Mother of Tears (2007)

I sat down to find something to watch earlier after deciding to end my Hellraiser marathon and decided to give Tubi a try and I have to say,  I'm hooked.  After searching through their titles,  I decided on the finale of Dario Argento's Three Mothers Trilogy, 2007s Mother of Tears.

Plot: Grisly deaths await Italian citizens after an archaeology student (Asia Argento) accidentally releases a demonic witch from her ancient prison.

Let me start with the typical this one isn't for everyone, especially those looking for an Argento classic or something remotely close to the groundbreaking horror that put him on the map.  This definitely isn't they.  Although,  there are some good elements that can remind you of that era. The stylistic colors,  the soundtrack,  and even some of the pacing definitely have that feel. Even the gore is over the top,  like many of the Italian horror classics. What this one lacks is a solid script and is a bit disjointed with uneven performances.  Of the three movies,  this one is definitely is definitely my least favorite. Is it worth watching? Possibly,  if you are like me and wanted to finish the Trilogy,  it's a must. Other than that,  there are better Argento entries. 

Cthulhu (2007)

After spending the day Saturday attempting to get some work done and failing miserably, I decided that I wanted to dive into some of the works of H.P. Lovecraft. After a search of my streaming services, I was a bit shocked at the lack of material available from this horror master. After some time, I settled on the 2007 indie entry Cthulhu. 

Plot/ A Seattle history professor, drawn back to his estranged family on the Oregon coast to execute his late mother's estate, is reacquainted with his best friend from childhood, with whom he has a long-awaited tryst. Caught in an accelerating series of events, he discovers aspects of his father's New Age cult which take on a dangerous and apocalyptic significance. 

When I saw this one streaming on Amazon Prime, I was excited. I was in the perfect mood for some Lovecraft and hoped this would hit the spot. Unfortunately, this one never came together in a way to quench my desire for something from the Cthulhu Mythos. While not terrible, featuring a few moments of creepiness, some bizarre moments that worked well, and a story that made the perfect vehicle to bring this to life, still, the movie never took off or came together in a way that made it entertaining. The performances were uneven, as was the cinematography, the political and sexual overtones weighted too heavily inside the story, and the scripting left the atmosphere behind. It really played more like a flawed comedy than a horror movie. In the end, if you are a fan of Lovecraft and anything from the Cthulhu Mythos, stay away. I know there are much better choices out there.

Saw IV (2007)

I was rather shocked when I discovered that I had never reviewed the entire Saw franchise, as it is one of my favorite series to watch. Of course, that also gave me an excuse to re-watch them for review purposes. Next up for review is 2007s Saw IV.

Plot/ Despite Jigsaw's death, and in order to save the lives of two of his colleagues, Lieutenant Rigg is forced to take part in a new game, which promises to test him to the limit.

I remember wondering after watching Saw III how the series would continue and went into this one with some trepidation. What I found when watching this one was a layered and complex storyline that took the Jigsaw storyline to a new level and darker depths. As a fan of the series, the twist that the end was perfect, and was something that seemed to almost transport us back to the original ending. The storyline is interesting especially as they dove back into Jigsaw’s history and take you through his journey, the special effects and traps are awesome, and the performances are solid. However, it is the way they overlapped time and stories that really made this one stand out for me. Yes, there are some moments where things seem too coincidental or random and there are a few times, where it almost feels predictable, but those are only minor flaws in the overall production and don’t really impact the quality of the film. In the end, while it did lack some suspense, it made up for that with a quality storyline that is extremely memorable. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series and an entry that must be seen.

The Invasion (2007)

The other day I went through a few movies before I started binge-watching Salem. The next movie I will review is the 2007 semi-reboot The Invasion.

Plot/ As a Washington psychiatrist unearths the origin of an alien epidemic, she also discovers her son might be the only way it can be stopped.

