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Showing posts from April, 2017

Art All Night 20 - 2017

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I have had to take a few days away from the computer, as there have been a ton of different things going on this weekend. Between the NFL Draft and writing, I have finally started watching my first movie of the weekend about five minutes ago. That has not been all that bad, as last night I got to go to Art All Night 20 in Lawrenceville and saw dome awesome art and some awesome bands. If you are in the Pittsburgh area and have never been to Art All Night, you are missing out on a great experience. Here are a few of the pictures from last night. 

Skyquake (2015)

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After taking a night yesterday to get caught up in the past few episodes of Riverdale, I decided that it was time to get back at it tonight with something a little different before I get back to my National Poetry Month project Salvation . After some debate, I decided on the 2015 Brain Damage Films entry Skyquake. Plot/ Since 2012 reports of strange sounds coming from the sky have flooded social media, now Adam, a recluse, struggling with his own demons, believes whatever is causing them has followed him home. When I picked this one up, the synopsis seemed interesting, as I have heard (and read about) many accounts of this phenomenon. While this movie takes on this subject in a different manner that leaves much of it to the viewers interpretation, something that I love as a writer. The visuals are really well done with solid cinematography and direction; the storyline is intriguing, and the performances are decent. Yes, some of the special effects and audio tra

Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

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As April continues to pass us by, I decided to find something to help keep my focus as I am working through my epic poem Salvation. With my lead character travelling back in time to the ancient Canaanite civilization in Levant to face the demonic beasts Baal, Moloch, and their minions, I decided a trip to Hell might be in order. What better choice to help with this than the 1988 classic Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Plot/ Kirsty is brought to an institution after the death of her family, where the occult-obsessive head resurrects Julia and unleashes the Cenobites once again. Sequels are always interesting endeavors, and in this case, even great additions to the mythos created within this series. For me, Hellbound is on par with the source material and in many ways; the darkness that it portrays is a tremendous representation of the nightmares that can surround us everyday. Released in 1988, the special effects are amazing and have stood the test of time. The cinemat

American Beast (2014)

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After spending a good bit of my day away from my computer, I decided to kick back and watch, what I had hoped would be an entertaining creature feature. Unfortunately, that was not the case with 2014s American Beast (AKA Solitude ) Plot/ After finding an old storage locker filled with his family's history, James Erikson begins a journey to discover the truth behind a mysterious piece of land in the small town of Solitude. Sometimes you are surprised by movies and other times you cringe as ask yourself why. That was the case with this one, as I spent more time asking myself why I had not turned it off. As a fan of low budget cinema, I can often look past the traditional flaws and try to find the positives. In this case, everything seemed to be discordant and there was nothing new or original to make it worthwhile. The sound quality was miserable at best, the scripting was flat and predictable, the performances were uneven and cardboard and the entire film see

The Evil Within (2017)

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What a Saturday, I went to lunch with Dad, was surprised when one of the daughters cut the grass without prompting, and I was able to push through another piece for my epic poem Salvation . While that may not sound like much, it was enough to allow my week to slow down and let me get some much needed down time. To finish the evening, I decided on an interesting flick, 2017s The Evil Within . Plot/ The sadistic tale of a lonely, mentally handicapped boy who befriends his reflection in an antique mirror. This demonic creature orders him to go on a murderous rampage to kill the people he loves most. When I sat down to watch this one, I had no clue what to expect. What I found was an interesting film that was much better than I initially would have guessed. While this is not a perfect film and it has some uneven moments, it is rather entertaining and memorable, featuring some solid visuals, decent performances, and sound cinematography. Yes, the ending (like parts of

The Institute (2017)

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Last night, I took some time away from the blog as I was working on my National Poetry Month project, the epic poem Salvation . While that has proven to be extremely challenging, I am on pace to have it finished by the end of the month. To get back into the swing of things, I decided on the 2016 psychological thriller The Institute . Plot/ In 19th century Baltimore, a girl was stricken with grief from her parents' untimely death voluntarily checks herself into the Rosewood Institute, and is subjected to bizarre and increasingly violent pseudo-scientific experiments in personality modification, brainwashing and mind control; she must escape the clutches of the Rosewood and exact her revenge. When I saw this one on the shelf, I decided to give it a shot. While it is not a perfect film, it is an atmospheric and entertaining flick that was different than what I expected. There are some positives, as the performances were decent, the storyline interesting, the ci

Arbor Demon (2016)

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With having my camping trip coming closer into view, I have been in the mood for some interesting films that take place in the outdoors. So, while walking through Gamily Video on my trip to pick-up Split, I stumbled upon thin next flick, and I am glad that I did. Next up for review is the 2016 creature feature, Arbor Demon (AKA Enclosure) . Plot/ An adventurous woman with a secret from her husband insists the couple go camping to reconnect. Something in the woods wipes out a group of hunters nearby, preventing the couple from leaving their tent. Secrets and supernatural stories come to light, and they must determine if the real threat is inside or outside their enclosure. Creature features based on camping trips are usually ripe with cliché and are rather predictable, and while this entry has a few moments like that, it is a rather impressive venture into that subgenre. Yes, it is not a perfect film (there really aren’t many that are), but it was an entertaini

