I just expected something more in the line of Teeth. Now we get a fantasy fairy tale about a girl dealing with the aftermath of witnessing a murder and rape. Hiding from the trauma, gathering the courage to speak, lashing out at her father in the process. This movie is full of metaphors. The dragon as a protector, just not in the way I expected. Her room as a place for her to hide. The judo as the motor for her growing courage. Not to mention the fact that, at the end, this whole story is a metaphor for coming of age and sexual awakening. With a touching, cathartic moment near the end. Not for everyone. 30 seconds in, you will get an idea of wether this is for you. But those who enjoy it, will do so thoroughly. Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis 2020 ★★★½ Taylor Tomlinson delivers a more than solid performance on her first Netflix special. The stories meander a bit all over the place, but the laughs come at a solid pace and in the end, that's all that matters. The lego joke is the one that comes to mind first, but there are plenty of others. |
Creep 2004 ★★★
I recently came across this one on one of those hidden gem lists that you can find on the Yoewtjoewbz. In this case, hidden gems of the twothousands. Or noughts or noughties, if you will. Franka Potente plays Kate, a German woman living in London. She is on her way from a party to a club where she is hoping to meet George Clooney (who is supposedly in town). Come to think of it, it would have been funny of they could hire a lookalike for the final scene, with the joke being that she does not recognise him. Anyway, while waiting for the last train, she falls asleep and... whoopsie Daisy. Now she is stuck in the London tube. Rats. Does this movie have it's flaws? Yeah. You need a good bit of suspension of disbelief to get by some stuff. Like the drug dealer/rapist somehow getting on the one train passing by after the last one left. Or the whole mad scientist gone awry idea behind the killer. How he set up shop in the tube network and got his lab and his gynaecologist chair down there? Never explained. Not that a possible explanation would be closer to plausible than to silly, but still. That said, Creep does have its qualities. It has some solid kills (Guy the coke dealer and Jimmy the homeless guy) and a few eerie moments like the rape attempt and the subsequent moment when the killer grabs Guy. Or the death of Jimmy or, earlier on, the bit when Mandy disappears. Also, what is the deal with Jimmy and Mandy having (exadurated) Scottish accents? Is that supposed to be some hamfisted nod to Trainspotting or just taking the piss out of Scots in general? It is entertaining enough to keep you invested and I can see why people would want to consider it a hidden gem. Four star masterpiece? Nah. Asteroid City 2023 ★★★★ I just love getting lost in Wes Anderson's universe, filled to the rim with kooks and quirks. And, of course, the typical Wes Anderson mannerisms like the symmetrical shots. First example that comes to mind is when Schwartzman and Hanks are on the phone. I also love how he always manages to bring together this wonderful ensemble cast with too many people to name here. Suffice it to say that some of them are simply amazing in this: Tom Hanks as the loving grandfather and the (somewhat) hostile father in law. Or Edward Norton as the playwrite. Maya Hawke is adorable as the school marm trying desperately to maintain some level of authority. The Blum as the alien (because of course he is) in in only one shot and he immediately makes an impression. Scarlett Johansson is excellent as always and is anyone more in his place than Bryan Cranston's narrator? In short: beautiful scenery, great actors and enough oddities and chuckle moments to keep me going. That's more than good enough for me. |
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I finally saw High Tension! Also known as Haute Tension, and Switchblade Romance, it had a nice twisty ending I did not see coming...
