tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12792092793937472992024-02-06T22:58:13.007-05:00The WGON HelicopterHovering above the apocalypse to bring you my musings about horror, suspense, thrillers, and whatever I feel like writing about.Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-56676137336910377072015-08-10T20:59:00.000-04:002015-08-10T20:59:36.057-04:00Housebound (2014) - No More Excuses, Here's A Review!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Yeah, it's been a while.<br />
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Real life gets busy. I have a fun job that keeps me busy and other writing projects that claimed a higher priority. But I always have a soft spot for this blog and I always said when I return to it, I'd write a review about the phenomenal movie, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3504048/">Housebound</a></i>.<br />
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So here it is.<br />
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<i>Housebound</i> is fantastic. See it as soon as possible.<br />
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There you go.<br />
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OK, I kid, I kid, but that first sentence really sums up my experience with the movie. I gush about this New Zealand offering to everyone that will put up with my ramblings. It really is that good in my book. If you have Netflix streaming, you can watch it right this second. If you're able to do that, why are you reading my blog? Go enjoy yourself then come back and read the review!<br />
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Now that you're back, or if you'd rather read this first, let's move on with the write-up. <i>Housebound</i> comes to us from New Zealand writer and director Gerard Johnstone in his directorial debut. If you've read my blog before, you know a couple things: one, I try not to put in spoilers especially if they're integral to the plot and two, I like movies that have a kind of lively energy. Bearing those points in mind, I'll provide a short summary without spoilers and I'll begin by saying Johnstone's film crackles with lively energy.<br />
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It's the story of a less-than-social petty criminal named Kylie (Morgana O'Reilly) who is placed under house arrest in her childhood home. Her mother, Miriam (Rima Te Wiata) and her stepfather Graeme (Ross Harper) still live there. Miriam believes the house is haunted and strange things do indeed happen. Amos (Glen-Paul Waru) is a police officer assigned to Kylie and is intrigued enough that he wants to help, citing his fascination with the paranormal. Kylie's social worker, Dennis (Cameron Rhodes) remains skeptical. Kylie becomes increasingly convinced something is haunting the house and with Amos' help, begins to uncover clues about the house's sordid past. At this point, I can't go on without spoiling the movie even a little bit and this is one I would hate to spoil.<br />
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Needless to say, everything about this movie clicks. O'Reilly is phenomenal as the tough girl who truly loves her family and loves a mystery almost as much. Each character stands out, bringing a piece to the story. The story itself bobs and weaves like a boxer, hitting you with comedy on one side and tense suspense on the other. The comedy works so well because of how it's presented: we may be laughing at what's happening but the characters are terrified. The movie is meant to be funny but it's not forced. It's really a true balance between horror and comedy with great amounts of mystery thrown in.<br />
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After the movie ended, I immediately went on Amazon and ordered the Blu-ray.<br />
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For me, <i>Housebound</i> is the best horror movie I've seen this year so far, sharing a top spot with - oddly enough - another horror-themed comedy (<i>What We Do In The Shadows</i>). I enjoy all sorts of movies and all sorts of horror subgenres, but I always enjoy an incredibly well-made film that is just plain fun.<br />
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And now, as per usual, here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ji8Tsuj3u0c" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-50998832922413884992015-02-23T19:00:00.003-05:002015-02-23T19:00:56.877-05:00Capsule Reviews Because I Got Lazy...Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yeah, I know.<br />
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I've got to be better with this thing. I go through prolific streaks and dry spells, so chalk this most recent "sabbatical" (read: laziness) as a "dry spell."<br />
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In the meantime, I've seen a few movies. Well, more than a few. Some good, a couple great, and a stinker here and there. I'm going to get to the capsule review in a moment, but let me first wish everyone a VERY belated Happy New Year. Not a lot of changes here at the WGON Helicopter just yet, but I'm going to make a few as the year rolls on. I'll be changing the look of the place, I'll be doing more interviews as they arise, I'm going to not be as dry in my "tone," and I'll bring some special features back as well as introduce new ones like something about re-watching movies. Haven't decided what I'll call it yet but the year's still young.<br />
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So let's get to the movies, shall we?<br />
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<b>Contracted</b> - High hopes for this movie but low returns, in my opinion. Look, I love swiss cheese but I don't need that many holes in my films. The premise is great: girl has drugged sex with a random guy who is definitely hiding something. As time progresses, she becomes sicker and sicker in ways that will make you gag. Interesting take on the zombie genre that just had too many moments of "wait, would someone actually do that?" Lots of poor decision-making by the characters (despite some decent acting) that lead to several head-shakes.<br />
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<b>The Damned</b> - Not the 70's and 80's horror punk/new wave band, but an atmospheric and interesting movie that provides a decent feeling of dread. A family (headed by Peter Facinelli - I know, I know he's in that sparkly vampire movie series but he was also outstanding in <i>Can't Hardly Wait</i> so it balances out) and some friends are stranded during a flood in Colombia. They hole up in a closed hotel with two residents, one of which is a young girl trapped in a box in the basement. What follows is possession, mayhem, and family drama. It wasn't horrible but also not great.<br />
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<b>Housebound</b> - I'm going to take a second here and proclaim that I will save this movie for a full review. This movie and I have become best friends.<br />
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<b>The Remaining</b> - This is what happens when I don't do my research. I thought this might be a new foray into survival horror. What was a promising premise - a group of friends try to survive after the Rapture - descends quickly into heavy-handed preaching. All it needed was for Kirk Cameron to show up and lecture us about something. Fortunately, he didn't and that was a plus. Also, the effects were kind of neat.<br />
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<b>ABC's Of Death 2</b> - The first movie pushed some uncomfortable boundaries (L is for Libido), had some serious WTF moments (F is for Fart), and some incredible short films packed with goodness (D is for Dogfight). The second entry seemed more solid to me. Once again, the 26 (and a half, if you count the end credits scene) short films for each letter of the alphabet ranged in taste, style, humor, gore, and creepiness. Also, I'm a big Mighty Boosh fan, so it was good seeing Julian Barrett have an entry. Highlights: A is for Amateur, G is for Grandad, K is for Knell, M is for Masticate, R is for Roulette, W is for Wish. X is for Xylophone will make you squirm. S is for P-P-P-P SCARY! is an absolute WTF head trip.<br />
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<b>The Taking of Deborah Logan</b> - Soap opera veteran Jill Larson turns in a stunning performance as an Alzheimer's patient that may be suffering from possession in this very good found footage film. It was tense with its scares providing quality over quantity; each scare means something and didn't feel forced. An interesting mystery as well, it was a pleasant surprise while touching on a sensitive subject. You honestly feel for Deborah and her family as something takes her over.<br />
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<b>Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead</b> - The first <i><a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/03/dead-snow-2009-chainsaws-nazi-zombies.html">Dead Snow</a></i> was kinetic craziness in the vein of Raimi's <i>Evil Dead</i> movies. Tommy Wirkola continues the madness as the lone survivor from the first film is "reunited" with the undead Nazi commander in a hilarious way. I mean "reunited" quite literally. The character enlists the help of American zombie hunters (led by Martin Starr of <i>Freaks and Geeks</i>) and long-buried Soviet troops with a literal bone to pick with the Nazis. Insane fun that doesn't stop with cringe-worthy moments.<br />
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<b>The Purge: Anarchy</b> - I wasn't the biggest fan of the first one. I don't know. Good premise but it just didn't catch me. Maybe I more disappointed than anything. The sequel, however, was more solid in my eyes. The Purge Night is back but the viewer gets to follow several characters who eventually come together to try and survive the night, with only one being out willingly to avenge the accidental death of his son. We get more of a peek into this alternate reality and I found it more interesting.<br />
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<b>The Canal</b> - This taut little Irish flick follows a man who discovers his beloved wife is having an affair. When she goes missing, he's the prime suspect but is convinced there is something evil in his house. Did he do it? Is he innocent? Is there really something in his house? Everything keeps you guessing in this pretty good mystery.<br />
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<b>The Atticus Institute</b> - A modern mockumentary about a 1970's scientist (played by the underrated William Mapother) who tries to harness the thing possessing a woman. When the U.S. Army steps in to try and weaponize the woman and the force inside her, things don't end well. It's a well-made look at what may or may not have been a real thing back in the old Cold War days. Quite scary in parts and interesting, I really enjoyed it.<br />
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Well, there you go for what it's worth. My thoughts on a wide range of movies. I saw several more but I thought I'd start with these. I will get to a full review of <i>Housebound</i> next because I honestly can't say enough good about that movie.<br />
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Until next time, watch the skies!<br />
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Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-67679757556908301852014-11-11T14:29:00.001-05:002014-11-11T14:29:33.033-05:00V/H/S: Viral (2014) Held Together With Spit and Wire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm telling you, I was really hoping for more from <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3704538/">V/H/S: Viral</a></i>. I like the whole found footage anthology bit and having the franchise populated with short films from talented up-and-coming directors. The trailer looked wild. Everything was in place. Still, I came away from it not quite satisfied. Kind of like when I eat at Taco Bell. I like some of the parts but as a whole, I'm wondering what I just ate.<br />
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Like the previous two <i>V/H/S</i> films (which I reviewed <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2012/09/vhs-2012-modern-campfire-stories.html">here</a> and <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2013/09/back-in-chopper-with-some-capsule.html">here</a>), this one is split into smaller stories bound by a wraparound narrative. The wraparound in this case is called "Vicious Circles," and is directed by Marcel Sarmiento, who helmed my favorite entry in the first <i><a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2013/09/back-in-chopper-with-some-capsule.html">ABC's of Death</a></i> movie, "D is for Dogfight." The wraparound kicks off the narrative of a video-fame-obsessed young man chasing a strange ice cream truck in the middle of a police chase. Seems the truck has somehow kidnapped his girlfriend and as the chase progresses, we're privy to some of the videos apparently broadcasting from the truck. Much like the first two films, the videos are cursed and in this case, are affecting people on a wider scale.<br />
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The first film within a film is called "Dante the Great," directed by Gregg Bishop, who directed the wonderful <i><a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2011/07/dance-of-dead-2008-hell-of-night.html">Dance of the Dead</a></i>. Now this one tells the story of redneck amateur magician Dante (the always-good Justin Welborn) who somehow gets a hold of a mysterious cloak that gives him incredible powers. Of course, like any good boy will do, he uses them for fame and fortune. Unfortunately, he also uses those powers to feed the beast inside the cloak. Not tacos, sadly, but a few of his assistants. Things come to a head when one of his assistants decides to fight back.<br />
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I'll just go ahead and say that the second entry was my favorite. Nacho Vigalondo's "Parallel Monsters" is a seriously creepy what-if. In this case, it's "what if you opened a portal into a parallel universe at the same time your parallel self did?" As the protagonist explores the other world, it becomes apparent that the term "parallel" doesn't really fit. The word should be "opposite." I mean, really opposite. As a huge fan of stories about parallel and alternate universes, the details really made my skin crawl. There is a distinct "Twilight Zone" vibe to the story, but that's really what's the heart of these movies. They're a modern-day, bloodier horror homage to Rod Serling's series.<br />
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Finally, there's "Bonestorm," which would be a freakin' AWESOME name for a metal band, about a group of delinquents filming skating videos in a place where they shouldn't. Heading to Mexico, they accidentally disturb an evil cult's "unholy ground" and end up filming their struggle for survival. The effects in this segment directed by Aaron Moorehead and Justin Benson are pretty snazzy and the kinetic camerawork conveys the panic of the moment. Still, I just couldn't find any sympathy for the characters based on their mostly jerky actions throughout the setup.<br />