Split (2016)

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It is nice to be back home after a trip to North Carolina. While it is nice to visit with family, that it a long drive and I often return exhausted and worn out. Plus, I usually miss my typical horror fix. To get back into the swing of things, I went to Family Video and picked up the 2016 thriller Split . Plot/ Three girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities, they must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th. As many already know, movies by M. Night Shyamalan can range from awesome to terrible, and honestly, you never know what you will get. I was relieved that Split fell closer to the good productions. While not a perfect film and it does have a few clichéd moments, the performances within the storyline (especially James McAvoy) make it easy to overlook those. Besides McAvoy, the performances are solid, the story is engaging, and the direction was solid. This one was definitely an atmospheric thriller th

Horror Short, Rotary , Trailer Debuts

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First off, I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter. As I am traveling this holiday, I am reminded of the importance of friends and family (as well as quiet). Fortunately, while I may not have spent much time on the computer this weekend, I have had a chance to get some writing in on my 2017 National Poetry Month project, Salvation. Because of that, I have not really had an opportunity to get many movies in. I did, however, receive word that the 2017 short film Rotary is primed for the festival circuit. Following is the official press release for the movie.  Urban Legend-Based Period Film Poised to Hit 2017 Festivals  WASHINGTON, D.C.- The official trailer for Rotary has debuted. You can view the trailer on youtube here: https://youtu.be/suGeUsCxIzM We may consider urban legends today as trite and sentimental. These “friend of a friend” macabre stories, polished or pock-marked over the years with updated, modern details or crazy twists have cemented their plac

The Lighthouse Keeper (2016)

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After taking last night away from the blog to nap before driving to North Carolina for the Easter holiday, I figured I would focus tonight’s entry on the last film I watched during the week. That movie is the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe-inspired The Lighthouse Keeper. Plot/ Marooned on a remote peninsula and haunted by frightening specters, a young man must confront the grotesque denizens of the night, or follow the Lighthouse Keeper's cryptic warning to, always keep a light burning! There are times when I want to relax and watch the classic horror tales of the past. Filmmaking was so different in the past eras, with the atmosphere and storylines taking center stage instead of the forced effects and gore. That is exactly what I found with this one. Loosely based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe, this one harkens back to a different time in cinema. While it is not perfect, the storyline is interesting, there are some atmospheric moments, and the direction/cinem

The Bye Bye Man (2017)

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Last night, I made a trip to Family Video to see what had come out recently. What I found was a wide selection of new horror flicks on the shelves. To start off these new choices, I decided on the 2017 horror/thriller The Bye Bye Man . Plot/ When three college students move into an old house off campus, they unwittingly unleash a supernatural entity known as The Bye Bye Man, who comes to prey upon them once they discover his name. The friends must try to save each other, all the while keeping The Bye Bye Man's existence a secret to save others from the same deadly fate. This one definitely has a unique approach to the slasher genre and a ton of potential. While I would class it as more of a thriller than a straight horror flick, there are just enough elements to keep it above water. The storyline was interesting, the casting decent, and the cinematography and filming were solid. Yes, some of the performances are uneven, there are minimal scares, and some of

Slasher.com (2017)

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Last night, I spent the evening watching my beautiful and talented daughter Genesis perform with the West Virginia University Symphonic Band, and it was an impressive performance. The same thing cannot be said about the next movie up for review, 2017s Slasher.com. Plot/ After meeting online, Jack and Kristy go on a weekend getaway to the woodlands of rural Missouri. While discovering each other, they soon learn of the terrorizing horrors that the forest has in store. When I picked this one up, I almost immediately expected the worse. Unfortunately, I was right. While the movie started well enough, the overall quality and entertainment aspects continually fell throughout the film. In fact, that opening segment is the only highlight of this movie that I can remember with any clarity. The entire film just felt like an incoherent mess that did not match the title with the script. The performances are uneven, the storyline predictable and cliché with even the murder

The Monster (2016)

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As I continue to make my way through the last few movies that I have watched, I am excited that I can almost see a light at the end of the tunnel. Next up for review is the 2016 indie flick, The Monster.   Plot/ A mother and daughter must confront a terrifying monster when they break down on a deserted road. I have to admit that this movie is much better that I anticipated when I picked it up at Family Video. While it does have a somewhat straightforward storyline, there are many things that make it better than one would think. The performances are solid, the atmosphere and tension have a nice feel, and the cinematography is outstanding. On top of all those positives, the practical effects make it a fun watch; again proving that practical effects are much better than CGI. Unfortunately, the scripting/dialog are both uneven, and because of the overused basic premise, some aspects are predictable, however, those can be overlooked. In the end, while this movie does