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THE GUEST LIST (2022). Very good REELZ doc (on TUBI) about the horrific Feb 2003 fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick Rhode Island that could have been prevented so easily if greed and foolishness had not been involved. Good interviews with many of the people who are affected by the tragedy; particularly Joe Kinan, who was the last survivor pulled out of the building. Despite the shitty hand fate dealt to Him, He shows how human spirit can prevail. There also footage of the event, so be prepared. ****1/2 |
Run Rabbit Run, 2023. 6/10
Directed by Daina Reid  Possessor, 2020. 8/10 Directed by Brandon Cronenberg https://pa1.aminoapps.com/7705/a136f...500-324_hq.gif |
Godsend 2004 ★½
Bla bla technology... bla bla bla cloning... bla bla bla they're going too far... Robert De Niro yadda yadda yadda But you yadda yadda'd over the best part. I mentioned cloning. No. All jokes aside, this one is not likely to pop up in any retrospective on either Robert De Niro or Greg Kinnear. Kinnear at least tries, but De Niro phones it in. Leash 2018 ★ Now I know what Otto felt like when he walked out of the stoner pot palace. Because this is flagrant false advertising. This is not about football. In fact, it's just background noise. A plotline that could have easily been dropped all together. That would not influence the story at all. For the lines between patriotism and xenophobia to be blurred (as the plot synopsis claims), you would need a story that's a lot more complex and layered and nuanced. Sadly, we don't get any of that. On the contrary. This is almost offensively simplistic. All we get is a stereotypical gang of racist Welsh women bullying a Polish girl. The waisters beating up on the good girl. 5 on 1 of course. At least, they realised that it would be too rich to have a Welshman complaining about a foreigner not speaking proper English. No revenge. Little or no pay-off. An ending with no rhyme or reason. You can undoubtedly do powerful movies about racism and how it occurs in football stands and what not. This movie did not do that. At all. Cocaine Shark 2023 ★ One of the first in a what will probably feel like a nearly endless slew of Cocaine Bear knockoffs. The main cop, Sonny Drebin*, wants to catch a dealer and stop him from selling a shark related drug he designed. When he should know nothing beats swank. Also, he immediately gets addicted to it himself. It's awesome. Yes, it's only 1 star, but I had a ball. I simply love this kind of trashy schlock. Between the terrible practical effects and the lackadaisical delivery – Yeah, we exist and stuff. Should we sound badass now? Whatever. – this movie has all the “qualities” to deserve a place in the “so bad they're good” lists along with other gems like The Room and so on. I love how their idea of tripping on drugs looks like an epileptic episode. Or how they managed to sneak in a Brian Pilman lookalike hostage taker. How do they overpower this mean machine? Super easy, barely an incovenience. Or the mere idea that the lead probably accidentally shaved his beard before the end of the shoot. What do you mean, you thought we were done? Oh well, guess we will have to work that into the story now. Somehow. *What else would you call with a Tubbs-beard, a wish for Sonny Crocket-toughness and a Leslie Nielsen-style voiceover? It's amazing. |
Casting Kill 2023 ★★
A case of the cover photo being more appealing than the actual movie. The idea of an id fraud killing actors is not that bad, but this needs a bigger budget to really have an impact. Now the few somewhat interesting moments drown between the unconvincng acting, the (mostly) offscreen kills and the forced, tacky ending. Not really recommended. Mukbang 2022 ★★★ Entertaining short with with a nice, albeit goofy, cartoonish idea behind it. |
Things Heard & Seen 2021 ★★★
For me, this was an overall entertaining haunted house flick. To call it truly memorable would be an exaduration, but it had enough going on to keep me invested. After seeing her in both this and You should have left, I hope Amanda Seyfried finds more solid haunted house scripts, because the genre does suit her. Alex Neustaedter is solid as the boy with the heart of gold. The movie also features Karen Allen and Natalia Dyer, but their talents are pretty much wasted since they don't get much to do. Of course, it follows the tropes and has no pretensions about reinventing the wheel. A decent style exercise can have its merits as well and this one does. Not sure about one thing, though: Was the husband posessed (perhaps by the killer from past times) or is he just a miserable character by nature? |
Good Bye Lenin! 2003 ★★★★½
