Parasite (1982)

Okay, so I had to take a few days away with the Halloween Parade and finishing my final script for the radio-drama that I had been contracted to do. Although I was busy, I did have some time to get some movie viewing in. Next up on the docket is the 1982 schlockfest Parasite.

Plot/ Paul Dean has created a deadly parasite that is now attached to his stomach. He and his female companion, Patricia Welles, must find a way to destroy it while also trying to avoid Ricus, his rednecks, and an evil government Merchant.

While no one will ever mistake this Charles Band movie for something great, it is one of his better entries, and one that I will admit seems to have gotten a little better with age. This schlockfest has everything one would expect from this era; splatter, gore, lasers, and a post-apocalyptic storyline that is all over the place. Straight from the age of big box horror, this entry does have some solid cinematography, over-the-top (yet bad and cheesy) effects, and some interesting performances (Demi Moore jumps out), but those positives do nothing to help offset the total film. The quality is bad, even calling this a B Movie is a stretch. The pacing is slow, it is predictable, and many of the 3D installments fall flat (this was during the 3D revival that took place in the 1980s). Still, this one, while it is bad, is one of those schlockfests that should not be overlooked and does have some entertainment value (especially with the whole 1980s feel in the future post apocalypse world of 1993).In the end, if you are in the mood for some no-thinking B-grade schlock give it a shot; if that isn’t your thing, stay away. 

Night of the Living Dead (1990)

As I sit down tonight, I wanted to finish with the last movie I watched last week that I haven’t had time to review. While many people will shun this one because it is a remake (and I was one), it does deserve to be seen. That movie is the 1990 zombie flick Night of the Living Dead.

Plot/ The unburied dead return to life and seek human victims.

I will be one of the first to admit that I had stayed away from this one for a long time. As a fun of the original masterpiece, it was difficult for me to even consider watching a remake that in my opinion was not needed. However, after the tragic passing of George Romero, I wanted to venture back into this influential world and give the remake a shot. Directed by Tom Savini, this one was actually much better than I expected, and I am disappointed that I waited so long to give it a shot. Clearly made for a different generation of viewer, this version does off many of the same social commentaries that made the original so powerful. The zombie make-up is amazing, the updated characterizations (especially Barbara) work really well, and it is fun to watch everything come to life in color. Yes, the colorization does take away from some of the darker atmosphere and there was much less gore than I would have expected with Savini at the helm (but, I do understand because the film stayed true to the original), but those are but minor flaws in the overall world of the living dead. In the end, this movie was much better than I anticipated and it is a movie that is worth watching (at least once). If you have not seen it, give it a shot.

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

After taking a couple days to enjoy my trip to Columbus and the Softball World Series event, I decided to kick back tonight and review the movie I saw over the weekend. That one is the finale of the Planet of the Apes reboot, 2017s War for the Planet of the Apes.

Plot/ After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.

I had heard a few different perspectives on this movie that covered the entire spectrum of film reviews. With that in mind, I figured that this would definitely be one of those love/hate entries that seem to be growing with every passing release. While that is fine (and somewhat expected), I am definitely at the point where seeing is believing. I absolutely loved this one and think that it is a film that does have some elements that have to sit inside your mind before the entire depth of the storyline and script hit home. The storyline is detailed with a few different subplots woven in, the performances are solid, scripting works, and the CGI is amazing. In fact, the imagery created in this one was top-notch throughout. Yes, it does have a slower pace and there are many silent moments used for effect, but those elements only add to the meaning of the film and work well for emphasis. In the end, I can see why this will be a polarizing film and a movie that will fall into the love/hate category. Sure, there could have been some more action and some of the storyline is a touch absurd, but that happens in many films. For me, this is a movie with a message and one that was a perfect capstone and one that left me wanting more. Check it out and make your own decision.

Refuge (2013)

Once I left the softball field and caught the fourth episode of Twin Peaks: The Return, it was nice to get back to finding movies that will capture my attention. The next one did just that and left me wanting more. What was it; just the 2013 post-apocalyptic tale Refuge (AKA The Mansion).

Plot/ As food and supplies dwindle and the threat of marauders becomes more apparent, the family must ultimately face the decision to either stay in hiding or go in search of an elusive mansion they've heard of - that may or may not exist.

Now that I have finished the first four episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return, it was time to get back to my usual viewing cycle and I am glad that I did. This is a film that I knew nothing about and was excited to see how this film took on the post-apocalypse environment. What I found was something that was both atmospheric and entertaining, and a film that definitely stepped outside the box when creating this world. Similar to The Walking Dead minus the zombies, but that is in no way a bad thing. The performances are solid, the storyline enthralling, the cinematography is on point, and the entire movie works. To nitpick, some of the characterizations and decisions may not be perfect, but how many are really that way. In the end, there are a ton of positives in this film and it may be one of the best low budgeted flicks out there. Yes, it does lack zombies, but it more than makes up for it with its overall quality. Check this one out; it is a great addition to the post-apocalyptic world.  

