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Body Snatchers 1993 ★★★
Kicked off my first October Challenge with a flick that has been sitting on my watchlist for a good while now.
To be honest, I have some mixed feelings here. It's a bit of a lackluster remake with none of the paranoia of the previous versions. We also throw in some romance subplot for our bland leads and a whistful monologue, because... teenagers? Heck, even R Lee Ermey comes off less energetic than he usually does and the predictibility of some reveals makes the movie lose steam as well.
That said, as a stand alone movie, it's not so bad. There are some intense sequences. Forest Whitaker and Meg Tilly make the best from what they have to work with and Abel Ferrara does deserve credit for his good direction, showing off his potential. Some scenes totally benefit from that; if there is any tension in them (like the scene that the best friend has turned), it's because of the directing.
And also, if you see what they are up against, it's easy to see a just above average flick as tepid and boring. But this one deserves better.
For fans of Forest Whitaker (which should be anybody who has seen Ghost dog and Last king of Scotland).
New Nightmare 1994 ★★★★
Wes Craven finishes the original ANOES series with a meta take on it. Thus, in a way, (unknowingly) softening people up for what later would become Scream.
As most of you know, in this installment, Freddy is stalking the cast and crew from the original series in their very real lives. Which leads to Craven finding good ways to blur the line between fiction and reality. Like the moments where Heather Langenkamp reads the “script” Wes has been writing or the tie in where her movie husband has the same job as her real life husband.
The kills have also toned down from the cartooniness of the later installments. Both in the case of Chase and Julie, the makers have swapped special effects for intensity and relatable fears like falling asleep behind the wheel. Not to mention the final sequences where Freddy can go all out in his dreamland. Intense stuff with great special effects.
A worthy ending to a classic series. And while you are at it, head on over to Youtube to check out Dylan's New Nightmare, Womp Stomp unofficial “sequel” with Miko Hughes reprising his role here. Good stuff too.
Four stars.
Piranha 1995 ★★★
A pretty faithfull made for tv remake of the Joe Dante classic. With little budget and former love intrests, with the guy playing Tommy Ross and the girlfriend from Chrsitine as the leads. And Mila Kunis in her debut role.
*spoiler alert* If I recall correctly, the original had no suicide, though.
Also, between this and Seven, every scene that sees Leland Orser getting laid somehow ends poorly. What's up with that?
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