This is a great example of the beauty of cinema in its purest form. From the premise to the cast, the characters and the emotions they portray. It starts with a premise... Be honest, as much as we all love this movie, try telling it without making it sound closer to Weekend at Bernie's than to Sophie's choice. Nonetheless, this is where the cast shines. Daniel Brühl dazzles you with his performance, showing just how far Alex is willing to go to keep the jig up for the sake of his mother. Endlessly searching for a pot of Spreewald which, to any Westerner, would now probably taste awful. Or the very touching moment in the library with Sigmund Jähn. What? So they all look at him like he is crazy, who cares? If this is what makes mum happy, then by gum, that's what we'll do. The movie is tsjock full of these touching moments: Alex and his sister meeting their father, or when Katrin Sass's Christiane confesses the deep secret she carries behind her facade of feistiness. And I cannot go without mentioning the scene where Kristiane leaves the building and is confronted with the changes of the past months. A very powerful image of somebody having the rug pulled from under them. Cinema magic at its best. You don't need words, since the images tell you everything. The secondary characters only add layers to the drama. Arianne who works at Burger King and fully embraces capitalism. Leading to a brilliantly filmed confrontation with her brother. Saying, without explicitly going there: Verdammt, this is not about politics, this is about our mutti, scheisse. Or his friend Denis, a tv repairman from the West with hopes of becoming a director. He willingly becomes a pawn in Alex's game as an East German newscaster, complete with that awful Rudi Völler like stache. Also giving the director an excuse to squeeze in nods to both 2001 and A clockwork orange, copying the speeded up sex scene in the most unsexy setting imaginable. Intentional? Because don't get me wrong: there are times when this movie is bust a gut funny. Like the bit with the Coca Cola banner and the ensuing fake news bit about Coca Cola being a socialist drink and all. (And yes, history has unintentionally added another layer to these images. But then I would digress.) Or the East Germans gathering in a sex shop. Holy crap, you mean this is possible here? Das kan doch gar nicht. It's not a political movie, but it does show you how the changes affected society. The bank scene with Ariane and Alex in my opinion highlights the contrast between the endless waiting in the DDR and the rat race in BRD. Sigmund Jähn and the professor fall from grace, breeding the kind of bitterness and resentment that perhaps help explain certain later developments in this part of Germany. Alex and his girlfriend Lara – magnificently portrayed by Chulpan Khamatova – find an apartment where they can move in. Affordable? Empty. The previous owner just split after the collapse of the wall. Leaving behind the moccha fix and all without blinking an eye. To hell with it all. Implicitly saying more than a pamflet movie ever could. Well recommended. For everyone. |
The Blackwell Ghost 2017 ★★
From what I understand, this sets up later sequels. I hope it picks up steam in part 2, because apart from one scene and a few special effects here and there, this was pretty unimpressive. Kristy 2014 ★★★★ Let's get the neg out of the way first. Yes, the idea behind the cult and their motives is laughable and ridiculous. And yes, that lifts some of the suspension of disbelief. Those who do that, would do themselves a disservice. And even they have to admit the whistling is creepy. Kristy is a pretty good horror with a home invasion motif (with the campus being her home over the Thanksgiving weekend). A good part in this is the lead. Props to the screenwriter for writing a main character as likable as Justine is here. You really want to root for her here, not in the least because of the great performance by Haley Bennett. A feeling that adds to the eerie moment in the shop. Another thing that this movie show off very well is her heroin prowess. With a lovely bit of foreshadowing at the beginning, hinting at her determination to get along on her own. Yes, she is scared. Who would not be when a gang is after you, being effective enough to kill pretty much anyone crossing your path. But this baby does not need training wheels. She is a certified badass. Show, don't tell. These people get it. Oh yeah, and it has a pretty high kill count too. That pleads for it too. Kristy, an overlooked gem that deserves more love and attention. Check it out. |
NOW MORE THAN EVER:THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO (2016). Very good documentary of the iconic band from the humble beginnings up to their induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lots of footage of them performing and I was marveling at HOW GOOD Terry Kath and Danny Seraphine on their instruments (GTR and Drums) and HOW much the band lost after Kath's accidental (and stupid) death. The only complaint I've read have mentioned that the narration by members of the band (the four remaining originals also produced) tends to be biased. Perhaps, but We weren't there and several key members like Manager/Producer James Guercio, Donnie Dacus (gtr player after Kath) and most tellingly Peter Cetera declined to be interviewed. While I liked a lot of their singles, it really went downhill after Terry's death and the dominance of Peter and producer David Foster who came out with all sorts of goopy ballads (very popular ones) that just didn't make it for Me. Obviously this is for fans, but a casual (Me) or even non-fan will enjoy this. ****