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

It’s happening again! Yes, after 25 years, Twin Peaks is finally returning to the screen and I couldn’t be more excited. David Lynch and the Twin Peaks series are  two of the main reasons that I wanted to become a writer. While I knew this was on the horizon, I decided to clear my mind in preparation. That is when I decided to pick up a film from one of my favorite franchises with 2016s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.

Plot/ Alice returns to where the nightmare began: The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse.

Let me start off by saying that this has been one of my favorite zombie themed series and I was sad to hear that this was gong to be the final chapter. Fortunately, they decided to go out with a bang. While many people will not enjoy this mindless trip into Raccoon City for a final time (and understandably so), the non0stop action and gore is enough to keep you at least entertained if you can suspend belief for the duration. Yes, there are some strange decisions that lead to holes in the continuity between films and there are definitely some head scratching moments that actually make the movie overly predictable, but those are easily overlooked in the grand scheme. As a film, the action is well paced, the performances were solid, the gore worked, and some of the storyline did add some interesting twists to the franchise as a whole. In the end, this may not be the best movie in the series, but it was entertaining and perfect for some late night zombie fun. Not for everyone, but if you can suspend belief for a couple hours, it can be a great mindless entry.

Undead (2003)

For some reason, even after finishing After the Static, I still can't get enough of flesh-eating zombies. So, when I sat down tonight, I wanted something mindless and gory. I found something perfect for that craving on Shudder. What I decided on was the 2003 horror/comedy Undead.

Plot/ A quaint Australian fishing village is overcome by meteorites that turn its residents into the ravenous undead, leaving a small group of those unharmed to find a way out.

While Undead will never be confused with a great film, it kept me entertained throughout with over-the-top splatter effects, and always an enjoyable combination of alien DNA and zombies, and enough sprinkled homages to classics that it was just fun! Yes, the scripting, performances, and pacing were a touch uneven and schlock-filed, but those elements just played into the horror comedy. In the end, this may not be the best film out there, but it is a fun gorefest that took me back to some of the great splatter-fests of my youth. Plus, it has a somewhat original ending that sits outside the typical cliché that seems to saturate films in this genre.

Plan Z (2016)

After spending last night getting caught up on a few of the films that I watched in between trips to Family Video, it is now time to get back into the swing of things. The next movie that falls closer to the horror genre up for review is the 2016 zombie entry Plan Z.

Plot/ One man has a plan for a zombie outbreak, when one occurs it will take all his will to stick to it and all of his courage to change it.

I went into this unsure of what to expect, but was excited by the independent aspects of the film. This was definitely more of a zombie themed character piece than straight zombie entry. This movie definitely had some of the elements that are prevalent within independent cinema, but it also had enough positives to make it at least entertaining. While I do not think, it reached its potential; the atmosphere and performances were at least solid. Unfortunately, the storyline was somewhat thin, the cinematography was uneven, and overall the film lacked memorable qualities that would make a lasting impression. In the end, it is a decent character piece that will help pass some time on a cold evening. Other than that, there is nothing new. Watch it, but be warned it is far from perfect.

The Other Side (2014)

Last night I decided to find something at Family Video that could help me pass some time. With the conspiracy driven prognosticators talking of a great apocalypse heading our way (asteroid, Clinton, Trump, ISIS), I figured that zombies would be a good way to pass some time. After walking through the store, I decided on the 2014 no-budget indie flick The Other Side.

Plot/ A man searches for his wife and protects his daughter during the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.

When I read the premise of this one at Family Video, I had to pick it up. Sure, this came across as typical no-budget zombie entry, but for me, that is usually a positive as Hollywood has gone stale. While this will never be a blockbuster, it does have a dew interesting twists that I really enjoyed. This is especially impressive once you consider that the flick was an elongation of what was originally a short film. Because of the ultra small budget, the movie does suffer from the typical flaws that that plague this type of film with some rough areas such as sound quality and selection, uneven performances, abrupt editing, and some patchy dialog. I did enjoy the storyline and could see the potential was there to be something more with a larger budget. In the end, unless you are a fan of no-budget cinema, you will probably not enjoy this movie as much as I did. But, if you are a fan, this indie zombie flick is out there to help you pass some time.

Viral (2016)

Now that the weekend has finally arrived, it was nice to kick back and watch a movie that was actually somewhat believable in the grand scheme of reality. Sure, something like this would be unlikely, but it would be possible. What was that movie? It was the 2016 independent entry Viral.

Plot/ Following the outbreak of a virus that wipes out the majority of the human population, a young woman documents her family's new life in quarantine and tries to protect her infected sister.