I had never watched this one and went into the movie not knowing what to expect. While this is not the worst body snatchers retooling, it is far from the best.  While the cast featuring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig are solid and their performances are decent, they really cannot do anything to save this film from spiraling out of control. The character development is non-existent, the film lacks atmosphere, for the most part, the film lacked originality, and there was an overall lack of action and effects. On top of that, the overt addition of political and social ideologies felt out of place and forced. Yes, there were some decent elements and there was some potential out there, but it in no way was able to reach that potential and it feels uninspired. In the end, while there were some decent visuals with the cinematography, the movie does not really ever create tension or give the viewer a reason to keep watching it. If you have not seen it, you aren’t missing anything at all.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

After watching Cujo last night, I decided that I needed something different before heading off to bed. Lately, I have been struggling with focus while trying to write and have been searching for something to just start that. Finally, while searching my streaming services, I decided on the 2007 horror musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Plot/ In the Victorian London, the barber Benjamin Barker is married to the gorgeous Lucy and they have a lovely child, Johanna. The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the corrupt Judge Turpin, who falsely accuses the barber of a crime that he did not commit and abuses Lucy later after gaining custody of her. After fifteen years in exile, Benjamin returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin.

I will admit, I have a soft spot for musicals, especially if they trend in the direction of horror and this one did not disappoint. Being a Tim Burton movie and featuring Johnny Depp, it was hard to be excited, as their stuff has been hit or miss. Fortunately, this one was a hit and it is well worth watching. This one is a pure musical, but it does a great job at mixing the dark comedy and horror elements in a way that makes it extremely entertaining. The cast is amazing (although, I did feel like it should have been a Harry Potter reunion), Burtons’ imagery and cinematic choices were tight and crafted an atmospheric tale, the artistic elements were flawless, and the graphic horror elements, while brutal and gory, came across in almost a subdued way that fit perfect in this dark world. Yes, being a musical may turn some people off, but honestly, that shouldn’t be a factor as this one is much more than your typical musical. In the end, this is a movie that should be seen, and one that I feel does not get the respect that it deserves. It is everything a horror fan should enjoy and if you have not watched it yet, you are missing out.

Zodiac (2007)

As this week wore on, I decided to spend some time revisiting some movies that I have seen many times but failed to review. The first one on the list was the 2007 thriller Zodiac.

Plot/ In the late 1960s/early 1970s, a San Francisco cartoonist becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer, an unidentified individual who terrorizes Northern California with a killing spree.

This is a film that I thought I had already reviewed. However, I realized that although this is one of my favorite films on the Zodiac Killer, I had never actually written it up. With that being said, I just had to watch it again and do what should have been done some time ago. This is a tremendous film that actually takes a surprising approach to telling the true story of one of the most famous unsolved cases in history. The storyline is thought out and compelling, the cinematography and direction create a dark and heavy atmosphere, and the outstanding cast all do an outstanding job at embracing their characters and pulling through with solid performances. Yes, the movie may run a bit long, and most of the murders take place early on, but those are only small hiccups that don’t bring the movie down. In the end, if you are fascinated by the Zodiac Killer this is a must see. If you aren’t, you too should watch this one, it offers a detailed look at this mystery.

The Number 23 (2007)

When I took a trip to Family Video last night I was searching for something a touch different. After a few minutes, I decided on the 2007 entry The Number 23. For me, there are some intriguing elements to be uncovered with strange numerology and coincidence. That is if you believe in coincidence, I don’t.

Plot/ Walter Sparrow becomes obsessed with a novel that he believes was written about him. As his obsession increases, more and more similarities seem to arise.

This is one of those flicks that I have stayed away from for some time even though the premise sounded interesting. Now that I have watched it, I wish I had picked it up earlier. This one is much better than I expected, featuring a thought-provoking storyline, solid performances from an interesting cast, decent scripting, and a darker atmosphere than I expected when I grabbed it from the shelf. On top of that, the cinematic elements all came together in a way that made the movie and entertaining and smooth watch. Sure, there were some incoherent moments that did not match the characters predictable actions and the ending seemed somewhat predictable compared to the early points that built the storyline, but those are just minor flaws. In the end, this one was a great watch on this cold and icy evening. If you are looking to take a trip back in time for a flick, give the movie a shot-you could do much worse.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

I have taken a few days off from the blog researching into a couple of topics (conspiracies) over the past week. While I did not find any new revelations, I did find a few tidbits that may prove interesting. During this period, I did catch a couple movies. One of the first was the 2007 entry Charlie Wilson’s War.

