Tell Tale (2009)

After watching Stuart Gordon’s adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, I was still in sort of a Poe mood tonight. Luckily for me, I found a movie (loosely based on Poe) that I have been thinking about for a while, 2009s Tell Tale.

Plot/ A man's newly transplanted heart leads him on a dangerous journey to find out who murdered its donor.

Much like Dorian Gray and its interpretation of the Oscar Wilde classic, Tell Tale is definitely more inspired by the Poe classing than based on it. In fact, there are very few similarities in this modernized version. However, even with those small similarities, this film is does a great job at crafting a story the Poe might have been proud of. More of a thriller than horror, there is a heavy and depressing atmosphere that permeates the film, actually carrying a bit of suspense throughout. The cast and acting are solid and both add to the story. Plus, there is a touch of blood and violence that add just enough to tie it together. Yes, it is not a perfect Indie flick, with some of the characters creating a gauche feel and mood. In the end, this is a decent stand-alone flick that may turn off the Poe fan that was not educated about its premise. Personally, I thought it was a good interpretation with a lot to offer, and a flick that can be enjoyed by many!

Dorian Gray (2009)

  

After a long day searching for items for my ETSY page, I sat down to see what I could find on the different movie channels I subscribe to. What I found was 2009s Dorian Gray.

Plot/ A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect with this film. It seems that this is one of the more polarizing films that have come out in recent years. After watching it, I totally understand why. To me, it has to be the way the movie strayed from the literary classic, creating characters and a large amount of nudity (not to mention the misguided classification as a horror flick). The cinematography and atmosphere are very good, not to mention some decent performances within this surreal-like thriller. However, there are times where the plot seems to disappear and the pacing seems off, almost crawling. In the end, this movie as a stand-alone thriller is worth watching. Unfortunately, while inspired by the classic tale, this adaptation does a poor job capturing the beauty of Oscar Wilde’s Victorian masterpiece and should be viewed with that in mind.