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I really would've like to have seen the missing segment, Todd Lincoln's "Gorgeous Vortex," which is apparently quite good based on reports of those who have seen it. It might have tied the movie together a little more tightly. The wraparound is on the right path here, but something is missing. I don't know; maybe slightly more narrative or a brighter thread that weaves the stories into the same overall story.<br />
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"Parallel Monsters" was definitely my favorite of the bunch for its inherent creepiness and WTF factor. "Dante the Great" wasn't far behind simply because it's the most fun. I wanted it to be better, and <i>V/H/S 2</i> was on an uphill trajectory. Despite being a little disappointed in this installment, I do hope the franchise continues as it is a great showcase for talent deserves a wider audience.<br />
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Now, let's see what VHS tapes I have in my storage bin...wait, I've never seen this one before...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BRb-IlRrZWY" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-2709242608732906382014-10-26T21:28:00.000-04:002014-10-29T20:09:57.675-04:00In A Movie World With Evil Ghosts? Here Are Must-Have Supplies To (Mostly) Guarantee Your SurvivalI'm always going to have a soft spot for the walking dead/shuffling revenant/bitey zombie. <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2009/03/dawn-of-dead-1978.html"><i>Dawn of the Dead</i></a> (the 1978 version) is my favorite horror film and <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2011/10/shaun-of-dead-2004-slice-of-fried-gold.html"><i>Shaun of the Dead</i></a> is one of my all-time favorites in any genre. I won't dispute that zombie movies have become a bit "played out," but I don't ever want them to go away. When the nice people at <a href="http://www.mancrates.com/gifts-for-men">Man Crates</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> - a gifts for men</a> company that delivers a grab bag of goodies in a honest-to-goodness crate - came calling, I was more than happy to answer their challenge: list a few things one would need in order to survive in a horror film. Well, naturally, my weird little brain gravitated toward zombies first - a natural reflex, I'd say. But then I thought I'd try something a little different and go with another subgenre of horror that I love: the ghost movie. I'm partial to ghost films from Japan or Korea, but I'm not going to play favorites. If it's a scary ghost, I'm digging it.<br />
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Yeah, ghosts tend to be intangible except when they need to be all angry and poltergeisty. There's not a lot to do to ultimately protect yourself because hey, you've seen <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0178868/"><i>Ringu</i></a> or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364385/"><i>Ju-On</i></a>, right? Those ghosts are like spooky little juggernauts that spread like viruses or horrific LIVING IDEAS! Sorry, I've been reading a lot of Grant Morrison again. Hopefully, what I can impart to you might save you if your buddy tells you to "watch this cursed tape" or "let's move into a cursed house."<br />
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<b>A powerful flashlight</b> - Hey, kids, light up a dark room before going in! Confuse the ghosts! Never <i>not</i> know where you're going! You walk into a room and you can't see everything? Stand in the doorway, hit the mini-floodlight in your hand, and do a complete sweep. Look at the ceiling to see if there is any splashes of blood or hair hovering up there. Check under any furniture. Look in the corners twice. Then <i>maybe </i>go in.<br />
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<b>Research notes</b> - Provided you aren't in a ghostly place by accident, do a little research about the history. Home of a former serial killer who took the term "asshat" a little too literally? Find out. You'll need to know these things. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Super-lost in <i>Grave Encounters.</i></span></div>
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<b>Blueprints</b> - This really only applies if you know the haunted house you're going into. Get a floor plan and map out an escape route. Prop the front door open in case there are bars on the window. Clear the hallways as you go. Always know where you are. Yeah, I know that some houses might end up like the endless hallways of the asylum in <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2011/11/grave-encounters-2011-this-would-make.html"><i>Grave Encounters</i></a>. If that happens, you can use the blueprints to cry into.<br />
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<b>Mirror</b> - Give that ghost a taste of its own medicine. Who knows, maybe they need to face facts and realize they're scaring the bejeezus out of everyone.<br />
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<b>More than one cellphone</b> - Oh, no, the cellphone you're using just cut out? The ghost struts off triumphantly, warming up for an escalating series of scares, not knowing you have a backup in your pocket. Call for help and power-walk to the front door.<br />
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<b>Attitude</b> - Even if you're the nicest person in the world, develop a tough attitude that tells the ghost you're not going to be that easy. I'm not saying be a douche. Douches tend to meet rather unsightly ends in these movies. I'm saying laugh at the ghost, be sarcastic ("Oooo, I'm <i>so </i>terrified!"), give the specter the middle finger with both barrels. It's said that the evil ghosts will feed off fear. Don't show any.<br />
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<b>Anti-attitude</b> - On the flip side, maybe all the ghost needs is some understanding and a hug. Probably not, though.<br />
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<b>Horror film knowledge</b> - I think the most knowledgeable people that could survive a horror film are those who know them inside and out. It's not a guarantee but they're going to know not to watch that tape or go into that house or party on that grave. Watch a lot of them and get to know your adversary!<br />
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<b>Adult diapers</b> - This should be pretty obvious.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thank you, Saturday Night Live.</span></div>
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Well, I hope I helped a bit. You may not have good odds against ghosts and living curses but maybe now you'll have a fighting chance.<br />
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Thanks to Man Crates for reaching out to me to have some fun with a list that really got me thinking and also got me wanting to revisit some old favorites.<br />
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Time permitting, I'll be back next time with a special Halloween edition!Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-50742110113921870572014-09-17T22:33:00.000-04:002014-09-17T22:33:11.435-04:00Dead Alive (aka Braindead) (1992) Early Peter Jackson Insanity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A Sumatran rat-monkey. A domineering mother-monster. A kung-fu priest. A delinquent's entrails that have a life of their own. A cheery demon baby. A lawnmower shield.<br />
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All this and lots more is what you'll find in one of Peter Jackson's early films, the energetic cult classic known as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103873/"><i>Dead Alive</i></a> here on our side of the world, and <i>Braindead</i> everywhere else. You may know Jackson as the high-powered director behind the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> and <i>Hobbit</i> movies of recent years. He's won Academy Awards, produced several huge hits, and is generally one of the most well-known directors in the modern era. But before all that, Jackson cut his teeth on wacky, blood-splattered craziness like this movie, or his first feature film, <i>Bad Taste</i>. This was the first Peter Jackson movie I ever saw, and it remains near and dear to my heart.<br />
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Taking place in Jackson's native New Zealand during the 50's, the story follows sad-sack mama's boy Lionel (Timothy Balme) as he balances falling for a local gypsy girl, Paquita (Diana Peñalver), and following his mean mom's wishes and commands. When mommy dearest is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey and dies, things get a little bit crazy. Old Vera reanimates as a blood-crazed zombie, turning a gang of ne'er-do-wells and her own nurse into ghouls like her. Even the local priest, who put the beatdown on the zombie gang while delivering one of the best lines of dialogue ever (<i>"I kick ass for the LORD!"</i>), is eventually turned as well. Poor Lionel has to keep the monsters hidden in his basement and deal with his lecherous Uncle Les, who wants the house for himself. Before long, Les throws a rockin' party and Lionel tries to sever ties with his mother by using what he thinks is poison to kill her once and for all. Unfortunately, the poison turns out to be what equates to super-steroids for animals and the zombie outbreak is seriously on. The party degenerates into one of THE most gory, insane, and manic sequences in the history of film. Seriously, <i>Dead Alive</i> is still considered one of the goriest movies ever made.<br />
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Still, the gore is played for laughs, and after a while, it becomes less "gore" and more "slapstick." All those weird things I mentioned in the beginning are there. What happens when two infected zombies have "relations"? A demon baby that Lionel actually takes for a day out in a way to return to normalcy. <br />
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Balme's Lionel is a hero who grows through the movie, and it's not hard to cheer for the guy. Paquita gives him enough confidence to cut the umbilical cord...among a few other things. The movie is absolutely in-your-face, wild, and energetic with kinetic camera angles, quick editing, and a narrative that never slows down.<br />
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<i>Dead Alive</i> is a favorite among horror fans, always thought of with a smile or a chuckle. It's definitely horror, but the comedy shines through alongside its darker genre cousin seamlessly. If you have a weak stomach, yeah, you might have a little trouble with things like Lionel's lawnmower shield among <i>many</i> other things. But the movie's hilarious and drive-in-style fun, as well as being a bit of a history lesson about one of the world's top directors.<br />
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Until next time, don't visit the Sumatran rat-monkey at your local zoo...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eigwPFVmMIU" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-64734762602215186142014-09-08T21:55:00.001-04:002014-09-08T21:55:32.583-04:00Stitches (2012) A Party Clown's Revenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I like it when a movie surprises me.<br />
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Sometimes late at night, I roll through Netflix and see what's out in the ether. Stumbling across this oddball British-Irish horror comedy about an undead clown seeking revenge on a kid after being killed at a birthday party, I really wasn't expecting much. But strangely enough, I ended up pleasantly surprised by the gory slapstick intentional cheese-fest that was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2126362/"><i>Stitches</i></a>.<br />
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Director Conor McMahon seems to be following the Peter Jackson path of starting off a career by turning grant money into bloody splashes of manic-comic theater. You see a little inspiration from Jackson's early offerings like <i>Bad Taste</i> and <i>Dead Alive</i>, where over-the-top gore leans more toward the humorous. <i>Stitches </i>doesn't take itself too seriously, offering up a wild premise, stereotypical-and-we-know-it characters, and circus-themed dispatching of those characters.<br />
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So it goes like this: Stitches (comedian Ross Noble in his film debut) is a local clown hired to perform at young Tom's birthday party. Tom isn't such a bad kid, but his friends range from somewhat to extremely obnoxious. They taunt Stitches who, admittedly, isn't a very good clown. The taunting takes a tragic turn when an accident the kids cause leaves Stitches with a huge kitchen knife through his eye into his skull. The night of Stitches' funeral, Tom stumbles across a strange ritual as clowns honor their comrade. Years later, it's Tom's (Tommy Knight of <i>The Sarah Jane Adventures</i>) 17th birthday, and he has a pretty understandable fear of clowns. He's anxious and rather wimpy but his friends want to throw him a blowout, even though he's unsure. The party includes all his friends from the original party, as well as his longtime crush, Kate (Gemma Leigh Devereux). Before too long, though, an unwanted party guest makes his grand return: Stitches, resurrected by some strange magic the clown cult instilled. Stitches arrives and takes out each of the teenage partygoers from years before in sickeningly creative and often hilarious ways. Brain scoop, balloon pump, umbrella - so weird, yet so Peter Jackson-ish. It's then up to Tom and Kate to figure out a way to send Stitches back to Hell - or wherever undead clowns go.<br />
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<i>Stitches</i> is a rousing debut for Noble, who nails it in his first film. He's snappy and slovenly, spouting 80's-style one-liners usually associated with supernatural killers. "He had to...head off." "Now that's...food for thought." Stitches is a killer clown, to be sure, and we've seen many of those, good ones and not-so-good. But obviously, this film doesn't take things too seriously and just wants to tell a funny, wildly splattered tale of redemption for one kid and the ability to make intestine balloon animals for one not-quite-dead clown.<br />
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So make sure you treat that clown at a kid's party right. Put away those knives and don't let your kids be obnoxious.<br />
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Until next time, here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/b_auEe1yU3M" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-8580142945324642532014-08-18T21:51:00.002-04:002014-08-18T21:51:08.782-04:00The Den (2013) Always Look Both Ways When Crossing The Internet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know how the Internet is a place where good people can get in touch with other good people and talk about good, innocent things and respect each others' opinions and lives?<br />
