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06-18-2023, 07:27 AM
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The Amityville Horror 2005 ★
Seeing a certain logo already made me weary, and sure enough, it's as classy and subtle as you expect from Platinum Dunes. Bland jump scares, bland wife/girlfriend,... a snoozefest not interested in scaring the audience. Heck, they even managed to make Ryan Reynolds look douchy. Ryan Reynolds. He could play Ted Bundy and part of you would still want to root for him. The only positive thing I can say is that part of me wants to see Ryan Reynolds and Jason Lee in an odd couple style sitcom. School of Rock 2003 ★★★ Why only three stars? Because that is as good as these archetype feel good movies get. The structure is way too predictable and by the numbers for me to be surprised and the big finale is too much nonsense for a fortysomething to still buy into. Also, his roommate is dating Sarah Silverman and somehow, Jack Black is the one who gets to bragg about a hot date. Oh, movies. Does that mean that it's bad? Far from it. It executed the idea well, hearing the classic songs sent the required shiver down my spine and it had a number of good jokes. It got a few laughs from me and did not overstay its welcome, which is all a comedy has to do. Jack Black is tailor made for this role. He lives the character and you cannot help but see and hear mannerisms and the musical influences of Tenacious D in the songs he and the kids write and play together. Joan Cusack shows off her comedic chops as the headmaster. Would not mind seeing her in more comedies. Any suggestions? Fall 2022 ★★★★½ Fall was a fun ride. Pity I missed the theatre screening, because you can trust me on this one: I'm sure this should be a theatre experience. Also, it would easily have been a contender for a top five spot. The story mainly focusses on two ladies climbing a very high tv broadcast tower in the middle of nowhere. There is a bit of Jeffrey Dean Morgan in here, but by his standards, he is very restrained. No Neganing or smartallicky stuff. Just a sad father reaching out to his daughter. Frustrated whe she tells him to go away. The daughter in question, Becky, is still grieving over the death of her husband, nearly a year after he fell to his death during a tragic rock climbing accident. So what pulls her out of this slump? Her vlogger friend Hunter dares her to go on another and after some cajoling, she is convinced. And that's where everything goes wrong. Is it predictable? Kind of. You can see the disaster coming a mile away. But at that moment, it's not about the climax and more about the set up and that is done extremely well. You can fell the tension mounting. Same thing goes with the things they use later on. Once they are up there, things start happening. Because there is not much to do as such on top of a tower with no way down. So the two friends start using their wits to find a way to escape, as well as the objects at their disposal: their phones (duh), the drone Hunter brought, the backpack, a flare,...The script makes good use of the props available, thus reminding me of this Thai movie called The Pool I saw a few years ago. For various reasons, the attempts fail at first. Too low battery levels on the drone or just people being, well... people. Also, tensions from the past come up, creating tension between Hunter and Becky. Critics can argue that they gloss over that pretty easily, fans would argue that is a testament to the strength of their friendship. I can easily see both sides as well as my personal opinion piggybacking back and forth between the two depending on my mood at said moment. That said, that is still nothing to the big reveal. Set up perfectly, this brings a genuine “whoa”-moment. I especially loved it because it's been a while since I have seen one of these. I guess it goes back to Seoul Station. Another major quality is that the movie understands the principle of “show, don't tell”. The prime examples being the scene where Becky and Hunter retrieve the backpack, Becky's fight with the eagle or the catch they make in order to save the drone,... For some reason, imdb puts this in the thriller category, but I am sure horror fans in particular as well as cinema fans in general will love this. Well recommended.
