Posts

Showing posts from August, 2014

Starship: Rising (2014)

Image
As I wait for my final group project to be placed into the folder for submission by our group leader, I had time to reflect on some of the Sci-Fi flicks I have watched over the past days. Next up for review from that list is the 2014 space movie Starship: Rising.   Plot/ Starship One - the most powerful warship in the Federation, capable of destroying entire worlds. When the order is given to destroy the Earth, Flight Lieutenant John Worthy mutineers Starship One and takes on the might of the Federation. I honestly have no idea where I begin with this one. There are some points that are decent, especially for a lower budget / non-mainstream film. One of those is the look, with solid CGI, and an overall skilled appearance. However, there are some issues that I cannot get past such as the uneven scripting, slow pacing, poor characters, and some extremely incoherent moments. In the end, this is a Sci-Fi film that I truly cannot recommend for anyone unless they are t

The Bunnyman Massacre (2014)

Image
As I wait for my final project to upload for my computer science class, I decided to venture into some no-budget indie horror for my nightly review. Next up on the slab is the 2014 slasher The Bunnyman Massacre. Plot/ The adventures of Joe and Bunnyman know no limit of bloodlust and carnage. Bodies pile up as Bunnyman indiscriminately slaughters anything that crosses his path in a mutually beneficial relationship that gives Joe plenty of beef jerky to sell in his local store. This movie is proof that if you prepare for the worse, than maybe it will be beyond your expectations. While in no way am I saying this is a great movie, it did exceed what I imagined it would be like when I rented it. This sequel does surpass the original, but still left something on the table, as it did not match its potential. There definitely was a lot of blood, gore, and boobs, something that made it go by quicker than it probably should have. Unfortunately, the storyline is uneven, the

The Sacrament (2014)

Image
While it was a fun trip tonight to see Laurel Highlands defeat Elizabeth Forward in the opening game of the 2014 season, it made for a long day. Fortunately, I have a few movies to catch up on here at the blog. Next up, is the 2014 found footage thriller, The Sacrament. Plot/ A news team trails a man as he travels to an undisclosed location to find his missing sister. Upon entering "Eden Parish" and meeting the community's leader, it becomes apparent to the newcomers that this paradise may not be as it seems. I have had mixed feelings on movies by Ti West and Eli Roth, some of them I have loved, while others not so much. This is one that I actually found extremely interesting. Yes, it is not perfect, but it definitely has a lot going for it. The acting is solid, there is subtle realism, and the atmosphere is dark and heavy. Sure, there are some head scratching moments, the pacing was slow at times, and because of the basis (the Jonestown Massacre)

The Possession of Michael King (2014)

Image
I hate when I have to pull a late night at the institute, it sets the rest of my week off. Of course, I could have probably just came home, but I will admit that the overtime will look nice on my next check. Getting back to the blog, the next film to review is the 2014 supernatural entry The Possession of Michael King. Plot/ Michael King does not believe in God or the Devil. Following the sudden death of his wife, Michael decides to make his next film about the search for the existence of the supernatural, making himself the center of the experiment - allowing demonologists, necromancers, and various practitioners of the occult to try the deepest and darkest spells and rituals they can find on him - in the hopes that when they fail, he'll once and for all have proof that religion, spiritualism, and the paranormal are nothing more than myth. To be honest, I had never heard of this film until I saw it at Family Video, and I had absolutely no idea what to expec

Video Digest #1 - 2012 Fayette County Bigfoot Expedition

Image
  In my new college class, I have been focused on building videos and podcast. This is what I hope becomes a regular series here at The Ringmaster's Realm, an investigation video. In the strange world that exists around us, there are chances to experience the unknown around every corner. This first one is from a Bigfoot Expedition from Fayette County in 2012. Any and all feedback would be much appreciated. If you are interested in a copy of Searching the Abyss , drop me a line and we can work out the details.  Enjoy!

The Quiet Ones (2014)

Image
After diving into some scientific (at least fringe science) research last night, I decided that it was time to hit Family Video to see what was in stock. While the one movie I was looking for was out again, they did have a couple of flicks that seemed interesting. The first movie up for this Saturday night is the 2014 paranormal flick, The Quiet Ones. Plot/ A university professor and a team of students conduct an experiment on a young woman, uncovering terrifyingly dark, unexpected forces in the process. This was an interesting film on many levels and one the acted as a solid scary movie for the kids to enjoy. That being said, it did deliver some creepiness with some solid performances, heavy atmosphere, and an intriguing mix of true stories within the fabric of the fictional foundation. Sure, at PG-13, it did not pack an overwhelming punch, the scripting left some holes in the backstory, and the ending felt rushed (and unsatisfying). In the end, this may not be

In Search of... The Loch Ness Monster

Image
The Loch Ness monster, or "Nessie" as it is often referred to, may be the most well known cryptid in the world. From the first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster in 565 AD when missionary Saint Columba encountered the mysterious creature as he crossed the loch, people have been drawn to this strange land.Before we delve into the creature lets explore his dominion. Loch Ness is the largest lake in Great Britain, being 23 miles long, one mile wide, and almost 900 feet deep in places. It is so immense that it is estimated that every person on the planet earth could fit inside. The loch lies in one of the most stunning regions of Scotland, surrounded by lush green hills on all sides. There have been scattered sightings of the creature throughout recorded history ever since Saint Columba's encounter, yet it was until the early 1900's that sighting reports took off. The Loch set secluded and undisturbed until the first roads were constructed in the 1930's, lit