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I know, I know, but bear with me...<br />
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Well, 2013's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2503154/"><i>The Den</i></a> features the complete opposite side of that dream Internet. In fact, if you want to teach a lesson about being safe online, this would practically be a documentary. With the wackiness of sites like Chatroulette and Omegle, you just never know what you're going to get in the online box of cyber-chocolate. <i>The Den</i> says, "okay, let's show you what happens when you pierce the dark underbelly. Hire a maid because things are about to get messed up."<br />
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It's a pretty straightforward story at first: doctorate student Elizabeth (Melanie Papalia) sets up an account on a website called The Den in order to study how humans interact when given freedom online. The results are predictably unpredictable. Along with friendly people, she meets oddballs, wannabes, and perverts. One girl, who won't turn on her camera, sends her cryptic messages as well as threats to her friend who is sharing the computer one day. Strange things happen on Elizabeth's computer as it become clear that she's been hacked, although she doesn't see it at first. It's when she witnesses the apparent murder of the formerly camera-less girl that things take a swan dive into the crazy pool. From there, it becomes a fascinating and frustrating mystery for Elizabeth to solve...if she should.<br />
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Did I mention the entire movie is filmed as video feeds from various sources like Elizabeth's computer or surveillance cameras? <br />
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It's an interesting and intense take on the rapidly-filling-to-capacity found footage genre. It moves along quickly and with enough of a variety of video sources to keep the narrative fresh. Director Zachary Donahue, who also wrote the film, turns in a fine example of thinking a little outside the box and didn't go the "we're making a documentary" route. Papalia is outstanding as a curious then utterly frightened Elizabeth, bringing range and charisma to the role. Essentially, she is quite often a one-woman show who's only required to react to what she sees on a screen in many scenes. In an era when so many people are exposed on the web - figuratively and literally - this is an urban legend of our time. What if you're being watched? What if things are happening without your knowledge? What if?<br />
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It's a crazy movie. I remember thinking, "That was messed up" as the credits rolled. Truth be told, "messed" wasn't the actual word I used, but modesty prevails. After a spate of so-so films that I haven't reviewed yet, <i>The Den</i> was rather refreshing.<br />
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Like a day on Facebook with no political ranting.<br />
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Surf safe, everyone - until next time, here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t2GirTaN1fY" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-15680487432350491172014-07-24T21:37:00.000-04:002014-07-24T21:37:07.442-04:00Some Mini-Reviews Since Time Flew ByYeesh, I had no idea it had been that long since I'd posted anything. I've got to stop getting distracted by shiny objects.<br />
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Let's get caught up with some "mini-reviews," shall we?<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325517/"><b>Almost Human</b></a> (2013) - Definitely a shoestring budget and an attempt to recreate the magic of 80's VHS horror and slasher flicks. It tells the story of what happens when a UFO abductee returns years later and has gone from kindly bearded fellow to homicidal maniac with some new alien body parts. Good effort but the execution fell a bit short. Any intrigue melted away and it needed more story. Nice practical effects, though.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0873886/">Red State</a> </b>(2011) - Kevin Smith takes an effective journey into non-comedy with a suspense thriller about sees some local boys run afoul of the town's crazy church/cult leader that oddly seems like the funeral-protesting wack-a-doos in real life. Not as talky as a lot of Smith's other offerings, and don't look for a cameo by Jay and Silent Bob. Tense storytelling and good performances, especially from Michael Parks as the frustratingly smug leader.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345567/"><b>Haunter</b></a> (2013) - A pleasant surprise, this haunted house mystery sees the story told from the ghost's point of view, much like the awesome<a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-am-ghost-2012-why-i-love-indie-horror.html"> <i>I Am A Ghost</i></a>. In this case, Abagail Breslin turns in a great performance as the ghost of a murdered girl who comes to the realization that she's dead and tries to awaken her family to the fact as well as prevent an evil spirit from his eternal murder spree. Good tension and a good story.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2620736/"><b>Jug Face</b></a> (2013) - This one really started off on the right foot but didn't go as far as I hoped. It's the story of a young girl who's part of a backwoods community that worships a pit that has healing properties but also demands a sacrifice. The likeness of who is to be sacrificed is carved onto a clay jug, but when the girl hides hers, the pit expresses its displeasure. Fine acting and a creepy vibe made it good but the story felt like it lost steam.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1925435/"><b>Frankenstein's Army</b></a> (2013) - A crazy Dutch-American-Czech production set in World War II that follows a group of weary Russian soldiers who follow a distress signal to a small town. What they find there is insanity as the descendent of Victor Frankenstein says "the hell with it" and sets his insane creations on Ally and Axis alike. The monster design is tremendous and there's no shortage of blood and guts as the movie descends more and more into utter madness. I dug it because it wanted to be nuts and it got its wish.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082782/">My Bloody Valentine</a> </b>(1981) - Remade just a few years ago, this cult classic came from the old school of matching psychotic killers with holidays. The residents of a town relive an old nightmare that took place on February 14 when grisly murders pile up as the day grows closer. Add to that the Eternally Doomed Teen Party and you know the body count rises. Good 80's wackiness and a murder mystery to boot.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2226417/"><b>Insidious: Chapter 2</b></a> (2013) - While I felt the first one went off the rails a bit, yet still told an intriguing story, I felt the second chapter was a little stronger. The poor Lambert family is back and just when they think they dodged an astral bullet, it's the father who becomes the center of a spiritual attack. Just the right amount of ghostly and strange, I enjoyed it like I usually enjoy seeing Rose Byrne.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2395385/"><b>+1</b></a> (2013) - An interesting take on a sci-fi standard of what duplicates would do if they met. A meteor crashes, causing a nearby party to experience a little glitch in the matrix. Time splits and people meet themselves from a few seconds behind. An interesting story set on a strange premise with decent performances. Not a bad choice if you like being weirded out by time and space.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865393/"><b>Hellbenders</b></a> (2012) - With a good cast and a premise that borders on sacrilege, this movie was more fun than it had a right to be. The Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints are a ragtag group of badasses who also happen to be priests of various faiths that sin on purpose on orders of The Pope so that if a demon possesses them during an exorcism, they can kill themselves and drag the demon to Hell. Good guys who do bad things to prevent the <i>really</i> bad things. In this flick, they have to stop a runaway Norse demon from pulling Hell up around the world. Funny and with a touch of honor, the cast is headed by the reliable Clifton Collins Jr. and Clancy Brown.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2885364/"><b>Willow Creek</b></a> (2013) - Oh, <i>Willow Creek</i>, how I wanted to like you. A good director in Bobcat Goldthwait and some really suspenseful moments still added up to a movie that was a hair below "OK." It's a found footage style movie about a couple setting out to make a documentary about the Patterson Bigfoot sighting and getting much more than they bargained for. Admittedly, the tent scene is suspense at its best, but the ending left me feeling like the whole thing was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek joke. Maybe it was, but I was hoping for a little more.<br />
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OK, that should just about do it for now. I gotta stop taking so long between reviews. Maybe some caffeine would help.<br />
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Until next time!<br />
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<br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-59794030685161402432014-05-12T21:54:00.000-04:002014-05-12T21:54:01.055-04:00The Sacrament (2013) Ripples of Jonestown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you know the story of Jonestown, then you'll know the story of Ti West's intense <a href="http://www.magnetreleasing.com/thesacrament/"><i>The Sacrament</i></a>.<br />
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For those who have no idea about the real-life horror that was Jonestown, here it is in a nutshell: in 1978 paranoid cult leader Jim Jones creates a "utopia" in Guyana (with armed guards and restrictions on leaving), and when he feels threatened, he murders investigators and coerces his own followers to commit mass suicide. Over 900 people - men, women, children - died whether they wanted to or not. It's a chilling chapter in world history that should never be repeated.<br />
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Director Ti West is a modern master of suspense. His horror films tend to be disturbing on a less visceral level because he has mastered the slow build, as he demonstrated with <i><a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/03/house-of-devil-2009-never-trust-francis.html">The House of the Devil</a> </i>and <i>T<a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2012/01/innkeepers-2011-go-ahead-stay-for-night.html">he Innkeepers</a></i>. You know what's going to happen in the case of <i>The Sacrament</i>, but you're powerless to stop it from taking place. It's a modern retelling of the actual incident, told through the lens of the found footage genre as a documentary piece for the edgy <i>Vice</i> news series.<br />
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<i>Vice</i> documentary makers Sam and Jake (horror superstars A. J. Bowen and Joe Swanberg) decide it would be a great story to accompany their friend and photographer Patrick (Kentucker Audley) to Eden Parish, a secluded commune in an unnamed country. His sister, Caroline (Amy Seimetz), a recovering drug addict, has beckoned him to come and visit, to see how her life has turned around. From the moment the three gentlemen arrive, they're dubious. The tour guides have guns and seem suspicious of outsiders. Caroline meets them at the gate, and everything seems better on the inside. People are happy and thankful, hardworking and making no bones about their love for the commune's founder, known only as "Father" (Gene Jones). An interview is arranged with Father, and the congregation is excited. Well, most of them anyway. One mother and her daughter don't exactly seem as crazy about the place as others, but show definite fear. Sam's interview with Father is reserved, strange, and a little off-putting. It's clear to Sam and his colleagues that they're being manipulated. The congregation holds a party for the guys, but things don't seem right: the woman and her child plead to be taken out of the commune, Patrick disappears with two girls who were basically commanded to initiate a little orgy with him, Caroline has her own dark side. Of course, at the center of it all: Father. After a tense night, everything unravels in the morning as the guys decide they need to leave and Sam wants to take some of the congregation with him. Everything seriously unravels in a Jonestown sort of way.<br />
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It's a familiar story, but West has made this movie his own. Sure, we know the story before we hit "play," but it's how West tells it. He paces the tension so expertly, and is complemented by his friends and cohorts Bowen and Swanberg - a lot of same-thinking people helped make this movie. Tying the film together is Jones' performance as the charismatic "holy man" with a pleasant Southern drawl and a grandfatherly chuckle. He's disarming and creepy all at once, playing a new version of Jim Jones with reserved dread. The hold he has on these people - using religion as a whip - is frightening and yet something seen all too much in the real world. Thrown in great performances by Audley, Seimetz, and several members of the congregation who came off as real, desperate people.<br />
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It's not an easy movie to watch. The plot is rooted in real life with no ghosts or demons, except for the ones that haunt people every day. Chilling and well-crafted, be prepared to watch a palette-cleanser afterwards - and that's a compliment!<br />
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Meanwhile, here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QqDZFMArLjI" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-7906993372436504382014-04-28T19:56:00.000-04:002014-04-28T19:56:08.497-04:00Banshee Chapter (2013) Modern Lovecraftian Hijincks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDed2ZHzcpUt9fyV55jP7r0d4C5sI1-m_7q7e9ImzpPqUY6DNPeNyF_ug8AqZWf6b2vV3quXPeyaq-A1TGyvOYXKyAEg9sLUCdf4GJVyQj3KjNK834PPEv4FQF7rrO1ILVHDySV7cLThM/s1600/banshee_chapter_poster_a_p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDed2ZHzcpUt9fyV55jP7r0d4C5sI1-m_7q7e9ImzpPqUY6DNPeNyF_ug8AqZWf6b2vV3quXPeyaq-A1TGyvOYXKyAEg9sLUCdf4GJVyQj3KjNK834PPEv4FQF7rrO1ILVHDySV7cLThM/s1600/banshee_chapter_poster_a_p.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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A couple things that creep me out are Lovecraftian-style stories and number stations. You know, number stations...those mysterious shortwave signals of people talking or reciting numbers or other repeated gibberish? Creepy.<br />