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06-18-2023, 07:30 AM
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Dreams in the Witch House 2022 ★★
Rupert Grint plays a guy who is only a child when he loses his sister Samantha. I'm sorry, I meant Epperley. He becomes so obsessed with seeing her again that he drops some acid before getting sucked into this lower budget version of the Upsidedown. And needless to say, it all ends up going terribly wrong. The effects in the other world look good and I am certain the Lovecraft story it was based on is solid. But the director did not use the tension well and Grint is simply not that convincing in this role. The second star is for the effects and the rat crawling out chestburster style. And then back in. Mister Takei? Oh my. Lake Mungo 2008 ★★★½ Lake Mungo was a solid effort in the faux documentary/found footage genre. An entertaining bit of horror about the disappearance of a girl. While it did not live up to the reputation garnered on the internet, it did manage to instill an overall eerie atmosphere with characters likable enough to empathize with them. Which is something you should not take for granted in this subgenre. Also... The Tunnel, The Museum Project, Lake Mungo,... What is the deal with Australia and found footage? Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist 2005 ★★ A prequel to one of the all time classics can be nothing but underwhelming. And this one was underwhelming. I can understand bringing in Nazis to give the main character a cross to bear. But offscreen kills? 30 years after the groundbreaking effects in The Exorcist? Or The Omen? No sir, that will not do. One of the better things was the recycled captain Rhodes-character, who now is a major. Otherwise, there is nothing much memorable about this flick. 13 Fanboy 2021 ★★★★ For fans of the series, this indie spin off is the bee's knees. In short, 13 fanboy is Friday's answer to A new nightmare, where the monster crosses over to real life. In this case in the person of an obsessive fan stalking (and kidnapping and killing) the actors from the movies. A few of the logistics don't completely make sense and this movie has no art house pretensions. But all that does not matter. What matters is seeing all the old lovies back in a Friday-film: Tracie Savage, Lar Park Lincoln, Debbie Voorhees, Kane Hodder, CJ Graham, Judie Aronson,... Or the nods to the series. The fun of seeing Corey Feldman as a sleazebag producer. Or seeing that Vincente Disanti seems to be drawing from the same casting style as Brad Jones. And look, it's James A. Janisse. Or the fun of seeing your name on the screen as a one of the Kickstarter sponsors. Casual moviegoers can easily give this a skip. This is for the fans. And now I want to see that found footage "Snuffed Out".
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06-18-2023, 07:38 AM
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The Pale Blue Eye 2022 ★★★
A pretty much by the numbers detective flick in the same style as a few good men. Entertaining, but nothing really great. Bale is solid as usual, but Gillian Anderson overdoes her posh British accent. Other actors were not too memorable. The final reveal was kind of well done and I did like the inside joke about Poe writing a poem about Landor. Which, in fact, is true. In cinema terms, it is the definition of a matinee. A perfect fit for a subscription, but don't pay extra to rent this one. Halloween Kills 2021 ★★½ This may not have been overwhelmingly great, but it's certainly not as bad as some other reviews claim it to be. It's one of the okay-ish Halloween-sequels. It moves along at a good pace. The tension is solid and Michael coming out of the burning house does make for an impressive shot. The subplot of Tommy Doyle and Lonnie wanting to kill Michael added some good characters as well. Also a shoutout to the writers for adding Big John and Little John. And the kills? Well, I used to associate Michael with the typical Scream-like stabby fun time. So seeing him pierce eyeballs was cool and the fluorescent lamp kill was a nice change from the norm. So is it all positive? Far from it. The overly dramatic dialogue felt forced and the harping on the evil dies tonight even downright laughable. I get the idea that a Halloween-movie needs trick or treaters, but the subplot with the annoying kids could be skipped or given a more satisfying conclusion where they all get what's coming to them. The lynchmob subplot could serve a purpose, if it had not been for its ridiculous conclusion. Not to mention the bar scene with Tommy the buzzkill. Because after all, we are (supposed to be) in a trilogy and how do we set up part 3 without any kind of bollocks? Come on screenwriter, bring an idea. That cocaine is not going to snort itself. Let's not and say we did. Great idea, man. Velvet Buzzsaw 2019 ★★★ It's always fun to see Jake Gyllenhaal in a movie. He's one of those actors who deliver a solid performance in pretty much everything they're in. And most of the stuff he's been in is pretty good too. This one? Hmm, on a lot of levels somewhere in betweenish. As a horror, it's somewhere in betweenish. It's not really all that scary, but it has a few good moments. Specifically towards the end, with the paint crawling up on Antonia or when Gyllenhaal's character snuffs it. The story where the art