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Showing posts from October, 2013

House of Voices (2004)

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I would like to wish a Happy Halloween to all of my readers, friends and family out there in the world. It is hard to imagine that three years ago, I went through my retirement ceremony from the Navy. Today, I went through another fun evening of Trick or Treating with three of my daughters.  Markie, Jillian, and Jolene While that was fun, it was another dreary Halloween, the second one in a row. To finish my viewing list from the past week, I decided to write-up House of Voices from 2004, although I should likely pass.  Plot / A young servant, Anna, arrives in Saint Ange Orphanage to work with Helena while the orphans moved to new families. Anna, who is secretly pregnant, meets the last orphan, Judith, left behind because of her mental problems; together they investigate trying to disclose the secret about the invisible children. I guess I get what I deserve when I try to find an alternative to mainstream paranormal themed movies. This one was definitely

Solomon Kane (2009)

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After attending the Uniontown Halloween Parade on Wednesday, it was time to find something to watch. For me, there is always something that I have not seen, or something that caught my eye and that was again the case. After an episode of Battlestar Galactica, it was time for a movie. My selection was the 2009 fantasy Solomon Kane. Plot/ A ruthless mercenary renounces violence after learning his soul is bound for hell. When a young girl is kidnapped and her family slain by a sorcerer's murderous cult, he is forced to fight and seek his redemption slaying evil. There is always something awesome about a flick that takes you to another time and place and this is a great example of that. Dark, atmospheric, bloody, this storyline is perfect for what this film is, a journey into redemption in the middle ages. The characterization works, as the overall feel of the film allows them to grow along the way. While some may feel that the movie has some odd or slow pacing,

Seven Below (2012)

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With Halloween just two days away, I decided to kick back and relax and see what I could find on Netflix. There are some flicks that I have passed over in the past, but could slide in this week. Before I get to my review for 7 Below, I would be remiss if I did not mention the passing of former Velvet Underground front man, and punk poet Lou Reed. Reed was an inspiration for me, and his CD, The Raven, is a perfect soundtrack for Halloween. Here is a sample. Plot/ a group of strangers are trapped in a time warp house where a terrible event transpired exactly 100 years prior. Now I know why I had bypassed this flick for so long. This one was not really worth the time I invested in watching it. A thriller, this one suffers from some head scratching flaws. From poor scripting and dialogue, to terrible sound quality, to uneven performances, this one scuttles the small creativeness allowed for in the storyline before it can get started. More importantly, as a ghost stor

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012)

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After entering the world of Silent Hill, the daughters were amazed at the dark atmosphere in the original. As Halloween draws closer, it is becoming easier to create some scares and I decided to help force some small fears by pushing the heavy atmosphere and continuing a winding road into Silent Hill. After the original, it was time for Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012). Plot/ When her father disappears, Heather Mason is drawn into a strange and terrifying alternate reality that holds answers to the horrific nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. Sequels are always difficult to judge, as they can almost never live up to the expectations set by the original. That is definitely the case here, as even though there are some positives with it, it in no way lives up to the original. There was a lot to like; the acting was decent, the creatures interesting, and the storyline stayed true to the original ideas. Sure, the pacing was off, there were too man

Silent Hill (2006)

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Now that Hamlet is in the rearview, it was nice to be able to watch some decent horror flicks last night with the daughters. What did we decide on? Well, since the Paranormal Activity franchise has because laughable even to them, I decided to let them venture into another franchise, one that may be a little darker, the realm of Silent Hill. Plot/ Based on the video game, a woman goes in search for her daughter, within the confines of a strange, desolate town called Silent Hill. Inspiration for movies can come from anywhere, and Silent Hill proved that the transition from video game to cinematic experience can be accomplished in a well done manner. Yes, it is not a perfect flick, but it is dark and atmospheric, everything that one would expect. The storyline is interesting, the gore and effects work, and the performances are on the money. More importantly, for the gamers, there are a lot of similarities in scenery and creatures between the movie and game. Of cour

Vampire Whores From Outer Space (2005)

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Now that my time as a narrator has come to an end, maybe I can get back to writing or watching some interesting flicks. Now, what I would love would be to find someone that is interested in making a no-budget horror flick and offering a script. One can only hope. Now, next up on my review agenda is another horror comedy, the 2005 no-budget flick Vampire Whores From Outer Space. Plot/ When their spaceship makes a crash-landing, the vampire whores from outer space begin sucking a small town dry in more ways than one. It's up to a pair of high-school sweethearts, back-alley abortionists, and the inept local law enforcement to stop them. When I saw this on Screambox, I had to watch it and I am glad that I did. Yes, technically, there is nothing to write home about in this movie, as it suffers from every problem that plagues no-budget indie cinema, but it is entertaining and funny. A mash-up of Sci-Fi, Horror, and Comedy, this one is far from perfect with uneven t

Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)

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Now, it is finally time to catch-up on one of the last flicks from last weekend that I have yet to review. Having been swamped with Hamlet practice all week for today’s performance, it became harder and harder to focus on stuff as the week progressed. So without further delay, the 2012 zombie comedy Cockneys vs. Zombies. Plot/ A gang of bank robbers fight their way out of a zombie-infested London . When I heard of this, I had hoped for something fun with some blood and violence. Guess what, that is exactly what this was, a fun zombie flick with some comedic dialogue and characterizations. Sure, the gore and make-up was hit and miss, but overall, it worked well within the storyline and script. On a down side, some of the performances were flat and there were some holes inside the storyline, but that only detracts a little. In the end, this movie may not have the appeal of Shaun of the Dead, but it is extremely fun and entertaining. Sure, it is not for everyone, b