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And stories in the vein of H. P. Lovecraft, in which unspeakable horrors always lay just on the outskirts of perception, waiting to scrap through into our world and drive us mad? Also creepy. <br />
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In the sort-of found footage flick <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2011276/"><i>Banshee Chapter</i></a>, you get all that and more. Like Ted Levine as a Hunter S. Thompson pastiche.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jXjBRIEIFLJSgtltqV7LpfJ05G3uvGK2XFECb5R7bbMpuhTJb8kJR7q01bsKA5lEvolWdP1ce9wnCsxC-NRTj5Blv5tbixnfXVgB7vYrc-mvF9e46iq0SyJe3RfP3wauZGowvN6eil8w/s1600/banshee+chapter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jXjBRIEIFLJSgtltqV7LpfJ05G3uvGK2XFECb5R7bbMpuhTJb8kJR7q01bsKA5lEvolWdP1ce9wnCsxC-NRTj5Blv5tbixnfXVgB7vYrc-mvF9e46iq0SyJe3RfP3wauZGowvN6eil8w/s1600/banshee+chapter+2.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></a></div>
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Written and directed by Blair Erickson, this part found footage, part regular point-of-view movie takes both of those tropes above and tries out a new spin on the Lovecraft story <i>From Beyond</i> (also a fun 80's cult film). Author James and his pal Renny are in the midst of researching for a book that will delve into the mind-altering drug experiments that the U.S. Government allegedly inflicted on citizens. James claims that he has a sample of the drug they were given and gets on with his own experiment. The moment he drinks the sample, strange things start happening, including shadows outside the windows and a mysterious broadcast emanating from the radio. Renny follows James to investigate, but is suddenly faced by a horrifically-changed James before his camera blacks out. James' girlfriend, investigative reporter Anne (Katia Winter), makes it her mission to find out what happened to James and Renny, who even though he survived his encounter has now disappeared. Anne tracks down eccentric author Thomas Blackburn (Levine), who says he has evidence and proof that could lead her to James' whereabouts. At his desert getaway, Thomas and chemist Callie, take the drug and insist that Anne has taken it as well. Strange noises and shadows fall over the house and Callie is changed in a similar way to James before she disappears. Anne and Thomas track down Callie, which eventually leads them to a remote outpost in the desert - seemingly the source of the strange broadcasts. Of course, what they find in there isn't exactly the truth they wanted. And that's where I'll stop the synopsis because, you know, spoilers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG_-WJ_EVsjKDcxe19Qdl1LmtID6s_oVFriH7gz5OB3h-l1f6f2cniPeIICdA9KOT1IWR4mOIpBtHtKToLtavQDS9lfVv4my5-rPQLHvNS5BmHidIjF4d8q5-gCuRLGH9Q9lOajdILeGg/s1600/banshee+chapter+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbG_-WJ_EVsjKDcxe19Qdl1LmtID6s_oVFriH7gz5OB3h-l1f6f2cniPeIICdA9KOT1IWR4mOIpBtHtKToLtavQDS9lfVv4my5-rPQLHvNS5BmHidIjF4d8q5-gCuRLGH9Q9lOajdILeGg/s1600/banshee+chapter+1.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
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Balancing creepiness with occasional jump scares, <i>Banshee Chapter</i> finds itself in the upper echelon of found footage movies, in my opinion. It features a compelling story with incredibly tense moments and fine acting from Winter and Levine. There are moments where the scares are right in your face, and others where they're on the outskirts of your perception - much like a Lovecraft story. Moments like Renny running into James and Thomas' disturbing seizure in the car added to the mystery and urgency of the story.<br />
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I've always been a little fascinated with strange signals coming through on shortwave radio, but after seeing this movie, I'm not so sure I want to uncover more about these number stations. Unless they're broadcasting winning lotto numbers, then hey, I'm all ears.<br />
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Until next time, here's this movie's trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lhrYDiaSo_s" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-70274696791355262142014-04-20T22:38:00.000-04:002014-04-20T22:38:59.000-04:00Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) Weird Neighbors and Eye Hairs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJIaAkmOZQvbrkOAFjcmQ5tnMVHCHHUasIS_KD96iFxT6aehGqUxOX4iPy0BN2q4US18YoanrSxA7mQjaJXGoQD_WvRCLMjbH92FHVfcLMYkzwyuC3iZ_Drb41NhtiFiyM8UjddeD68oM/s1600/Paranormal-Activity-The-Marked-Ones1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJIaAkmOZQvbrkOAFjcmQ5tnMVHCHHUasIS_KD96iFxT6aehGqUxOX4iPy0BN2q4US18YoanrSxA7mQjaJXGoQD_WvRCLMjbH92FHVfcLMYkzwyuC3iZ_Drb41NhtiFiyM8UjddeD68oM/s1600/Paranormal-Activity-The-Marked-Ones1.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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Yep, the <i>Paranormal Activity </i>train just keeps rolling along.<br />
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Usually when sequels go on and on, the quality of a product lessens. I suppose that's true of the <i>Paranormal Activity</i> series, as I honestly found this installment to be the least scary. That's not to say it was bad. It held my interest and added some new wrinkles to the mythology. It relied less on the atmospheric build to jump scares and more on strengthening the underlying story.<br />
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In <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473682/">this story</a> written and directed by Christopher B. Landon, the action takes place in 2012 as bright young high school student Jesse and his friends Marisol and Hector get into all sorts of summer mischief with a camcorder in the urban Los Angeles neighborhood of Oxnard. Jesse and Hector live in a nice little apartment complex where everyone knows everyone, except for one woman named Anna, whom they all label as being a witch. When Jesse and Hector catch some weird goings-on in Anna's apartment on tape, they're even more sure - the woman paints some strange symbol on a young woman's torso. Not only that, one of their esteemed classmates was seen storming out of Anna's apartment.<br />
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One night, after seeing their classmate fleeing in the night, Jesse and his friends discover that Anna was murdered. Of course, they don't leave well enough alone and figure it would be a good idea to check out her apartment. Surely nothing bad will happen. They find a run-down, messy apartment but nothing too far out of the ordinary. But then strange things begin happening to Jesse: bad dreams, bite marks on his arm, occasional bouts of invulnerability, EYE HAIRS. After discovering a basement in Anna's apartment, the weird meter gets turned up to 11 as Jesse encounters ghostly women (including young versions of previous movies' characters) and a mysterious figure that charges him. When he finally emerges, he's just a little...different. Darker. Meaner. More likely to laugh at people falling down. It's now up to Hector and Marisol to cleanse their friend, but you know that's not going to go as planned. No sitcom freeze-frame laugh as the credits roll. They seek the diverse help of the survivor of the second film, and the gangbanger brother of the kid who killed Anna as they travel to a house that should be familiar to those who have seen every installment. From there, it boils down to a confrontation with the residents of the house...sort of. There's also a run-in with poor, doomed Jesse and a bit of a visit to the early days of the franchise.<br />
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<i>Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones</i> didn't have the creeping threat that the other movies had. It expanded the mythology by showing there's a wider conspiracy, and the viewer is privy to some actual supernatural methods employed by the coven that we all know. Nothing about the movie is really bad, but nothing really jumped out at me. The ending was interesting, and of course, there are more questions to answer - which leads to more movies. Although this installment was the least successful, this franchise is a consistent money-maker so there are sure to be more movies and more layers to the story.<br />
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And I'm sure I'll watch them.<br />
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Meanwhile, take a peek at the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ccE9LeAbPU4" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-24177593251318155832014-04-11T20:28:00.000-04:002014-04-11T20:28:25.785-04:00The Bay (2012) That'll Put Me Off Swimming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCUKPcs9vv79bf9Kt3k4OQY47TIPs8GKT_FI1H-V8d3IK5g5gQaoTQJSZeFQdl5yTgcyNaFCIZ4LHu9PG3j5DL7YUWWmSLMW0IDn_i7fFq7AA83GdQJQyjthGU2mK3GsTuSWEt1xxP1hE/s1600/bay+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCUKPcs9vv79bf9Kt3k4OQY47TIPs8GKT_FI1H-V8d3IK5g5gQaoTQJSZeFQdl5yTgcyNaFCIZ4LHu9PG3j5DL7YUWWmSLMW0IDn_i7fFq7AA83GdQJQyjthGU2mK3GsTuSWEt1xxP1hE/s1600/bay+poster.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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If you look back at the early, rock-n-roll days of this blog, you'll find an entry in which I wrote <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/01/5-things-that-skeeve-me-out.html">a list of things that skeeve me out</a>. One of those things that skeeve me out is an object just under the surface of the water (boats, old buildings, skeletons) as well as things you know are there, but can't see (sharks, bigger boats, Cthulhu).<br />
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Well, you might was well add sea bugs to that list because <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1713476/"><i>The Bay</i></a> did its share to do it for me.<br />
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<i>The Bay</i> is an interesting film even before you start watching it. Released to little fanfare, it's made in the found footage style and it's an eco-horror film directed by none other than Barry Levinson (<i>Diner, Rain Man, Avalon</i>). It doesn't seem like the type of movie one would expect from Levinson, but good directors often take chances. For the most part, he scored quite well with this increasingly creepy movie with a message.<br />
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In a small, idyllic Maryland town, a celebration of its history on Chesapeake Bay brings the town together. But there's a bit of a dark underside. There's high levels of toxicity in the water thanks to a huge chicken processing plant and a cutting-corners filtration plant installed by the mayor to give the illusion of safety. Two researchers know this, but are dead from a mysterious malady before they can turn in the proper proof. Slowly, through the eyes of several security cameras, phones, news cameras, and video conferences, it's obvious that something is happening in the town. People are getting violently sick, developing ugly sores on their bodies. They begin to react violently or irrationally. Then it all just goes downhill from there. Our various emotions are toyed with as we see this horrifying epidemic unfold through a young reporter's tapes, town security cams, a young girl's iPhone, police dash cams, and the one that builds the most tension: the video camera of a young family oblivious of what's happening taking a boat to the town.<br />
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Using a cast of talented unknowns, Levinson adds some meat to the bones of the found footage genre. He uses some good jump scares here and there, but it's the creepy atmosphere that slowly builds over time that really made the film something good. The town at the beginning is the town you want to live in, and the town at the end looks like something out of a Romero film. This all happens in such a short amount of time, you wonder how anyone can get out of it or how they could possibly survive. The tension and atmosphere are on display here.<br />
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Some viewers may applaud or bemoan the message of pollution and pollution regulation that sits behind the main face of horror here. Keep in mind: this is just a story. It's fiction. It's the fictional story of a fictional situation happening to fictional people because of some other fictional situation. Relax. Personally, I think pollution is pretty much bad all around. I don't want to go swimming in unfiltered chicken poop, and I certainly don't want mutant sea bugs burrowing into my skin and giving me boils the size of dinner plates.<br />
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Enjoy the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ht-0Q7mlE4Q" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-34967783459874372252014-04-02T19:24:00.001-04:002014-04-02T19:24:06.071-04:00Babysitter Wanted (2008) Depends On Whose Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysQyOwwz0126SgYPeWqcgVe8YEzL5Gkjyp1BdYMjXAFRXpZGISNpIA2C_Cyd6NgcaZ-cWoTaRz9I4MWn_hcUEF4HvjcDVlyJjhodnII2EePou7YVR54wmGj0FLbY7jjhD_MpqG-P8R7D/s1600/babysitter+wanted+poster+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysQyOwwz0126SgYPeWqcgVe8YEzL5Gkjyp1BdYMjXAFRXpZGISNpIA2C_Cyd6NgcaZ-cWoTaRz9I4MWn_hcUEF4HvjcDVlyJjhodnII2EePou7YVR54wmGj0FLbY7jjhD_MpqG-P8R7D/s1600/babysitter+wanted+poster+2.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
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I was lucky working in college. The highlight of my employment then was working in a video store (VHS, baby!), with the worst scenario being that some Lothario maybe got pissed because he couldn't impress his date since all of the copies of <i>9 1/2 Weeks</i> were rented out. I never had to babysit. And after watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0819755/"><i>Babysitter Wanted</i></a>, I count myself fairly lucky.<br />
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It was also that bygone decade, the crazy 80s that all the kids are talking about these days, when I attended my first college. Long story. In recent years, I've noticed a trend: some horror movies are trying to reflect the look and ambiance of the 70s and 80s. There's been a widespread return to the grindhouse and VHS days of old, and I gotta say that I really like it. Sure, there are going to be some misses among the hits. Law of averages. But many of the recent ones I've seen have been on the "hit" side.<br />