kills anyone making money from it? In betweenish. I like the idea. Not saying it's overly original. I remember at least one X-Files episode that ventured into this territory. And now that I think of it, there are probably episodes of the Friday the 13th tv series (you know, the one with the antique shop with the cursed objects) that did so too. As a premise to poke fun at the pretentious, shallow art (dealers) world? Where it's sometimes just as much dog eat dog as in most other sectors? Meh, why not? Triangle of sadness tried something similar and at least here the satire worked better on me. In betweenish. Is it because of the cast? Maybe. As mentioned before, Gyllenhaal is good in all his roles and here, he's great as the snooty art critic Morf. In my opinion, he had the most interesting character arc, going from snooty and confident to hurt and desperate. Other good performances from the girl playing the art dealer Morf falls for and the young man as the up and coming artist Damrish. It was good seeing Rene Russo again too (it's been a while since I've seen her in anything) and she fits the part as the tough as nails art house owner with the punk rock past. She can be charming when she wants to be, but the claws can come out just as easily and efficiently. Also, can I say that Toni Colette is underrated? She already was great in Hereditary, but she also makes the most out of the character she has her. Good stuff. And what's left to about Malkovic? The role of the seasoned artist with creative struggles fits him like a glove. No surprise there, we know what he can do with this material. Pret à porter for Netflix, Tubi and other streaming portals. Maybe a tad too pedestrian for people who expect more genuine scares from their horror.
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06-18-2023, 07:39 AM
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Malevolent 2018 ★★★½
Malevolent is a well told haunted house story. With a good dose of comeuppance thrown in the mix. Three friends run a scam where one of them, Angela, can supposedly communicate with the dead. At the start of the movie, we see her flex her “talent” at the house of a well meaning family, convinced by their performance. We then get a few Hollywood tropes: Angela wants to quit because she saw stuff, her brother wants to keep on going because he is in trouble with sleazy types and needs money and then one more job comes along. This old lady, however, sees right through them. And there turns out to be a lot more to this house than they could imagine. The build up works well, though it might feel like a slow burn to some. Especially the second half picks up with a good cat and mouse game, revealing over time who is really in control. And some nice torture scenes for those that are into that. The acting is overall solid. Especially Florence Pugh as Angela shows that she can carry a movie, but the overall acting is solid, with a specific mention for Scott Chambers as the lovelorn Elliott. Funny sidenote: Celia Imrie is your standard scary antagonist, but she does manage to make posh English sound scary. Saw 2004 ★★★½ I have a strange relationship with Saw. The first time I saw it, I did not think that much of it. but on a second or third rewatch, I start to notice that it's growing on me. I can perfectly see how the opening scene intrigued audiences on its release. The story is set up well and the flashbacks are not as confusing as some of the Youtube videos I saw on this film would have you believe. Though they were on point about the music video style editing. Sheesh, why not have Marilyn Manson play the killer? And you could cast Josh Saviano as Tapp. Is the acting great? Well, some of it is. Danny Glover is very good as the obsessed cop and Tobin Bell is excellent as Jigsaw. Career making performance. If I could time travel, some of my destinations would include premiers of horror classics. See how people responded to, say, seeing the chestburster for the very first time. And you know what? After last night, Saw might just be one of them. Don’t Come Knocking 2005 ★★★★ Wim Wenders produced a beautiful movie about reconciliation and making amends. Sam Shepard plays a washed up actor named Howard Spence who turns out to have not just one, but two children he did not know about. One is the country singer Earl, played by Gabriel Mann, who is confrontational in more than one way. In the process also confronting Howard with his past by being eerily/sadly like him. A case of the apple and the tree becoming awkward. The other is Sky, played by the delightful Sarah Polley. Showing the softer, more contemplative side Howard seems to want to reach/show. I'm glad she chose these indie roles because she really excels at them. It's a beautiful story about love and warmth and overwinning obstacles and regrets. Being well dosed at the same time. It does look into Howard's excesses without going into gratuitous detail. You see all that you need to see and you can piece together the rest. And the conclusion in my opinion more hopeful than it looks at first sight. All of this is well performed by a great cast with amongst others Jessica Lange, Fairuza Balk and a small role for George Kennedy as a director who is both disgruntled and trying to patch things up. And Tim Roth is funny as the relentless insurance agent Sutter. Worth checking out. Definetily.