Plot/ A drama based on a Texas congressional representative Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

I sat down to watch this one because I wanted to see how Hollywood portrayed this time in history. Of course, what they created was a one-sided piece of propaganda that does not provide a clear narrative on the aspects of this period that still haunts us today. The overall depiction of the Russian army is quite atrocious. While I am not saying they were great or saints, they were also not quite the bloodthirsty rapists that were depicted. Plus, the movie never truly reveals the truth about the Mujahedin (or gives even a hint that they would become al Qaeda). With the way paragraphs can be added to the visual effects, Being loosely based on a true story and book, Hollywood should have informed viewers of this fact before the end credits (but, I understand that does not meet the propaganda aspects I am sure Hollywood was going for). Yes, the acting, cast, and scripting was solid (especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman), but overall the movie fails to take advantage of those elements by creating a one-sided and inaccurate account of history and a film that should be considered demeaning to women. In the end, like many films that deal with history, the liberties taken to create a singularly focused narrative distort reality. Sure, it has its moments, but it should not be taken seriously in any way.

Zeitgeist (2007)

After being somewhat disappointed in Conspiracy of Lies, I needed something to quench my craving for an interesting documentary. After some thought, I decided to revisit one of my favorites (plus informative): 2007s conspiracy themed documentary Zeitgeist.

Plot/ This film gathers information from many sources and puts it together in a way that shows it is possible for people to be manipulated by large institutions, governments and economic powers.

After watching Conspiracy of Lies, I could not shake the need for a solid documentary. That is exactly what this movie is. Zeitgeist is one of the most thought provoking and entertaining documentaries, I have seen, and it does a great job at tying what many see as unrelated topics into a coherent conspiracy driven documentary. There is a lot to like in this one, with solid production values, strong research, and enough material to make the viewer want to dive in and research it one their own. As a fan of conspiracies, I have dug into some if these elements and have come out with some similar beliefs. The 911 section is extremely eye opening and is a section that everyone should watch with an open mind, as there are a tremendous amount of flaws in the official investigation report and there are still major unanswered questions about the attack that opened the door for the 1984 style police state that we now live in. On the downside, there are some moments where the pacing seems a touch off. Plus, there is so much information brought out in this documentary that it is hard to wrap your head around it if you aren’t a semi-informed viewer. For me, I loved it, but it could turn some viewers off. In the end, this movie does a great job of presenting information and challenging the viewer to become more informed about the topics. While some may blow it off as just another set of conspiracies, if you are awake, you know how real the deception is and how important it is for us to get involved and help expose the truth. As President Reagan said, “Ask Questions and Demand Answers!” Check this movie out; it is well worth watching for anyone.

Dark Mirror (2007)

With August coming to an end, I can almost sense Halloween, and there is really no season better. With that in mind, I was in the mood for something supernatural or paranormal for my evening movie. After some thought, I decided on the 2007 indie film Dark Mirror.

Plot/ A photographer moves her family into a strange old house, where she discovers an alternate reality reflected in the glass; a dark reality that is closing in on her.

When I saw this last night on Shudder, the premise seemed to match my mood for something paranormal. While the movie was paranormal, there were excessively many elements happening throughout the film to ever all anything coherent to grow. Yes, there were some positives with a few decent performances and the initial scenes were solid. Unfortunately, from there, nothing happens and the movie plods along with multiple subplots, uneven scripting, and slow pacing. All of these flaws lead the movie down a spiral that it is never able to find its way out of. In the end, I would have thought coming from IFC that this would have been better, but I was wrong. There is really nothing in this one that makes it worth watching.

Across the Universe (2007)

After taking a break from the blog last night, I decided that I needed to watch something extremely different tonight, as I have been overly submerged in darkness for some time not. After some debate, and a quick search of Netflix, I decided on something extremely different, and one of my favorite musicals, Across the Universe from 2007.

Plot/ The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor artist from Liverpool.