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<i>Babysitter Wanted</i> falls on the "hit" side, but it did take me a minute to warm up to it. Written by Jonas Barnes, and directed by Barnes along with Michael Manasseri, it tells the story of sweet, wholesome Angie (Sarah Thompson) and her first foray into college life. Angie is devoutly religious and completely innocent of the underbelly of college. Heading to Adams College (sorry, no nerds seen taking revenge), she moves in with a hard-partying but not unkind roommate and is forced to sleep on the crusty couch, since the previous tenant had sold the bed. Looking for work, Angie grabs one of those phone number strips advertising a babysitting job. She secures an interview, but becomes skittish when she realizes someone is following her around campus. The sheriff (the always-great Bill Moseley) can't do much without more proof, but assures her that he'll come if called. On the bright side, she meets nice guy Rick (Matt Dallas), whose intentions seem as pure as Angie's own heart. Angie meets the Stanton couple (Bruce Thomas and Kristen Dalton) and their little tyke, Sam (Kai Caster). Sam's a shy kid who always wears a cowboy outfit that his parents claim he never takes off. Once the friendly Stantons leave, that's when the fun begins. The mysterious figure stalking Angie shows up, and interrupts Sam's meal of meat and sauce to break into the house.<br />
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And that's when it takes a left turn I honestly didn't see coming.<br />
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Of course, you know I'm not going to spoil it here. Nothing is what it seems, and Angie is seriously in for the fight of her life as her faith and sense of reality are shaken to the core.<br />
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The movie is good fun, filmed in the vein of early- to mid-80s slasher movies with an over-the-top secret. It looks like something you might find on VHS, and that's a compliment. I enjoyed how it looked. The acting is solid throughout, especially by Thompson as Angie. She plays innocent, scared, and determined all in one, even if she is a slight (intentional) caricature. <i>Kyle XY</i> alums Dallas and Thomas are also good as well as Dalton as the mother. I'm a Bill Moseley fan, so obviously I'll say he was good, too. Oddly enough, he didn't play a villain, but rather a kindly, concerned sheriff.<br />
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It was definitely a fun little movie, sure to please the gore fans as well. There were a lot of bloody shots, and they carefully <i>didn't</i> show what was surely the most wince-inducing "cuts."<br />
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So be careful about that babysitting job. Not everyone can have an adventure like Elizabeth Shue.<br />
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Here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CEl4OEXTMzM" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-39872173479899195562014-03-23T19:11:00.000-04:002014-03-23T19:11:24.312-04:00I Am A Ghost (2012) Why I Love Indie Horror Films<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje18O2sgdibPRdQIxT4kvXFO1EeQ0aYTf5R8Dz4LZhZBp9d6DgPtB7Q4pU80JraAdOtIyl38TAlBpBptcMirgnux3_uQuPoMHwQnBhsSdNRHVfiUMyyHdsaiBrk10482YQvqaaMG-f0xBW/s1600/ghostposter_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje18O2sgdibPRdQIxT4kvXFO1EeQ0aYTf5R8Dz4LZhZBp9d6DgPtB7Q4pU80JraAdOtIyl38TAlBpBptcMirgnux3_uQuPoMHwQnBhsSdNRHVfiUMyyHdsaiBrk10482YQvqaaMG-f0xBW/s1600/ghostposter_sm.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
One of the joys I have of writing this blog is spreading the word of various horror movies: classic, new, big budget, indie, strange, subtle...well, you get the idea. It's a genre I love, and I like to put my thoughts out there. One of the bigger joys is touching base with independent filmmakers and performers. I always feel like if I can get at least a few more people to see their work based on an article I write, then I'm happy with that. It's fun for me, and I've been able to meet some really nice, talented people.<br />
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This brings me to the fun I had watching<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2076862/"> <i>I Am A Ghost</i></a>, an incredibly impressive independent horror film written and directed by H. P. Mendoza. I'd been aware of the film for a while, and when I was made aware that the film was available on video-on-demand, I had to check it out. Having been in touch with the filmmakers before, I was excited to see what they had created.<br />
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I was not sorry.<br />
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Boy, was I not sorry! What I got to see was an ambitious, carefully-crafted thriller that looked great and featured an excellent performance from a leading lady, and taut suspense that wound up right until the final frame. I love indie filmmaking because of the energy and the outside-the-box creativity and the hunger to craft a great film with sometimes very little in the way of resources. "Working with what you got," some would say. <i>I Am A Ghost</i> works with what it has, and then some.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHZXb7A8OZW9-OZ7GM8Qzq1J6oQhPz0VMkHJ1TIJ2TTj11cf-WlTkW0SNWX1aY23CVM07dfEKPXViqeb__bszyGMBiZUVPLqNyCYfkzq95r8xA2HGnRYg1-H3Aov7Sq3hOz3NRbg79we5/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHZXb7A8OZW9-OZ7GM8Qzq1J6oQhPz0VMkHJ1TIJ2TTj11cf-WlTkW0SNWX1aY23CVM07dfEKPXViqeb__bszyGMBiZUVPLqNyCYfkzq95r8xA2HGnRYg1-H3Aov7Sq3hOz3NRbg79we5/s1600/05.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anna Ishida plays Emily, the title character. It's no surprise that she's a ghost going through a mundane daily routine in a huge, beautiful house. There are some things that seem a little off, such as Emily's breakfast time and the moments where she cries in pain and confusion in front of a mirror. In one certain room, she hears a disembodied voice calling her name: a medium named Sylvia (Jeannie Baroga in an unseen role). Sylvia tries to help Emily leave the house, but some unknown factor keeps her there. As the film unfolds, Emily struggles to uncover the mystery of how she died and how she can finally move on to the afterlife.<br />
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The film has a 60's and 70's look to it, right from the title card (and you know how I love those). The screen borders are curved throughout, creating a unique point of view. Despite the spaciousness of the house, there is a sense of claustrophobia. Something is happening with poor Emily, and we're not quite sure what yet, although it becomes clear as the movie builds towards a horrifying climax. Mendoza has built an intriguing, great-looking film that he expertly guides you through. His is a voice and vision I'm excited to see grow from this already-strong base. In terms of performance, Ishida owns the screen. Her Emily is scared, confused, complicated - and Ishida gracefully brings each of those facets to the forefront. She is the face of the movie, and she is more than up to the task.<br />
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I've had the opportunity to see and review quite a few great independent horror features, and in communicating with the filmmakers and performers, I'm always happy to see the passion and the excitement they have in creating something new and something unlike the paint-by-numbers too often seen in big studio fare. I'm excited to see what these creative people having coming down the pike, and really hope to see more from Mendoza and Ishida.<br />
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<i>I Am A Ghost</i> is available on DVD and VOD, and if you'd like more information, check out their website <a href="http://iamaghost.com/">right here</a>.<br />
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In the meantime, check out the trailer:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zTZpW9h7hZU" width="420"></iframe><br />Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-29231125736595588692014-02-10T14:16:00.001-05:002014-02-10T14:16:44.996-05:00Dead Before Dawn (2012) Don't Play With Curses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM4L93MgkBt_vsMHcDJSdBdoYfAnftUB64Sgedn-BzbswwdcuOHdfUM0Eu_maFdcxXd5Ptj_G3LaL33gO_2dcjXrzZxUnSPt8TI82RaMnhg8tKg_6CgioKlmWTsBetn6y6Ff4dty6wXUt/s1600/Dead_Before_Dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM4L93MgkBt_vsMHcDJSdBdoYfAnftUB64Sgedn-BzbswwdcuOHdfUM0Eu_maFdcxXd5Ptj_G3LaL33gO_2dcjXrzZxUnSPt8TI82RaMnhg8tKg_6CgioKlmWTsBetn6y6Ff4dty6wXUt/s1600/Dead_Before_Dawn.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
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So when I watched <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-bell-witch-haunting-2013-i-tried-i.html"><i>The Bell Witch Haunting</i></a> on a whim, I insisted that I could no longer trust my whims.<br />
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But then I watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1989485/"><i>Dead Before Dawn</i></a> on a whim, and well...I feel a little more trust in my whims again.<br />
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Now, I know that <i>Dead Before Dawn </i>wasn't received with open arms like other horror comedies. Some liked it, many didn't. But they're not writing this review...I am, and I declare that I found it to be snappy, fast-paced, fun, and often hilarious. I also realize that horror comedies can be really hit or miss. Three of my favorite movies, horror or otherwise, lean heavily towards comedy: <i>Shaun of the Dead</i>, <i>Zombieland</i>, and <i>Tucker and Dale vs. Evil</i>. They set the bar really high. There's dozens more that can't match the perfect blend of frights and follies, but every so often, you run across a movie that still does a great job in its attempt.<br />
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Written by Tim Doiron and directed by April Mullen, the movie opens with a young boy witnessing his father being possessed by a demon in a store full of occult items. Later in life, that same boy, Casper Galloway (Devon Bostick of <i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid</i>) is a jumpy but quick-witted young man who has a close circle of eccentric friends and a crush on a popular girl, Charlotte (Martha McIsaac). When Casper's grandfather, Horus (Christopher Lloyd), wins a lifetime achievement award from occult enthusiasts, he recruits Casper to watch the store. Of course, Casper is hesitant, but does out of respect for his grandfather. When his friends come to visit him, an urn containing a malevolent spirit is broken. Casper freaks out, but the others joke about a "curse," rattling off ideas of what the curse might be. Turns out that what they say comes to pass: people turn into zombie/demon hybrids called "zemons" when they make eye contact with any of the gang. Also, oddly enough, if a person french-kisses a zemon, the zemon will become their slave. Oh, yes, and they have to reverse the curse before dawn or they become zemons as well.<br />
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As you might guess, the night goes south from there. <br />
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It doesn't take long for the group to figure out that the curse is real, but not before there is carnage and confusion. From there, it becomes a race against time to reverse what's happened before the sun rises.<br />
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I found <i>Dead Before Dawn</i> to be snappy with quick moments of hilarity and a likable cast of characters. Lloyd even manages to sneak in a "Great Scott!" for all you <i>Back To The Future</i> fans. Bostick is energetic and jumpy as Casper, and it I could see where that might grind on people after a while. Still, his reactions are often funny and in some cases, genuine. The rest of the cast seems to be having a great time making the movie, and you'll catch a couple interesting cameos by Kevin McDonald of <i>Kids In The Hall</i> and Boyd Banks of the <i>Dawn of the Dead</i> remake.<br />
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The movie was fun in my eyes, and went a long way to restore my faith in my "oh-let-me-take-a-look-at-this-film" whims. The script by Doiron, who plays mug-obsessed Seth, and the direction by Mullen, who plays Casper's best friend and photographer Becky, are very key aspects in lending the film its youthful energy.<br />
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Now, for your viewing enjoyment, here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rqN4AggoCAw" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-66405726704654202672014-02-05T20:28:00.003-05:002014-02-05T20:28:39.436-05:00The Bell Witch Haunting (2013) I Tried, I Really Tried<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Well, that was something.<br />
<br />
Ah, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2991532/"><i>The Bell Witch Haunting</i></a>. I should have known better. Those rascals at The Asylum got me again, this time with a <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/05/paranormal-activity-2007-maybe-turn.html"><i>Paranormal Activity</i></a> copy that had some accidentally decent scenes, but was mostly filled with surreal, head-scratching moments that made you wonder if you were watching the pre-editing version.<br />
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There are no credits. Before and after the movie, there are no credits. Not even an "Alan Smithee." The movie just kicks right in, and it's pretty straightforward. In fact, you've seen it before with <i>Paranormal Activity</i>. Family buys a house in the Tennessee town where the original Bell Witch hauntings happened. Strange things begin to happen. People die. Stranger things happen. More people die. Family decides to have the house exorcised. Really bad things happen. A showdown in the woods and local caves leads to an abrupt and confusing ending.<br />
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That's pretty much the plot. I mean, if you want details, I can tell you that it's a family of four, with the daughter recording things during her "fashion blog," and the brother interested in making a movie about the weird things happening around him. So, yeah, it's a found footage film. About a haunting. With ambient music building to warn you when something is about to happen. Pretty much <i>Paranormal Activity.</i><br />
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But...but the logic-defying things that happen. Forget about the ghosts and demons and poltergeists. There's a whole laundry lists of things that I just can't explain, and they're scarier than the movie. It might help to ease the pain if you read the following questions in the voice of Jerry Seinfeld:<br />
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* If the movie takes place in Tennessee during January, why are they having pool parties and dressing in shorts? I've been stranded in that great state during blizzards in January, and I only wished I could have a pool party. And what the hey, <i>palm trees</i>?<br />
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* A couple dies under mysterious circumstances after leaving the pool party at the beginning. Why aren't they ever mentioned again?<br />
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* The house seems to be in a suburban area, with lots of neighbors. Why are there suddenly woods everywhere? I can accept that the house sits on the edge of a wooded area, but when one girl wanders off by herself, suddenly they're in the deep woods.<br />