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Goosebumps 2015 ★★½
We start with the typical single mom teacher and her son Zach, aka the star of Young Chandler. They release a load of monsters and Narnia-ish shenanigans ensue. This is a style exercise that comes with all the genre tropes: the silliness, a few groanworthy puns, an unfunny side character, a sad farewell, a happy ending,... But it's not all bad. Jack Black is good at this PG family friendly stuff and his physical comedy fits this type of film. Admittedly, this movie got a few grins and chuckles from me and Slappy had his moments. Not saying that this is geat, but I'm pretty sure that there's a lot worse in this style. Under the Shadow 2016 ★★★★ Let me be clear from the start: this is for fans of slow burns. Also, it's not just a ghost story. It's also about the horrors of war like taking care of somebody with a bomb right next to you ready to explode. Or the horror of being a woman in late eighties Iran. Where she can neither be a doctor nor go out without her veil. The Djinns come into play, but at first only subtly. At that point, the scares come more from the bombings from Iraq. They then slowly start to manifest themselves by taking prized possesions. First Dorsa's doll Kimia. In the case of Siheda, it's her VHS tape with a Jane Fonda fitness video. The only bit of rebellion that she has left. It all has this did you see something vibe, reminiscent of Amityville and Poltergeist. All build up to a final confrontation with imagery that hints at the dream sequences in ANOES. I liked this one for several reasons. Telling religious horror stories from the perspective of different religions is a nice change of pace and the djinns (seem to) offer very intersting storytelling material. It also weaves in the horrors of society, so it's not just the usual “the devil is coming for power” exposition. The acting is well done – though sadly, I have not seen these actors in other flicks yet – and I appreciate the fact that Netflix offers the possibility to watch this movie in Farsi. Not for everyone, but good and different. |
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25 or 6 to 4, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Just You 'N' Me, Saturday in the Park, Feelin' Stronger Every Day, Wishing You Were Here, Baby, What a Big Surprise, If You Leave Me Now... those are great songs. But come Chicago XIV they just lost it. The next set of radio hits with Foster were fantastic! I loved em: Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away, Love Me Tomorrow, Stay the Night... I would say I love those as much as any of the previous hits. I also loved Hard Habit to Break which was actually written by Steve Kipner/John Lewis Parker. I Know Kipner from writing some Olivia Newton-john songs like Physical, Heart Attack, Twist of Fate. Along Comes a Woman is a good song from Cetera/Mark Goldenberg. I loved You're the Inspiration when it first came out. I heard it so much, I don't want to hear anymore. lol |
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Quicksand, 2023, 5/10
Directed by Andres Beltran  God is a Bullet, 2023. 6/10 Director: Nick Cassavetes https://images.kinorium.com/movie/sh...pg?21686227034 |
IRREVERSIBLE (2002). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > Very controversial film told in reverse order dealing with a brutal rape of a pregnant woman and the seeking of revenge by her husband and former lover. Lots of swirling spinning camera work and the constant hum of infrasound made some viewers nauseated (maybe that was deliberate by director Gaspar Noe, whose films are quite confrontational) and begins with one of the most violent and brutal scenes scenes I've ever witnessed. The notorious rape beating scene is truly nasty and seems to go on forever, particularly as a stationary camera films it as though You are right there. I will give kudos to Monica Bellucci who is very convincing and after seeing the happy beginning (actually the end of the film) with her discovering her happy news and being radiatingly beautiful. To me, it makes her ordeal more horrible. More of an ordeal and not anything You really would want to see. *1/2 |
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Kuru 2017 ★★½
A family on the prowl for food for their cannibalistic son. No great shakes, did not do much for me. Weinstein 2018 ★★★½ Comprehensive story on the rise and fall. It gives you a pretty complete picture of what happened. Sound of Silence 2023 ★★ Mediocre Italian haunted house movie about a ghost who can't stand the radio. Or maybe he just likes KBBL. It starts off okay, but then it just gets worse. With increasingly bland jump scares, a boyfriend who's just there to get possessed and an end scene that drags too long. |
Scary Movie 2 2001 ★★