As some already may realize, I do have some diverse tastes in my movie selections, and this is one of my favorites that sit outside of the horror or sci-fi genres. While this is not a textbook movie and it has many flaws with some pacing issues, weak character development, and some of it may feel a touch forced, but that does nothing to truly bring down the experience. Yes, it is not perfect, but it is both beautiful and captivating, and features some of the best interpretations of classic Beatles songs that you will find. Couple that with some intense and vivid visuals, an interesting storyline that captured the turmoil of the era, and an emotional tone that will definitely strike a chord with many viewers (but also turn some viewers off). In the end, this may not be the best musical out there, and it may be somewhat polarizing, but if you kick back and embrace the creativity, you will experiences something amazing. Check it out.

Alien Agenda: Project Grey (2007)

It was so nice to finally have an evening at the house with nothing keeping me out until all hours. Over the past two weeks, it feels like there has been something everyday from band concerts, to Christmas parties, to working late, it has been a challenge. Tonight was different, and not only did I have a chance to watch some Agents of SHIELD, I was able to catch a low budget flick: 2007s Alien Agenda: Project Grey.  

Plot/ Dr. Schroder listens to her criminally insane patient as he recounts the story of the murder of his four friends. A story of infidelity, jealousy, and revenge takes a strange turn revealing an alien agenda. Chip implants, government mind control, Russian military, and alien visitors, form the puzzle pieces of this science fiction thriller. A search for the answers leads to the truth.

Although I have been caught up in the world of S.H.I.E.L.D lately and there are some alien overtones, I have honestly been in the mood to see some type of alien related flick. That is what I found with this one on HULU. A no-budget indie flick, this one is definitely far from perfect, but it did have some interesting aspects that at least kept me entertained. The storyline is interesting and there were some solid moments, the soundtrack was outstanding, and there were some intriguing cinematography aspects that seemed to work better than expected. Sure, the dialog and acting was a touch uneven, and the CGI effects and some scene transitions were laughable at best, but that did not destroy the movie. In the end, I understand that this low budget entry will not be for everyone, but it does have some entertaining moments. While not a masterpiece, if you enter into it with low expectations like I did, you could be surprised.

The Chair (2007)

Every once in a while I take a chance on a movie because it continually shows up on my recommended list, and this was the case with my next review. Honestly, it seemed like this one was popping up everywhere for about two weeks. That movie is the 2007 independent flick The Chair.

Plot/ Danielle, a young psychology student, is trying to rebuild her life when she sublets a century-old Victorian house. Unknowingly, she awakens an evil specter lurking in the dark recesses of her new home.

When I picked this one out the other day, I was not sure what to expect. What I found was an interesting movie that was clearly something different than the typical low budget slasher or found footage flick that has become all the rage. Slowly paced, this one has some decent effects, solid acting, and sound cinematography that worked well within the confines of the minimal locations. Sure, there are some uneven spots and the storyline does seem to change midway, but those are small issues that really do not bring this one down. In the end, this is an intriguing supernatural thriller that was extremely entertaining. Yes, it is not for all horror fans, but if you enjoy intelligent supernatural thrillers, you should check it out.

Crazy Eights (2006)

While I did spend some time playing Murdered last night, I spent the majority of my time watching both Fringe and Zero Hour. Yes, both television shows are interesting and both open up some very intriguing questions, but sometimes I need something more mindless. In those moments, I dig into some of the horror I have on hand. That is the case with my next review, part of the 2006 After Dark Horrorfest, Crazy Eights.

Plot/ Six people are brought together at the funeral of a childhood friend. While settling the estate, they discover a map, which leads them on a search for a long forgotten time capsule, at the request of their dead friend. What they discover reawakens repressed childhood traumas and leads them on a journey through their long abandoned childhood home: a home with a terrible secret and a mysterious dead girl who will lead them to their strange fates.

It had been awhile since I ventured into the 2007 After Dark Horrorfest, and now I remember why. While I remembered some of the films, this is not one of them, which is why I grabbed it from the attic first. Yes, there were some good settings and the cinematography was not bad, there was really nothing else to write home about. The acting was scattered, the pacing was off, the script uneven, and although it was only 80 minutes, too many clichés were embedded into the flick. In the end, this one has to rank near the bottom of that set and is a poor attempt at a B-Movie. If you have not seen it, do not fret as you are not missing anything. Plus, there are much better films out there.