Lurking Fear (1994)

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One of the best things I have done during this Halloween season, especially as I am swamped with hamlet practice at the Phoenix Arts Center (I am the narrator), was sign up for ScreamBox on YouTube. It is so nice being able to pop in an obscure low-budget horror flick as the kids are practicing. One such movie is my next select, the 1994 entry Lurking Fear from Full Moon Entertainment. Plot/ The town of Leffert's Corners has been plagued by unearthly beings for decades, and now there is only a few people left, including the local priest and a woman traumatized by the death of her sister. But when John Martense turns up to claim his illicit family fortune, with bad guys in pursuit, the last stand had become a lot more complicated. When this is advertised as an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation I had to watch. Unfortunately, I also laughed. To say this one is even loosely based may honestly be a stretch. From the archives of Full Moon, this low budget entry is not for

Evermore

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As I stare off into the unknown, my perceptions waver Until your beauty appears before me Haunting my dismal view of the world Tempting me with fantasies of your warm depths Complicating my reality There are times I can feel you near Your gentle hands caressing my emptiness Your soft voice breaking the silence of my thoughts Alone I wake to face another day Longing evermore for you The embers of your passion come to life in my heart Scorching forbidden desires into my soul In my mind I can picture the ecstasy The pleasures of our flesh as we touch The fulfillment of everything ever unspoken between us This sacred bond we share keeps me true Alive to face the unsettling despair of loneliness Wandering the damp corridors of darkness Imagining my view from your thighs Longing evermore for you There are times that I stare off into the horizon Dissecting the white patchwork splendor All for just a glimpse of your unmatched pale be

Creep Van (2012)

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After some paranormal flicks over the weekend, I decided it was time to venture into something tremendously different. While this time of year is great for the supernatural, and even witchcraft type material, there is no substitute for a good slasher. Hoping to find an interesting one, I decided upon the 2012 indie flick Creep Van.   Plot/ Life without a car can be murder. Nobody is going to learn that lesson faster than Campbell Jackson. Forced to take a dead-end position at a local car wash, Campbell sees a dilapidated 1970s van for sale. Little does he know it is the Creep Van. This was a awesome low budget slasher with some comic element tucked inside. Sure, it was not a perfect film, but it also did not portray itself in that manner. Overall, there was a lot to like within the low budget persona. The storyline works, the gore is decent, and the decision to use traditional special effects instead of CGI is commendable. On top of that, the topless scenes and

An American Ghost Story (2012)

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As I have said many times over this past month, I love Halloween and the creepiness that goes along with this season. What makes it even better is the fact that there is always some good cinema available. One thing that is even better is the fact that there is a ton of no-budget horror or supernatural related flicks that pop up. My next selection is one of those, the 2012 no-budget indie flick An American Ghost Story. Plot/ When Paul, an unemployed writer, decides to rent and live in a house that's rumored to be haunted, he puts his life and his relationships in grave danger as he obsessively attempts to get the story that will finally make his career. Also known as Revenant, the no-budget indie flick was much better than some films of equal budgets and had an interesting storyline. Yes, it did suffer from some of the normal flaws, with a lack of characterization, poor dialogue, major plot holes and some off pacing (OK slow pacing), but those are expected. T

Nothing Left to Fear (2013)

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When looking around for something to watch last night, I stumbled upon a film produced by rock icon Slash and his production company Slasher Films. For me, this was something that caught my eye, and something I had to watch. After watching Maniac, I decided on the 2013 flick, Nothing Left to Fear, Plot/ A family's journey toward a better life is interrupted by an unstable man of the cloth. The flick, the first from Slasher Films, was a bit of a mixed bag. Honestly, there was a lot to like with it, as the acting was solid, the idea was sound, and the execution of the storyline presented was good. Yes, there was a lot of poor CGI, there were many plot holes, and the characterization felt incomplete. More importantly, the pacing felt off and that brought it down. In the end, this first venture into the world of Slasher Films was better than expected. Yes, it was far from perfect, but there are a lot worse out there.

Maniac (2012)

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As I was planning out my movies for the weekend, I decided to find something darker and more violent to follow last night’s journey into the supernatural. While those movies can be hit or miss, there are some that come out and leave an imprint. That was the case for the original version of Maniac, which came out early in my youth. The question is, will the 2012 interpretation do the same thing? Plot/ Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank's obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill. I was not sure what I should expect from this remake. The original from 1980 was a solid movie, and too many times, the modern versions fail to come close to capturing wha

A Haunting at Silver Falls (2013)

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Halloween season is perfect for a ghost story; the trick is finding one that can actually live up to expectations. At this point, most a first-person hand cam or found footage, and the subgenre is running out of steam. Tonight I set out to watch something paranormal or supernatural in origin, and eventually decided upon A Haunting at Silver Falls from 2013. Plot/ A small town is haunted by the twin daughters of a wrongfully convicted man. Young Jordan is sent down the path to who the real killer is only to find the killer is very close to her. Like I said, Halloween season is perfect for a ghost story, and this one had some potential. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on that promise, instead giving away details with blatant red herrings and cliché. Yes, the acting was not bad and the were some decent moments, but that could not do anything to save the flick. There was no atmosphere, scares or even tension, the storyline was a bit incoherent within the contex