When I saw this one, I actually expected another typical outbreak type film. However, what I found was something different and somewhat refreshing. While this is more of a slow burn character driven drama than straight outbreak driven gorefest, it does have a few moments that jump out and bring some of the horror elements to life. The scripting is solid, the characters are at least somewhat memorable, and the cinematography is decent. Yes, it does not bring everything to life in a manner that would make it overly exciting or terrifying, the performances are average, and it felt somewhat predictable and cliché, but it is still extremely watchable. In the end, it was an interesting approach to a post apocalyptic/outbreak themed movie. If you like that type of movie, you will definitely enjoy this one.

Hackers (1995)

After going back into the world of the slasher, I decided to venture into another type of wormhole. While all of my work lately has been rather serious, I decided I needed something more comedic to help change my mindset. After some debate, I decided to dive back into the 1990s with the 1995 cyberpunk entry, Hackers.

Plot/ A young boy is arrested by the U.S. Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday. Years later, he and his new-found friends discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus.

It had been a long time since I entered this world and I forgot how entertaining and funny Hackers is. As a movie, there is a lot to like, with cool cyberpunk attitudes mixed with non-stop schlock and over-the-top performances all-around. The storyline and plot, while unbelievable, are both interesting and work well (especially as a flashback toward the authenticity of the 1990s), the soundtrack is awesome, the cast and performances are solid, and the characters are hilarious. Yes, you must suspend all you know of computers and reality, plus, remember the crazy style and wardrobes of the 1990s, and if you do that, you should have some fun with this one. In the end, this may be a schlockfest and one of the most unrealistic and unbelievable films of the era, but it is also a fun way to pass some time inside a fun time warp. If you have not seen it, check it out!

Dead Within (2014)

After spending most of the weekend making last minute adjustments to and then launching Wisdom From Beyond, it was really nice to have a night where I could relax (although my latest class has started worrying me). While I understand that this will likely be my only light day with parades, meetings, a football game, and a zombie run on Saturday, at least I had some time to work on some fun stuff. As I did, I decided to watch 2014s Dead Within; a movie that definitely helped set a mood.

Plot/ Six months after the outbreak, a man and woman have survived by isolating themselves in a remote cabin. Starved for resources, they must confront the horrors that threaten them from outside and from within.

As usual, I had no idea what to expect and went into this completely blind. I am glad I did, as this was much better than I expected from reading the synopsis, and it was not the zombie flick that I figured was coming my way. More of a psychological horror than true horror flick, this one is more about atmosphere and tension than anything else. Plus, it definitely outlines how much fear plays a role in psychosis and terror. The acting is solid, the characters are believable, and the overall message can resonate with viewers. Yes, it is not a gorefest and anyone expecting a zombie movie will likely be disappointed, but that is his or her loss.  In the end, this was much better than I imagined and a movie that I am glad I watched. If you have not seen it, give it a shot!

Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2015)

Tonight was busy (as most Wednesdays are) with both homework deadlines and a Nightmares softball game. Yet, with this being the Halloween season, there is always time for some horror. After some thought, I decided on a zombie flick for the evening: Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2015).

Plot/ Barry is a talented mechanic and family man whose life is torn apart on the eve of a zombie apocalypse. His sister, Brooke, is kidnapped by a sinister team of gas-mask wearing soldiers and experimented on by a psychotic doctor. While Brooke plans her escape Barry goes out on the road to find her & teams up with Benny, a fellow survivor - together they must arm themselves and prepare to battle their way through hordes of flesh-eating monsters in a harsh Australian bush.

Recently, I have been staying far away from the zombie genre, as many of the films that have been coming out lately seem tired and played out. Fortunately, I am glad that I picked this one, because it took an interesting route outside of the box and created something rather original. While this is not a perfect movie by any means, it does have an outstanding mix of action, creativity, and a decent mixture of effects. Sure, there is not much in the way of character development and there may be too many unanswered questions, but those flaws are easily overlooked. In the end, this was an intriguing zombie entry, and a movie that was a lot more entertaining than I expected when I turned it on. This one is definitely worth watching.

Maggie (2015)

I know that I have been slacking, and that any followers of my blog would know that I usually take part in the Halloween countdown. Unfortunately, time has been at a premium and I have been excessively busy. But, for those who do follow me, I have a couple of projects in the works that look to be interesting. Next up for review though is an interesting film, 2015s zombie entry, Maggie.

Plot/ A teenage girl in the Midwest becomes infected by an outbreak of a disease that slowly turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. During her transformation, her loving father stays by her side.

Not knowing anything about this film, I was hesitant seeing cover. However, after sitting back and allowing the movie to play, I found something much better than I could have ever imagined. The atmosphere was perfect for such a dark and dramatic film. Everything was on point from the tremendous cinematography, solid performances, and deeply layered storyline that should appeal to anyone as a serious immersion into love and sickness. Sure, zombie fans searching for action may feel cheated or disappointed, as this is more of a drama than horror film, but to me, that made it even better. If you have no seen it, check it out.