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06-18-2023, 07:42 AM
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The Viewing 2022 ★★★★
The viewing was a quite enjoyable trip. A rich old man invites four media personalities for a “viewing” of an object. Four characters who don't have much to set them apart. Charlotte is an Asian scientist with a Velma-like haircut. Randall is a music producer with an afro. Guy is a guy with a bit of a seen it all arrogance and Targ is a British sounding fella who dabbles in the psychic. Together, they are invited by Lionel Lassiter. Performed by Peter Weller, giving off a bit of David Carradine and some Christopher Lambert at times as well. After they get together under the watchful eye of Lassiter's vague henchmen and some obvious foreshadowing, they do a variety of drugs. It takes it's time to set up for a finale that pays off. With solid special effects and nods to Scanners, Raiders of the last ark and The blob. In short: more style and pretty visuals than a coherent, original story. But I was totally on board for it. JFK 1991 ★★★★½ Sure glad this one popped up on Netflix. Talk about an ensemble cast: Costner, Matthau, Rooker, Bacon, Sutherland senior, Spacey, Pesci, TLJ, Metcalfe, Newman from Seinfeld,... did I recognize HalHolbrook at one point? The list goes on and on. This epic masterpiece fills your entire evening. Only at the start, Oliver Stone floods you with names and traces and it's hard to keep track. But once it's warmed up, it really sucks you into the intense ride that is the Kennedy investigation. Even while knowing the historical background and what came of it... Halfway through the movie, you will find yourself rooting for Garrison. You want him to catch the killers. You want Pesci's character to live long enough to tell his tale. You want Clay Shaw to be convicted. You empathize with the gang (when Rooker's hothead character snaps and leaves) and Garrison's family (please let them make it through this). All the actors are great, but two scenes stand out, even above these. Of course, there is Costner in the court, particularly his ending speech. And the scenes where Donald Sutherland makes Costner realise just how far this thing really went. This type of monologue puts the cherry on top of epic. A movie made for those people who still get a lump in their throat on november 22nd or when thinking of the figure JFK and what he stood for. And for cinephiles in general, it's worth going out of your way in order to see it. Just keep in mind that the running time is 3.5 hours. Don’t Look Down 1998 ★★ My DVD blocked somewhere in the middle and I was no too motivated to go on. Billy Burke delivers a decent performance, so he gets the movie its second star. And I'm sure the director did what he could on this budget. But the green screen during the death scene was a bit too obvious and the flashbacks/hallucinations were the same levels of silly as the truck in the Nicolas Cage version of The Wicker Man. Maybe I'll pick up later to see if it picks up. Hopes are not all that high.
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06-18-2023, 07:44 AM
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Chasing Sleep 2000 ★★★
A movie for those people who complained that Seven was too cheerful and sunny. I mean, goodness gracious. On the plus side, it is entertaining and well done with the small budget it probably had. And I got to see a completely different side of Jeff Daniels. That's nice too. Room 731 2015 ★★★½ An interesting short about a Japanese doctor Mengele type figure and his experiments, which are shown in a surreal, nightmarish atmosphere. At first, he seems to get away with it. Before then getting a supernatural comeuppance. Short enough so that the waste of time simply does not apply here. Hence worth checking out. M3GAN 2022 ★★★½ My first recent release of the year in cinema. And it was certainly enjoyable. This movie achieved a lot of the goals set by the Child's Play remake with Mark Hamill and did better. The whole technology thing is fleshed out better and looks more believable. M3gan and her grasp of technology look more believable than remake Chucky. I also liked the performances. Allison Williams shows her versatility as the awkward aunt Gemma. And can you blame her? All of a sudden, she goes from a life with nerds, work and Tinder to taking responsability for a child. No mean feat. So, the same way my generation's parents plopped us in front of the tv, she goes the extra mile and invents a perfect friend for Cady. With a solid "what have I done"-moment and an end with a saviour not unlike the ED209. Sadly, the flaws are the same as with the average PG13-horror. Afraid to go further in the creepiness and kills that could have been great if they were more explicit. Maybe a place for the sequel to pick up?