I was in the mood for something stupid and this one did not disappoint. Some of the jokes are dated, but I still got one or two chuckles. And truth be told, Anna Faris is pretty good in this type of goofy shit. The Grudge 2004 ★★★★ I cannot put my finger on when exactly, but I know that I have seen this one some time in the past. All I can say is that this has been a ball. The jump scares are set to perfection. You get that great sense of paranoia, of not knowing where the danger is coming from. Something is coming to get you and it can come from anywhere and at any time. Everybody remembers SMG in the shower, but the jump scare in the bus does the trick just as well. Sarah Michelle Gellar is great in this one. Her Karen immediately garners the viewer's sympathy. I also like Ryo Ishibashi (the business man from Audition) and his performance as the cop spearheading the investigation; and special shoutout to Bill Pullman, reliving bits of his performance in The Serpent and the rainbow. Only a short appearance, but it still leaves an impression, because it's Bill fucking Pullman. Is it culturally adapted/watered down for Western audiences? Maybe so. The resulting flick is a great piece of enterntainment. And a few people will use this gateway drug to get to the real J-horror. All for the better. Jeepers Creepers 2 2003 ★★ A boring sequel to Jeepers Creepers. Justin Long is replaced by a bus filled with generic slasher fodder. At least they're coming home from a game and not going to a party. That said, the monster did look pretty good and it had a few good moments to save it from a one star rating. Also... Scotty doesn't live. |
The Dick Maas Method 2020 ★★★½
A comprehensive journey through the career of Dick Maas. With all the ups and downs that came with it. From the conflicts with the producer (who looks a bit like Youp Van 't Hek nowawadays) over the international success and praise. But over the course of their lives, all humans take some bad decisions and then a dream turns into a job, a friendship goes sour,... At times touching, at times very funny. This is an ode to dreaming big and the can do spirit. A must watch for people who love cinema magic and a type of underdog... You say “no way” and they say “watch me” |
Vivarium 2019 ★★★★
Vivarium is an odd little offering. The civilised world should be close and yet, you are somehow completely isolated. And there is no way out. Granted, you also need some suspension of disbelief to get past all your questions concerning things like building permits, missing persons reports (especially with both main characters working for a school and so on). We follow Tom (Jesse Eisenberg) and Gemma (Imogen Poots) as a young couple looking to buy a house. Imogen Poots delivers a solid and layered performance and Eisenberg brings what is probably his most likable character since Zombieland. Sidenote: Why a guy who is regularly cast as an annoying little pipsqueak is now a gardener all of a sudden is an... interesting choice. But anyway. Moving on. The way they get lured by the creeper real estate guy had a tone that reminded me of Speak No Evil, with harm coming to people too polite to say “thanks, but no thanks”. Also, get a load of this real estate guy. Something tells he was raised by a Nic Cage character. Also, I'd rather buy a house from Terry O'Quinn's character in The Stepfather than from this guy. I was immersed in the atmosphere. Their attempts to escape, the confrontation with their adopted artificial/alien son, their disturbed relationship with the “child”, Tom's digging a hole,... and the ending. Which I will not spoil, but suffice it to say that it will inspire very little fist pumping or bumping. Vivarium. For an off the chain movie night. |
The Grudge 3 2009 ★★
A few good moments here and there, but it does not nearly pack as much of a sting as part 1. The Things We Cannot Change 2023 ★½ This movie has several issues, but it's not as terrible as this review will make it sound. The main problem is the acting. Sometimes it reaches Tommy Wiseau-levels, discount Magneto has his delivery ruin his good look and I am still wondering what discount Megan Fox was going for. But whatever it was, it was more funny than compelling. The script was a bit too non sequitur at times, though it has some nice bits and ideas here and there. Long story short: with a few rewrites, Blumhouse or a similar studio could turn this into something decent. Now? More nah than yeah, I'm afraid. |
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The Flood, 2023. 4/10
Directed by Brandon Slagle  Splinter, 2021. 7/10 Directed by David Bryant https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/images/..._small_600.jpg Cobweb, 2023. 7/10 Directed by Samuel Bodin  Little Bone Lodge, 2023. 7/10 Directed by Matthias Hoene https://media3.giphy.com/media/HDugg...lqob/giphy.gif |
Talk to Her 2002 ★★½
I totally see the movie's appeal. How it's about unconditional love, being there for somebody. How it challenges the traditional image of masculinity. For fans of Euro cinema, this can be gold. It just did not do that much for me when I watched it this time. |
The Devil’s Candy 2015 ★★★★½
Recently had this one recommended on a podcast. Holy moley, is this up my alley. This has a great atmosphere. Case in point being the combination of the paintings along with a haunting score. Great stuff. Speaking of the score, it's great how this amazing makes heavy metal go together so well with the images. No greatest hits, no generic filler. It added to the movie. Not to mention the actors. All of the main cast were great, but I'd like to specifically mention Ethan Embry as the obsessed painter and Kiara Giasco as the daughter. Pruitt Taylor Vince made for a convincing killer. Also nice to see Leland Orser again. Good atmos, solid ending with a good pay off. Certainly going for a rewatch some time later on. Needless to say: well recommended. |