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* And speaking of the neighborhood, why did they move next door to a junkyard? Oh, wait, that's property formerly owned by the elder Bell back in the 19th century. Okay.<br />
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* I think they could have expanded on the father's power of premonition. He has a bandage on his forearm, then he doesn't, then he suffers an injury to that forearm, then he has the bandage back. He should have known.<br />
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* The kid is so excited to document things happening in his house and to his family, so why doesn't he review his tapes? All it would take is a "here, check this out" and that family would be outta there.<br />
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* All these objects moving, strange voices, electricians getting zapped, friends and neighbors dying, and the family is most concerned with...unpacking.<br />
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* Proofreading? "January 21th"? The mom's name changing from Jeanette to Martha? I...I...I think my brain is crying. So much more...so, so much more.<br />
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OK, so you know me, I'll try to find something good even in movies that I just didn't enjoy. So, here goes: the actors are trying. They are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing. The daughter, Dana, played by Cat Alter, stood out. Her character suffers the brunt of the hauntings, and she does play the materialistic and ultimately frightened young girl very well. There are a couple of decent jump scares as well, and those two factors saved it from being a total loss.<br />
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It blatantly copied <i>Paranormal Activity</i> and did so pretty boldly. That low hum of ambient music is the most telling. It just wasn't my cup of tea, but it did make me pine for a <i>Mystery Science Theater 3000</i> version of it.<br />
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Still, it was no <i>Hardly Working</i>.<br />
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Here's the trailer if you're so inclined to view it:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FTQ9ENU97WU" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-29094549947457826222014-01-24T19:46:00.000-05:002014-01-24T19:48:40.094-05:00We Are What We Are (2013) Now I'm Hungry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yeah, I'm hungry, but I may never look at stew the same way again.<br />
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Let me just say that I'm increasingly impressed by director Jim Mickle. I first saw his work on the daring zombie-rat thriller<i> <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2009/07/point-of-having-blog-is-to-blog.html">Mulberry Street</a></i>, then in what I believe is one of the very best vampire movies I've ever seen, <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2011/05/stake-land-2010-quality-over-quantity.html"><i>Stake Land</i></a>. Mickle and co-writer/frequent star Nick Damici add another quality entry onto their resume with<i> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2309021/">We Are What We Are</a></i>, a remake of the 2010 Mexican film, <i>Somos lo que hay</i>. Mickle and Damici go in a somewhat different direction and the result is a quietly creepy film that is photographed beautifully and well-crafted with suspense and some genuine chills.<br />
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The matriarch of a small, unassuming family (Kassie DePaiva of TV's <i>One Life To Live</i>...don't ask me how I knew that) suddenly dies one rainy day, and the family is consumed with grief. They're a bit of an odd family, the girls (Julia Garner and Ambyr Childers) pale and soft-spoken, but very close with each other and their younger brother (Jack Gore). Despite the death of their mother and through the kindness of the town (especially the motherly neighbor played by Kelly McGillis), the father (Bill Sage) insists that they will go ahead with some kind of ritual that their family has observed for decades. While the father is very spiritual, the ritual is less religion than it is tradition. In the meantime, a local doctor (Michael Parks) stumbles across a finger bone after the rains and is determined to find out its origins. He's got the extra added motivation of having had his teenage daughter go missing - maybe this is her? It's not a total spoiler to say that the Parker clan's ritual involves dining. Missing people + a dining ritual? I think you can put two and two together here.<br />
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The girls, Iris (Childers) and Rose (Garner) struggle with the idea of the ritual, wondering if they should rebel against their quietly firm (but simmering with rage) father. Iris wants to act on her attraction to the deputy (Wyatt Russell), a former high school crush. Rose wants to get their brother out of the house and away from the ritual. Meanwhile, Doc Barrow (Parks) is closing in on the truth about the Parker clan and what may have happened to his daughter.<br />
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I won't spoil the ending, but it takes an intriguing strange turn that doesn't really seem out of place at all, despite what happens. <i>We Are What We Are</i> is a beautiful-looking movie, with a structure and frame that really speaks to the telling of a story. Director Mickle can put another knot in his success belt, in my opinion, as he tells an atmospheric, steadily-building story that has its abundant quiet moments coupled with scenes of meaty gore and bloodletting. The acting was really good all around, with Sage showing understated menace, Garner and Childers showing a struggle with innocence, and Parks as a sad, hopeful, and vengeful father.<br />
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Now, while you wait for dinner, enjoy the trailer...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KXKogr0O-Zc" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-62441941012021898902014-01-20T18:28:00.001-05:002014-04-02T21:46:26.106-04:00You're Next (2011) Livin' Up To The Hype<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY6ZOh_e-5cfWfDkCoCUkGVE2BvCzI_3NGzUz92dyQKiX3h9ABO3U0Vcyy5fA1UfyZkpL81cJ1zy_4fdVrn2wGy-yRa33aYRhlLjGWojN-w__O0WJrAVi7MvLxZzOC4AyRH0vJZdvRMhL/s1600/youre_next_ver3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY6ZOh_e-5cfWfDkCoCUkGVE2BvCzI_3NGzUz92dyQKiX3h9ABO3U0Vcyy5fA1UfyZkpL81cJ1zy_4fdVrn2wGy-yRa33aYRhlLjGWojN-w__O0WJrAVi7MvLxZzOC4AyRH0vJZdvRMhL/s1600/youre_next_ver3.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
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Yep, it was exactly as good as I thought it would be.<br />
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The home invasion subgenre of the horror film is extremely hit or miss. Nice people in a house, bad guys break in, yadda yadda yadda, blood everywhere and maybe one nice person left alive. It can be a formula, as most films are anyway, but when the filmmakers spice it up with snappy dialogue or strong characters or well-executed twists, it peaks my interest.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853739/"><i>You're Next</i></a> was made in 2011 and made the festival rounds before its wide release in 2013. Written by Simon Barrett and directed by Adam Wingard, it's a well-paced, energetically creepy whodunnit with one of the best "final girls" in recent memory.<br />
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At a remote but opulent seasonal home, Paul and Aubrey Davison (Rob Moran and Barbara Crampton) prepare to welcome their children for an anniversary celebration. It's a big home, still being renovated, and it makes lots of nice little bumps and creaks. Crispian Davison (A. J. Bowen) and his Australian girlfriend Erin (Sharni Vinson) make their way to the home, and it's hinted at how dysfunctional the Davison family is. Erin is happy to make the trip, though. Once everyone is there, it doesn't take long for the dinner to break down into bickering, passive aggression, accusations, and...oh, yeah, a dinner guest getting a crossbow bolt in his forehead. From there, it all breaks down as three men in farm animal masks begin picking off the family one by one. With no leader stepping up, Erin rises to the occasion, trying to keep herself and the remaining family members alive. And there's definitely more than meets the eye in regards to Erin, and in regards to the entire sticky situation.<br />
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The movie will take you on some twisty turns and one crazy-fun ride as you peel back more and more to find out the answers. Everything fits in this movie, from the writing to the direction to the acting by a great ensemble cast of genre veterans and newcomers. Bowen and Crampton are horror movie favorites, and the movie features appearances by producer/actor Larry Fessenden (<a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-sell-dead-2008-yay-fun-movie.html"><i>I Sell The Dead</i></a>), writer Barrett, director Ti West (<i><a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/03/house-of-devil-2009-never-trust-francis.html">The House of the Devil</a>, <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2012/01/innkeepers-2011-go-ahead-stay-for-night.html">The Inkeepers</a></i>), and actor/director Joe Swanberg (<a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2012/09/vhs-2012-modern-campfire-stories.html"><i>V/H/S</i></a>). It's truly Vinson's movie, however, as she breaks out in her performance as Erin.<br />
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Like I said: definitely a fun ride, and several notches above the usual home-invasion horror/suspense offering. Fine acting and a truly suspenseful and often a tad gory journey through a night of terror, secrets, and boards with nails in them.<br />
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Now, here's the trailer to enjoy...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ufUQWpEkbf0" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-86666452156740745112014-01-06T21:24:00.000-05:002014-01-06T21:24:44.777-05:00Open Grave (2013) A Twist On The Whodunnit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwl8G9iq6a_XbTuAwtFlFvnqPSQQIKluc3OyIuZ0DjkXs4PaHlUWgPP-5Fzn18BOTqfK2DQlA9Q3zwK7lYzU0zltSZC8bcyVvcUiHEWvfVUjkkgX3GZY6DCt1yNWarVCJytEfBpVu-caS/s1600/open-grave-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwl8G9iq6a_XbTuAwtFlFvnqPSQQIKluc3OyIuZ0DjkXs4PaHlUWgPP-5Fzn18BOTqfK2DQlA9Q3zwK7lYzU0zltSZC8bcyVvcUiHEWvfVUjkkgX3GZY6DCt1yNWarVCJytEfBpVu-caS/s1600/open-grave-poster.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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The "whodunnit" subgenre of mystery always holds possibilities for something fun. From guessing the "who" to the "why," it's the next best thing in audience participation to actually being there. And it's easy: just keep watching or reading and the mystery will be solved.<br />
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The problem with reviewing whodunnits is accidentally revealing spoilers. So, I'll do what I can, but I can only go so far. Seriously, I can't even put the right labels on this blog entry without revealing what happens in the film,<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2071550/"> <i>Open Grave</i></a>. Part of the fun is getting there, and slipping in a label that spoils it: no fun.<br />
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<i>Open Grave</i> was written by Chris and Eddie Borey and directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego (<i>Apollo 18</i>), and stars Sharlto Copely (<i>District 9, The A-Team</i>) as a man who suddenly awakens in a pit during a late-night thunderstorm. Lightning flashes reveal the soft, squishy ground he's recovered on: the pit is filled with dead bodies. Before he can do a total freakout, and wracked with pain from some unknown cause, someone lowers a rope down and helps him out. The man finds a house in the darkness, occupied by several other jumpy, rightfully paranoid people. The thing is, no one knows who they are. Their memories are pretty much wiped, although there is some instinct memory. One of them knows how to load and reload a gun. Another can speak Latin. But all of them have no idea how they got to this house, why the pit is full of dead people, and how the puncture marks got on their arms. Slowly, the group searches for clues and starts to realize that something is definitely not quite right. In some areas, there are dead bodies bound to trees with barbed wire. One of the group who presumes he was a soldier encounters an emaciated man trapped in a barbed wire fence - an encounter that goes south really quickly.<br />
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I can't go past this point without including clues that point toward the twists that make up the rest of the movie. It goes in a direction I wasn't expecting, and that's not a bad thing. All I can say is that it's an interesting take on a somewhat familiar scenario. Clues come in, but it keeps you guessing until the revelation kicks in.<br />
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Despite a couple slow spots, and they really weren't even that slow, I found the story engaging and had some fun trying to put the pieces together. The acting was very good, especially from Copely. He's never disappointed me, and he is great in this. Josie Ho, who plays the mute woman who also can't communicate in English, takes the ball and runs with it. She provides clues and emotional insight with facial expressions and body language, connecting us to the movie without a word. The movie just plain looks good as well. I wasn't much of a fan of López-Gallego's previous effort, <i>Apollo 18</i>. It wasn't horrible, but just didn't mesh with me. <i>Open Grave </i>was more my flavor, and I found it worth the money to rent it.<br />
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So, you think <i>you've</i> had it weird when you wake up in a place you don't recognize, make sure you still have your memories. Until next time, dear readers, check out the trailer...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CID6KYVxl6I" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-42030542587541558112014-01-03T16:52:00.000-05:002014-01-03T16:52:00.771-05:00Stoker (2013) Hitchcockian Heebie-Jeebies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3IWZQxGpyI0Cyag-kFhanvT9nRfibPKtnGgppOVFlUhbC2Ibr2VM7dTtuCZJgCnl-rC_TCJ_PzF6j2ljwDKVcg5XfycO2QWZGMIlGa0JCwOHoWXa1XjVMw0ugSxluAMFq5Tov70E0Re3/s1600/Stoker_Movie-Poster-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3IWZQxGpyI0Cyag-kFhanvT9nRfibPKtnGgppOVFlUhbC2Ibr2VM7dTtuCZJgCnl-rC_TCJ_PzF6j2ljwDKVcg5XfycO2QWZGMIlGa0JCwOHoWXa1XjVMw0ugSxluAMFq5Tov70E0Re3/s320/Stoker_Movie-Poster-2013.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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OK, this will be the first blog entry that I've written that will take time over two years to write. Well, not really. I started it on New Year's Eve, 2013, and hopefully will finish it in 2014. The way I've been blogging lately, I can't seem to guarantee that.<br />