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06-19-2023, 12:07 AM
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HIRED GUN (2016). Very enjoyable doc about the musicians who play on sessions or form the touring personnel for an established performer. They are expected to be on the "A" game every time, not much recognition, pay can be dicey and not much in the way of job security. Many interviews with established "Guns" like Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne-very soulful interview with him), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogarty), Ray Parker Jr, Steve Lukather, Liberty DeVito (Billy Joel), Derek St Holmes (Ted Nugent), Eric Singer (Black Sabbath, Badlands, Alice Coper and currently KISS), Jason Hook (Hillary Duff, Five Finger Death Punch)and Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper, Demi Lovato). From watching this, it seems that working for Alice Cooper and Pink would be the ideal gig to land, both artists have had the same lineup for years. But if You are a Billy Joel fan, don't watch this-He does not come off well AT ALL. Similar to STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN, 20 FEET FROM STARDOM and THE WRECKING CREW, all three which I recommend. ****
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06-23-2023, 11:30 PM
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06-23-2023, 11:33 PM
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Trick 2019 ★★½
An overall decent slasher with some good kills here and there. With one particular kill reaching Final Destination-levels of convolutedness, but okay. The killer had a nice looking mask, which is always a plus too. And his facepaint made him look like the guy on the box cover of The Purge: Anarchy. His motivations are never really clear. At one point, I sensed a bit of a Columbine-like vibe in his motives (the outsider with no sense of belonging), but it turns out it's just evil. Omar Epps was pretty good as the obsessed cop. The ludicrous reveal at the end and the too obvious sequel bait keep it from its third star. Only for slasher fans looking for a bit more gore than the average PG13 tripe. The Andy Baker Tape 2021 ★★★ This is an enjoyable FF. Like a lot of entries in the genre, it takes its good time to set up and get going. Personally, I don't feel the creepiness right away. On the contrary. Until the “towel scene”, Andy does not come across as creepy. And are we supposed to feel sorry for Jeff? Because he comes across as smug and arrogant and aggressive. Andy perhaps looks inept in front of a camera and a tad klutzy at times, but that's also because Jeff placed him in a position where a lot of people would look bad. Therefor, I cannot really follow the comparisons with Creep that I see here. The cameraman in Creep never really “asked for it”, whereas here, you can make a case for the theory that Jeff pushed/helped push Andy over the edge. However close Andy may have already been at the start of the movie. Also, the performance Mark Duplass delivered in Creep is head and shoulders above these two. Which is more of a compliment to him than a detriment to these two guys. Once it gets going, it does pick up enough steam to keep you involved. Especially the scene with the injection needle and the ending are adequately creepy. And that's what you watch a found footage for. Would have been cool if they had been able to raise a bit of extra budget to hire a make up artist and add some gore. Bit of torture porn. With Andy taking a page from 24. No top-5 material for me, but certainly not the worst in the genre. For fans of slow burns and found footage. And I'm guessing those two are (kind of) the same, lol. Penance Lane 2020 ★½ Scout Taylor-Compton reunites with Tyler Mane, over 10 years after the Rob Zombie Halloween. Except that now, instead of trying to kill her, he somehow is fond of her and protects her. A by the numbers monster movie about a gang with a stronghold on a small town. And their hills have eyes-ish henchmen. And the sheriff is corrupt and his son is a douchebag. Tyler Mane is not terrible and there are small parts for Booker T and DDP.
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