Jason Hates Selfies 2016 ★★★
Short, sweet, a nice shot and a solid kill. Pretty much all you can expect from a three minute short. |
Halloween: Resurrection 2002 ★½
Trick or treat... muddafukka. Is this the worst one in the series? Clickbait 2016 ★½ Your typical horror short, making the most of the a tight budget and a positive spirit. These people made a movie, which is more than my sorry ass will ever do. |
Halloween II 2009 ★★½
Well, it is still Rob Zombie. So yes, you will get a lot of screaming and cursing and civil conversations going from 0 to 100 in about three seconds. Also, what's the deal with making Loomis so arrogant and self obsessed? That said... the nightmare sequence in the opening was well done. Rob Zombie can create tension and I thought Octavia Spencer was good in this one. I liked Brad Dourif's portrayal of sheriff Brackett. Could this be one of the gentler performances in his filmopgraphy? In a Rob Zombie flick of all places. Go figure. Also nice to see Weird Al and Margot Kidder get roles. Now, I understand that fans give this movie flack for the mom and the white horse, but as a common theme, it's worked out well and it does deliver for a few amazing visuals. Then again, letting a main character come to her end in this way; just to to get a cool visual... That might be a bit too much. Shifting the drama between Annie's death and Laurie's would help. |
Arnold 2023 ★★★★
We follow Arnold from his childhood in Austria over the various stages in his life up until where he is now. As the embodiment of the American dream. Is he arrogant? Yes. And... It all depends in what way you see it. Is it the a-hole kind of arrogant or is it the kind of arrogance that says “look, I know what I'm good at, being good at it makes me feel good and I do not want to hide or deny that it does”. He acknowledges his past mistakes, though that is a lot easier to do when your hits outweigh your misses. His political career... Not sure how I feel about that, since I don't have a full picture of what his policies were like. Certainly in retrospect (with what came after), it's easy/easier to see him as the sort of poilitician you would now consider a “sensible Republican”. I am aware of his envionmental policies and that, of course, makes him look good. Then again, I could be unaware of some of his other policies. But I did finding myself nodding in agreement in his approach to things like bipartisanship. Does the series shy away from the scandals? It does not, in large part because it can not. I can certainly see how some people might feel the series glanced over it in the larger scope of things. And I can also see the point of view that says “we don't want this to overshadow all the good things he accomplished”. Plus we will never know what he really thinks and how his mind has “evolved” over the years. To what degree was it a truthful representation of Schwarzenegger and how much was spinning? Not sure. What I can say is that the man has charisma and a half and he can certainly make for very charming company. And that this series made for amazing television and a very interesting time document. |
Wolf Garden 2023 ★★★
Let's be clear from the start: if you don't like slow burns, then you had better skip this review. You want movies to “make sense”? Same rules apply. For the others: this is a well done slow burn werewolf horror. Particularly for what looks like a low budget affair. We follow our main character William, as he and his girlfriend Chantelle retreat in a cabin in the woods. He seems to have some sort of issue with going into the public eye, but we're not sure why. At first, you think that he's on the run from criminals, but later, we find out that there are other elements at work. I liked how this movie sets up an atmosphere where you're hardly ever really sure on what is real and what is not. Especially the scenes with Chantelle do a good job at gradually revealing what is really going on. Director Wayne David (William) and Sian Altman (Chantelle) give okay performances (certainly good compared to some of the wooden performances I've seen in other low budget horrors) and you can tell that they have a bit of chemistry. Would not surprise me to see that they are a real life couple as well. The only silly moment was the scream William gave at one point. However... as daring as it is, the non linear storytelling is a bit off putting. If you rely on atmosphere as much as this movie does, then you are better off, in my opinion, with a straightforward storyline that keeps the viewer (more) invested. That said, I still give it three stars. As a child of the era of Clerks and Blair Witch, I do have a certain fondness of these low budget movies that manage to pleasantly surprise you as a viewer. If you can feel that, give this one a check. |
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