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Nonetheless, let me tell you a little about what I thought of 2013's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682180/"><i>Stoker</i></a>. The movie, written by Wentworth Miller (one of the stars of TV's <i>Prison Break</i>) and directed by Park Chan-Wook (the original cult film <i>Oldboy</i>), pays tribute to the great Alfred Hitchcock without ever really ripping him off. Miller stated in interviews that he was inspired by Hitchcock's <i>Shadow Of A Doubt</i>, and I do see a touch of <i>Hamlet</i> in the basics, but the finished product here completely stands on its own.<br />
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The story follows India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) who both celebrates her 18th birthday and mourns her father (Dermot Mulroney), who dies in a car accident. A quiet, awkward young lady (who is also a crack shot thanks to hunting trips with her late dad), she's torn apart, but keeps her feelings quiet. Her mother, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) unravels and barely holds on to any form of stability. Enter India's uncle, Charlie (Matthew Goode), a charming and charismatic fellow who's been traveling the world, living adventures that the sheltered India can only dream about. Right away, you know there's something not quite right with Charlie, but hey, there's something not quite right about the entire Stoker family at this point. Despite protests from other family members, Charlie insinuates himself into the Stoker household. And what's not to like when you first meet Charlie? He's eloquent, refined, plays piano, and has a sweet ride. Still, he's pretty creepy. Not uncle-falling-asleep-on-the-recliner-in-his-tighty-whities creepy, but don't-turn-your-back-keep-him-in-sight-at-all-times creepy. No spoilers here, but the movie hurtles quietly towards a collision between the truth about Charlie and India's painful coming of age. What intentions Charlie has and how life will unfold for India are things you'll just have to check out for yourself.<br />
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The movie is well-paced and beautifully shot, as Park Chan-Wook comes from the recent wave of Korean directors who paint lavish pictures on film. Each shot is carefully crafted, guiding you by the eyes. Miller's story is compelling and mysterious, pushing more and more tension on you until the final moments, including the little twist at the end.<br />
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<i>Stoker </i>showed up on a lot of top 10 lists for the year, and I can see why. There are no supernatural elements here, but yeah, that creepiness factor is ratcheted up a few notches thanks to Goode's performance. I mean, he was measured and deliberate in <i>Watchmen</i>, but really carries that over to this role. Wasikowska and Kidman are equally great as daughter and mother, struggling with age and responsibility as well as mourning.<br />
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So until Uncle Charlie shows up on your doorstep, take a peek at the trailer right here...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JNpDG4WR_74" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-67606090655971511392013-12-01T19:57:00.001-05:002013-12-01T19:59:05.991-05:00Some Guy Who Kills People (2011) Some Pleasant Surprises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBJ9omWqPNCSDdWtPGkXcIS2J9uFau_QmmevefxWarQO8H_72x5ZMSDZRy0AMqO4joTjBgKedg8Hi2QyioP7ynpozLcvl2TQul0WXRdxlwom25B2E_H5UDuoYOXkcIz9SviQp_shnO4Kb/s1600/some+guy+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBJ9omWqPNCSDdWtPGkXcIS2J9uFau_QmmevefxWarQO8H_72x5ZMSDZRy0AMqO4joTjBgKedg8Hi2QyioP7ynpozLcvl2TQul0WXRdxlwom25B2E_H5UDuoYOXkcIz9SviQp_shnO4Kb/s1600/some+guy+poster.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had heard a little bit about this small film called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568341/"><i>Some Guy Who Kills People</i></a>, and with that title alone, I knew I had to take a look. It smacks of horror-comedy with a wink and a nod which, when done right, is usually a good time at the movies. I didn't get that, but what I got was definitely a nice surprise. Yeah, sure, the wink and nod were there, but what I didn't expect was how much heart the movie had. While fitting firmly in the horror genre, it also owes a lot to the whodunnit as events unfold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b8RXSqtGIkvgeqrQmEBW1UO9eRoLJreRdpDBAK6OOkq39w0OvcDtoVyyXU5nHB-OHgPj1BzZuu1uUtqpZMvs1bWXffa7dUtSD9F7Ny69CCiLq_4C338ParkqskKoUd_L7X55Y7vxRoPX/s1600/SomeGuyWhoKillsPeople-Still2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b8RXSqtGIkvgeqrQmEBW1UO9eRoLJreRdpDBAK6OOkq39w0OvcDtoVyyXU5nHB-OHgPj1BzZuu1uUtqpZMvs1bWXffa7dUtSD9F7Ny69CCiLq_4C338ParkqskKoUd_L7X55Y7vxRoPX/s320/SomeGuyWhoKillsPeople-Still2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Written by Ryan A. Levin and directed by Jack Perez, <i>Some Guy Who Kills People</i> is the story of hapless Kevin Boyd (Kevin Corrigan), a man just coming off a stay at a local mental hospital after suffering a nervous breakdown and overwhelming depression. He lives with his mom (Karen Black), works in an ice cream shop with his one friend Irv (Leo Fitzpatrick), and has sad memories of a group of bullies literally torturing him. One of those bullies, now older and fatter, suddenly turns up dead with a hand axe buried in his forehead. Sheriff Fuller (Barry Bostwick) attempts to solve the crime, which turns plural when another of the former bullies shows up dead (and headless) - all the while wooing Kevin's mom. What Kevin refuses to realize is that he has more going for him than he thinks: he's caught the eye of a young British woman named Stephanie (Lucy Davis), he's a fantastic artist, and he finally meets his 11-year-old daughter, Amy (Ariel Gade), the product of a one-night stand years before. Amy is a breath of fresh air in his life, even if he doesn't want to breathe. She's brilliant and straightforward, and also has problems he can relate to. But there's that pesky issue of former bullies turning up dead. Everything sets on a collision course in Act 3 that I just won't spoil here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegH84_U-eRXkhLlfqQAUid92_W7xnq9sm6Fp9LcLSjPKjoaEoBjODM_L5t02u5DTYbt0TGU0AX7YD0AxqPv7fPb-eUgZLTCY_hibgT1_vgRdUJA4krj8jLS9hhRgR6hURdRj8ms7Qr1xA/s1600/Some-Guy-Who-Kills-People-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegH84_U-eRXkhLlfqQAUid92_W7xnq9sm6Fp9LcLSjPKjoaEoBjODM_L5t02u5DTYbt0TGU0AX7YD0AxqPv7fPb-eUgZLTCY_hibgT1_vgRdUJA4krj8jLS9hhRgR6hURdRj8ms7Qr1xA/s320/Some-Guy-Who-Kills-People-010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really like it when I set out to see a movie, expecting it to be pretty good, and discovering it to be really, really good. That was the case with <i>Some Guy Who Kills People</i>. It's deftly written and directly, and the acting is tremendous. Corrigan, who played a mysterious information broker on the great sci-fi series <i>Fringe</i>, is perfect as Kevin. He comes across as awkward, nervous, unsure of himself yet harboring dark secrets. He doesn't say much at first, and when he does, it's in short bursts. Gade is amazing as Kevin's daughter, Amy. Whip-smart and outgoing, she's the complete opposite of her father, and she is comfortable and natural in the role. Bostwick is also outstanding as the town sheriff, equal parts dim bulb and brilliant detective. He commands every scene he's in, and offers some of the movie's best lines of dialogue. He's funny, and you often wish he'd use his brain a little more, but man, is he likable. Really, everyone has shining moments in this film, supporting and main characters. Davis is sweet and awkward, and the late Karen Black plays the mother as complex and often mean, but ultimately she's a mother who loves her son.<br />
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Pleasant surprises are always welcome when I'm watching a movie, and <i>Some Guy Who Kills People</i> brought some heart and soul to a familiar pair of genres. Just good stuff from beginning to end. Great way to cap off the holiday weekend!<br />
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Until next time, dear readers, here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LJnQ4yYFDEk" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-18460306419127861492013-10-28T20:41:00.001-04:002013-10-28T20:41:04.774-04:00Baggage (2013) Including Interviews With Rob Dimension and Jeremiah Kipp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBehtwzsaCDWKnqwhSugYbEHL3cHCIWgorQ5I2P_AXQbA-lSGYdJVhZsDIHybaIVqEbX2GwElvgtjbXN5mYLmgpmbXb4mKxqGG6M5oSKERRgx9vbROCXUxbQyFyw1mIuLhl_ugbuVbOPAD/s1600/bagagge+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBehtwzsaCDWKnqwhSugYbEHL3cHCIWgorQ5I2P_AXQbA-lSGYdJVhZsDIHybaIVqEbX2GwElvgtjbXN5mYLmgpmbXb4mKxqGG6M5oSKERRgx9vbROCXUxbQyFyw1mIuLhl_ugbuVbOPAD/s320/bagagge+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love a good short film, and I especially love a good short horror film. Trying to cram quality thrills and chills into a shorter time frame is a challenge and a chance to show off some really great creative chops.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So when my friend, director Jeremiah Kipp, made me aware of a short film he'd made with another friend, actor/writer Rob Dimension, I jumped at the chance. I've reviewed two of Jeremiah's other films, <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2010/02/jeremiah-kipps-contact-2009-drugs-can.html"><i>Contact</i></a> and <a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2011/04/crestfallen-2011-wordless-and-powerful.html"><i>Crestfallen</i></a>, so I knew I was going to be in for something really good. And I was not disappointed.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Baggage</i> is a short black and white film written and starring Dimension, and directed by Kipp. Believe me, I'm not going to reveal one single spoiler about this movie because even hinting at it would ruin the surprise. I can tell you that the film centers on a put-upon office worker trying to make it through his day, then simply trying to have a drink at a local tavern. When a couple of ne'er-do-wells try to accost him and steal his duffel bag, it escalates into something...well, you'd just have to see. I'm not spoiling it.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film unveils itself like a puzzle, with things falling into place as the story reveals more and more. Dimension is great as the mousy, tentative office worker who is a magnet for jeers and pitying glances. His character is so intriguing simply from body language and posture, as well as his hushed, unoffensive tones when he speaks. Pulling double-duty as the screenwriter, Dimension's script melds perfectly with Kipp's direction, and Kipp is no stranger to bringing visceral and emotional images to the screen, no matter what those emotions may be. I've long been a fan of Kipp's work, and now you can add Dimension to the list of quickly-rising filmmakers who I will be following - and touting - for years to come.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also had a chance to ask both guys some questions about <i>Baggage</i> - let's start with the film's writer and star, Rob Dimension:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What inspired the story? Do you have any literary and film inspirations that directly influenced this film?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First,
thank you for watching<i> Baggage</i>...I appreciate it. <i>Baggage</i> was a story
that started as a talk a few years ago, between myself and a friend of
mine, Sal Valente. We were eating lunch and started to discuss how you
never know who you are sitting next to in a restaurant or even who you
live next to. The world is a crazy place...people are crazy. So, after
finishing <i>No Clowning Around</i> and having some mild success, I was
thinking of a new film to write and <i>Baggage</i> evolved from that. After I
was finished writing, I sent Sal the script and he says, "I can't believe
you've taken one discussion and made all of this."</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Typically,
I've noticed my writing is influenced by the my current movie or
television watching. I was on a kick of watching a lot of Hitchcock and <i>
Twilight Zone</i> episodes. I really was in love with the black and white
look and the use of shadows. I also was at a point where I was thinking
about camera movement and how it can affect emotions and uneasiness. I
was just in a classic state of mind, I guess.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How did you and Jeremiah Kipp get together for this production?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
had seen a short film titled <i>Crestfallen</i> and absolutely fell in love
with the movie. The atmosphere, the visuals, just loved the look. At the
time I was hosting a small Horror Club and we were showing independent
films, so I messaged the people behind the film and one of then was
Jeremiah Kipp. Fast forward about a year or so...<i>No Clowning Around</i> gets
accepted at a film festival and Jeremiah was going to attend, so I shot
him a message and we ended up meeting. The crazy thing is I basically
just pitch him an outline about <i>Baggage</i> and he looks at me and says, "I'm
in!" I was flattered and extremely excited and we've become great
friends since. It was really just me taking a chance to reach out to
someone who I respected and it worked out.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How was the process of making the film? Smooth, challenging...any funny stories?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
process is long but always fulfilling, I mean that. I wanted Jeffrey
Gould and his partner Steve Adams (who will be co-directing my newest
film - <i>Quackers</i> in 2014) to handle the cinematography and these guys
killed it. Jeremiah is a solid director...he pulls no punches, he is
intense and is extremely professional. Every person involved was ready
for the challenge and they all delivered. We filmed for five days and about
60 hours, plus on the fourth day, we filmed for nearly 24 hours. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
were scheduled to film a chase and mugging scene outside but the
weather decided to be uncooperative...which I feel added to the film and
made it better, but we needed to scramble for a different location. In
<i>Baggage</i>, you see Benjamin at the train station and while filming, we
came across a small subway tunnel that got you to the other platform. I
mentioned to Jeremiah that the tunnel would be a good and we committed
to making that the spot for this scene. </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
next day we start filming and we leave some of our belongings on top of
the platform, so my wife, Kim, continues to check on our stuff. She
occasionally pops her head up and checks to make sure everything is
still there. The next thing we know, we have police there with guns out.