Jug Face (2013)

Image
It is amazing how energizing that trip to the Finding Bigfoot town hall was. Honestly, I would love to get back into the field, and may do just that this weekend. When I do get out there, I hope it is Sasquatch that I find, and not some backwoods cult that wants to sacrifice me to The Pit, like happened in my next flick for review, Jug Face (2013). Plot/ Jug Face tells the story of a pregnant teen trying to escape a backwoods community when she discovers that she may be sacrificed to a creature in a pit. This supernatural horror/drama definitely takes an interesting look at life in a secluded backwoods society. This low budget flick does have a lot going for it with solid performances, an intriguing storyline, and just enough blood and gore to keep things moving. Yes, there are some head scratching moments, some uneven pacing, and there are parts of the script that lack development, but that does not hurt the overall feel of the movie. In the end, this dark cult

Bigfoot Town Hall Meeting

Image
Last night I took an evening away from the computer and the house, as Jillian and I went down to the State Theater in Uniontown for the Finding Bigfoot town hall meeting. If you have followed my blog, Fayette County has a rich history of Sasquatch sightings and I have ventured out on more than one occasion to attempt to locate this mysterious cryptid. Unfortunately, while there have been some interesting encounters, there has been no definitive evidence found. During the town hall, the eyewitness testimony was awesome and provided a familiar outline of areas to check out. In fact, I have been to all of these areas on multiple occasions, and thus have hope that the truth will be found at some point. Of the areas that were talked about, there are some intriguing parallels to the encounters that I have been involved with, now I just have to find some time to get back out into the field and do some research. Until then, maybe I will break down into some more theoreti

Salem's Lot (1979)

Image
While I have been splitting time between Fringe and Ancient Aliens, I did find my way to Pittsburgh to hand out with my cousin Jennifer (visiting from Seattle) and her brothers, Jonathan and Jason, as they performed with their band, The Dumplings last night in the city. It was so awesome watched Jennifer hit the stage for an Alice Cooper cover to close the show. Today, I decided to venture back to my youth while doing some homework with the 1979 classic Salem’s Lot. Plot/ Young novelist returning home to Salem's Lot after many years is disturbed by the strange behavior of its people. He begins to believe that the source of the trouble may be the eerie old Marsten House that overlooks the town. Its funny, I had remembered much of Salem’s Lot, but almost forgot just how good this miniseries was. It is amazing to see exactly how much the quality put on our televisions has dropped over the past few decades. This was a solid entry that featured outstanding perform

Art of Darkness (2012)

Image
With the end of another week at hand, it was time to jump back into review mode. While Bren and Jillian finally broke down and watch Stage Fright last night, I decided to visit something different. My choice, the 2012 British import Art of Darkness. Plot/ A young woman is held captive by an unhinged lunatic intent on transforming her into his latest blood-splattered masterpiece. Art of Darkness (AKA Art House Massacre) is a low budget entry that definitely suffers from many of the ailments that plague similar movies from the genre. An interesting premise, the execution does not match the potential that is in place. The dialog is all over, the acting uneven, and the characterizations lack depth. Sure, there is a touch of gore and the pacing picks up as it moves along. In the end, this one is just another forgettable film in the horror genre. There are a few moments that are entertaining, but not enough to search it out.

I'll Follow You Down (2013)

Image
This has been a weird week, with one of my students convinced that time travel is, in fact, taking place in this day and age. While I do not discount the idea or theory, I personally would love to see it for myself. Ironically, walking through Family Video, I stumbled on a movie with a similar theme, the 2013 entry, I’ll Follow You Down. Plot/ After the disappearance of a young scientist on a business trip, his son, and wife struggle to cope, only to make a bizarre discovery years’ later - one that may bring him home. Talk about a movie that was a huge surprise. While I did not know what to expect with this sci-fi / drama, I was at least hopeful that it would not be trash, and it was not. While it did lack blockbuster effects, it did not need them. Complete with outstanding cinematography, solid performances, and an intriguing storyline that drew you in, this atmospheric entry was definitely worth watching. Rooted in a believable context, the idea of time travel

Devil's Bible (2008)

Image
I have watched my share of crazy movies over the past few weeks, and decided that it was time to take a break from the different fictional worlds that I usually live in. Instead, I decided to venture into some documentaries for the week. First up for review is the 2008 entry, Devil’s Bible. Plot/ At 165 pounds, and allegedly made from the skins of 160 donkeys, the Codex Gigas is the world's largest and most mysterious medieval manuscript. Filled with satanic images and demonic spells, according to legend, the cursed text sprang from a doomed monk's pact with the Devil. Now, Nat Geo follows a team of scientists as they embark on an unprecedented quest to unravel the secrets behind the book's darkened pages. Using ultra-violet fluorescence imaging, handwriting analysis, and a re-creation of the text, forensic document experts attempt to uncover the cryptic truth behind this ancient Devil's Bible. Being a fan of the occult and the dark arts, when I