The tunnel has two sides and we had cops on each entrance and we had to
explain we were filming. They had three more police cars on the
way...they thought we were terrorists. It made for an interesting moment
of panic. The good thing was we had a permit and were completely legal
to be there...but it was scary for a moment.</span></span></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What do you hope happens with the film? Festivals, distribution, more film?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, people can purchase the DVD at <a href="http://www.youvebeenrobbedfilms.com/">www.YouveBeenRobbedFilms.com</a>
and <i>Baggage</i> has been accepted to several film festivals as well is
being shown in a few spots for Halloween. <i>Baggage</i> also was shown at
Monster-Mania convention in August, which was a massive thrill. </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">People
can see my first film <i>No Clowning Around</i> online for a short time also
on my site. I just finished the script for our next film titled
<i>Quackers</i>. <i>Quackers</i> was a concept pitched to me by Buz Hasson from the
Living Corpse comic series and I just got busy writing and elaborating
on the concept. The Living Corpse team of Buz, Ken and Blair will be
working on original artwork for the film also. Jeffrey Gould and Steve
Adams will be co-directing the film and handling the
cinematography...I'm super excited. I think I have an extremely talented
team. I honestly think this is my best screenplay and story yet. People
can read more about it and stay up on things at <a href="http://www.youvebeenrobbedfilms.com/" target="_blank">www.YouveBeenRobbedFilms.com</a> or follow me on Twitter at @RobDimension.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How was the transition from one form of entertainment (wrestling) to another (film)? Similarities and differences?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
was involved with professional wrestling for almost 15 years. Wrestling
taught me so many things...it taught me performance and working in
front of large crowds. It taught me to drop my inhibitions and be a
character and not be scared of the camera. It also gave me an outlet for
writing, as I wrote storylines and even wrote for live TV. It also is
the harshest reality check about business and people. It really makes
you become your own biggest, promoter. I'm fortunate and love to talk,
so I think that has also helped make the transition easier.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
of my wrestling career I was a villain, so I guess playing an over the
top villain in movies is like a lateral move...haha! I've always loved
horror films...so I just decided to get off my ass and decided to make
what I wanted to see. I encourage anyone who is sitting, debating to
create something...go do it. It's the greatest reward when it's
finished. When I got the final cut of <i>No Clowning Around</i>, I remember
sitting on my sofa and just crying...I felt accomplished.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And here's director Jeremiah Kipp with more insight:</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How was it working with Rob? Do you see more
collaboration in the future?</b>
</span></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Rob is an intense and charismatic guy, with a wicked self-deprecating sense of
humor.<span> </span>What I loved about our work
together was his sheer willingness to push himself as far as he needed to
go.<span> </span>He was playing a troubled
character, and he’s so committed that I think in many ways he took the work
home with him.<span> </span>But on set, you
knew the material had strength to it.<span>
</span>I’d work with him again in a second; we’ve talked about it and have been
making plans.</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What drew you to the story?</b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">There was a slow building dread in the narrative that built to an operatic peak
moment at the end.<span> </span>After doing an
incredibly phantasmagoric experimental film called <i>The Days God Slept</i>, I was
intrigued by the possibility of locking into a plot-driven thriller which was
all about building a mood of tension.<span>
</span>Rob told me the story in person, and even before he asked me to direct
it, I found myself drawn into his macabre tale. It felt like a modern variation
of Edgar Allan Poe.</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What kind of visual influence played a part in how <i>Baggage</i>
looked and felt?</b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">The director of photography Jeffrey Scott Gould shares a tremendous enthusiasm
for Alfred Hitchcock’s <i>Psycho</i> and Martin Scorsese’s <i>Taxi Driver</i>.<span> </span>We took the classical black and white
1960s retro feel and pushed that into areas of the grotesque.</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Will we see <i>Baggage</i> at any festivals or screenings?</b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">It has been having a strong festival life so far, playing at Monster Mania, New
Jersey HorrorFest, Macabre Faire Film Festival and DOA Blood Bath
Entertainment’s Blood Bath V Film Festival. We’re happy to be able to present
the film to audiences, and hope they enjoy.</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Were there any funny behind-the-scenes stories?</b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">There must have been, but when I lock into making a movie it’s all about the
execution.<span> </span>It’s not that I don’t
like to have a good time; it’s just that I place all of my thought into making
what’s happening in the frame as expressive as possible.<span> </span>I remember doing crazy stuff like
making the actors jump up and down until they were exhausted; I made Rob sprint
across city blocks for half a day, we put actors through some grueling special
effects makeup. And yet I remember having a really good time making this movie,
and had the sense that we were surrounded by generous friends who were excited
about the work. That’s what I probably remember best; working with people I
love and trust as well as making new friends.<span> </span>There was that one moment we were filming a scene where the
local police surrounded us because what we were doing seemed criminal, but we
were able to laugh about it later…</span><br />
<br />
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="im">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What's coming up on your schedule in terms of filmmaking?</b></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Right now, I’m going into production on a new scary movie called <i>The Minions</i>.<span> </span>It’s a dark urban fable
about a man’s walk home one autumn night, and he decides to walk down The
Witch’s Path. He almost makes it past safely, but then two drunken girls appear…and
they’re the minions. What happens next is not very nice…<span> </span>Find out more at:<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-minions" target="_blank"> http://www.indiegogo.com/<wbr></wbr>projects/the-minions</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to thank both Rob Dimension and Jeremiah Kipp for taking the time to answer my questions and especially for their (and their crew's) hard work on <i>Baggage</i>. I highly recommend getting your hands on it, dear readers. You really won't be disappointed. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be sure to keep an eye out for more from Rob and Jeremiah, and you'll see more coverage here!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0055ce; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time, dear survivors, see you on Halloween! </span></span></span> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div>
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Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-19930272698499460942013-10-18T19:16:00.000-04:002013-10-18T19:16:44.356-04:00The Lords of Salem (2012) Little Taste of the 70s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Somewhere in him, Rob Zombie has the most amazing horror film. He's got a singular vision, a unique eye for detail, and a deep knowledge of all genres of horror. I'm not saying his present movies are bad. For me, they're "almost there." He's got the perfect horror movie waiting in the wings, and he's almost there.<br />
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Written and directed by Zombie, <i>The Lords of Salem</i> edges ever so closer to being the definitive Rob Zombie film. It has that grindhouse look, with a 70s-style title card and aesthetic, even though it's set in modern times. With his versions of the <i>Halloween</i> movies, he still had to conform to a certain mold. But with <i>The Lords of Salem</i>, we see him going back to his "I'll do it my way, thanks" style. While <i>Lords</i> didn't totally grab me, there is a certain flair to it that intrigues me. It's that closer step to that defining movie.<br />
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The plot is straight out of 70s witch exploitation movies, and that's not really a bad thing. Sherri Moon Zombie plays Heidi, a successful Salem, Massachusetts, nighttime DJ along with her co-stars Whitey (Jeff Daniel Phillips) and Herman (Ken Foree). One night, she receives a mysterious album from a group called The Lords. Upon playing the record, the strange, archaic music causes her to feel strange and have weird visions of witches. She gets to know a researcher, Francis Mattias (Bruce Davison), who investigates the record and The Lords, and finds some horrifying connections. Meanwhile, Heidi's landlord (Judy Geeson) and her two overly-nice friends (Dee Wallace and <i>Rocky Horror Picture Show</i>'s Patricia Quinn) take a strong interest in Heidi and her role in the increasing weirdness surrounding The Lords' upcoming concert in Salem. Heidi's hallucinations increase as she fights the terrible implications they offer and her own personal demons, as she is a former drug abuser.<br />
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The visual aesthetic is what struck me the most. There is a rich palette of colors in certain scenes, especially the dream sequences. Everyday life looks like...every day life. But, yeah, those dream sequences. I saw it written somewhere else that Zombie had channeled Ken Russell in this film, and I'd say that's pretty accurate. Russell always had the most oddball, foreboding, and twisted hallucinogenic sequences in film, and you see it echoed in the work of David Lynch and Lars von Trier. Zombie goes for it here as well, and for the most part, it's not bad. I didn't like the movie as much as I liked his insane <i>House of 1000 Corpses</i> or the twisted buddy-road sequel <i>The Devil's Rejects</i>, but I definitely didn't dislike it. It fell somewhere in the middle for me, with the hints of something possibly greater waiting in the wings in future films.<br />
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Oh, yeah, lest I forget: this movie features the creepiest Meg Foster performance in years, possibly her most intense role as the ancient head of an evil coven. If you've seen <i>They Live</i>, you know who Meg Foster is. Oh, yes, if you're a fan of hers, I think you'll enjoy her scene-stealing moments in this movie. <br />
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Until next time - which will be in a couple days, actually, as I have a great interview with two independent filmmakers coming up - here's the trailer:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Y606RoSur8o" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-29911013515337515752013-09-01T13:51:00.000-04:002013-09-01T13:51:22.761-04:00Back In The Chopper With Some Capsule ReviewsYou just witnessed one of my "oh, yeah, I should probably write a blog entry today...hey, look, a shiny object" phases. I didn't slow down watching horror/suspense films, I just didn't commit to sitting down and getting some writing done. Plus, other writing endeavors took center stage. But, hey, let's get down to business. I took in quite a few movies, but wanted to highlight a few here with some capsule reviews, a few stray thoughts about a few flicks.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1836212/">All Superheroes Must Die</a> (2011)</b> - Wait, a superhero movie in a horror blog? Here's the thing, see: it's a horror/suspense movie with superheroes as protagonists. Also, I don't like making this blog too restrictive. Anyway, this low-budget offering plants a group of de-powered superheroes in a desperate situation: win unwinnable challenges put forth by a fed-up arch-nemesis (<i>Dexter</i>'s James Remar). It plays out like a <i>Saw </i>episode, with the heroes having to solve their own issues as well. It wasn't bad, and I can't help but think how much better it would have been if the characters were slightly more well-defined.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1783732/">John Dies At The End </a>(2012)</b> - Whenever you get a film from Don Coscarelli, you just know it's going to be tons of fun. And this film doesn't disappoint. Freaky, trippy, and playing the rules of space and time as well as throwing a few buckets of blood and guts at you, this film flies loose and fast and it's a thrill. Poor David needs to convince a reporter (Paul Giamatti) of an incredible story involving insane elements like strange demons, a powerful drug, portals between dimensions, and a kick-ass dog named Bark Lee. It's bizarre and has a film swagger that makes it incredibly charming.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/">Evil Dead</a> (2013)</b> - In a remake of sorts (there's apparently more than meets the eye), Sam Raimi's innovative 1981 low-budget screamer gets a modern makeover as a group of old friends gathers at the infamous cabin to stage an intervention for one of their own. Unfortunately, they discover a few grisly secrets about the cabin, including that old chestnut, The Necromonicon. Demonic possession galore and buckets of blood everywhere should please many fans. It was actually a decent effort that had a touch of uniqueness about it. Oh, yeah, and wait until the credits are done.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935896/">The ABC's of Death</a> (2012)</b> - This ambitious collection of 26 short films - each corresponding to a letter of the alphabet and created by 26 different directors - saw a lot of support and derision in the film community. I could see reasons for both opinions. Definitely a challenge to create, it obviously moves quickly. Most of the entries are in the "OK" range, while there are some that are better left not talked about. Some I really liked, including <i>A is for Apocalypse,</i> which leaves a little to the imagination as to why a woman is trying to kill a bedridden man; <i>C is for Cycle</i>, offering an odd little loop of time; <i>D is for Dogfight</i>, a wordless short about an actual dog fight with interesting changes in perspective and a good ending; <i>R is for Removed</i>, a strange bit about a man's skin being removed to be used as film and his escape from the hospital in a surreal world; and <i>V is for Vagitus (The Cry of A Newborn Baby)</i> in which it's illegal to have unregistered babies in a futuristic world and where one police unit finds more than it bargained for with one group of rebels. It's interesting to see what these established and aspiring filmmakers came up with for their respective letters, and there is something here for all tastes - both good and bad.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1905040/">Devil's Pass</a> (2013)</b> - Inspired by an actual mysterious incident in 1959 in which several experienced Russian hikers died on their way through Dyatlov Pass, Renny Harlin's 2013 film sees a group of college students filming a documentary retracing the same path. Filmed in first-person, it shows the students discovering strange followed by disturbing followed by terrifying things that make escape look more and more unlikely. What I thought might be a throwaway film turned out to be somewhat good and with an ending that makes sense. It ran off the rails towards the end, but unlike other films that go crazy, it got right back on the tracks and said "See, that's what I'm talking about." <br />
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2450186/">V/H/S/2</a> (2013)</b> - The sequel to the original first-person anthology, the framework is much the same, but this film - to me, anyway - delivered a more solid group of short films with a stronger surrounding narrative. A pair of investigators break into a home to find out what happened to a young man who disappeared. While their own story unfolds, they watch various tapes the student has lying around. The videos show stories about a man with a "camera-eye" seeing things he doesn't want, a biker in a park experiencing the beginning stages of a zombie apocalypse, a news team investigating a strange cult leader predicting the coming of a deity in Indonesia, and an alien invasion of a family's slumber party. I found the zombie and cult leader stories to be the strongest and most intriguing, but the entire film was quite good and a step up from the original.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2330322/">The Conspiracy</a> (2012) - </b>More of a thriller than a horror film, there are plenty of creeps in this neat little flick. Two guys making a documentary about conspiracy theorists go from the frying pan into the fire when the subject of their documentary disappears and they decide to track down the elusive Tarsus Club to find out what happened. You definitely know what will happen as everything unfolds, but that doesn't take away from a fine, suspenseful "mockumentary" that leaves you thinking about the consequences.<br />
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Well, dear readers, this old helicopter is back in the sky. I'll try to keep up better, and expand the blog to include more "adjacent" genres to the horror field. Hey, even more comedy.<br />
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Enjoy and thanks for reading!Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279209279393747299.post-6780393611395801512013-05-01T18:54:00.001-04:002013-05-01T18:54:16.865-04:00Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011) Better Than It Should Be<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By all rights, I shouldn't have enjoyed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1699231/"><i>Quarantine 2: Terminal</i></a>.<br />
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It's a sequel to a remake that was virtually shot-for-shot like the original. While I thought <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1082868/?ref_=sr_1"><i>Quarantine</i></a> was OK - it starred the phenomenal Jennifer Carpenter, after all - it weakened itself by not going with the original's (<a href="http://wgonhelicopter.blogspot.com/2009/08/rec-2007.html"><i>[REC]</i></a>) premise of an evil force and instead going with a "super rabies" disease infection. A sequel, by all rights, shouldn't have been good.<br />
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But it was, and I really did enjoy it. Every so often, dear readers, the movie planets align and a sequel that shouldn't exist, not only does but does it pretty well.<br />
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Written and directed by John Pogue, the film takes place a short time after the events of the first film, in which a Los Angeles apartment building is sealed off when an infection runs rampant inside. A variety of passengers board a plane on its way to Memphis. After being bitten by a rat in a teacher's carry-on, one of the passengers begins to exhibit signs of infection. When he nearly bites off an attendant's nose, it's safe to say he's on the sick side. Making an emergency landing in Las Vegas, the survivors make it into the terminal, but it's soon quarantined (see what I did there?) and that's when the fun starts. They not only have to evade infected staff, they have to deal with infections to each other, and a betrayal from within. One of the survivors is not what they seem.<br />
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There's a great string of tension running through the movie, even as the sequences run toward the formulaic. I've always said that sometimes formulaic works because the formula might be good. You know something will happen at certain times, but in this case it's OK because it falls into place. The added mystery that ties it to the first movie provides the underlying threat, the insinuation that no matter what happens to this motley group of survivors, the story really won't be over.<br />
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<i>Quarantine 2: Terminal</i> was a pleasant surprise, and it's nice to have one of those every so often. I'm not sure if the good luck would extend to a sequel, but hey, I'll take this one.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0_QXWQHHr7c" width="420"></iframe>Dodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13555228849584962346noreply@blogger.com2